Patents Examined by William B Chou
  • Patent number: 11930996
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a medical device. The medical device may include an elongate member, having a proximal end and a distal end and at least two lumens extending therebetween. At least one of the lumens may be an imaging lumen configured to hold an imaging device, and an imaging device may be disposed inside the imaging lumen. A signal transmitting device may extend longitudinally through the imaging lumen. A distal end of the signal transmitting device may be operably coupled to the imaging device and a proximal end may be operably coupled to a processor. The processor may be located outside of the imaging lumen. The signal transmitting device may transmit signals between the imaging device and the processor. A grounded, braided catheter may be disposed within and extend the length of the elongate member, surrounding the imaging lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell Dresher
  • Patent number: 11911020
    Abstract: A needle holder includes: a flexible sheath portion which is capable of being inserted into an instrument channel of a flexible endoscope; a first grasping member which is rotatably coupled with a distal end portion of the flexible sheath portion; and a second grasping member which is provided in the distal end portion of the flexible sheath portion. In a state where a curved needle is grasped by a first grasping surface of the first grasping member and a second grasping surface of the second grasping member, the second grasping surface inclines such that a grasped region of the curved needle that is grasped by the first grasping surface and the second grasping surface is positioned between a distal end of the second grasping member and a needle tip of the curved needle in a direction of a center axis of the second grasping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiro Shimazu
  • Patent number: 11896198
    Abstract: Provided are a flexible portion shape estimating device and an endoscope system having the same. According to the present disclosure, the flexible portion shape estimating device includes a probe adapted to be inserted into a flexible portion and having a torque transmission wire transmitting a torque applied to one end thereof to other end thereof, and a rotation information measuring part coupled to other end of the probe to measure rotation information on the other end of the torque transmission wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Yonho Park
  • Patent number: 11889977
    Abstract: A medical apparatus includes: a casing that forms an exterior, a single manipulation ring rotatably provided on an outer surface of the casing, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to detect rotation of the single manipulation ring; calculate a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the single manipulation ring based on a detection result; execute a first function or a second function depending on the rotation direction and the rotation angle of the single manipulation ring calculated, wherein the first function is a different type of adjustment than the second function; and switch a function executed by the control circuitry to the first function or the second function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Atsuomi Ohno
  • Patent number: 11883007
    Abstract: Controlled motion capsules and associated systems and methods are described. Controlled motion capsules can decelerate, and stop, without damaging epithelial walls. If any components fail, a controlled motion capsule, without added energy, becomes its most compact shape, passing harmlessly through the GI tract. Controlled motion capsule may include a shape changing material, comprising a reversible soft copolymer, in a container in the capsule, with a nonionizing radiation emitter, and a controller to activate the nonionizing radiation to expand and contract the shape changing material, on detection of certain conditions or instructions. Expansion of the shape changing material, including contact with epithelial walls, decelerates and can stop the controlled motion capsule movement. Motion control allows scientists to study the microbiome, doctors to deliver intestinal drugs at precise locations, and to closely examine signs of precancerous growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventor: Brian Michael Coyle
  • Patent number: 11877721
    Abstract: A surgical system includes at least two laparoscopic instruments having distal portions positionable in a body cavity. An endoscopic camera is carried by a robotic automated assistant and is positionable in the body cavity to capture images of a surgical site and the distal portions of the laparoscopic instruments. At least one computerized platform is configured for receiving input from a user input device indicating a user selection of a selected one of the laparoscopic instruments, visually identifying the selected one of said laparoscopic instruments using a graphic designator on said displayed images of the surgical site, tracking the selected laparoscopic instrument using image information received from said endoscopic camera, and causing the automated assistant to maneuver the endoscopic camera so as to focus said endoscope on s the selected laparoscopic instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: AAsensus Surgical Europe S.à.R.L.
    Inventors: Mordehai Sholev, Gal Atarot, Motti Frimer
  • Patent number: 11857157
    Abstract: A flexible tube insertion support apparatus includes a generation section configured to generate propriety information regarding a propriety of a twisting operation of a flexible tube in accordance with a force quantity of an external force applied to the flexible tube when the flexible tube is twisted in a counterclockwise direction or a clockwise direction around a central axis of the flexible tube. The external force is detected by at least one external force detector that is disposed on the flexible tube to be inserted into the subject and configured to detect the external force. The flexible tube insertion support apparatus also includes an output section configured to output the propriety information generated by the generation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Tezuka, Hirokazu Nishimura, Takeshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11857150
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus relays communication of control signals between a controller and a plurality of processing modules, and includes: a communication device configured to perform communication of the control signals with the plurality of processing modules; a plurality of first storages provided respectively to correspond to the plurality of processing modules, the plurality of first storages being configured to store the control signals written by the controller; a second storage configured to store: address information indicating each communication address assigned to each of the plurality of processing modules; and correspondence information indicating correspondence relationships between the plurality of first storages and a plurality of module-side storages respectively included in the plurality of processing modules; and a synchronization processor configured to synchronize the plurality of first storages with the plurality of corresponding module-side storages via the communication device bas
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Takenouchi, Aki Mizukami, Masashige Kimura, Satoshi Taira, Keisuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11803979
    Abstract: An endoscopic imaging system for use in a light deficient environment includes an imaging device having a tube, one or more image sensors, and a lens assembly including at least one optical elements that corresponds to the one or more image sensors. The endoscopic system includes a display for a user to visualize a scene and an image signal processing controller. The endoscopic system includes a light engine having an illumination source generating one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation and a lumen transmitting one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation to a distal tip of an endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Joshua D. Talbert, Donald M. Wichern
  • Patent number: 11793569
    Abstract: A medical instrument includes two jaw members, at least one of which creates conditions of frustrated total internal reflection at a tissue-contacting surface when tissue is grasped between the two jaw members. The first jaw member may include an optical element having a tissue-contacting surface. The medical instrument also includes a light source that provides a light beam for sealing tissue. The light source is positioned so that the light beam is totally internally reflected from an interface between the tissue-contacting surface and air when tissue is not grasped by the jaw members. When tissue is grasped by the jaw members, at least a portion of the light beam is transmitted through that portion of the tissue-contacting surface that is in contact with the tissue. The light source may be movably coupled to a jaw member to scan the light beam and/or to change the incident angle based on optical properties of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: William H. Nau, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11786304
    Abstract: A medical instrument includes two jaw members, at least one of which creates conditions of frustrated total internal reflection at a tissue-contacting surface when tissue is grasped between the two jaw members. The first jaw member may include an optical element having a tissue-contacting surface. The medical instrument also includes a light source that provides a light beam for sealing tissue. The light source is positioned so that the light beam is totally internally reflected from an interface between the tissue-contacting surface and air when tissue is not grasped by the jaw members. When tissue is grasped by the jaw members, at least a portion of the light beam is transmitted through that portion of the tissue-contacting surface that is in contact with the tissue. The light source may be movably coupled to a jaw member to scan the light beam and/or to change the incident angle based on optical properties of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: William H. Nau, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11730346
    Abstract: The present invention provides a two-part robotic device for positioning of a hand tool, comprising: a. a fixed base unit constantly fix to its position; b. a detachable body unit reversibly coupled to said fixed base unit, coupled to said current medical instrument; wherein said fixed base unit is adapted to provide independent movement to said hand tool, said independent movement selected from the group consisting of rotation and translation, and further wherein said detachable body unit is removable and replaceable from said fixed base unit such that upon exchange of said hand tool for a second hand tool, said second hand tool is placed in substantially the same location as the location of said hand tool prior to said exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: GREAT BELIEF INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Mordehai Sholev
  • Patent number: 11684249
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including at least one illumination source configured to emit illumination energy and an illumination control system to receive the illumination energy. The illumination control system is configured to control the illumination energy to output a sequence of different illumination wavelengths using the illumination energy. The apparatus also includes a plurality of optical fibers connected to the illumination control system and configured to sequentially output the different illumination wavelengths. Each optical fiber is configured to transmit a different illumination wavelength of the sequence to output the sequence of different illumination wavelengths from the optical fibers toward an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Robertson
  • Patent number: 11672408
    Abstract: The present invention provides a two-part robotic device for positioning of a hand tool, comprising: a. a fixed base unit constantly fix to its position; b. a detachable body unit reversibly coupled to said fixed base unit, coupled to said current medical instrument; wherein said fixed base unit is adapted to provide independent movement to said hand tool, said independent movement selected from the group consisting of rotation and translation, and further wherein said detachable body unit is removable and replaceable from said fixed base unit such that upon exchange of said hand tool for a second hand tool, said second hand tool is placed in substantially the same location as the location of said hand tool prior to said exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: GREAT BELIEF INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Mordehai Sholev
  • Patent number: 11672409
    Abstract: The present invention provides a two-part robotic device for positioning of a hand tool, comprising: a. a fixed base unit constantly fix to its position; b. a detachable body unit reversibly coupled to said fixed base unit, coupled to said current medical instrument; wherein said fixed base unit is adapted to provide independent movement to said hand tool, said independent movement selected from the group consisting of rotation and translation, and further wherein said detachable body unit is removable and replaceable from said fixed base unit such that upon exchange of said hand tool for a second hand tool, said second hand tool is placed in substantially the same location as the location of said hand tool prior to said exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: GREAT BELIEF INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Mordehai Sholev
  • Patent number: 11633087
    Abstract: An endoscope manipulator for performing robot-assisted endoscope manipulation comprises a movable robot base with a hollow trunk and a vertical lifting joint; a passive joint set with one end mounted to an upper end of the vertical lifting joint, for manually setting an initial pose of the endoscope; an active joint set mounted to another end of the passive joint set, for adjusting pose control of the endoscope intra-operatively; and a compliant endoscope holder mountable to an end-effector of the active joint set, which passively changes to a compliant state upon an external force exceeding a threshold being applied to an endoscopic lens held by the compliant endoscope holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Yunhui Liu, Chi-Fai Michael Tong, Fangxun Zhong, Zerui Wang, Hiu-man Yip
  • Patent number: 11622671
    Abstract: A movement transfer mechanism for a surgical scoping device, wherein a rotational proximal input force is transformed into a longitudinal force that is conveyed down the length of an instrument channel of the scoping device, where it is transformed again into an operational movement of a distal instrument. The operational movement can be rotational movement, but may be any movement that changes the orientation or configuration of the distal instrument. By conveying a linear force along the instrument channel rather than a twisting force, the problems of slipping and discontinuous operation of the distal instrument due to friction between the instrument and the instrument channel can be reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: CREO MEDICAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Hancock, George Ullrich, David Webb, Louis Turner
  • Patent number: 11607120
    Abstract: Provided are a capsule endoscopic receiving device, a capsule endoscope system including the same, and an operating method of the capsule endoscopic receiving device, the capsule endoscopic receiving device including an analog front end configured to receive a preamble from one receiving electrode pair from among a plurality of receiving electrodes, a valid signal detection circuit configured to compare a reference voltage with input data generated on a basis of a voltage level of the preamble, and a preamble processor configured to select a final electrode pair configured to receive the image data on a basis of a correlation value of the preamble and a comparison result of the input data and the reference voltage. According to the inventive concept, stability of receiving image data may be secured by selecting an optimal receiving electrode pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Kwang Il Oh, Hyung-Il Park, Tae Wook Kang, Sung Eun Kim, Mi Jeong Park, Jae-Jin Lee, In Gi Lim
  • Patent number: 11583352
    Abstract: An endoscope adaptor to be connected to a robot arm of a robotic surgical system through a drape adaptor according to an embodiment may include a base section, a holding section, a driven member, and a transmission mechanism. The base is to be detachably connected to the drape adaptor. The driven member is rotatably provided on the base section and configured to be rotated by a rotation drive section of the robot arm through the drape adaptor. The holding section holds an endoscope rotatably about a rotation axis, the endoscope including an insertion section including an image capturing section provided at a distal end of the insertion section and a body section connected to the insertion section, wherein the rotation axis extends in a direction in which the insertion section extends. The transmission mechanism is configured to transmit rotation of the driven member to the holding section holding the endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: MEDICAROID CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shota Betsugi, Yu Usuki, Kenji Ago
  • Patent number: 11571116
    Abstract: A control system for a capsule endoscope is provided. The control system includes a balance arm device, a mechanical arm, a permanent magnet and a 2-DOF rotary platform. The bottom of the balance arm device is fixed, and the active end of the balance arm device connects with a boom. The bottom of the mechanical arm is fixed, and the active end of the mechanical arm connects with a spherical hinge. The 2-DOF rotary platform is fixed below the boom and the permanent magnet is located in the 2-DOF rotary platform. The spherical hinge connects to the boom, assisting the permanent magnet to move around a fan-shaped area around a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Ankon Medical Technologies (Shanghai) Co., LTD
    Inventors: Xiaodong Duan, Shaobang Zhang