Patents Examined by William Thomson
  • Light energy sealing, cutting and sensing surgical device
    Patent number: 9375282
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a medical instrument. The medical instrument includes a housing and an end effector assembly operably connected to the housing. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members each having a tissue contacting surface, at least one of the first and second jaw members movable between a first, spaced-apart position and a second proximate position, wherein in the second position, the jaw members cooperate to define a cavity configured to receive tissue between the jaw members. The end effector also includes at least one light-emitting element coupled to at least one of the first and second jaw members, the at least one light-emitting element adapted to deliver light energy to tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members to treat the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: William H. Nau, Jr., Craig A. Keller, Duane E. Kerr
  • Multi-linked endoscopic device with spherical distal assembly
    Patent number: 9370342
    Abstract: A device for performing a procedure may include an elongate tube having a proximal end and a distal end and an adapted link having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end may include a first mating surface, where the proximal end may be configured to attach to the distal end of the elongate tube. The device may also include a rotating link having a second mating surface configured to rotatably interface with the adapted link first mating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Brett Zubiate, Howard Choset, Amir Degani, Anthony Kolb, Kevin P. GilMartin, J. Christopher Flaherty
  • Method of altering the refractive properties of an eye
    Patent number: 9370446
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of altering the refractive properties of the eye, the method including applying a substance to a cornea of an eye, the substance configured to facilitate cross linking of the cornea, irradiating the cornea so as to activate cross linkers in the cornea, and altering the cornea so as to change the refractive properties of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Inventor: Gholam A. Peyman
  • Treatment apparatus for surgical correction of defective eyesight, method of generating control data therefore, and method for surgical correction of defective eyesight
    Patent number: 9370445
    Abstract: A treatment method and apparatus for surgical correction of defective-eyesight in an eye of a patient, wherein a laser device is controlled by a control device, said laser device separating corneal tissue by irradiation of laser radiation to isolate a volume located within a cornea, wherein the control device controls the laser device to focus the laser radiation, by providing target points located within the cornea, into the cornea, wherein the control device, when providing the target points, allows for focus position errors which lead to a deviation between the predetermined position and the actual position of the target points when focusing the laser radiation, by pre-offsets depending on the positions of the respective target points to compensate for said focus position errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Martin Wiechmann, Michael Bergt, Mark Bischoff, Markus Sticker, Gregor Stobrawa
  • Electro-mechanical surgical device
    Patent number: 9364200
    Abstract: An electromechanical surgical device includes a motor system configured to drive drive-shafts and a steering cable arrangement. A control system may be provided for controlling the motor system. A remote control unit may also be provided for controlling the motor system via the control system. Optical or Hall-effect devices, may be provided for determining the position of the elements of the surgical instrument based on the detected rotation of the drive-shafts. A memory unit stores a plurality of operating programs or algorithms, each corresponding to a type of surgical instrument attachable to the electro-mechanical surgical device. The control system reads or selects from the plurality of operating programs or algorithms, the operating program or algorithm corresponding to the type of surgical instrument attached to the electromechanical surgical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, John Burbank, David A. Zeichner
  • Multiple purpose surgical instruments
    Patent number: 9364248
    Abstract: A multiple-purpose surgical instrument having a reflecting, rendering, and sizing tool to increase visibility and provide three-dimensional depth perception of a surgical site so that realization of a condition of the surgical site and safety are enhanced during an arthroscopic or laparoscopic procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventor: Stephan V. Yacoubian
  • Systems and methods for physiological event marking
    Patent number: 9357934
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for storing event markers. The value of a monitored physiological metric may be monitored and compared to a reference value. A patient monitoring system may compute a difference between a monitored metric and a reference value, and compare the difference to a threshold value to determine whether a physiological event has occurred. Based on the determination, a patient monitoring system may store an event marker, trigger a response, update a metric value, or perform any other suitable function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
    Inventors: James N. Watson, Paul Stanley Addison, Rakesh Sethi, Keith Manning
  • Presbyopia correction through negative spherical aberration
    Patent number: 9358154
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for treating and/or determining appropriate prescriptions for one or both eyes of a patient are particularly well-suited for addressing presbyopia, often in combination with concurrent treatments of other vision defects. High-order spherical aberration may be imposed in one or both of a patient's eyes, often as a controlled amount of negative spherical aberration extending across a pupil. A desired presbyopia-mitigating quantity of high-order spherical aberration may be defined by one or more spherical Zernike coefficients, which may be combined with Zernike coefficients generated from a wavefront aberrometer. The resulting prescription can be imposed using refractive surgical techniques such as laser eye surgery, using intraocular lenses and other implanted structures, using contact lenses, using temporary or permanent corneal reshaping techniques, and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: AMO Manufacturing USA, LLC
    Inventors: Seema Somani, Kingman Yee
  • Wearable health monitoring system
    Patent number: 9357921
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to remotely monitoring the health of an individual. The individual wears a health monitoring device, with an attached strap, capable of sensing characteristics of the individual. These characteristics may include voice level and tone, movements, blood pressure, temperature, etc. The device allows individuals to constantly monitor their health without having to physically visit a doctor or other health care professional. Wireless communication, for instance with an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) set-top box, allows measurements to be made and evaluated by a ‘computerized’ healthcare service provider. For a more accurate evaluation, measurements are sent over the INTERNET to a service. The device communicates with services in order to diagnose the individual based upon the characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, LP
    Inventors: Hisao M. Chang, Lusheng Ji, Bernard S. Renger
  • Patient interface for ophthalmologic diagnostic and interventional procedures
    Patent number: 9351879
    Abstract: Configurations are described for conducting ophthalmic procedures to address cataract-related clinical challenges. In one embodiment, a one-piece patient contact interface may be utilized to couple a diagnostic and/or interventional system to a cornea of a patient; in another embodiment, a two-part configuration may be utilized; in another embodiment, a liquid interface two-part embodiment may be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: OPTIMEDICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Phillip Gooding, David Angeley
  • Multifunctional device for exploration and/or intervention, especially for medical use
    Patent number: 9351762
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multifunctional device for exploration and/or intervention, especially for medical use, comprising a hollow handle, which is continued by a main catheter, and a carriage which is mounted so as to slide along the handle and which is coupled to an instrument by a mechanical connection extending inside the main catheter. According to the invention, at least one intermediate carriage is mounted so as to slide along the handle, each of said intermediate carriages having an attachment housed in the handle via a longitudinal slot, in the continuation of which there is a secondary catheter extending inside the main catheter. Moreover, an auxiliary carriage is mounted so as to slide along each intermediate carriage, each of said auxiliary carriages being coupled to an instrument by a mechanical connection extending inside the secondary catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventors: Charles-Henri Pineau, Hervé Coupellier
  • Method for generating an ablation program, method for ablating a body and means for carrying out said method
    Patent number: 9352415
    Abstract: In a method for generating an ablation program for ablation of material from a surface of a body according to a predetermined desired ablation profile by emission of pulses of a pulsed laser beam onto the surface, the ablation program is generated from the desired ablation profile as a function of the shape of a beam profile of the laser beam and of an inclination of the surface to be ablated and/or considering a water content of the material to be ablated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Georg Sluyterman van Langeweyde, Jesús-Miguel Cabeza-Guillén
  • Methods to alter damaged mammalian skin using a multiphoton processes
    Patent number: 9351794
    Abstract: A system and method of altering damaged mammalian skin using a multiphoton processes is disclosed. A femtosecond laser initiates a multiphoton event using pulse energies of 2-5 mJ thereby causing multiphoton ablation without damaging surrounding tissue. The laser is focused to the vicinity of a target organelle that occurs naturally within the damaged skin, and is related to the dermatological condition being addressed. The type of organelle depends on the condition being addressed, and may be targeted by the depth beneath the surface of the skin at which it is located. The femtosecond laser beam is focused to an intensity of least 1012 W/cm2 to initiate the multiphoton event transforms the targeted organelle to mitigate the damage to the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventors: Szymon Szymon Suckewer, Alexander Smits, Steven Hubert
  • Cataract removal using ultra-short pulse lasers
    Patent number: 9351826
    Abstract: A system and method of replacing a lens to treat a cataract is disclosed. Cataractous tissue is ablated via a multi-photon process using focused, ultra-short laser pulses. Multi-photon ablation requires an energy intensity between 1013 to 1015 W/cm2. Using lasers having femto-second duration pulses, this intensity is achieved with 50 micro-Joules of energy, allowing material disruption with very little heating or shock. The multi-photon ablated material is removed through a micro-channel that leads from the multi-photon ablated region to at least the surface of the eye. Once the material is removed a pre-polymer fluid is injected in to fill the void. This polymerizes into a gel once inside the lens. The polymerized, transformed material matches both the transparency to visible light and the Young's modulus of healthy lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventors: Szymon Suckewer, Peter Hersh, Alexander Smits, Richard Register
  • Laser-assisted thermal separation of tissue
    Patent number: 9351877
    Abstract: A laser-assisted method for fully or partially separating tissue such as collagen containing tissue is provided. In one embodiment, the method pertains to a capsulorhexis whereby the laser-assisted method is applied to the lens capsule. A light-absorbing agent is added into or onto the tissue. A light beam with a wavelength capable of being absorbed by the light absorbing agent is then directed at the tissue to cause a thermal effect at the tissue following a predetermined closed curve with the goal to avoid irregularity or potential tears in the resulting rim of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: EOS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: David H. Mordaunt
  • Laser delivery apparatus for endovascular applications
    Patent number: 9345543
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering energy, and in particular laser energy, to a tissue includes a protective quartz cap that is secured to a laser delivery fiber by a crimp sleeve. The fiber may have a conical tip, and the quartz cap may be secured to the crimp sleeve by a layer of epoxy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventor: Joe Denton Brown
  • Physiological adaptability system with multiple sensors
    Patent number: 9339193
    Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of measuring physiological adaptability of a subject is described. The method may include receiving, from a first sensor, a first data signal indicating a first biological function of the subject. The method may also include receiving, from a second sensor, a second data signal indicating a second biological function of the subject. The method may also include calculating an adaptability of the subject based on the first data signal and the second data signal. The method may also include reporting the calculated adaptability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Rudi Cilibrasi, David L. Marvit
  • Open type ear treatment module
    Patent number: 9333320
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an open type car treatment module which, when worn, allows simultaneous laser therapy and music therapy for brain-nervous system tissue by arranging the light source for low level laser therapy (LLLT) and sound source for music therapy (MT) properly, and can release the heat generated by the light source to outside by allowing ventilation with outside through open type configuration of module itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Dankook University
    Inventors: Jin Chul Ahn, Chung Ku Rhee, Pill Sang Chung, Myung Whan Suh
  • Method and means for transferring controller motion from a robotic manipulator to an attached instrument
    Patent number: 9333045
    Abstract: A coupler to transfer controller motion from a robotic manipulator to a surgical instrument includes a pin having a tip with a bearing surface and a plate having a driving surface that bears against a gimbal assembly in the surgical instrument. The plate has a surface supported on the bearing surface of the pin. The bearing surface has a center that coincides with an intersection of two rotational axes of the gimbal assembly. The plate is rotated about the center of the bearing surface to transfer controller motion to the surgical instrument. There may be alignment features on the driving surface of the plate to mate with corresponding features on an inner gimbal of the gimbal assembly. An actuator arm may be connected to one side of the plate. An actuator mechanism may be connected to the actuator arm to rotate the plate about the center of the bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Cooper, Anthony McGrogan
  • Surgical manipulator
    Patent number: 9333041
    Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical manipulator including a manipulator arm, an end-effector held by the robotic arm, surgical tools held by the end-effector and manipulator joints, particularly right-angle drive devices for transmitting rotational motion in one axis to a perpendicular axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: MACDONALD, DETTWILER AND ASSOCIATES INC.
    Inventors: Benny Hon Bun Yeung, Dennis Gregoris, Bronislaw Bednarz, Michael A. Gray