Patents Examined by William Thomson
  • Patent number: 9480533
    Abstract: A telescopic insertion axis, a robotic surgical system including the telescopic insertion axis, and a method of instrument insertion are provided. In one embodiment, a telescopic insertion axis includes a base link operably coupled to a distal end of a manipulator arm, and a carriage link movably coupled to the base link along a lengthwise axis, the carriage link including an instrument interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman L. Devengenzo, Thomas G. Cooper, Bruce Schena
  • Patent number: 9480435
    Abstract: A patient monitoring system can display one or more configurable health monitors on a configurable user interface. The health indicators are configured to display a physiological signal from a patient. The patient monitoring system can calculate ranges of values for the health indicator that correspond to a status of the patient. The health indicators can display different outputs based on the value of the physiological signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: MASIMO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gregory A. Olsen
  • Patent number: 9474484
    Abstract: A physiological monitor device includes a central processing unit (CPU) that is configured to control operation of the device, a display screen, and one or more computer readable data storage media storing software instructions that, when executed by the CPU, cause the device to: create or modify a patient profile, select a patient test, store one or more test parameters selected or entered for the patient test, store one or more thresholds selected or entered for at least one of the test parameters, store one or more instructions for the patient, start the test, display test results while the test is in progress, determine whether any of the test parameters exceed limits set by the one or more thresholds, take one or more actions when it is determined that one or more of the test parameters exceed the limits set by the one or more thresholds, provide a summary and analysis of the test results, and send the test results to a computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: WELCH ALLYN, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Kinsley, Matthew D. Mullin, John A. Lane, Cynthia A. Kuiper, Daniel J. Wilson, Shawn C. St. Pierre
  • Patent number: 9474490
    Abstract: A method of evaluating gastrointestinal cancer risk. The method comprises generating a set of features comprising a plurality of current blood test results from a blood collected from a target individual, providing at least one classifier generated according to an analysis of a plurality of respective historical blood test results of each of another of a plurality of sampled individuals, and evaluating, using a processor, a gastrointestinal cancer risk of the target individual by classifying the set of features using the at least one classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Medial Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Nir Kalkstein, Yaron Kinar, Varda Shalev, Gabriel Chodick, Inbal Goldshtein
  • Patent number: 9474649
    Abstract: A system for ophthalmic surgery on an eye includes: a pulsed laser which produces a treatment beam; an OCT imaging assembly capable of creating a continuous depth profile of the eye; an optical scanning system configured to position a focal zone of the treatment beam to a targeted location in three dimensions in one or more floaters in the posterior pole. The system also includes one or more controllers programmed to automatically scan tissues of the patient's eye with the imaging assembly; identify one or more boundaries of the one or more floaters based at least in part on the image data; iii. identify one or more treatment regions based upon the boundaries; and operate the optical scanning system with the pulsed laser to produce a treatment beam directed in a pattern based on the one or more treatment regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: OPTIMEDICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel V. Palanker, Mark S. Blumenkranz, David H. Mordaunt, Dan E. Andersen
  • Patent number: 9474482
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing motility disorders of a gastrointestinal tract of a body. The method can include measuring electrical signals from the gastrointestinal tract while the patient is engaged in normal daily activities, recording the measured electrical signals on a portable electronic device carried by the body, recording by the patient in real time one or more symptoms of the body and analyzing characteristics of the recorded electrical signals with the recorded symptoms of the body to diagnosis gastrointestinal disorders of the body. Apparatus for use therewith and methods for treatment thereof are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: G-Tech Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Udaya Sankar Devanaboyina
  • Patent number: 9474647
    Abstract: A planning device produces control data for a treatment device for eye surgery which produces at least one cutting surface in a cornea of the eye using a laser device. The planning device includes a calculation module for establishing a cornea cutting surface. The calculation module is configured to establish the cornea cutting surface based on data of a refraction correction, to produce a control data set for actuating the laser device for the cornea cutting surface, and to determine the cornea cutting surface in such a way that it consists of a plurality of sub-surfaces, each of which make a contribution to the refraction correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG
    Inventors: Mark Bischoff, Gregor Stobrawa
  • Patent number: 9474648
    Abstract: A system for ophthalmic surgery on an eye includes: a pulsed laser which produces a treatment beam; an OCT imaging assembly capable of creating a continuous depth profile of the eye; an optical scanning system configured to position a focal zone of the treatment beam to a targeted location in three dimensions in one or more floaters in the posterior pole. The system also includes one or more controllers programmed to automatically scan tissues of the patient's eye with the imaging assembly; identify one or more boundaries of the one or more floaters based at least in part on the image data; iii. identify one or more treatment regions based upon the boundaries; and operate the optical scanning system with the pulsed laser to produce a treatment beam directed in a pattern based on the one or more treatment regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Optimedica Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel V. Palanker, Mark S. Blumenkranz, David H. Mordaunt, Dan E. Andersen
  • Patent number: 9474831
    Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an actively controllable implant configured to, for example, monitor, treat, or prevent microbial growth or adherence to the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GEARBOX, LLC
    Inventors: Edward S. Boyden, Roy P. Diaz, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9474650
    Abstract: A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation structure, an optic fiber, and a housing tube. The housing tube may include a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness and a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness. The second stiffness may be greater than the first stiffness. The optic fiber may be disposed within the housing tube and within an inner bore of the handle. A compression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually curve the optic fiber. A decompression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually straighten the optic fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Katalyst Surgical, LLC
    Inventors: Gregg D Scheller, Matthew N Zeid
  • Patent number: 9468427
    Abstract: A stabilizer for use with a trackable surgical instrument can include a first member, a second member and a retaining member. The first member can have a first annular body portion and a first pair of legs extending therefrom. The first annular body portion can include a plurality of locating slots for engaging a selectively positionable portion of a surgical instrument. The second member can have a second annular body portion and a second pair of legs extending therefrom. The second annular body can engage a drive device of the surgical instrument. The first pair of legs can be telescopically coupled with and adjustable relative to the second pair of legs such that the first member can be axially adjustable relative to the second member. The retaining member can cooperate with at least one leg to retain the first member adjustably coupled to the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew F. Dicorleto, Marco Capote
  • Patent number: 9462978
    Abstract: A sensing device comprises a substrate material layer and a plurality of sensors provided on the substrate material layer. The plurality of sensors is electrically connected to form a loop. The loop has two output ends. There is a loop output value between the two output ends. The loop output value varies when the sensors are subjected to an external force. Each sensor has one induction value. The induction value of each sensor is different from each other. A total induction value of any one or more sensors is different from a total induction value of the other one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ming Young Biomedical Corp.
    Inventors: Chang-Ming Yang, Tzulin Yang, Hao Yang
  • Patent number: 9462943
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for locating tissue layer transitions within a cornea, including focusing a laser to a laser spot with an energy below a photodisruption threshold of the cornea, varying a position of the focal spot of the laser between an anterior surface of the cornea and a posterior surface of the cornea, and determining one or more transitions of the tissue layers based on a change in harmonic light generated by the laser spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: AMO Development, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Brownell
  • Patent number: 9456925
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of treating a hard lens region of an eye with a laser where one method includes identifying a boundary of the hard lens region, selecting a laser-parameter to enable a photodisruptive procedure in the hard lens region and to control a spreading of bubbles in the hard lens region, modifying a mechanical property of a posterior portion of the hard lens region in a proximity of the identified boundary by the photodisruptive procedure, and modifying a mechanical property of a portion anterior to the modified posterior portion of the hard lens region by the photodisruptive procedure. The laser bubbles can be applied to form incisions which are non transverse to an axis of the eye and intersect the lens fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ALCON LENSX, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald M. Kurtz, Ferenc Raksi, Peter Goldstein
  • Patent number: 9456872
    Abstract: A system and devices for ablation and removal of occlusions from blood vessels is provided. Laser cutting systems and mechanical cutting systems are provided in catheter devices, the cutting systems operable to ablate, cut, dislodge, and otherwise remove occlusions within a blood vessel that may limit or prevent proper circulation. Catheter systems comprise distal end features adapted to cut and remove at least portions of an occlusion that generally correspond to dimensions of an inner lumen of a catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: The Spectranetics Corporation
    Inventors: Brandon Thomas Hendrick, Kenneth P. Grace
  • Patent number: 9452298
    Abstract: A handpiece can treat biological tissue using electromagnetic radiation, which can be substantially fluorescent light. The handpiece includes a source of electromagnetic radiation and a waveguide. The waveguide is adjacent the source, receives electromagnetic radiation from the source, and delivers the electromagnetic radiation to the biological tissue. The handpiece also includes a system for circulating a fluorescent substance through the waveguide. The fluorescent substance is capable of modulating at least one property of the electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventor: Morgan Lars Ake Gustavsson
  • Patent number: 9452113
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the cosmetic (non-therapeutic) treatment of oily skin, including the steps: a) exposing the oily skin to a first quasi-monochromatic light of artificial origin having a dominant wavelength peak between 300 and 700 nm, better still between 400 and 600 nm, even better still between 560 and 620 nm, and in particular of around 590 nm, and b) applying to the oily skin a cosmetic composition comprising at least 1% by weight of hollow particles and preferably from 2% to 6% by weight of hollow particles, relative to the total weight of said composition, the hollow particles being hydrophobic silica aerogel particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: L'OREAL
    Inventors: Leïla Kanoun-Copy, Benoit Muller
  • Patent number: 9451915
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes example systems and methods for identifying an indication of an injury of a user of a wearable computing device. The systems and methods may be directed to determining that an acceleration experienced by the wearable computing device exceeds a threshold value. In response, the wearable computing device may perform a diagnostic procedure in order to identify an indication of an injury experienced by the user of the wearable computing device. The diagnostic procedure may include one or more of an eye response test, a verbal response test, a motor response test, and a visual diagnostic test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian Wong, Harvey Ho
  • Patent number: 9451880
    Abstract: A method for ophthalmic intervention on an eye of a patient includes: imaging a first and a second registration fiducial in reference to temporary geometric markers on the eye of the patient, the registration fiducials being formed on an inner annulus of a patient interface housing within a field of view of an imaging device; imaging a third registration fiducial formed on the inner annulus of the patient interface housing, the third registration fiducial being angularly spaced from the first and second registration fiducials; and processing image data generated via the image device so as to determine an angular orientation of the eye relative to the patient interface housing and an up or down orientation of the patient interface housing relative to the eye based on the location of the third registration fiducial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Optimedica Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip Gooding, Michael Wiltberger, Christine Beltran, Jonathan Talamo
  • Patent number: 9446177
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic surgical instrument is provided for the control of flows of one or more fluids into and out of a surgical site. The robotic surgical instrument may include a housing, a flow control system, a hollow tube, and one or more hose fittings. The housing to couple the instrument to a robotic arm. The flow control system mounted in the housing includes one or more controlled valves to control the flow of one or more fluids. The hollow tube has a first end mounted in the housing coupled to the flow control system. A second end of the hollow tube has one or more openings to allow the flow of fluids into and out of the surgical site. The hose fittings have a first end coupled to the flow control system and a second end to couple to hoses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Millman, David Bailey, Dean Hoornaert, David Stephen Mintz, David Q. Larkin