Patents by Inventor Alan Hill

Alan Hill has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220226059
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a shaft extendable through a handle, an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft and including a first and second jaws providing first and second jaw extension, a plurality of drive members extending along the shaft and actuatable by the handle, and an articulable wrist interposing the end effector and the distal end. The wrist includes a proximal clevis, a distal clevis rotatably coupled to the proximal clevis, first and second pulleys rotatably mounted to the distal clevis, the first jaw extension being pinned to the first pulley and the second jaw extension being pinned to the second pulley, and a linkage mounted to the jaws. The plurality of drive members terminate at the first and second pulleys and are antagonistically operable to open and close the jaws and articulate the end effector in pitch and yaw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Andrew T. BECKMAN, Charles J. SCHEIB, Travis Michael SCHUH, Benjamin D. DICKERSON, Erica Ding CHIN, Eric N. JOHNSON, Jason Alan HILL
  • Publication number: 20220226058
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a handle, an elongate shaft extended through the handle, and an actuation system housed within the handle and including a drive belt extending along a portion of the shaft and having a distal end anchored to the shaft distal to the handle and a proximal end anchored to the shaft proximal to the handle, and a drive gear mounted to the handle to receive the drive belt. Operating the actuation system rotates the drive gear to drive the drive belt and thereby cause z-axis translation of the shaft through the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Andrew T. BECKMAN, Charles J. SCHEIB, Benjamin D. DICKERSON, Eric N. JOHNSON, Jason Alan HILL
  • Publication number: 20220226051
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes an elongate shaft, an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft and including a first jaw providing a first jaw extension and a second jaw providing a second jaw extension, and an articulable wrist that interposes the end effector and the distal end, the wrist including an articulation joint rotatable about a first pivot axis, and first and second pulleys rotatably mounted to the articulation joint at a second pivot axis perpendicular to the first pivot axis, the first pulley interposing the first jaw extension and a first joint portion of the articulation joint, and the second pulley interposing the second jaw extension and a second joint portion of the articulation joint. Joining the first and second joint portions secures the first and second pulleys within the wrist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Eric N. JOHNSON, Jason Alan HILL
  • Publication number: 20220226057
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes an elongate shaft extendable through a handle providing a drive input, a drive cable extending along a portion of the shaft and having a proximal end anchored to the shaft proximal to the handle and a distal end anchored to the shaft distal to the handle, an actuation system housed within the handle and operatively coupled to the drive input such that actuation of the drive input operates the actuation system, and a toggle mechanism arranged at a proximal end of the shaft and actuatable to close or open opposing jaws of an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft. The drive cable is threaded through portions of the actuation system and the toggle mechanism such that operation of the actuation system acts on the drive cable and thereby actuates the toggle mechanism to close or open the opposing jaws.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Andrew T. BECKMAN, Charles J. SCHEIB, Benjamin D. DICKERSON, Jason Alan HILL
  • Publication number: 20220226055
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes an elongate shaft, an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft and including opposing first and second jaws, an articulable wrist that interposes the end effector and the distal end and includes one or more articulation joints, at least one guiding component arranged within a central portion of the wrist, and a knife rod extending through and supported by the at least one guiding component and terminating at a knife.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Eric N. JOHNSON, Jason Alan HILL
  • Publication number: 20220226056
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a handle providing a drive input, an elongate shaft extendable through the handle and having an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft, and an accumulator system housed within the handle and operatively coupled to the drive input such that actuation of the drive input operates the accumulator system. At least one drive cable is threaded through the accumulator system and extends distally along the shaft, wherein operation of the accumulator system acts on the at least one drive cable to operate the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Andrew T. BECKMAN, Spencer James WITTE, Charles J. SCHEIB, Benjamin D. DICKERSON, Travis Michael SCHUH, Eric N. JOHNSON, Jason Alan HILL
  • Publication number: 20220226048
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a handle providing a first drive input and a second drive input, an elongate shaft extendable through the handle and having an end effector arranged at a distal end thereof, and a rack extending along a portion of the shaft and operatively coupled to a knife located at the end effector. Actuation of the first drive input transitions the rack between a locked configuration, where the rack is locked to the shaft, and a released configuration, where the rack is released from the shaft. Actuation of the second drive input with the rack in the locked configuration drives the rack and causes z-axis translation of the shaft through the handle. Actuation of the second drive input with the rack in the released configuration drives the rack relative to the shaft and thereby advances or retracts the knife at the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Andrew T. BECKMAN, Charles J. SCHEIB, Benjamin D. DICKERSON, Eric N. JOHNSON, Jason Alan HILL
  • Publication number: 20220226054
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes an elongate shaft extendable through a handle that provides a drive input, an actuation system housed within the handle and operatively coupled to the drive input such that actuation of the drive input operates the actuation system, a rocker bar system arranged at a proximal end of the shaft and actuatable to articulate an end effector at a distal end of the shaft, and first and second drive cables extending along a portion of the shaft, each drive cable having a proximal end anchored to the shaft proximal to the handle and a distal end anchored to the shaft distal to the handle, wherein the drive cables are threaded through portions of the actuation and rocker bar systems such that operation of the actuation system acts on the drive cables and thereby actuates the rocker bar system to articulate the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Andrew T. BECKMAN, Charles J. SCHEIB, Benjamin D. DICKERSON, Jason Alan HILL
  • Publication number: 20220226050
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes an elongate shaft, an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft and including opposing first and second jaws, an articulable wrist that interposes the end effector and the distal end, the wrist including an articulation joint pivotable about an axis and a linkage mounted to the first and second jaws, a distal wedge positioned distal to the articulation joint and within a central portion of the wrist, and an electrical conductor extending through the wrist and to an electrode located at the end effector, wherein the distal wedge guides the electrical conductor to the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Eric N. JOHNSON, Jason Alan HILL
  • Publication number: 20220156435
    Abstract: A cloud-based simulation generation service collects industrial data from multiple industrial customers for storage and analysis on a cloud platform. The service employs a simulation generator component that analyzes data to facilitate generating a simulation model that simulates an industrial automation system, including simulating or emulating industrial devices, industrial processes, other industrial assets, or network-related assets or devices, and their respective interrelationships with each other. The simulation generator component also analyzes modification data to facilitate generating a modified simulation model that simulates the industrial automation system based on the modification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Juan Asenjo, John Strohmenger, Stephen Nawalaniec, Bradford H. Hegrat, Joseph A. Harkulich, Jessica Lin Korpela, Jenifer Rydberg Wright, Rainer Hessmer, John Dyck, Edward Alan Hill, Sal Conti
  • Patent number: 11295047
    Abstract: A cloud-based simulation generation service collects industrial data from multiple industrial customers for storage and analysis on a cloud platform. The service employs a simulation generator component that analyzes data to facilitate generating a simulation model that simulates an industrial automation system, including simulating or emulating industrial devices, industrial processes, other industrial assets, or network-related assets or devices, and their respective interrelationships with each other. The simulation generator component also analyzes modification data to facilitate generating a modified simulation model that simulates the industrial automation system based on the modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Asenjo, John Strohmenger, Stephen Nawalaniec, Bradford H. Hegrat, Joseph A. Harkulich, Jessica Lin Korpela, Jenifer Rydberg Wright, Rainer Hessmer, John Dyck, Edward Alan Hill, Sal Conti
  • Publication number: 20210393341
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a drive housing having first and second ends, a spline extending between the ends and including a drive gear that rotates with spline rotation, and a carriage mounted to the spline. A shaft extends from the carriage, penetrates the first end, and has an end effector arranged at a distal end. An activating mechanism is housed in the carriage and includes an input gear operatively coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the drive gear correspondingly rotates the input gear, and a firing rod defining external threads threadably engageable with internal threads of the input gear. The firing rod is coupled to a knife at the end effector such that movement of the firing rod correspondingly moves the knife in the same direction. The drive gear is rotated to rotate the input gear and thereby move the firing rod and the knife.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. BECKMAN, Charles J. SCHEIB, Travis Michael SCHUH, Benjamin David DICKERSON, Jason Alan HILL
  • Publication number: 20210393354
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a drive housing having first and second ends, at least one spline extending between the first and second ends and including a drive gear that rotates with rotation of the spline, and a carriage mounted to the spline. A closure tube extends from the carriage through the first end and has an end effector arranged at a distal end. An activating mechanism is housed in the carriage and includes a driven gear coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the drive gear rotates the driven gear, and a carrier arranged at a proximal end of the closure tube and coupled to the driven gear such that rotation of the driven gear moves the carrier and the closure tube axially along a longitudinal axis of the closure tube. Moving the closure tube along the longitudinal axis closes or opens end effector jaws.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. BECKMAN, Charles J. SCHEIB, Travis Michael SCHUH, Benjamin David DICKERSON, Jason Alan HILL, Neil MARKWARDT
  • Publication number: 20210225201
    Abstract: A cloud-based performance enhancement service captures and collects data relating to interactions of users with industrial automation systems of multiple industrial customers for storage and analysis on a cloud platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Juan Asenjo, John Strohmenger, Stephen Nawalaniec, Bradford H. Hegrat, Joseph A. Harkulich, Jessica Lin Korpela, Jenifer Rydberg Wright, Rainer Hessmer, John Dyck, Edward Alan Hill, Sal Conti
  • Publication number: 20210209554
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for connecting authenticated persons, willing to pay for crowd-sourced answers to technical problems, to authenticated subject matter experts willing to sell answers to these problems in return for a variety of items of value; the system comprising a secure repository for questions posed by users and answers from other users, an innovation engine for selecting subject matter experts and facilitating collaborative solutions, a project governance engine configured to optimize the development path, a pricing engine to determine the market value of the answers, a marketplace engine for exchanging items and services of value, and means for users to communicate with other users or groups of users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Bryan Alan Hill, John Stephen McCarty
  • Publication number: 20210182684
    Abstract: A method performed by a computing device includes determining a partition for depth-first processing by a multi-layer artificial neural network (ANN) of the computing device. The computing device comprising a processor, on-chip memory, and off-chip memory. The first partition determined based on an amount of on-chip memory used by the first partition, an available amount of on-chip memory, and a size of a write back to the off-chip memory. The method also includes processing, at the device via the multi-layer ANN, an input, using the depth-first processing in accordance with the partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Piero ZAPPI, Jin Won LEE, Christopher LOTT, Rexford Alan HILL
  • Patent number: 11029745
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed method for controlling instantaneous current changes in parallel processors with arrays of parallel computing elements, such as neural processors. An exemplary method comprises monitoring the array of computing elements and determining a transition from a first activity level of the array to a second activity level of the array, such as an idle-to-active or active-to-idle transition. Once a transition is determined, the array is selectively controlled to minimize the instantaneous current change from the transition from the first activity level to the second activity level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Kyle Ernewein, Jason Edward Podaima, Francisco Perez, John Daniels, Alex Miler, Jeffrey Gemar, Rexford Alan Hill, Haoping Xu
  • Patent number: 11010313
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for an architecture for machine learning acceleration is presented. An apparatus includes a plurality of processing elements, each including a tightly-coupled memory, and a memory system coupled to the processing elements. A global synchronization manager is coupled to the plurality of the processing elements and to the memory system. The processing elements do not implement a coherency protocol with respect to the memory system. The processing elements implement direct memory access with respect to the memory system, and the global synchronization manager is configured to synchronize operations of the plurality of processing elements through the TCMs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Colin Beaton Verrilli, Natarajan Vaidhyanathan, Rexford Alan Hill
  • Patent number: 10984677
    Abstract: A cloud-based performance enhancement service captures and collects data relating to interactions of users with industrial automation systems of multiple industrial customers for storage and analysis on a cloud platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Juan Asenjo, John Strohmenger, Stephen Nawalaniec, Bradford H. Hegrat, Joseph A. Harkulich, Jessica Lin Korpela, Jenifer Rydberg Wright, Rainer Hessmer, John Dyck, Edward Alan Hill, Sal Conti
  • Patent number: 10945961
    Abstract: Among other things, compositions, kits, and methods for epilepsy therapy using a process for treating calcinosis manifested in Neurocysticercosis, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, and Sturge-Weber Syndrome; an automated platform for real-time diagnosis and treatment of calcinosis comprising a computer-implemented method for using predictive analytics for administering a novel drug, Kaminiā„¢, to human patients generated at least in part from information that has been accumulated automatically from on-line resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: ZY YTHERAPEUTICS LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Alan Hill, John Stephan McCarty, Jeffrey Arlin Loeb