Patents by Inventor Alex J. Niswander

Alex J. Niswander 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: 20240090961
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for a bipolar medical instrument. In one aspect, the medical instrument includes a first end effector, a first set of one or more distal pulleys coupled to the first end effector, and a wrist configured to house the first set of distal pulleys. The medical instrument also includes a plurality of cables extending through the wrist and a first insulating member formed between the first end effector and the first set of one or more distal pulleys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Travis Michael Schuh, Erica Ding Chin, Alex J. Niswander
  • Patent number: 11896335
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for an articulating monopolar medical instrument. In one aspect, the medical instrument includes a wrist comprising a proximal clevis and a distal clevis; an end effector coupled to the distal clevis via a distal axle; at least one proximal pulley in the proximal clevis; at least one distal pulley in the distal clevis and coupled to the distal axle; a first cable configured to engage with the at least one proximal pulley and the at least one distal pulley; and a second cable configured to engage with the at least one proximal pulley without engaging the at least one distal pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis Michael Schuh, Spencer James Witte, Alex J. Niswander
  • Patent number: 11857279
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for a bipolar medical instrument. In one aspect, the medical instrument includes a first end effector, a first set of one or more distal pulleys coupled to the first end effector, and a wrist configured to house the first set of distal pulleys. The medical instrument also includes a plurality of cables extending through the wrist and a first insulating member formed between the first end effector and the first set of one or more distal pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis Michael Schuh, Erica Ding Chin, Alex J. Niswander
  • Patent number: 11779421
    Abstract: Articulating medical instruments and corresponding techniques can be utilized using a robotically enabled medical system. In a surgical method, a clinician can insert a distal end of a medical instrument into a treatment area of a patient. Once inserted, a first bending section of the medical instrument can be articulated by driving one or more motors of an articulation handle that is positioned at a proximal end of the elongated shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis Michael Schuh, Nicholas J. Eyre, Alex J. Niswander
  • Publication number: 20220087760
    Abstract: Articulating medical instruments and corresponding techniques can be utilized using a robotically enabled medical system. In a surgical method, a clinician can insert a distal end of a medical instrument into a treatment area of a patient. Once inserted, a first bending section of the medical instrument can be articulated by driving one or more motors of an articulation handle that is positioned at a proximal end of the elongated shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Travis Michael Schuh, Nicholas J. Eyre, Alex J. Niswander
  • Patent number: 11179212
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to articulating medical instruments and corresponding systems and techniques. An articulating medical instrument can include an elongated shaft having two shaft sections and a bending section positioned therebetween. The instrument can include an articulation handle positioned at a proximal end of the shaft, and one or motors positioned within the articulation handle and configured to articulate the first bending section. The instrument can also include an insertion handle coupled to the shaft that enables translation of the shaft relative to the insertion handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: AURIS HEALTH, INC.
    Inventors: Travis Michael Schuh, Nicholas J. Eyre, Alex J. Niswander
  • Publication number: 20210007819
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for an articulating monopolar medical instrument. In one aspect, the medical instrument includes a wrist comprising a proximal clevis and a distal clevis; an end effector coupled to the distal clevis via a distal axle; at least one proximal pulley in the proximal clevis; at least one distal pulley in the distal clevis and coupled to the distal axle; a first cable configured to engage with the at least one proximal pulley and the at least one distal pulley; and a second cable configured to engage with the at least one proximal pulley without engaging the at least one distal pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Travis Michael Schuh, Spencer James Witte, Alex J. Niswander
  • Patent number: 10828118
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for an articulating monopolar medical instrument. In one aspect, the medical instrument includes a wrist comprising a proximal clevis and a distal clevis; an end effector coupled to the distal clevis via a distal axle; at least one proximal pulley in the proximal clevis; at least one distal pulley in the distal clevis and coupled to the distal axle; a first cable configured to engage with the at least one proximal pulley and the at least one distal pulley; and a second cable configured to engage with the at least one proximal pulley without engaging the at least one distal pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis Michael Schuh, Spencer James Witte, Alex J. Niswander
  • Publication number: 20200222134
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for a bipolar medical instrument. In one aspect, the medical instrument includes a first end effector, a first set of one or more distal pulleys coupled to the first end effector, and a wrist configured to house the first set of distal pulleys. The medical instrument also includes a plurality of cables extending through the wrist and a first insulating member formed between the first end effector and the first set of one or more distal pulleys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Travis Michael Schuh, Erica Ding Chin, Alex J. Niswander
  • Patent number: 10639114
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for a bipolar medical instrument. In one aspect, the medical instrument includes a first end effector, a first set of one or more distal pulleys coupled to the first end effector, and a wrist configured to house the first set of distal pulleys. The medical instrument also includes a plurality of cables extending through the wrist and a first insulating member formed between the first end effector and the first set of one or more distal pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis Michael Schuh, Erica Ding Chin, Alex J. Niswander
  • Publication number: 20200093554
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to articulating medical instruments and corresponding systems and techniques. An articulating medical instrument can include an elongated shaft having two shaft sections and a bending section positioned therebetween. The instrument can include an articulation handle positioned at a proximal end of the shaft, and one or motors positioned within the articulation handle and configured to articulate the first bending section. The instrument can also include an insertion handle coupled to the shaft that enables translation of the shaft relative to the insertion handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Travis Michael Schuh, Nicholas J. Eyre, Alex J. Niswander
  • Publication number: 20200054405
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for a bipolar medical instrument. In one aspect, the medical instrument includes a first end effector, a first set of one or more distal pulleys coupled to the first end effector, and a wrist configured to house the first set of distal pulleys. The medical instrument also includes a plurality of cables extending through the wrist and a first insulating member formed between the first end effector and the first set of one or more distal pulleys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Travis Michael Schuh, Erica Ding Chin, Alex J. Niswander
  • Publication number: 20200054408
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for an articulating monopolar medical instrument. In one aspect, the medical instrument includes a wrist comprising a proximal clevis and a distal clevis; an end effector coupled to the distal clevis via a distal axle; at least one proximal pulley in the proximal clevis; at least one distal pulley in the distal clevis and coupled to the distal axle; a first cable configured to engage with the at least one proximal pulley and the at least one distal pulley; and a second cable configured to engage with the at least one proximal pulley without engaging the at least one distal pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Travis Michael Schuh, Spencer James Witte, Alex J. Niswander