Patents by Inventor Brian K. Wells

Brian K. Wells 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: 20230320795
    Abstract: A surgical robotic arm includes an instrument having a plurality of cables that are movable longitudinally and an end effector movable by the cables. The surgical robotic arm also includes a drive unit having a plurality of motors each of which is configured to move one of the cables and a plurality of torque sensors, each of which is configured to measure torque output by one of the motors. The surgical robotic arm also includes a controller configured to receive a torque measurement from each of the torque sensors and control each of the motors to apply a minimum torque to maintain a minimum tension on each of the cables based on the torque measurement from each of the torque sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Brian K. Wells, Brian A. Rockrohr, Alok Agrawal
  • Publication number: 20230182303
    Abstract: A surgical robotic arm includes an instrument having a coupler rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the coupler including: a drive screw; a drive nut threadably coupled to the drive screw, the drive nut movable along the longitudinal axis in response to rotation of the drive screw; and a drive member coupled to the drive nut and movable in response to movement of the drive nut. The surgical robotic arm also includes an instrument drive unit having: a motor configured to engage the coupler and rotate about the longitudinal axis to rotate the coupler and the drive screw; one or more sensors configured to measure one or more properties of the motor; and a controller coupled to the sensor(s) and the motor. The controller is configured to control the motor based on the property of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventor: Brian K. Wells
  • Publication number: 20180116796
    Abstract: A transapical introducer includes a housing near a proximal end of the introducer, a first valve in the housing, a proximal tube coupled to the housing, and a distal tube coupled to a distal end of the proximal tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Wells, John Miser, Gregory R. Furnish, Tracee Eidenschink
  • Patent number: 9883942
    Abstract: A transapical introducer (100) includes a housing (140) near a proximal end of the introducer, a first valve (160) in the housing, a proximal tube (130) coupled to the housing, and a distal tube (110) coupled to a distal end of the proximal tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Wells, John Miser, Gregory R. Furnish, Tracee Eidenschink
  • Publication number: 20160158005
    Abstract: A transapical introducer (100) includes a housing (140) near a proximal end of the introducer, a first valve (160) in the housing, a proximal tube (130) coupled to the housing, and a distal tube (110) coupled to a distal end of the proximal tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Wells, John Miser, Gregory R. Furnish, Tracee Eidenschink
  • Patent number: 9314336
    Abstract: An adjustment assembly for an adjustable prosthetic valve device includes a gearbox housing formed from two gearbox shells coupled to one another and held together by two gearbox sleeves each having an internal cavity adapted to accommodate respective lateral portions of the gearbox shells when the gearbox shells are coupled to one another. A gear assembly, including a center gear and two driven gears, is supported within the gearbox housing. Gear teeth of each of the driven gears engage gear teeth of the center gear such that rotation of the center gear causes rotation of the driven gears. At least one of the driven gears is adapted to engage a transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation thereof to another part of the adjustable prosthetic valve device to accomplish an adjustment to the size and/or shape of the adjustable prosthetic valve device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Furnish, Brian K. Wells, Christopher Bethards, Bruce R. Weir, Melinda K. Kovach
  • Publication number: 20140067055
    Abstract: An adjustment assembly for an adjustable prosthetic valve device includes a gearbox housing formed from two gearbox shells coupled to one another and held together by two gearbox sleeves each having an internal cavity adapted to accommodate respective lateral portions of the gearbox shells when the gearbox shells are coupled to one another. A gear assembly, including a center gear and two driven gears, is supported within the gearbox housing. Gear teeth of each of the driven gears engage gear teeth of the center gear such that rotation of the center gear causes rotation of the driven gears. At least one of the driven gears is adapted to engage a transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation thereof to another part of the adjustable prosthetic valve device to accomplish an adjustment to the size and/or shape of the adjustable prosthetic valve device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Furnish, Brian K. Wells, Christopher Bethards, Bruce R. Weir, Melinda K. Kovach
  • Patent number: 4766613
    Abstract: Trousers having a flexible upper part with two lower portions intending for covering the upper leg of the wearer. The trousers also include a pair of flexible lower parts each intended for encompassing a lower leg of the user. The pair of lower parts is detachably connected to the upper portion lower parts by the use of a pair of strips of pile fastening material connected to the inner surface of the lower portions of the flexible upper part, and a pair of hook fastening material strips connected to the outer surface of the pair of flexible lower parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: David F. Wells
    Inventor: Brian K. Wells