Patents by Inventor Bryan E. Blair

Bryan E. Blair 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).

  • Patent number: 12232694
    Abstract: A method of operating an imaging system includes reducing common-mode current induced on a cable connected between an imaging system and an endoscope by utilizing a common-mode choke between the cable and a circuit within the endoscope, the common-mode choke being mounted within a body of the endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W. Petersen, Bryan E. Blair, Andrey Polonsky
  • Publication number: 20230330406
    Abstract: A method of electrically grounding a medical instrument includes inserting a medical instrument through a channel of a surgical port extending from a first end of the surgical port to a second end of the surgical port and while the medical instrument is inserted through the channel, contacting the medical instrument with an electrically conductive material portion protruding into an interior of the channel and extending through a sidewall of the surgical port. Contact of the medical instrument with the electrically conductive material portion does not extend around an entire circumference of the medical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael HURST, Sam CREWS, Bryan E. BLAIR
  • Patent number: 11707613
    Abstract: A surgical port includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the first end and the second end. An outer sidewall extends between the first end and the second end. First and second channels extend through the port from the first end to the second end. A first electrically conductive portion extends from the first channel to the outer sidewall, and a second electrically conductive portion extends from the second channel to the outer sidewall. The first electrically conductive portion provides a first electrically conductive path between the first channel and the outer sidewall and the second electrically conductive portion provides a second electrically conductive path the second channel and the outer sidewall. The second electrically conductive path is separate from the first electrically conductive path. Devices and methods relate to surgical ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Hurst, Sam Crews, Bryan E. Blair
  • Publication number: 20220071479
    Abstract: A method of operating an imaging system includes reducing common-mode current induced on a cable connected between an imaging system and an endoscope by utilizing a common-mode choke between the cable and a circuit within the endoscope, the common-mode choke being mounted within a body of the endoscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Alan W. Petersen, Bryan E. Blair, Andrey Polonsky
  • Patent number: 11206966
    Abstract: An endoscope includes a body and a circuit board mounted within the body. A cable couples the circuit board to an imaging system. A common-mode choke is mounted within the body and is configured to electrically isolate the cable from the body at cautery frequencies. A method includes twisting a plurality of wires together to form a twisted set of wires. The twisted set of wires is wound around a core so that windings do not overlap, and so that a first winding and a last winding are separated from each other. Wires in the twisted set of wires are coupled to a plurality of wires in the cable. Also, these wires in the twisted set of wires are also coupled to the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W. Petersen, Bryan E. Blair, Andrey Polonsky
  • Publication number: 20200230392
    Abstract: A surgical port includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the first end and the second end. An outer sidewall extends between the first end and the second end. First and second channels extend through the port from the first end to the second end. A first electrically conductive portion extends from the first channel to the outer sidewall, and a second electrically conductive portion extends from the second channel to the outer sidewall. The first electrically conductive portion provides a first electrically conductive path between the first channel and the outer sidewall and the second electrically conductive portion provides a second electrically conductive path the second channel and the outer sidewall. The second electrically conductive path is separate from the first electrically conductive path. Devices and methods relate to surgical ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael HURST, Sam CREWS, Bryan E. BLAIR
  • Patent number: 10617858
    Abstract: A surgical port includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the first end and the second end. An outer sidewall extends between the first end and the second end. First and second channels extend through the port from the first end to the second end. A first electrically conductive portion extends from the first channel to the outer sidewall, and a second electrically conductive portion extends from the second channel to the outer sidewall. The first electrically conductive portion provides a first electrically conductive path between the first channel and the outer sidewall and the second electrically conductive portion provides a second electrically conductive path the second channel and the outer sidewall. The second electrically conductive path is separate from the first electrically conductive path. Devices and methods relate to surgical ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Hurst, Sam Crews, Bryan E. Blair
  • Publication number: 20190029499
    Abstract: An endoscope includes a body and a circuit board mounted within the body. A cable couples the circuit board to an imaging system. A common-mode choke is mounted within the body and is configured to electrically isolate the cable from the body at cautery frequencies. A method includes twisting a plurality of wires together to form a twisted set of wires. The twisted set of wires is wound around a core so that windings do not overlap, and so that a first winding and a last winding are separated from each other. Wires in the twisted set of wires are coupled to a plurality of wires in the cable. Also, these wires in the twisted set of wires are also coupled to the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W. Petersen, Bryan E. Blair, Andrey Polonsky
  • Publication number: 20180221639
    Abstract: A surgical port includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the first end and the second end. An outer sidewall extends between the first end and the second end. First and second channels extend through the port from the first end to the second end. A first electrically conductive portion extends from the first channel to the outer sidewall, and a second electrically conductive portion extends from the second channel to the outer sidewall. The first electrically conductive portion provides a first electrically conductive path between the first channel and the outer sidewall and the second electrically conductive portion provides a second electrically conductive path the second channel and the outer sidewall. The second electrically conductive path is separate from the first electrically conductive path. Devices and methods relate to surgical ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Hurst, Sam Crews, Bryan E. Blair