Patents by Inventor Charles George Hwang

Charles George Hwang 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: 20230364330
    Abstract: A medical device for infusing medical substances has activation buttons accessible on the exterior of the device housing. Activation buttons and corresponding electrical switches within the housing are configured to prevent inadvertent activation of the buttons and therefore inadvertent operation of the switches to initiate a process such as medical substance delivery to the user. The device employs overlap of respective time traces initiated by activation of the activation buttons to determine whether activation is intended and valid. These time traces do not have to be initiated simultaneously or in any particular sequence. The activation buttons can be elastomeric overmolded buttons set within cutouts in the housing, and, when depressed, make physical contact with respective switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Charles George HWANG, J. Richard GYORY, Joseph GORDON, Kenneth FOCHT, Stanislav TORGOVITSKY, Stacey J. LONGANECKER
  • Patent number: 11752257
    Abstract: A medical device for infusing medical substances has activation buttons accessible on an exterior of a device housing. The activation buttons and corresponding electrical switches within the housing are configured to prevent inadvertent activation of the buttons and therefore inadvertent operation of the switches to initiate a process such as medical substance delivery to a user. The device employs overlap of respective time traces initiated by activation of the activation buttons to determine whether the activation is intended and valid. The respective time traces do not have to be initiated simultaneously or in any particular sequence. The activation buttons can be elastomeric overmolded buttons set within cutouts in the housing, and, when depressed, make physical contact with respective switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Charles George Hwang, J. Richard Gyory, Joseph Gordon, Kenneth Focht, Stanislav Torgovitsky, Stacey J. Longanecker
  • Publication number: 20230201522
    Abstract: A packaging assembly for storing a steerable catheter ready for connection with a robotic system, comprises: a packaging enclosure and an alignment member configured to hold the steerable catheter in a predetermined shape. The alignment member is a carrier tube configured to align one end of the steerable catheter for connection with an actuator unit. The package and the alignment member are designed such that the steerable catheter can be connected to the actuator unit without changing the predetermined shape and while the catheter is still in the package. A robotic system is configured to connect to the steerable catheter included in the packaging assembly. The robotic system completes an initialization process to set acceptor parts of the actuator unit to a position corresponding to the predetermined shape in which the catheter is packaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Charles George Hwang, Takahisa Kato
  • Publication number: 20230137954
    Abstract: An articulated medical device having a hollow core, capable of large degrees of maneuverability through small cavities to reach a target with minimal invasiveness, wherein the medical device is capable of manual and robotic manipulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Charles George Hwang, Takahisa Kato, Brian Ninni, Zachary Hamilton Haubert
  • Publication number: 20230123224
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a device comprise a shuttle member, wherein the shuttle member includes a body, wherein the body includes an opening that extends through the body, and wherein at least part of the shuttle is radiopaque; a first actuator; and a second actuator, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are positioned on opposite sides of the shuttle member, wherein the first actuator is configured to move the shuttle member in a first direction, and wherein the second actuator is configured to move the shuttle member in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Charles George Hwang, James Hastings Houskeeper
  • Publication number: 20220331534
    Abstract: A medical system comprises an operation console, a support platform configured to support a catheter, a driving unit moveably coupled to the support platform, the driving unit being configured to advance or retract the catheter based on an instruction from the operation console, a support platform configured to support a catheter, a separator device including: a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a fixed length portion between the first end and the second end, and a medical tube adaptor including: a first end, and a second end opposite the first end and mateable with a medical tube. The medical tube is insertable into a mouth of a patient. The second end of the separator device is mateable with or attached to the first end of the medical tube adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventor: Charles George Hwang
  • Publication number: 20220202274
    Abstract: A medical system including a medical device having an outer diameter, a display device, and a controller. The controller is configured to acquire data regarding a biological lumen such as an airway structure, acquire an image of the airway structure, generate an overlay representing the outer diameter of the medical device, and display, on the display device, the overlay representing the outer diameter of the medical device on the acquired image of the airway structure. The overlay is scaled relative to a diameter of the airway structure at a focal plane of the airway structure based on the acquired data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Charles George Hwang, Takahisa Kato
  • Publication number: 20220203071
    Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a medical device capable of maneuvering within a patient, an input device configured to be operated by a hand of a user, one or more sensors for sensing whether the hand of the user is interacting with the input device, and a controller configured to determine whether the one or more sensors is sensing that the hand of the user is interacting with the input device, and in a case that the controller determines that the one or more sensors is sensing that the hand of the user is not interacting with the input device, prevent actuation of the medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Charles George Hwang, Takahisa Kato
  • Patent number: 11367978
    Abstract: A connector apparatus configured to connect to a connection port in order to transfer data and/or electrical power between two electronic devices or between an electronic device and an electrical outlet, the connector apparatus comprising: a first part configured to connect to the connection port by friction; two or more coupling portions which can engage or disengage when a force is applied to at least one of the coupling portions; and a retracting mechanism which pulls the two or more coupling portions towards each other when the coupling portions are separated by a separating force larger than a threshold force; wherein the first part remains connected to the connection port, while the two or more coupling portions engage or disengage when the force is applied and/or while the retracting mechanism pulls the two or more coupling portions towards each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Canon U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Charles George Hwang, Jacob Schieffelin Brauer, Alexander Altshuler, Aleksey Danilkin
  • Publication number: 20220105262
    Abstract: A medical device for infusing medical substances has activation buttons accessible on the exterior of the device housing. Activation buttons and corresponding electrical switches within the housing are configured to prevent inadvertent activation of the buttons and therefore inadvertent operation of the switches to initiate a process such as medical substance delivery to the user. The device employs overlap of respective time traces initiated by activation of the activation buttons to determine whether activation is intended and valid. These time traces do not have to be initiated simultaneously or in any particular sequence. The activation buttons can be elastomeric overmolded buttons set within cutouts in the housing, and, when depressed, make physical contact with respective switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Charles George HWANG, J. Richard GYORY, Joseph GORDON, Kenneth FOCHT, Stanislav TORGOVITSKY, Stacey J. LONGANECKER
  • Publication number: 20220039784
    Abstract: One or more apparatus and systems for articulated movement, particularly for an articulated medical device such as an endoscope or medical robot. The apparatus comprises an articulated movement portion with tendon control, a transition portion comprising actuation rods, springs, and distal stoppers, a conduit portion comprising lumen filled with air or hydraulic fluid; a translation portion comprising a proximal stopper; and a power unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Charles George Hwang, Matthew Michael Kincaid, Brian Ninni
  • Patent number: 11229737
    Abstract: A medical device for infusing medical substances has activation buttons accessible on the exterior of the device housing. Activation buttons and corresponding electrical switches within the housing are configured to prevent inadvertent activation of the buttons and therefore inadvertent operation of the switches to initiate a process such as medical substance delivery to the user. The device employs overlap of respective time traces initiated by activation of the activation buttons to determine whether activation is intended and valid. These time traces do not have to be initiated simultaneously or in any particular sequence. The activation buttons can be elastomeric overmolded buttons set within cutouts in the housing, and, when depressed, make physical contact with respective switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Charles George Hwang, J. Richard Gyory, Joseph Gordon, Kenneth Focht, Stanislav Torgovitsky, Stacey J. Longanecker
  • Publication number: 20210369366
    Abstract: A control system controls an endoscope probe in manual mode or robot mode. The system comprises a handle attached to the probe; a portable display controller connectable to the handle; a robotic controller in communication with the handle and/or the portable display controller; and a support platform to which the probe and the portable device controller are attachable according to control mode. In manual mode, the handle is detached from the platform and connected to the portable display controller such that the probe is manually navigated to a first position inside a lumen. In robot mode, the handle is attached to the platform such that the robotic controller cooperates with the handle to robotically navigate the probe to a second position inside the lumen. The portable display controller includes a control section for manipulating the probe and a display section for displaying images of the lumen acquired in both modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Charles George Hwang, Yolonda Lorig Colson, Hisashi Tsukada, Jacob Schieffelin Brauer
  • Publication number: 20210259794
    Abstract: An articulated medical device having a hollow core, capable of large degrees of maneuverability through small cavities to reach a target with minimal invasiveness, wherein the medical device is capable of manual and robotic manipulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Takahisa Kato, Eric W Halvorson, Matthew Michael Kincaid, Brian Ninni, Charles George Hwang, Yolonda Lorig Colson, Hisashi Tsukada
  • Publication number: 20210259521
    Abstract: A system configured to control an endoscope probe either in manual mode or in robotic mode. The system comprises: a handle at a proximal end of the probe; a handheld controller attachable to the handle; and a robotic controller in communication with the handle and/or the handheld controller. The handheld controller includes separate controls for the manual and robotic modes. In manual mode, the handheld controller combined with the handle and the probe is used to manually control insertion and actuation of the probe into a first location of a lumen. In robotic mode, the handheld controller is removed from the handle, and the robotic controller controls handle to robotically navigate the probe to a second location within the lumen. Attachment and detachment of handheld controller to the handle is such that only certain controls appropriate to a particular portion of a workflow are accessible to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventor: Charles George Hwang
  • Publication number: 20210186314
    Abstract: A dual endoscope system, comprising: a main endoscope having a first tubular shaft extending between proximal and distal ends; a secondary endoscope having a second tubular shaft with a distal portion bent with respect to the main endoscope; and a display device to display an image received from the main endoscope and/or the secondary endoscope. The main and secondary endoscopes are joined together along a length of the first and second tubular shafts and are configured to be simultaneously inserted into a lumen. The main endoscope is arranged to acquire a first image of a field of view inside the lumen, and the secondary endoscope is arranged to acquire a second image at an angle to the field of view. The display device displays the first image acquired by main endoscope and a graphic object depicting position and/or orientation of the secondary endoscope with respect to the main endoscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Charles George Hwang, Alexander Altshuler, James Hastings Houskeeper
  • Publication number: 20200315655
    Abstract: Medical guidance device capable of improving precision and accuracy of medical surgery by ensuring accurate and consistent placement of the medical guidance device, while further allowing for repeated use of the medical guidance device in a single setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Erin McLean Bitner, Morgan Carlson Rudolph, Katherine F. MacNamee, Ronald C. Kurz, JR., Lydia G. Olson, Charles George Hwang
  • Publication number: 20200313346
    Abstract: A connector apparatus configured to connect to a connection port in order to transfer data and/or electrical power between two electronic devices or between an electronic device and an electrical outlet, the connector apparatus comprising: a first part configured to connect to the connection port by friction; two or more coupling portions which can engage or disengage when a force is applied to at least one of the coupling portions; and a retracting mechanism which pulls the two or more coupling portions towards each other when the coupling portions are separated by a separating force larger than a threshold force; wherein the first part remains connected to the connection port, while the two or more coupling portions engage or disengage when the force is applied and/or while the retracting mechanism pulls the two or more coupling portions towards each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Charles George Hwang, Jacob Schieffelin Brauer, Alexander Altshuler, Aleksey Danilkin
  • Patent number: D878552
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Charles George Hwang, John Prudden, Christopher Kovalchick, Russell Cole, Andrew Allegretti, Jeffrey Reed, Nir Swenson, Gail Siewiorek, Joseph Iskandar, Alessandro Pizzochero, J. Richard Gyory, Justin Cumming, Kurt Maw
  • Patent number: D878553
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Charles George Hwang, John Prudden, Christopher Kovalchick, Russell Cole, Andrew Allegretti, Jeffrey Reed, Nir Swenson, Gail Siewiorek, Joseph Iskandar, Alessandro Pizzochero, J. Richard Gyory, Justin Cumming, Kurt Maw