Patents by Inventor Christine Wei Hsien McElhaney
Christine Wei Hsien McElhaney 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).
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Patent number: 9808140Abstract: A system for determining the shape of a surgical instrument includes an elongate instrument body having a selectively steerable distal tip, a pair of automatically controlled segments proximal to the selectively steerable distal tip, and a joint that couples the pair of adjacent automatically controlled segments together. An actuator changes an angle of the joint and a position encoder provides information associated with the joint angle. A controller receives the information associated with the angle of the joint and generates a three dimensional model of a shape of the instrument. A method for determining the three dimensional shape of an instrument includes providing axial position data to a controller, providing angular position data to the controller from a respective segment controller, and generating a three-dimensional model of a shape of said instrument using the axial position data and the angular position data.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2014Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Amir Belson, Paul DeWitt Frey, Christine Wei Hsien McElhaney, James Craig Milroy, Robert Matthew Ohline, Joseph M. Tartaglia
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Patent number: 9044553Abstract: A pharmaceutical delivery apparatus with an automatic syringe retraction following a manually controlled injection. The apparatus includes a housing (28), a syringe carriage (90), a medication-filled syringe (70) held within the carriage, the syringe needle tip being disposed within the housing in a first position and projecting from the housing beyond the housing proximal end for insertion into an injection site in a second position, a manually shiftable plunger (130), means on the carriage and the housing and the plunger for causing the carriage to advance from the first position to the second position and for injecting medicine from the syringe when the plunger is manually plunged proximally toward the housing, and means on the carriage and the plunger for causing the carriage to retract from the second position to a position at which the needle tip is disposed within the housing when the plunger shifts distally.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Eli Lilly and CompanyInventors: Adrian Benton James, Brian Joseph Mason, Christine Wei Hsien McElhaney
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Publication number: 20150005576Abstract: A system for determining the shape of a surgical instrument includes an elongate instrument body having a selectively steerable distal tip, a pair of automatically controlled segments proximal to the selectively steerable distal tip, and a joint that couples the pair of adjacent automatically controlled segments together. An actuator changes an angle of the joint and a position encoder provides information associated with the joint angle. A controller receives the information associated with the angle of the joint and generates a three dimensional model of a shape of the instrument. A method for determining the three dimensional shape of an instrument includes providing axial position data to a controller, providing angular position data to the controller from a respective segment controller, and generating a three-dimensional model of a shape of said instrument using the axial position data and the angular position data.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Amir BELSON, Paul DeWitt FREY, Christine Wei Hsien MCELHANEY, James Craig MILROY, Robert Matthew OHLINE, Joseph M. TARTAGLIA
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Patent number: 8845524Abstract: A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body allowing it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through or around and between organs within the body.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2010Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Amir Belson, Paul DeWitt Frey, Christine Wei Hsien McElhaney, James Craig Milroy, Robert Matthew Ohline, Joseph M. Tartaglia
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Publication number: 20120022466Abstract: A pharmaceutical delivery apparatus with an automatic syringe retraction following a manually controlled injection. The apparatus includes a housing (28), a syringe carriage (90), a medication-filled syringe (70) held within the carriage, the syringe needle tip being disposed within the housing in a first position and projecting from the housing beyond the housing proximal end for insertion into an injection site in a second position, a manually shiftable plunger (130), means on the carriage and the housing and the plunger for causing the carriage to advance from the first position to the second position and for injecting medicine from the syringe when the plunger is manually plunged proximally toward the housing, and means on the carriage and the plunger for causing the carriage to retract from the second position to a position at which the needle tip is disposed within the housing when the plunger shifts distally.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: ELI LILLY AND COMPANYInventors: Adrian Benton James, Brian Joseph Mason, Christine Wei Hsien McElhaney
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Publication number: 20110065993Abstract: A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body allowing it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through or around and between organs within the body.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Inventors: Amir Belson, Paul DeWitt Frey, Christine Wei Hsien McElhaney, James Craig Milroy, Robert Matthew Ohline, Joseph M. Tartaglia
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Patent number: 7087013Abstract: A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body allowing it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through or around and between organs within the body.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2003Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: NeoGuide Systems, Inc.Inventors: Amir Belson, Paul DeWitt Frey, Christine Wei Hsien McElhaney, James Craig Milroy, Robert Matthew Ohline, Joseph M. Tartaglia
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Publication number: 20040019254Abstract: A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body allowing it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through or around and between organs within the body.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2003Publication date: January 29, 2004Inventors: Amir Belson, Paul DeWitt Frey, Christine Wei Hsien McElhaney, James Craig Milroy, Robert Matthew Ohline, Joseph M. Tartaglia
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Publication number: 20030191367Abstract: A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body allowing it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through or around and between organs within the body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2003Publication date: October 9, 2003Inventors: Amir Belson, Paul DeWitt Frey, Christine Wei Hsien McElhaney, James Craig Milroy, Robert Matthew Ohline, Joseph M. Tartaglia
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Patent number: 6610007Abstract: A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body allowing it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through or around and between organs within the body.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2001Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: Neoguide Systems, Inc.Inventors: Amir Belson, Paul DeWitt Frey, Christine Wei Hsien Mcelhaney, James Craig Milroy, Robert Matthew Ohline, Joseph M. Tartaglia
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Publication number: 20020062062Abstract: A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body allowing it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through or around and between organs within the body.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2001Publication date: May 23, 2002Inventors: Amir Belson, Paul DeWitt Frey, Christine Wei Hsien Mcelhaney, James Craig Milroy, Robert Matthew Ohline, Joseph M. Tartaglia