Patents by Inventor Christopher Maurer

Christopher Maurer 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: 20070123855
    Abstract: A bipolar surgical instrument that includes opposing grips that can engage the tissue. A current is delivered from an electrosurgical power source to electrodes disposed on the grips to cauterize the tissue. The electrode configurations provide efficient cauterization of the tissue. In some embodiments, the positive and negative electrodes will be offset from each other to prevent shorting and to provide a thin line of coagulation heating to the gripped tissue. In some embodiments the electrodes are removably coupled to the grips through nonconductive sleeves. In some embodiments, the first electrode is disposed in a groove and the second electrode is disposed on a boss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical INC.
    Inventors: Tracey Morley, Daniel Wallace, Christopher Maurer
  • Publication number: 20070096887
    Abstract: A first vehicle includes a first device for receiving global positioning system (GPS) signals, generating at least one of a first time, position and velocity signal based on the received GPS signals, generating at least one of a second time, position and velocity signal based upon the motion of the first vehicle, comparing the first and second signals, generating a corrected first vehicle signal, and transmitting the corrected first vehicle signal. A second vehicle includes a second device for receiving GPS signals, generating at least one of a third time, position and velocity based on the received GPS signals, generating at least one of a fourth time, position and velocity based on the motion of the second vehicle, comparing the third and fourth signals, generating a corrected second vehicle signal, receiving the corrected first signal, and calculating from the corrected first and second vehicle signals the likelihood that the positions of the first and second vehicles will coincide at some time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Dale Oexmann, Kevin Beto, Matthew Lueck, Christopher Maurer, Shane Stanford
  • Publication number: 20060001530
    Abstract: A first vehicle includes a first device for receiving global positioning system (GPS) signals, generating at least one of a first time, position and velocity signal based on the received GPS signals, generating at least one of a second time, position and velocity signal based upon the motion of the first vehicle, comparing the first and second signals, generating a corrected first vehicle signal, and transmitting the corrected first vehicle signal. A second vehicle includes a second device for receiving GPS signals, generating at least one of a third time, position and velocity based on the received GPS signals, generating at least one of a fourth time, position and velocity based on the motion of the second vehicle, comparing the third and fourth signals, generating a corrected second vehicle signal, receiving the corrected first signal, and calculating from the corrected first and second vehicle signals the likelihood that the positions of the first and second vehicles will coincide at some time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Dale Oexmann, Kevin Beto, Matthew Lueck, Christopher Maurer, Shane Stanford
  • Publication number: 20050240178
    Abstract: A bipolar surgical instrument that includes opposing grips that can engage the tissue. A current is delivered from an electrosurgical power source to electrodes disposed on the grips to cauterize the tissue. The electrode configurations provide efficient cauterization of the tissue. In some embodiments, the positive and negative electrodes will be offset from each other to prevent shorting and to provide a thin line of coagulation heating to the gripped tissue. In some embodiments the electrodes are removably coupled to the grips through nonconductive sleeves. In some embodiments, the first electrode is disposed in a groove and the second electrode is disposed on a boss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Tracey Morley, Daniel Wallace, Christopher Maurer
  • Publication number: 20050090816
    Abstract: An electrosurgical device is provided which comprises a distal portion having a bipolar electrode configuration and at least one fluid outlet opening. The device further includes a first electrode tip spaced from a second electrode tip with the first electrode tip to serve as a first pole of the bipolar electrode configuration and the second electrode tip to serve as a second pole of the bipolar electrode configuration. The first and second electrode tips are configured to slide over a tissue surface in the presence of a fluid provided from the fluid outlet opening and an electrical current provided from the electrode tips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Michael McClurken, David Lipson, Arnold Oyola, Jonathan Wilson, Christopher Maurer, Robert Luzzi, Roger Greeley
  • Publication number: 20050055049
    Abstract: An apparatus for closing an aperture comprising a horizontally extending member and elongated strand portions having extremity portions curving inwardly. The extremity portions have shape memory characteristics seeking to cause the extremity portions to curl to retain tissue engaged thereby when delivered from a delivery member. A central portion extends between the horizontally extending member and the elongated strand portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: James McGuckin, Christopher Maurer, Walter Peters