Patents by Inventor Christopher R. Burns

Christopher R. Burns 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: 20250227410
    Abstract: A communication assembly of a medical system includes a cover plate and a circuit board spatially separated from the cover plate by a gap. One or more point light sources and a plurality of microphone sets are electrically coupled to the circuit board and disposed between the circuit board and the cover plate. A light guide is disposed at least partially between the circuit board and the cover plate and provides at least one light path within the gap to direct and diffuse light. A plurality of gaskets define an audio passageway extending across the gap from a first seal that seals to a microphone of one of the microphone sets to a second seal that seals around an audio opening defined in the cover plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2025
    Publication date: July 10, 2025
    Inventors: Kirk Nangreaves, Catherine Porter, Mark Zimmer, Yong Mo Moon, Christopher R. Burns, Christian Michael Lueke, Stephan Senkbeil, Robert F. Young
  • Patent number: 12354739
    Abstract: A device pairing system is configured to determine that an auxiliary device detects an ultrasonic beacon emitted by a beacon generator and identify, in response to the determination that the auxiliary device detects the ultrasonic beacon, a medical system associated with the ultrasonic beacon. The auxiliary device is further configured to communicatively pair, in response to the identification of the medical system, the auxiliary device with the identified medical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Foelsch, Mahdi Azizian, Alan S Bradley, Christopher R. Burns, Liron Leist, A. Jonathan McLeod, Wen Pei Liu
  • Publication number: 20250095842
    Abstract: An application management system may provide, during a medical session and while a user device detects a beacon associated with a medical system, a user of the user device with access to a first set of medical session features of an application executed by the user device. The application management system may also provide, while the user device does not detect the beacon, the user with access to a second set of medical session features of the application, the second set of medical session features being different from the first set of medical session features. The first set of medical session features comprises a medical system interaction feature configured to allow interaction, by the user of the user device, with content generated by the medical system during the medical session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Mahdi Azizian, Christopher R. Burns, Boris Foelsch, Liron Leist
  • Patent number: 12191031
    Abstract: An application management system may provide, while a user device detects a beacon associated with a medical system, a user of the user device with access to a first set of medical session features of an application executed by the user device. The application management system may also provide, while the user device does not detect the beacon, the user with access to a second set of medical session features of the application, the second set of medical session features being different from the first set of medical session features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahdi Azizian, Christopher R. Burns, Boris Foelsch, Liron Leist
  • Patent number: 12164684
    Abstract: A system comprises a display configured to present a graphical user interface including a viewing area and one or more user interface elements. The system also comprises a gaze tracking device configured to detect a change in a gaze of a user while the user views the graphical user interface presented on the display. The system also comprises an audio input device configured to receive audio information. The system also comprises one or more processors configured to process the audio information received at the audio input device in accordance with a first mode to direct the received audio information as audio output to one or more audio output devices; and in response to the gaze tracking device detecting the change in the gaze of the user, process the received audio information in accordance with a second mode, the second mode being distinct from the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Joseph M. Arsanious, Christopher R. Burns, Heath Feather
  • Publication number: 20240282436
    Abstract: A beacon-based metrics system tracks, based on medical session data logged by a computer-assisted surgical system, events associated with the computer-assisted surgical system; determines that a user device that is not communicatively paired with the computer-assisted surgical system detects a beacon associated with the computer-assisted surgical system; and generates medical facility metrics data representative of the tracked events. Generating the medical facility metrics data includes identifying a set of tracked events that occur during a time period in which the user device detects the beacon and associating information associated with the user device with the set of tracked events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Mahdi Azizian, Christopher R. Burns, Boris Foelsch, Liron Leist
  • Patent number: 12027257
    Abstract: A beacon-based metrics system may track events associated with a user device located within a medical facility, determine that the user device detects a beacon emitted by a beacon generator located within the medical facility, and identify information included in the beacon. The beacon-based metrics system may generate medical facility metrics data representative of the tracked events by identifying a set of tracked events that occur during a time period in which the user device detects the beacon and associating the information included in the beacon with the set of tracked events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahdi Azizian, Christopher R. Burns, Boris Foelsch, Liron Leist
  • Publication number: 20240138924
    Abstract: A first ultrasonic beacon transmission includes a first pilot signal and a first encoded information signal. An apparatus may detect the first pilot signal and decode, based on the first pilot signal, the first encoded information signal to identify a medical system associated with the first ultrasonic beacon transmission. Based on the first encoded information signal, the apparatus may enter into a first pairing state in which the apparatus is communicatively paired with the medical system. While the apparatus is operating in the first pairing state and within a threshold time of entering the first pairing state, the apparatus may detect a second pilot signal included in a second ultrasonic beacon transmission, which also includes a second encoded information signal. Based on the detection of the second pilot signal within the threshold time, the apparatus may continue operating in the first pairing state without decoding the second encoded information signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: A. Jonathan McLeod, Mahdi Azizian, Alan S Bradley, Christopher R. Burns, Wen Pei Liu
  • Publication number: 20230400920
    Abstract: A system comprises a display configured to present a graphical user interface including a viewing area and one or more user interface elements. The system also comprises a gaze tracking device configured to detect a change in a gaze of a user while the user views the graphical user interface presented on the display. The system also comprises an audio input device configured to receive audio information. The system also comprises one or more processors configured to process the audio information received at the audio input device in accordance with a first mode to direct the received audio information as audio output to one or more audio output devices; and in response to the gaze tracking device detecting the change in the gaze of the user, process the received audio information in accordance with a second mode, the second mode being distinct from the first mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Joseph M. Arsanious, Christopher R. Burns, Heath Feather
  • Patent number: 11726559
    Abstract: A method comprises displaying an image of an environment on a graphical user interface, the environment including personnel elements visible in the image, detecting a gaze of a user directed at an image of a first personnel element corresponding to a first information conveyor of a plurality of information conveyors, changing a state of the first information conveyor corresponding to the first personnel element from a passive state to a listening state in response to detecting that the gaze is directed at the image of the first personnel element, wherein the first information conveyor includes a first audio output device, receiving audio information through an audio input device, and when the state of the first information conveyor is changed to the listening state, controlling an output operation, wherein the output operation includes directing the received audio information as an audio output through the first audio output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Joseph M. Arsanious, Christopher R. Burns, Heath Feather
  • Publication number: 20230057639
    Abstract: A device pairing system is configured to determine that an auxiliary device detects an ultrasonic beacon emitted by a beacon generator and identify, in response to the determination that the auxiliary device detects the ultrasonic beacon, a medical system associated with the ultrasonic beacon. The auxiliary device is further configured to communicatively pair, in response to the identification of the medical system, the auxiliary device with the identified medical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Boris Foelsch, Mahdi Azizian, Alan S Bradley, Christopher R. Burns, Liron Leist, A. Jonathan McLeod, Wen Pei Liu
  • Publication number: 20210251701
    Abstract: A method of estimating a pose of a surgical table comprises reading one or more fiducial markers on a base of the surgical table with a camera mounted to a manipulator assembly adjacent the surgical table. The surgical table includes a substrate and a support structure supporting the substrate. The substrate has a support surface. The support structure is movable such that the support surface of the substrate is positionable along one or more degrees of freedom (DOF).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick O'Grady, Christopher R. Burns, Simon P. DiMaio, Jason Hemphill, Brian D. Hoffman, Rodney Vance, Tao Zhao
  • Publication number: 20210158947
    Abstract: A beacon-based metrics system may track events associated with a user device located within a medical facility, determine that the user device detects a beacon emitted by a beacon generator located within the medical facility, and identify information included in the beacon. The beacon-based metrics system may generate medical facility metrics data representative of the tracked events by identifying a set of tracked events that occur during a time period in which the user device detects the beacon and associating the information included in the beacon with the set of tracked events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Mahdi Azizian, Christopher R. Burns, Boris Foelsch, Liron Leist
  • Publication number: 20210158955
    Abstract: An application management system may provide, while a user device detects a beacon associated with a medical system, a user of the user device with access to a first set of medical session features of an application executed by the user device. The application management system may also provide, while the user device does not detect the beacon, the user with access to a second set of medical session features of the application, the second set of medical session features being different from the first set of medical session features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Mahdi Azizian, Christopher R. Burns, Boris Foelsch, Liron Leist
  • Patent number: 11007017
    Abstract: Methods and systems for registering a manipulator assembly and independently positionable surgical table are provided herein. In one aspect, methods include reading a fiducial marker on the surgical table with a sensor associated with the manipulator assembly and localizing the manipulator assembly and surgical table with respect to a common reference frame. Methods may further include translating a 3D configuration of the surgical table to a 2D frame of reference so as to estimate a 3D pose of the surgical table relative the manipulator assembly for use in coordinating movements therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick O'Grady, Tao Zhao, Christopher R. Burns, Jason Hemphill, Brian D. Hoffman, Simon P. Dimaio, Rodney Vance
  • Publication number: 20200152190
    Abstract: A teleoperational surgical system comprises an operator input system and a teleoperational manipulator configured for operation by the operator input system. The teleoperational manipulator is coupled to a medical instrument in a surgical environment. The teleoperational surgical system also includes a processing unit including one or more processors. The processing unit is configured to recognize a voice communication, evaluate the voice communication in the context of a plurality of surgical environment state variables, determine a response to the voice communication based on at least one of the plurality of surgical environment state variables, and provide a command to implement the response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Joseph M. Arsanious, Christopher R. Burns
  • Publication number: 20190324533
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for gaze-based communications. A gaze of a user is detected being directed at an element in a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface is displayed on a display system located in an environment. A state of the element is changed in response to detecting that the gaze is directed at the element. Audio information is received through an audio input device. An output operation is controlled based on the state of the element such that the audio information received through the audio input device is directed to an information conveyor corresponding to the element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Joseph M. Arsanious, Christopher R. Burns, Heath Feather
  • Publication number: 20190192233
    Abstract: Methods and systems for registering a manipulator assembly and independently positionable surgical table are provided herein. In one aspect, methods include reading a fiducial marker on the surgical table with a sensor associated with the manipulator assembly and localizing the manipulator assembly and surgical table with respect to a common reference frame. Methods may further include translating a 3D configuration of the surgical table to a 2D frame of reference so as to estimate a 3D pose of the surgical table relative the manipulator assembly for use in coordinating movements therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Patrick O'Grady, Tao Zhao, Christopher R. Burns, Jason Hemphill, Brian D. Hoffman, Simon P. Dimaio, Rodney Vance
  • Patent number: 10258414
    Abstract: Methods and systems for registering a manipulator assembly and independently positionable surgical table are provided herein. In one aspect, methods include reading a fiducial marker on the surgical table with a sensor associated with the manipulator assembly and localizing the manipulator assembly and surgical table with respect to a common reference frame. Methods may further include translating a 3D configuration of the surgical table to a 2D frame of reference so as to estimate a 3D pose of the surgical table relative the manipulator assembly for use in coordinating movements therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick O'Grady, Tao Zhao, Christopher R. Burns, Jason Hemphill, Brian D. Hoffman, Simon P. Dimaio, Rodney Vance
  • Patent number: 9446517
    Abstract: A robotic system has arms, arm processors, arm supervisor, and system supervisor. Each arm includes nodes for controlling motors in the arm. Each node, including each arm processor, detects faults affecting the node, places the node into a safe state upon detecting a fault, propagates a fault notification, diagnoses the fault and classifies it, and sends an error message to the supervisor processor. The arm supervisor may detect faults affecting an arm and also perform fault reaction activities. The system supervisor handles the fault as either a system or local fault depending upon its class. For system faults, a fault notification is sent to the arm processors of non-failed arms so that the non-failed arms are placed in the safe state. For local faults, a degraded operation option is provided to a user and if the fault is classified as recoverable, a recovery option is provided to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Burns, Vaughn Fuelling, Gregory K. Toth, Akash Patel