Patents by Inventor Constantinos Nikou

Constantinos Nikou 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: 11478256
    Abstract: A tool for surgically removing tissue of a patient includes a body, a flexible rotating shaft that drives a distal cutting tool and is drivingly coupled to a motor supported by bearings in a flexible tubular sheath to allow the shaft to rotate and be shifted longitudinally. Steering cables in the sheath control the flexion of the sheath. A processor controls the operation to ensure that the cutting tool operates within a predetermined resection area, controlling a combination of motor speed, sheath flexion, and shaft retraction to assist surgery in the resection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Constantinos Nikou, Christoph Kolja Boese
  • Patent number: 11471169
    Abstract: A tool for surgically removing tissue of a patient includes a body, a flexible rotating shaft that drives a distal cutting tool and is drivingly coupled to a motor supported by bearings in a flexible tubular sheath to allow the shaft to rotate and be shifted longitudinally. Steering cables in the sheath control the flexion of the sheath. A processor controls the operation to ensure that the cutting tool operates within a predetermined resection area, controlling a combination of motor speed, sheath flexion, and shaft retraction to assist surgery in the resection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Constantinos Nikou, Christoph Kolja Boese
  • Patent number: 11471170
    Abstract: A tool for surgically removing tissue of a patient includes a body, a flexible rotating shaft that drives a distal cutting tool and is drivingly coupled to a motor supported by bearings in a flexible tubular sheath to allow the shaft to rotate and be shifted longitudinally. Steering cables in the sheath control the flexion of the sheath. A processor controls the operation to ensure that the cutting tool operates within a predetermined resection area, controlling a combination of motor speed, sheath flexion, and shaft retraction to assist surgery in the resection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Constantinos Nikou, Christoph Kolja Boese
  • Publication number: 20220265355
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and devices for performing computer-aided surgical navigation. Specifically, a system for augmented reality assisted trauma fixation, which displays various views of one or more tracked items, including a guide device, a fixation plate, a surgical tracking device, and an augmented reality display. The guide device having a tip, a handle, and a fixation guide. The fixation plate having at least one aperture designed to receive the tip of the guide. The surgical tracking device configured to track one or more trackable objects associated with the guide, fixation plate, and display, and thereby calculate a location of a fixation device, such as a screw, relative to the fixation plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Joseph Michael FERRANTE, Charles Christopher HEOTIS, Namal NAWANA, Constantinos NIKOU, Daniel FARLEY, Brian W. MCKINNON
  • Publication number: 20220233258
    Abstract: Methods and systems of placing a medical fastener at a predetermined depth in a bone are described. A surgical tool can include an attachment assembly configured to interchangeably engage a medical fastener and a cutting element or bone removal tool and a drive assembly coupled to the attachment assembly. The attachment assembly can be configured to automatically release the medical fastener in response to the drive assembly reaching its end or distal-most position to place the medical fastener at a predetermined depth within the bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Samuel C. DUMPE, Brett J. BELL, Constantinos NIKOU, Gene Edward AUSTIN
  • Patent number: 11389304
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and computer-implemented and surgical methods for providing and/or using optical, visual, and/or audio feedback when using a surgical instrument, such as to position and orient an implant are disclosed. A device includes a frame and a C-ring. The frame includes a fixation component optionally located at a first end and a tracking array optionally located at an opposing second end. The fixation component can be positioned at or near a center axis of the C-ring and is configured to releasably engage a surgical instrument. The tracking array may include tracking elements, such as reflective surfaces. The C-ring may include a plurality of light sources optionally arranged in a radial pattern. The light sources may be selectively illuminated based on a determined realignment to provide optical feedback with respect to at least a direction in which the surgical instrument should be moved to achieve a planned alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc., Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited
    Inventor: Constantinos Nikou
  • Publication number: 20220211454
    Abstract: Systems and methods for navigation and control of an implant positioning device are discussed. For example, a method can include operations for accessing an implant plan, establishing a 3-D coordinate system, receiving tracking information, generating control signals, and sending the control signals to the implant positioning device. The implant plan can include location and orientation data describing an ideal implant location and orientation in reference to an implant host. The 3-D coordinate system can provide spatial orientation for the implant positioning device and the implant host. The tracking information can identify current location and orientation data within the 3-D coordinate system for the implant positioning device and implant host during a procedure. The control signals can control operation of the implant positioning device to assist a surgeon in positioning the implant according to the implant plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Constantinos NIKOU, Branislav JARAMAZ, Benjamin Oliver MCCANDLESS
  • Publication number: 20220211451
    Abstract: An implant positioning device and a method of using the device are described. The positioning device includes an end effector configured to contact an implant component during a surgical procedure, the end effector connected to an actuator for imparting an impact force to the implant component during the surgical procedure, a motor mechanically connected to the actuator and configured to move the actuator to produce one or more impacts on the end effector, thereby imparting the impact force to the implant component, and a control circuit coupled to the motor. The control circuit is configured to generate at least one motor control signal, transfer the at least one motor control signal to the motor, and, as a result of the at least one motor control signal, cause the motor to move the actuator to produce one or more impacts on the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Constantinos NIKOU, Branislav JARAMAZ, Benjamin Oliver MCCANDLESS
  • Publication number: 20220183762
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system for utilizing one or more surgical lighting systems to improve/expand the tracking capability of a computer-assisted surgical system. The system may include a surgical light having a handle attachment that can be removed and a modular tracking device that can be attached to the surgical light. The modular tracking device can then track various items in the operating theater and communicate position information of tracked items to a computer-assisted surgical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventor: Constantinos NIKOU
  • Publication number: 20220183770
    Abstract: A system for tracking a hand within a surgical environment is disclosed. The system comprises a hand covering including an opening to receive the hand and a plurality of trackable regions that each include at least one tracking feature. The system further comprises a tracking unit including one or more sensors configured to detect a location of each tracking feature. The system further comprises a processor configured to cause the system to receive the location of each tracking feature from the tracking unit, determine a position and an orientation of each trackable region of the hand covering, and calculate an overall position, orientation, and/or pose of the hand. Various actions or settings may be controlled within the surgical workspace by utilizing particular gestures or movements that are identified by the system via the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventor: Constantinos NIKOU
  • Patent number: 11337762
    Abstract: A method for creating a patient-specific surgical plan includes receiving one or more pre-operative images of a patient having one or more infirmities affecting one or more anatomical joints, three-dimensional anatomical model of the one or more anatomical joints is created based on the one or more pre-operative images. One or more transfer functions and the three-dimensional anatomical model are used to identify a patient-specific implantation geometry that corrects the one or more infirmities. The transfer functions model performance of the one or more anatomical joints as a function of anatomical geometry and anatomical implantation features, surgical plan comprising the patient-specific implantation geometry may then be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc., Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Brian W. McKinnon, Ruxandra Cristiana Marinescu Tanasoca, Randy C. Winebarger, William L. Bowers, Jr., James Bennett Wiebe, III, Nathaniel Milton Lenz, Sean M. Haddock, Ryan Lloyd Landon, Shawn P. McGuan, Constantinos Nikou, Elizabeth Duxbury
  • Publication number: 20220151705
    Abstract: Computer-assisted surgical systems and methods for assisting with tool alignment using one or more mixed reality displays are disclosed. The system may provide for obtaining an existing surgical plan that may include specific patient information and data about the surgical procedure. The system may receive from a tracking system, locational information of a patient bone and determine, based on the surgical plan and the locational information, a preferred location and angle for use of a surgical device. Once determined, the system may display on a mixed reality display one or more visual indicators associated with the preferred location and the preferred angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Constantinos NIKOU, Jason CIPRIANI
  • Publication number: 20220151704
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to improved systems and methods for performing computer-aided surgical navigation using augmented reality. A tracking device having one or more optically detectable points is mounted to a patient via surgical hardware. The detectable points are identified by a sensor. One or more augmented reality marker assemblies that each have an augmented reality fiducial marker or symbol are also attached to the tracking device,. A computer system generates augmented reality information and transmits it to a display screen, such as a near-eye augmented reality device, for display thereon. The near-eye augmented reality device also has an image capture device capable of capturing the augmented reality symbols, and thereby determining a three-dimensional orientation associated with the tracking device, augmented reality markers, and a user wearing the near-eye reality device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventor: Constantinos NIKOU
  • Publication number: 20220125535
    Abstract: A surgical robotic arm (520) for use with an external vision system (512) includes onboard control and at least four degrees of articulation. The robotic arm (520) can position various tools (534) in the surgical theatre responsive to positional feedback from the vision system (512). Exemplary tools (534) include a handpiece (519) that includes a motorized burr or saw, a cutting guide (542) for a handheld saw, and a laser to actively define a resection area for a surgeon. The tool (534) or a reference point on the arm (520) relative to the tool (534) includes fiducial marks to register the position of the tool (534) with the vision system (512). Exemplary tools (534) are especially suited for knee and hip arthroplasty and can be moved under processor or manual control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Sied JANNA, Alisha BERGIN, David DAVIDSON, Dinendra RAMACHANDRAN, Kavya SURESH, Rishii Nandhan KONGANAPURAM, Constantinos NIKOU, Manogna GHALI, Riddhit MITRA, Brian W. MCKINNON, Branislav JARAMAZ
  • Publication number: 20220117669
    Abstract: An augmented reality system and method for assisting surgical staff during an arthroplasty procedure includes a camera system configured to capture images of a surgical scene and a processor configured to determine from the images location and orientation information about one or more patient anatomical features and to maintain a three-dimensional model of these anatomical features within the surgical scene. The system models the field-of-view of augmented reality headsets worn by surgical staff, and maps this to the anatomical model, allowing the system to overlay relevant information to the user about particular anatomical features in the surgical plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Constantinos NIKOU, Branislav JARAMAZ, Cedric CORPA DE LA FUENTE, Daniel FARLEY
  • Patent number: 11298197
    Abstract: Methods and systems of placing a medical fastener at a predetermined depth in a bone are described. A surgical tool can include an attachment assembly configured to interchangeably engage a medical fastener and a cutting element or bone removal tool and a drive assembly coupled to the attachment assembly. The attachment assembly can be configured to automatically release the medical fastener in response to the drive assembly reaching its end or distal-most position to place the medical fastener at a predetermined depth within the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc., Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte, Limited
    Inventors: Samuel C. Dumpe, Brett J. Bell, Constantinos Nikou, Gene Edward Austin
  • Patent number: 11284951
    Abstract: Systems and methods for navigation and control of an implant positioning device are discussed. For example, a method can include operations for accessing an implant plan, establishing a 3-D coordinate system, receiving tracking information, generating control signals, and sending the control signals to the implant positioning device. The implant plan can include location and orientation data describing an ideal implant location and orientation in reference to an implant host. The 3-D coordinate system can provide spatial orientation for the implant positioning device and the implant host. The tracking information can identify current location and orientation data within the 3-D coordinate system for the implant positioning device and implant host during a procedure. The control signals can control operation of the implant positioning device to assist a surgeon in positioning the implant according to the implant plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Blue Belt Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Constantinos Nikou, Branislav Jaramaz, Benjamin Oliver McCandless
  • Publication number: 20220079678
    Abstract: A method for creating a patient-specific surgical plan includes receiving one or more pre-operative images of a patient having one or more infirmities affecting one or more anatomical joints. three-dimensional anatomical model of the one or more anatomical joints is created based on the one or more pre-operative images. One or more transfer functions and the three-dimensional anatomical model are used to identify a patient-specific implantation geometry that corrects the one or more infirmities. The transfer functions model performance of the one or more anatomical joints as a function of anatomical geometry and anatomical implantation features. surgical plan comprising the patient-specific implantation geometry may then be displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Brian W. MCKINNON, Ruxandra Cristiana MARINESCU TANASOCA, Randy C. WINEBARGER, William L. BOWERS, Jr., James Bennett WIEBE, III, Nathaniel Milton LENZ, Sean M. HADDOCK, Ryan Lloyd LANDON, Shawn P. MCGUAN, Constantinos NIKOU, Elizabeth DUXBURY
  • Patent number: 11272989
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for an improved minimally invasive surgical tracking system. As disclosed herein, a computer assisted surgical system (CASS) may include an internal tracking device that obtains relative locational data of one or more surgical tools not trackable via a global tracking system. The internal tracking device having an external portion that is trackable global tracking system. Based on the known characteristics and location of the internal tracking device the CASS determines the location of the one or more surgical tools relative to the patient and other objects in the operating room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc., Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Branislav Jaramaz, Constantinos Nikou
  • Publication number: 20220061856
    Abstract: A system, method, and device for drilling holes (420, 422) in a target bone (414) are described. For example, the system includes a cutting tool (330), a navigation system (310) configured to track a position of the cutting tool, and a computer-assisted surgical (CAS) system (340) operably connected to the cutting tool and the navigation system. The CAS system can be configured to determine an implant component (100) to be implanted on the target bone (414), determine a cutting block position for preparing the target bone to receive the implant component, determine a plurality of pin locations (420, 422) for securing the cutting block (416) based upon the determined cutting block position, and selectively provide instructions to the cutting tool to cut a hole when the cutting tool is in a position adjacent to at least one of the determined plurality of pin locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Branislav JARAMAZ, Constantinos NIKOU