Patents by Inventor Edmund A. TAM

Edmund A. TAM 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: 11889982
    Abstract: A system may comprise a first catheter having a first steerable segment and a second catheter disposed within the first catheter. The second catheter may have a second steerable segment. The system may also comprise an imaging element supported at a distal end of the second catheter, a coil reference sensor supported at a distal portion of the second catheter, and a processor in electrical communication with the coil reference sensor. The processor may be configured to determine a position of a distal portion of the first catheter with reference to the coil reference sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Vahid Saadat, Ruey-Feng Peh, Edmund A. Tam
  • Publication number: 20240032776
    Abstract: Precision control systems for tissue visualization and manipulation assemblies are described herein where such devices may utilize a variety of apparatus and methods for facilitating advancement, articulation, control, navigation, etc. of systems which may be used to visual and/or treat tissue regions. Additionally, methods and devices for enhancing navigation of the device through a patient body are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Ruey-Feng Peh, Vahid Saadat, Edmund A. Tam
  • Patent number: 11819190
    Abstract: A tissue visualization system comprises a flexible elongate shaft through which a lumen extends. The system also comprises a pliable visualization device coupled to a distal portion of the flexible elongate shaft. The pliable visualization device includes a chamber configured to receive a fluid. The system also comprises a piercing instrument configured to extend through the lumen and to penetrate a surface of the pliable visualization device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David Miller, Zachary J. Malchano, Ruey-Feng Peh, Christopher A. Rothe, Vahid Saadat, Edmund Tam, Aseem K. Thakur
  • Patent number: 11779195
    Abstract: A robotic assembly comprises a deployment catheter including a steerable distal region and further comprises a balloon assembly coupled to the steerable distal region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Ruey-Feng Peh, Vahid Saadat, Edmund A. Tam
  • Publication number: 20230107726
    Abstract: Off-axis visualization systems are described herein which facilitate the deployment, visualization, and retraction of an imaging element from a catheter. Such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration as well as an imaging element, such as a CCD or CMOS imager, which may be deployed from a low profile configuration into a position which is off-axis relative to a longitudinal axis of the deployment catheter and/or imaging hood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: VAHID SAADAT, Ruey-Feng Peh, Chris A. Rothe, Edmund Tam
  • Patent number: 11559188
    Abstract: A system for visualizing a tissue region of interest comprises a deployment catheter defining a lumen and a hood coupled to and extending distally from the deployment catheter. The hood has a low-profile configuration within a delivery sheath and a deployed configuration when extended distally of the delivery sheath. The hood in the deployed configuration defines an open area in fluid communication with the lumen. A distal portion of the deployment catheter extends into the open area. An imaging element is coupled to an imager support member. When in the deployed configuration, the imaging element is configured to extend distally of the distal portion while the imager support member extends within the deployment catheter. The imaging element comprises a tapered surface and the deployment catheter comprises a complementary tapered surface. Retraction of the imaging element causes the imaging element to shift radially outward from a longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Vahid Saadat, Ruey-Feng Peh, Chris A. Rothe, Edmund Tam
  • Publication number: 20230000359
    Abstract: A system may comprise a first catheter having a first steerable segment and a second catheter disposed within the first catheter. The second catheter may have a second steerable segment. The system may also comprise an imaging element supported at a distal end of the second catheter, a coil reference sensor supported at a distal portion of the second catheter, and a processor in electrical communication with the coil reference sensor. The processor may be configured to determine a position of a distal portion of the first catheter with reference to the coil reference sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Vahid Saadat, Ruey-Feng Peh, Edmund A. Tam
  • Publication number: 20220338712
    Abstract: A manipulation assembly comprises: a delivery catheter having a lumen extending therethrough; and a deployment catheter positioned within the lumen of the delivery catheter. The delivery catheter is manipulatable within multiple planes. The deployment catheter is independently manipulatable with respect to the delivery catheter and includes a first lumen and a second lumen. The assembly further comprises an elongate, flexible visualization element positioned within the first lumen of the deployment catheter and extendable distally beyond the delivery catheter. The visualization element is articulatable with respect to the delivery catheter. The assembly further comprises an ablation probe positioned within the second lumen of the deployment catheter and comprises an illumination tool routed through the deployment catheter. The ablation probe is extendable distally beyond the deployment catheter and is positionable off-axis with respect to a longitudinal axis of the delivery catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Vahid SAADAT, Ruey-Feng PEH, Edmund TAM, Christopher A. ROTHE
  • Patent number: 11478152
    Abstract: Electrophysiology mapping and visualization systems are described herein where such devices may be used to visualize tissue regions as well as map the electrophysiological activity of the tissue. Such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to a region of tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid, such as saline, can be pumped into the imaging hood until the fluid displaces any blood, thereby leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element in the deployment catheter. A position of the catheter and/or hood may be tracked and the hood may also be used to detect the electrophysiological activity of the visualized tissue for mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Vahid Saadat, Ruey-Feng Peh, Edmund A. Tam
  • Patent number: 11406250
    Abstract: A manipulation assembly includes a delivery catheter having a lumen extending therethrough and a deployment catheter positioned within the delivery catheter. The deployment catheter is independently manipulatable with respect to the delivery catheter. The assembly further includes a visualization element extendable distally beyond the deployment catheter and an ablation probe comprising an energy transmitting surface positionable to ablate tissue adjacent to a distal end of the ablation probe. The ablation probe is extendable distally beyond the deployment catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Vahid Saadat, Ruey-Feng Peh, Edmund A. Tam, Chris A. Rothe
  • Patent number: 11369356
    Abstract: An apparatus for inhibiting tissue migration during a procedure comprises a deployment catheter defining at least one lumen therethrough and a non-inflatable hood projecting distally from the deployment catheter and defining an open area. The open area is in fluid communication with the at least one lumen. The apparatus also comprises a visualization element disposed within or along the non-inflatable hood for visualizing tissue adjacent to the open area. The apparatus also comprises a tissue grasping end effector positioned within the open area and configured to temporarily engage the tissue adjacent to the open area such that distal migration of the tissue relative to the barrier or membrane is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Vahid Saadat, Ruey-Feng Peh, Christopher A. Rothe, Edmund A. Tam
  • Patent number: 11337594
    Abstract: A method of cannulating a coronary sinus within a heart chamber includes deploying, from a catheter, an imaging hood to a deployed configuration by extending the imaging hood from a distal end of the catheter and radially expanding the imaging hood to define a constant deployed volume within an open area of the imaging hood. The method further includes positioning a contact edge of the imaging hood and the open area of the imaging hood in the deployed configuration over or upon an ostium of the coronary sinus, displacing an opaque fluid with a transparent fluid from the open area defined by the imaging hood and tissue surrounding the ostium, visualizing the ostium through the transparent fluid by viewing the ostium via an imaging element attached to an inner surface of the imaging hood, and introducing a guidewire through the imaging hood and into the ostium while under visual guidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Vahid Saadat, Christopher A. Rothe, Ruey-Feng Peh, Edmund A. Tam
  • Publication number: 20210007594
    Abstract: A tissue visualization system comprises a flexible elongate shaft through which a lumen extends. The system also comprises a pliable visualization device coupled to a distal portion of the flexible elongate shaft. The pliable visualization device includes a chamber configured to receive a fluid. The system also comprises a piercing instrument configured to extend through the lumen and to penetrate a surface of the pliable visualization device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: David Miller, Zachary J. Malchano, Ruey-Feng Peh, Christopher A. Rothe, Vahid Saadat, Edmund Tam, Aseem K. Thakur
  • Publication number: 20200305693
    Abstract: A system for visualizing a tissue region of interest comprises a deployment catheter defining a lumen and a hood coupled to and extending distally from the deployment catheter. The hood has a low-profile configuration within a delivery sheath and a deployed configuration when extended distally of the delivery sheath. The hood in the deployed configuration defines an open area in fluid communication with the lumen. A distal portion of the deployment catheter extends into the open area. The system also comprises an imaging element coupled to an imager support member. When the hood is in the deployed configuration, the imaging element is configured to extend distally of the distal portion of the deployment catheter while the imager support member extends within the deployment catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Vahid Saadat, Ruey-Feng Peh, Chris A. Rothe, Edmund Tam
  • Patent number: 10772492
    Abstract: A method of inhibiting flow of a purging fluid from a device comprises positioning an imaging hood in proximity to a tissue region to be visualized. The imaging hood includes a distal membrane which defines a main aperture. The imaging hood and the distal membrane define an open area. The method also comprises introducing the purging fluid into a proximal portion of the open area. The proximal portion is bounded by a proximal membrane including a plurality of apertures. The method also comprises pressurizing the proximal membrane with the purging fluid to a partially extended state in which the purging fluid flows through the plurality of apertures and through the main aperture. The method also comprises pressurizing the proximal membrane with the purging fluid to a blocking extended state in which the proximal membrane obstructs the main aperture to block the flow of the purging fluid through the main aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David Miller, Vahid Saadat, Zachary J. Malchano, Ruey-Feng Peh, Aseem K. Thakur, Christopher A. Rothe, Edmund Tam
  • Publication number: 20200246070
    Abstract: An apparatus may be used for ablating a target tissue region disposed along a tissue surface. The apparatus may comprise a means for directing ablating energy into the target tissue region through the tissue surface and a means for imaging the tissue surface along the target tissue region while selectively directing the ablating energy. The imaging means may be coupled to the energy directing means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: N. Parker Willis, Zachary J. Malchano, Chris A. Rothe, Vahid Saadat, Ruey-Feng Peh, David Miller, Edmund A. Tam
  • Patent number: 10624695
    Abstract: A method of ablating a tissue region within a blood-filled environment comprises restraining a fluid within a visualization field in a portion of the blood-filled environment and visualizing the tissue region through the fluid within the visualization field. The method also includes transmitting ablating electrical energy from the fluid into the visualized tissue region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: N. Parker Willis, Zachary J. Malchano, Chris A. Rothe, Vahid Saadat, Ruey-Feng Peh, David Miller, Edmund A. Tam
  • Publication number: 20200069166
    Abstract: A method of inhibiting flow of a purging fluid from a device comprises positioning an imaging hood in proximity to a tissue region to be visualized. The imaging hood includes a distal membrane which defines a main aperture. The imaging hood and the distal membrane define an open area. The method also comprises introducing the purging fluid into a proximal portion of the open area. The proximal portion is bounded by a proximal membrane including a plurality of apertures. The method also comprises pressurizing the proximal membrane with the purging fluid to a partially extended state in which the purging fluid flows through the plurality of apertures and through the main aperture. The method also comprises pressurizing the proximal membrane with the purging fluid to a blocking extended state in which the proximal membrane obstructs the main aperture to block the flow of the purging fluid through the main aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: David Miller, Vahid Saadat, Zachary J. Malchano, Ruey-Feng Peh, Aseem K. Thakur, Christopher A. Rothe, Edmund Tam
  • Publication number: 20190343373
    Abstract: A system for visualizing a tissue region of interest comprises a deployment catheter defining at least one lumen therethrough and a hood projecting distally from the deployment catheter. The hood defines an open area that is in fluid communication with the at least one lumen. The system also comprises a delivery catheter sized to extend through the lumen. The delivery catheter includes a distal portion extendable distally from the deployment catheter and into the open area defined by the hood. The distal portion extends distally from the deployment catheter is articulatable within the open area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Vahid Saadat, Ruey-Feng Peh, Chris A. Rothe, Edmund Tam
  • Publication number: 20190314007
    Abstract: An apparatus for inhibiting tissue migration during a procedure comprises a deployment catheter defining at least one lumen therethrough and a non-inflatable hood projecting distally from the deployment catheter and defining an open area. The open area is in fluid communication with the at least one lumen. The apparatus also comprises a visualization element disposed within or along the non-inflatable hood for visualizing tissue adjacent to the open area. The apparatus also comprises a tissue grasping end effector positioned within the open area and configured to temporarily engage the tissue adjacent to the open area such that distal migration of the tissue relative to the barrier or membrane is inhibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Vahid Saadat, Ruey-Feng Peh, Christopher A. Rothe, Edmund A. Tam