Patents by Inventor Gregory F. Richmond

Gregory F. Richmond 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: 20210259793
    Abstract: A computer-assisted surgical system comprises a master grip input mechanism, a surgical instrument comprising an end effector configured to apply a gripping force, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a first input signal in response to grip input at the master grip input mechanism. The controller is further configured to receive a second input signal after receiving the first input signal, wherein the second input signal is received in response to a procedure input at a master input device, with the procedure input being different from the grip input at the master grip input mechanism and further being indicative of a user's readiness to operate the surgical instrument to perform a first surgical procedure. The controller is further configured to, in response to receiving the first input signal and the second input signal, cause one or more degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument to be placed in a locked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory F. RICHMOND, Gary S. GUTHART
  • Patent number: 10952802
    Abstract: A computer-assisted surgical system comprises a master grip input mechanism, a surgical instrument comprising an end effector configured to apply a gripping force, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a first input signal in response to grip input at the master grip input mechanism. The controller is further configured to receive a second input signal after receiving the first input signal, wherein the second input signal is received in response to a procedure input at a master input device, with the procedure input being different from the grip input at the master grip input mechanism and further being indicative of a user's readiness to operate the surgical instrument to perform a first surgical procedure. The controller is further configured to, in response to receiving the first input signal and the second input signal, cause one or more degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument to be placed in a locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory F. Richmond, Gary S. Guthart
  • Publication number: 20200078121
    Abstract: A computer-assisted surgical system comprises a master grip input mechanism, a surgical instrument comprising an end effector configured to apply a gripping force, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a first input signal in response to grip input at the master grip input mechanism. The controller is further configured to receive a second input signal after receiving the first input signal, wherein the second input signal is received in response to a procedure input at a master input device, with the procedure input being different from the grip input at the master grip input mechanism and further being indicative of a user's readiness to operate the surgical instrument to perform a first surgical procedure. The controller is further configured to, in response to receiving the first input signal and the second input signal, cause one or more degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument to be placed in a locked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory F. RICHMOND, Gary S. GUTHART
  • Patent number: 10500007
    Abstract: A method of controlling an end effector of a robotically-controlled surgical instrument may include receiving a first input signal indicative of a high grip level input at a master grip input mechanism that controls a slave gripping force of the end effector; receiving a second input signal indicative of a user's readiness to operate the surgical instrument to perform a first surgical procedure; and outputting a locking signal in response to receiving the first input signal and the second input signal together to lock one or more degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument during the first surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory F. Richmond, Gary S. Guthart
  • Publication number: 20180296287
    Abstract: A method of controlling an end effector of a robotically-controlled surgical instrument may include receiving a first input signal indicative of a high grip level input at a master grip input mechanism that controls a slave gripping force of the end effector; receiving a second input signal indicative of a user's readiness to operate the surgical instrument to perform a first surgical procedure; and outputting a locking signal in response to receiving the first input signal and the second input signal together to lock one or more degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument during the first surgical procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory F. RICHMOND, Gary S. GUTHART
  • Patent number: 10034719
    Abstract: A method of controlling an end effector of a robotically-controlled surgical instrument may include receiving a first input signal indicative of a high grip level input at a master grip input mechanism that controls a slave gripping force of the end effector; receiving a second input signal indicative of a user's readiness to operate the surgical instrument to perform a first surgical procedure; and outputting a locking signal in response to receiving the first input signal and the second input signal together to lock one or more degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument during the first surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory F. Richmond, Gary S. Guthart
  • Publication number: 20180055587
    Abstract: A method of controlling an end effector of a robotically-controlled surgical instrument may include receiving a first input signal indicative of a high grip level input at a master grip input mechanism that controls a slave gripping force of the end effector; receiving a second input signal indicative of a user's readiness to operate the surgical instrument to perform a first surgical procedure; and outputting a locking signal in response to receiving the first input signal and the second input signal together to lock one or more degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument during the first surgical procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory F. RICHMOND, Gary S. GUTHART
  • Patent number: 9820823
    Abstract: A method of controlling an end effector of a robotically-controlled surgical instrument may include receiving a first input signal indicative of a high grip level input at a master grip input mechanism that controls a slave gripping force of the end effector; receiving a second input signal indicative of a user's readiness to operate the surgical instrument to perform a first surgical procedure; and outputting a locking signal in response to receiving the first input signal and the second input signal together to lock one or more degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument during the first surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory F. Richmond, Gary S. Guthart
  • Publication number: 20160213437
    Abstract: A method of controlling an end effector of a robotically-controlled surgical instrument may include receiving a first input signal indicative of a high grip level input at a master grip input mechanism that controls a slave gripping force of the end effector; receiving a second input signal indicative of a user's readiness to operate the surgical instrument to perform a first surgical procedure; and outputting a locking signal in response to receiving the first input signal and the second input signal together to lock one or more degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument during the first surgical procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory F. RICHMOND, Gary S. GUTHART
  • Patent number: 9314307
    Abstract: Methods of controlling a gripping force of an end effector of a robotically-controlled surgical instrument are provided. The method includes receiving a first input signal indicative of a high grip level input at a master gripping mechanism that controls a slave gripping force of the end effector; receiving a second input signal indicative of a user's readiness to operate the surgical instrument to perform a surgical procedure; and outputting an actuation signal in response to receiving the first input signal and the second input signal together to increase the slave gripping force from a first level to a second level higher than the first level during the surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory F. Richmond, Gary S. Guthart