Patents by Inventor Ian E. McDowall

Ian E. McDowall 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: 12622759
    Abstract: A method is provided for use with a teleoperated surgical system, the method comprising: determining patient position information during a setup for a performance of the surgical procedure within an instance of the surgical system; determining a match between the determined patient position and a patient position signature; and launching a support arm control signal within the surgical system that corresponds to the matched support arm signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Mahdi Azizian, Brian D. Hoffman, Ian E. McDowall, Paul W. Mohr, William C. Nowlin
  • Publication number: 20260124017
    Abstract: An illustrative surgical system may access a plurality of images captured outside a structure within a patient; detect a difference between spectral reflectances of scenes captured in the plurality of images; and identify, based on the detected difference between the spectral reflectances of the scenes captured in the plurality of images, pixels in at least one of the plurality of images that correspond to structure tissue of the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2026
    Publication date: May 7, 2026
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. DiCarlo, Ian E. McDowall, Jonathan M. Sorger
  • Publication number: 20260051062
    Abstract: Technology described herein can be embodied in a method that includes obtaining, using an imaging device, a plurality of images of a surgical scene, each image in the plurality of images being obtained under illumination by electromagnetic radiation in one of a plurality of wavelength ranges. The plurality of wavelength ranges are at least partially non-overlapping. The method also includes identifying a set of pixel values across multiple images in the plurality of images, wherein each pixel value in the set of pixel values is substantially representative of a particular portion of the surgical scene and determining, based on the set of pixel values and a chromophore model, a concentration of a chromophore in the particular portion of the surgical scene, wherein the chromophore model represents relationships between combinations of pixel values and chromophore concentrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2025
    Publication date: February 19, 2026
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. DiCarlo, Ian E. McDowall
  • Publication number: 20260012567
    Abstract: An image capture device includes an image sensor comprising a first plurality of pixels and a second plurality of pixels; a frame timer coupled to the image sensor, the frame timer configured to cause the image sensor to: capture, using the first plurality of pixels, a first plurality of frames of pixel data at a first frame rate; and capture, using the second plurality of pixels, a second plurality of frames of pixel data at a second frame rate different than the first frame rate; a visible light color filter array comprising a plurality of individual visible light color filters; and an alternative light filter array comprising a plurality of individual alternative light filters, one individual alternative light filter of the plurality of individual alternative light filters covering both a first pixel of the first plurality of pixels and a second pixel of the second plurality of pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2025
    Publication date: January 8, 2026
    Inventors: David C. Shafer, Jeffrey M. DiCarlo, Ian E. McDowall, Max J. Trejo
  • Patent number: 12514674
    Abstract: An illustrative surgical system may access a plurality of images captured outside a structure within a patient; detect a difference between spectral reflectances of scenes captured in the plurality of images; and identify, based on the detected difference between the spectral reflectances of the scenes captured in the plurality of images, pixels in at least one of the plurality of images that correspond to structure tissue of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2026
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. DiCarlo, Ian E. McDowall, Jonathan M. Sorger
  • Patent number: 12510746
    Abstract: In a minimally invasive surgical system, an image capture unit includes a prism assembly and sensor assembly. The prism assembly includes a beam splitter, while the sensor assembly includes coplanar image capture sensors. Each of the coplanar image capture sensors has a common front end optical structure, e.g., the optical structure distal to the image capture unit is the same for each of the sensors. A controller enhances images acquired by the coplanar image capture sensors. The enhanced images may include (a) visible images with enhanced feature definition, in which a particular feature in the scene is emphasized to the operator of minimally invasive surgical system; (b) images having increased image apparent resolution; (c) images having increased dynamic range; (d) images displayed in a way based on a pixel color component vector having three or more color components; and (e) images having extended depth of field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2025
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Ian E. McDowall
  • Publication number: 20250387185
    Abstract: A teleoperated surgical system is provided comprising: a first robotic surgical instrument; an image capture; a user display; a user input command device coupled to receive user input commands to control movement of the first robotic surgical instrument; and a movement controller coupled to scale a rate of movement of the first robotic surgical instrument, based at least in part upon a surgical skill level at using the first robotic surgical instrument of the user providing the received user input commands, from a rate of movement indicated by the user input commands received at the user input command device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2025
    Publication date: December 25, 2025
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahdi Azizian, Simon P. DiMaio, Brian D. Hoffman, Anthony M. Jarc, Henry C. Lin, May Quo-Mei Liu, Ian E. McDowall, William C. Nowlin, Brent Tokarchuk
  • Publication number: 20250339222
    Abstract: A surgical method is provided for use with a teleoperated surgical system (surgical system), the method comprising: recording surgical instrument kinematic information indicative of surgical instrument motion produced within the surgical system during the occurrence of the surgical procedure; determining respective kinematic signatures associated with respective surgical instrument motions; producing an information structure in a computer readable storage device that associates respective kinematic signatures with respective control signals; comparing, during a performance of the surgical procedure surgical instrument kinematic information during the performance with at least one respective kinematic signature; launching, during a performance of the surgical procedure an associated respective control signal in response to a match between surgical instrument kinematics during the performance and a respective kinematic signature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2025
    Publication date: November 6, 2025
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Tokarchuk, Mahdi Azizian, Joey Chau, Simon P. DiMaio, Brian D. Hoffman, Anthony M. Jarc, Henry C. Lin, Ian E. McDowall, William C. Nowlin, John D. Seaman, Jonathan M. Sorger
  • Publication number: 20250325191
    Abstract: A system is configured to direct an imaging device included in a computer-assisted surgical system to detect, during a surgical procedure performed with the computer-assisted surgical system, fluorescence emitted by a population of fluorophores present at a scene. The imaging device includes a detector having a plurality of distinct regions each configured to detect the fluorescence emitted by the population of fluorophores. Directing the imaging device to detect the fluorescence includes directing the plurality of distinct regions to sample the fluorescence in succession over a time period that is less than a lifetime of the fluorescence to generate a plurality of fluorescence image signals. Each region included in the plurality of distinct regions generates a distinct fluorescence image signal included in the plurality of fluorescence image signals. The lifetime of the fluorescence is determined based on the plurality of fluorescence image signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2025
    Publication date: October 23, 2025
    Inventors: Alexander L. Antaris, Jeffrey M. DiCarlo, Ian E. McDowall, Jonathan M. Sorger
  • Patent number: 12439017
    Abstract: An image capture device may include an image sensor comprising a first pixel cell and a second pixel cell adjacent to the first pixel cell, a plurality of individual alternative light filters configured to filter non-visible light, one individual alternative light filter of the plurality of individual alternative light filters covering both a first set of pixels of the first pixel cell and a second set of pixels of the second pixel cell, and a plurality of individual visible light color filters covering pixels of the first and second pixel cells, the pixels of the first and second pixel cells covered by the individual visible light color filters being different from the first and second sets of pixels covered by the individual alternative light filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2025
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Shafer, Jeffrey M. DiCarlo, Ian E. McDowall, Max J. Trejo
  • Publication number: 20250288194
    Abstract: Technology described herein can be embodied in a method of displaying a visual representation of a portion of a surgical scene. The method includes receiving data representing information captured using a first sensor of a camera associated with a surgical device, the information being indicative of a first quantity representing an amount of fluorescence emitted from the portion of the surgical scene. The method also includes obtaining information indicative of a second quantity representing an amount of excitation signal causing the fluorescence to be emitted from the portion of the surgical scene, and generating a normalized fluorescence signal as a function of the first quantity and the second quantity. The method further includes generating the visual representation of the portion of the surgical scene based on the normalized fluorescence signal, and presenting the visual representation on a display device associated with the surgical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2025
    Publication date: September 18, 2025
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. DiCarlo, Ian E. McDowall, Max J. Trejo
  • Patent number: 12414828
    Abstract: A teleoperated surgical system is provided comprising: a first robotic surgical instrument; an image capture; a user display; a user input command device coupled to receive user input commands to control movement of the first robotic surgical instrument; and a movement controller coupled to scale a rate of movement of the first robotic surgical instrument, based at least in part upon a surgical skill level at using the first robotic surgical instrument of the user providing the received user input commands, from a rate of movement indicated by the user input commands received at the user input command device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2025
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Nowlin, Mahdi Azizian, Simon P. DiMaio, Brian D. Hoffman, Anthony M. Jarc, Henry C. Lin, May Quo-Mei Liu, Ian E. McDowall, Brent Tokarchuk
  • Patent number: 12406370
    Abstract: Technology described herein can be embodied in a method that includes obtaining, using an imaging device, a plurality of images of a surgical scene, each image in the plurality of images being obtained under illumination by electromagnetic radiation in one of a plurality of wavelength ranges. The plurality of wavelength ranges are at least partially non-overlapping. The method also includes identifying a set of pixel values across multiple images in the plurality of images, wherein each pixel value in the set of pixel values is substantially representative of a particular portion of the surgical scene and determining, based on the set of pixel values and a chromophore model, a concentration of a chromophore in the particular portion of the surgical scene, wherein the chromophore model represents relationships between combinations of pixel values and chromophore concentrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2025
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. DiCarlo, Ian E. McDowall
  • Patent number: 12383358
    Abstract: A surgical method is provided for use with a teleoperated surgical system (surgical system), the method comprising: recording surgical instrument kinematic information indicative of surgical instrument motion produced within the surgical system during the occurrence of the surgical procedure; determining respective kinematic signatures associated with respective surgical instrument motions; producing an information structure in a computer readable storage device that associates respective kinematic signatures with respective control signals; comparing, during a performance of the surgical procedure surgical instrument kinematic information during the performance with at least one respective kinematic signature; launching, during a performance of the surgical procedure an associated respective control signal in response to a match between surgical instrument kinematics during the performance and a respective kinematic signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Tokarchuk, Mahdi Azizian, Joey Chau, Simon P. DiMaio, Brian D. Hoffman, Anthony M. Jarc, Henry C. Lin, Ian E. McDowall, William C. Nowlin, John D. Seaman, II, Jonathan M. Sorger
  • Patent number: 12369797
    Abstract: An exemplary fluorescence imaging control system may direct, during a surgical procedure performed with a computer-assisted surgical system, an illumination source included in the computer-assisted surgical system to illuminate a scene associated with the surgical procedure with fluorescence excitation illumination configured to excite a fluorophore present at the scene and direct an imaging device included in the computer-assisted surgical system to detect, during the surgical procedure, fluorescence emitted by the fluorophore in response to excitation of the fluorophore by the fluorescence excitation illumination. The fluorescence imaging control system may determine, based on the detected fluorescence, a lifetime of the fluorescence and determine, based on the determined lifetime of the fluorescence, an identity of the fluorophore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander L. Antaris, Jeffrey M. DiCarlo, Ian E. McDowall, Jonathan M. Sorger
  • Publication number: 20250238909
    Abstract: An illustrative system includes one or more processors configured to perform a process. The process may comprise obtaining a distortion factor representative of an amount of distortion imparted by one or more optical elements of an image viewer of a computer-assisted surgical system on images displayed by way of the image viewer; obtaining image data representative of an image that is displayable by way of the image viewer; modifying, based on the distortion factor, the image data to correct for the distortion imparted by the one or more optical elements of the image viewer, the modifying resulting in modified image data representative of the image; and directing the computer-assisted surgical system to display, based on the modified image data, the image by way of the image viewer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2025
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Inventors: Adam Samaniego, Clinton Carlisle, Ian E. McDowall
  • Publication number: 20250176797
    Abstract: A system directs an imaging device to continuously capture visible light and fluorescence illumination from a surgical area. The system generates a visible light image stream based on the captured visible light and a fluorescence image stream based on the captured fluorescence illumination. The system operates in a first display mode by directing a display device to display a first video stream based on a first set of at least one of the visible light image stream and the fluorescence image stream. In response to detecting an event that occurs within the surgical area, the system switches from operating in the first display mode to operating in a second display mode by directing the display device to display a second video stream based on a second set of at least one of the visible light image stream and the fluorescence image stream, the first set being different than the second set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2024
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Alexander L. Antaris, Jeffrey M. DiCarlo
  • Publication number: 20250169905
    Abstract: A computer-assisted medical system includes robotic manipulators, a user input system operable to generate signals to control the manipulators, and a controller configured to execute instructions to perform operations. A portion of the user input system is movable relative to the plurality of manipulators. The operations include, in a pairing mode, associating a first manipulator of the plurality of manipulators with the portion of the user input system based on movement of the portion of the user input system relative to the first manipulator, and, in a following mode, controlling motion of the first manipulator in accordance with an indication generated by the user input system in response to operation of the portion of the user input system by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: May 29, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel H. Gomez, Ian E. McDowall, Govinda Payyavula, John Ryan Steger
  • Publication number: 20250160982
    Abstract: A computer-assisted medical system includes robotic manipulators, a user input system operable to generate signals to control the manipulators, and a controller configured to execute instructions to perform operations. A portion of the user input system is movable relative to the plurality of manipulators. The operations include, in a pairing mode, associating a first manipulator of the plurality of manipulators with the portion of the user input system based on movement of the portion of the user input system relative to the first manipulator, and, in a following mode, controlling motion of the first manipulator in accordance with an indication generated by the user input system in response to operation of the portion of the user input system by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel H. Gomez, Ian E. McDowall, Govinda Payyavule, John Ryan Steger
  • Publication number: 20250160975
    Abstract: A computer-assisted medical system includes manipulators, a user input system, a user output system comprising a display device, and a controller configured to execute instructions to perform operations. The operations include, in a pairing mode and in response to a first set of signals generated by the user input system, causing a virtual selector shown on the display device to move relative to an imagery shown on the display device. The operations further include, in the pairing mode, associating a first manipulator with a portion of the user input system based on movement of the virtual selector relative to a represented location of the first instrument, and, in a following mode, controlling motion of the first 10 instrument in accordance to a second set of signals generated by the user input system in response to operation of the portion of the user input system by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel H. Gomez, Ian E. McDowall, Govinda Payyavula, John Ryan Steger