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).
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Patent number: 9649172Abstract: In one embodiment, a surgical instrument includes a housing linkable with a manipulator arm of a robotic surgical system, a shaft operably coupled to the housing, a force transducer on a distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of fiber optic strain gauges on the force transducer. In one example, the plurality of strain gauges are operably coupled to a fiber optic splitter or an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) multiplexer. A fiber optic connector is operably coupled to the fiber optic splitter or the AWG multiplexer. A wrist joint is operably coupled to a distal end of the force transducer, and an end effector is operably coupled to the wrist joint. In another embodiment, a robotic surgical manipulator includes a base link operably coupled to a distal end of a manipulator positioning system, and a distal link movably coupled to the base link, wherein the distal link includes an instrument interface and a fiber optic connector optically linkable to a surgical instrument.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2016Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Gregory W. Dachs, II, Ian E. McDowall, Christopher J. Hasser
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Publication number: 20170095142Abstract: A family of endoscopes includes a non-zero degree endoscope (210) and a zero degree endoscope (200). Zero degree endoscope (210) includes a first image capture unit (220A) mounted in a distal portion (270A) of the zero degree endoscope with a lengthwise axis of the first image capture unit substantially parallel to a lengthwise axis of that distal portion. Non-zero degree endoscope (210) includes a second image capture unit (220B) mounted in a distal portion (270B) of the non-zero degree endoscope with a lengthwise axis of the second image capture unit intersecting a lengthwise axis of that distal portion at a non-zero angle ?. The first and second image capture units have substantially identical non-folded optical paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2015Publication date: April 6, 2017Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventor: Ian E. McDowall
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Patent number: 9594263Abstract: The effective focal length of an optical system can be electronically controlled using switchable wave plates in conjunction with polarized light.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Fakespace Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark Bolas
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Publication number: 20160235488Abstract: In one embodiment, a surgical instrument includes a housing linkable with a manipulator arm of a robotic surgical system, a shaft operably coupled to the housing, a force transducer on a distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of fiber optic strain gauges on the force transducer. In one example, the plurality of strain gauges are operably coupled to a fiber optic splitter or an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) multiplexer. A fiber optic connector is operably coupled to the fiber optic splitter or the AWG multiplexer. A wrist joint is operably coupled to a distal end of the force transducer, and an end effector is operably coupled to the wrist joint. In another embodiment, a robotic surgical manipulator includes a base link operably coupled to a distal end of a manipulator positioning system, and a distal link movably coupled to the base link, wherein the distal link includes an instrument interface and a fiber optic connector optically linkable to a surgical instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2016Publication date: August 18, 2016Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Gregory W. Dachs II, Ian E. McDowall, Christopher J. Hasser
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Publication number: 20160227129Abstract: Mixed mode imaging is implemented using a single-chip image capture sensor with a color filter array. The single-chip image capture sensor captures a frame including a first set of pixel data and a second set of pixel data. The first set of pixel data includes a first combined scene, and the second set of pixel data includes a second combined scene. The first combined scene is a first weighted combination of a fluorescence scene component and a visible scene component due to the leakage of a color filter array. The second combined scene includes a second weighted combination of the fluorescence scene component and the visible scene component. Two display scene components are extracted from the captured pixel data in the frame and presented on a display unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Wenyi Zhao, Jeffrey DiCarlo, Ian E. McDowall
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Patent number: 9339347Abstract: In one embodiment, a surgical instrument includes a housing linkable with a manipulator arm of a robotic surgical system, a shaft operably coupled to the housing, a force transducer on a distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of fiber optic strain gauges on the force transducer. In one example, the plurality of strain gauges are operably coupled to a fiber optic splitter or an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) multiplexer. A fiber optic connector is operably coupled to the fiber optic splitter or the AWG multiplexer. A wrist joint is operably coupled to a distal end of the force transducer, and an end effector is operably coupled to the wrist joint. In another embodiment, a robotic surgical manipulator includes a base link operably coupled to a distal end of a manipulator positioning system, and a distal link movably coupled to the base link, wherein the distal link includes an instrument interface and a fiber optic connector optically linkable to a surgical instrument.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2015Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Gregory W. Dachs, II, Ian E. McDowall, Christopher J. Hasser
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Publication number: 20160106305Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventor: Ian E. McDowall
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Publication number: 20160109730Abstract: The effective focal length of an optical system can be electronically controlled using switchable wave plates in conjunction with polarized light.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Applicant: Fakespace Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark Bolas
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Publication number: 20160089013Abstract: A surgical site is simultaneously illuminated by less than all the visible color components that make up visible white light, and a fluorescence excitation illumination component by an illuminator in a minimally invasive surgical system. An image capture system acquires an image for each of the visible color components illuminating the surgical site and a fluorescence image, which is excited by the fluorescence excitation component from the illuminator. The minimally invasive surgical system uses the acquired images to generate a background black and white image of the surgical site. The acquired fluorescence image is superimposed on the background black and white image, and is highlighted in a selected color, e.g., green. The background black and white image with the superimposed highlighted fluorescence image is displayed for a user of the system. The highlighted fluorescence image identifies tissue of clinical interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2015Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Christopher J. Hasser
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Patent number: 9277205Abstract: Mixed mode imaging is implemented using a single-chip image capture sensor with a color filter array. The single-chip image capture sensor captures a frame including a first set of pixel data and a second set of pixel data. The first set of pixel data includes a first combined scene, and the second set of pixel data includes a second combined scene. The first combined scene is a first weighted combination of a fluorescence scene component and a visible scene component due to the leakage of a color filter array. The second combined scene includes a second weighted combination of the fluorescence scene component and the visible scene component. Two display scene components are extracted from the captured pixel data in the frame and presented on a display unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Wenyi Zhao, Jeffrey DiCarlo, Ian E. McDowall
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Patent number: 9258549Abstract: Mixed mode imaging is implemented using a single-chip image capture sensor with a color filter array. The single-chip image capture sensor captures a frame including a first set of pixel data and a second set of pixel data. The first set of pixel data includes a first combined scene, and the second set of pixel data includes a second combined scene. The first combined scene is a first weighted combination of a fluorescence scene component and a visible scene component due to the leakage of a color filter array. The second combined scene includes a second weighted combination of the fluorescence scene component and the visible scene component. Two display scene components are extracted from the captured pixel data in the frame and presented on a display unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey DiCarlo, Ian E. McDowall, Wenyi Zhao
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Patent number: 9254076Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 17, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventor: Ian E. McDowall
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Patent number: 9254078Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 23, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventor: Ian E. McDowall
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Patent number: 9223155Abstract: The effective focal length of an optical system can be electronically controlled using switchable wave plates in conjunction with polarized light.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Fakespace Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark Bolas
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Patent number: 9211058Abstract: A surgical site is simultaneously illuminated by less than all the visible color components that make up visible white light, and a fluorescence excitation illumination component by an illuminator in a minimally invasive surgical system. An image capture system acquires an image for each of the visible color components illuminating the surgical site and a fluorescence image, which is excited by the fluorescence excitation component from the illuminator. The minimally invasive surgical system uses the acquired images to generate a background black and white image of the surgical site. The acquired fluorescence image is superimposed on the background black and white image, and is highlighted in a selected color, e.g., green. The background black and white image with the superimposed highlighted fluorescence image is displayed for a user of the system. The highlighted fluorescence image identifies tissue of clinical interest.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2010Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Christopher J. Hasser
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Rear projection imaging system with image warping distortion correction system and associated method
Patent number: 9140973Abstract: A rear projection imaging system with an image warping distortion correction system using a camera and processing unit to generate a warping map that corrects for image distortion. The warping map is generated in an iterative process by displaying a known pattern on a viewing screen and, through the use of a camera, having a microprocessor determine the location and shape of the pattern on the screen. The microprocessor then compares the displayed image to the original reference image, calculates the distortion effects present in the projection optics, and generates a warping map.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2014Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Fakespace Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark T. Bolas -
Publication number: 20150250548Abstract: In one embodiment, a surgical instrument includes a housing linkable with a manipulator arm of a robotic surgical system, a shaft operably coupled to the housing, a force transducer on a distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of fiber optic strain gauges on the force transducer. In one example, the plurality of strain gauges are operably coupled to a fiber optic splitter or an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) multiplexer. A fiber optic connector is operably coupled to the fiber optic splitter or the AWG multiplexer. A wrist joint is operably coupled to a distal end of the force transducer, and an end effector is operably coupled to the wrist joint. In another embodiment, a robotic surgical manipulator includes a base link operably coupled to a distal end of a manipulator positioning system, and a distal link movably coupled to the base link, wherein the distal link includes an instrument interface and a fiber optic connector optically linkable to a surgical instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2015Publication date: September 10, 2015Applicant: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Gregory W. Dachs, II, Ian E. McDowall, Christopher J. Hasser
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Patent number: 9100643Abstract: The multi-person stereo display system permits several independent viewers to see different stereo images on a single projection surface. This is accomplished through the innovative use of video multiplexing, software, control electronics, and special viewing glasses. The system is particularly useful in situations where the viewers see computer generated images from their own independent perspectives.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2014Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Fakespace Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark T. Bolas
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Publication number: 20150189148Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical system includes a scene anti-bloom process that allows switching between imaging modes on a stereoscopic display without causing a surgeon to look-away or being momentarily distracted by sudden changes in overall scene luminance. The process receives a switch from a first imaging mode to a second imaging mode. An overall scene luminance of a scene in the first imaging mode is less than an overall scene luminance of a scene in the second imaging mode. The process delays the switch to the second imaging mode until after an illumination output level of a visible illumination source has changed to a higher output level, and then switches to the second imaging mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2015Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Patrick O'Grady, Ian E. McDowall, Brian D. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20150002933Abstract: The effective focal length of an optical system can be electronically controlled using switchable wave plates in conjunction with polarized light.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: FAKESPACE LABS, INC.Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark Bolas