Patents by Inventor Kevin Hufford

Kevin Hufford 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: 20240091942
    Abstract: A system and method fort determining the relative positions of robotic manipulators makes use of a camera positioned in an operating room so as to capture images or portions of first and second robotic manipulators that are positioned outside a patient body cavity. The camera captures images of first and second robotic manipulators, the images are analyzed in real time to determine a relative distance between the first robotic manipulator and the second robotic manipulator. The system determines whether the relative distance is below a predetermined threshold, and, if it is, initiates a collision avoidance measure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Kevin Hufford, Lior Alpert
  • Patent number: 10207227
    Abstract: An compact hydraulic manifold for transporting shear sensitive fluids is provided. A channel network can include a trunk and branch architecture coupled to a bifurcation architecture. Features such as tapered channel walls, curvatures and angles of channels, and zones of low fluid pressure can be used to reduce the size while maintaining wall shear rates within a narrow range. A hydraulic manifold can be coupled to a series of microfluidic layers to construct a compact microfluidic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher DiBiasio, Joseph L. Charest, Jeffrey T. Borenstein, Ernest S. Kim, Daniel I. Harjes, Kevin Hufford
  • Patent number: 9782292
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a catheter guide tool. More particularly, the catheter guide tool is a bi-stable device used for the insertion and advancement of a catheter. The catheter guide tool includes a gimbal. A guide axis runs through the gimbal. A catheter advancement mechanism is coupled to the gimbal and configured to advance the catheter along the guide axis. The guide tool also includes a pivot assembly coupling the gimbal to a support platform. The pivot assembly is configured to pivot the guide axis from a first position perpendicular to a target surface to a second position tangential to the target surface along a single primary plane of rotation of the gimbal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Hufford, Christopher V. Trainor
  • Publication number: 20170252702
    Abstract: An compact hydraulic manifold for transporting shear sensitive fluids is provided. A channel network can include a trunk and branch architecture coupled to a bifurcation architecture. Features such as tapered channel walls, curvatures and angles of channels, and zones of low fluid pressure can be used to reduce the size while maintaining wall shear rates within a narrow range. A hydraulic manifold can be coupled to a series of microfluidic layers to construct a compact microfluidic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher DiBiasio, Joseph L. Charest, Jeffrey T. Borenstein, Ernest S. Kim, Daniel I. Harjes, Kevin Hufford
  • Patent number: 9656212
    Abstract: An compact hydraulic manifold for transporting shear sensitive fluids is provided. A channel network can include a trunk and branch architecture coupled to a bifurcation architecture. Features such as tapered channel walls, curvatures and angles of channels, and zones of low fluid pressure can be used to reduce the size while maintaining wall shear rates within a narrow range. A hydraulic manifold can be coupled to a series of microfluidic layers to construct a compact microfluidic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher DiBiasio, Joseph L. Charest, Jeffrey T. Borenstein, Ernest S. Kim, Daniel I. Harjes, Kevin Hufford
  • Patent number: 9629650
    Abstract: A laparoscopy tool includes a sheath and a control wire slideably disposed within a lumen of the sheath. The sheath has a diameter of less than 1.6 mm and is introduced through an abdominal incision. A handle axially displaces the control wire within the lumen and operates a conventional tip with wire-controlled opposing jaws that is introduced through the umbilicus and has a bore formed in its trailing end. A first set of blades in the bore engage grooves formed in the leading end of the control wire and a second set of blades engages the sheath to prevent sheath retraction. A cam displaces the second set of blades away from the sheath for sheath introduction and removal, and toward the sheath to prevent sheath retraction. The tip is removed through the umbilicus and the tool is removed through the abdominal incision when the surgery is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: University of South Florida, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart Richard Hart, Mario Alves Simoes, Philip James Hipol, Kevin Hufford
  • Publication number: 20160022304
    Abstract: A laparoscopy tool includes a sheath and a control wire slideably disposed within a lumen of the sheath. The sheath has a diameter of less than 1.6 mm and is introduced through an abdominal incision. A handle axially displaces the control wire within the lumen and operates a conventional tip with wire-controlled opposing jaws that is introduced through the umbilicus and has a bore formed in its trailing end. A first set of blades in the bore engage grooves formed in the leading end of the control wire and a second set of blades engages the sheath to prevent sheath retraction. A cam displaces the second set of blades away from the sheath for sheath introduction and removal, and toward the sheath to prevent sheath retraction. The tip is removed through the umbilicus and the tool is removed through the abdominal incision when the surgery is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Stuart Richard Hart, Mario Alves Simoes, Philip James Hipol, Kevin Hufford
  • Patent number: 9186167
    Abstract: A laparoscopy tool includes a sheath and a control wire slideably disposed within a lumen of the sheath. The sheath has a diameter of less than 1.6 mm and is introduced through an abdominal incision. A handle axially displaces the control wire within the lumen and operates a conventional tip with wire-controlled opposing jaws that is introduced through the umbilicus and has a bore formed in its trailing end. A first set of blades in the bore engage grooves formed in the leading end of the control wire and a second set of blades engages the sheath to prevent sheath retraction. A cam displaces the second set of blades away from the sheath for sheath introduction and removal, and toward the sheath to prevent sheath retraction. The tip is removed through the umbilicus and the tool is removed through the abdominal incision when the surgery is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignees: University of South Florida, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart Richard Hart, Mario A. Simoes, Philip James Hipol, Kevin Hufford
  • Publication number: 20150157497
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a catheter guide tool. More particularly, the catheter guide tool is a bi-stable device used for the insertion and advancement of a catheter. The catheter guide tool includes a gimbal. A guide axis runs through the gimbal. A catheter advancement mechanism is coupled to the gimbal and configured to advance the catheter along the guide axis. The guide tool also includes a pivot assembly coupling the gimbal to a support platform. The pivot assembly is configured to pivot the guide axis from a first position perpendicular to a target surface to a second position tangential to the target surface along a single primary plane of rotation of the gimbal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Kevin Hufford, Christopher V. Trainor
  • Publication number: 20140190884
    Abstract: An compact hydraulic manifold for transporting shear sensitive fluids is provided. A channel network can include a trunk and branch architecture coupled to a bifurcation architecture. Features such as tapered channel walls, curvatures and angles of channels, and zones of low fluid pressure can be used to reduce the size while maintaining wall shear rates within a narrow range. A hydraulic manifold can be coupled to a series of microfluidic layers to construct a compact microfluidic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory
    Inventors: Christopher DiBiasio, Joseph L. Charest, Jeffrey T. Borenstein, Ernest S. Kim, Daniel I. Harjes, Kevin Hufford
  • Publication number: 20140074135
    Abstract: A laparoscopy tool includes a sheath and a control wire slideably disposed within a lumen of the sheath. The sheath has a diameter of less than 1.6 mm and is introduced through an abdominal incision. A handle axially displaces the control wire within the lumen and operates a conventional tip with wire-controlled opposing jaws that is introduced through the umbilicus and has a bore formed in its trailing end. A first set of blades in the bore engage grooves formed in the leading end of the control wire and a second set of blades engages the sheath to prevent sheath retraction. A cam displaces the second set of blades away from the sheath for sheath introduction and removal, and toward the sheath to prevent sheath retraction. The tip is removed through the umbilicus and the tool is removed through the abdominal incision when the surgery is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicants: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., University of South Florida
    Inventors: Stuart Richard Hart, Mario A. Simoes, Philip James Hipol, Kevin Hufford
  • Patent number: 8321075
    Abstract: Biodynamic feedthrough in a master control system can be mitigated. An accelerometer is used to measure the acceleration of an environment. In one embodiment, mitigation damping forces can then be determined based on the velocity of an effector of a haptic manipulator and the measured accelerations. The haptic manipulator applies the mitigation damping forces as force feedback. In another embodiment, biodynamic feedthrough can be filtered from the input signal. Parameters for a model can be accessed based on the position of the effector, and the model can be used to predict biodynamic feedthrough from the measured accelerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Thomas Low, Kevin Hufford
  • Publication number: 20090216374
    Abstract: Biodynamic feedthrough in a master control system can be mitigated. An accelerometer is used to measure the acceleration of an environment. In one embodiment, mitigation damping forces can then be determined based on the velocity of an effector of a haptic manipulator and the measured accelerations. The haptic manipulator applies the mitigation damping forces as force feedback. In another embodiment, biodynamic feedthrough can be filtered from the input signal. Parameters for a model can be accessed based on the position of the effector, and the model can be used to predict biodynamic feedthrough from the measured accelerations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: SRI INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Thomas LOW, Kevin HUFFORD