Patents by Inventor Melissa D. Lippiatt

Melissa D. Lippiatt 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: 20230320786
    Abstract: Techniques for reducing blade exposures include a computer-assisted device having one or more processors and a drive system comprising one or more drive units configured to be coupled to a cutting instrument. The one or more processors are configured to: measure, using one or more first sensors, a jaw angle between gripping jaws of the cutting instrument; measure, using one or more second sensors, a roll of a shaft of the cutting instrument; correct the jaw angle based on the roll of the shaft; determine a restriction on a cutting operation to be performed using the instrument based on the corrected jaw angle; and perform or prevent the cutting operation according to the restriction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: David W. WEIR, Julie L. BERRY, Melissa D. LIPPIATT, Daniel P. SARALIEV, Melody WU
  • Patent number: 11712300
    Abstract: Techniques for reducing blade exposures include one or more processors and a drive system configured to be coupled to a cutting instrument. The cutting instrument includes an end effector located at a distal end of the cutting instrument, the end effector comprising opposable gripping jaws and a cutting blade, a shaft configured to be coupled to the drive system, an articulated wrist coupling the end effector to the shaft and one or more drive mechanisms in the shaft for coupling force or torque from the drive system to the end effector and the articulated wrist. The one or more processors are configured to measure a jaw angle between the gripping jaws, measure articulation of the articulated wrist, correct the jaw angle based on the articulation of the articulated wrist, determine a cutting length based on the corrected jaw angle, and perform a cutting operation according to the cutting length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David W. Weir, Julie L. Berry, Melissa D. Lippiatt, Daniel P. Saraliev, Melody Wu
  • Publication number: 20200337718
    Abstract: Techniques for reducing blade exposures include one or more processors and a drive system configured to be coupled to a cutting instrument. The cutting instrument includes an end effector located at a distal end of the cutting instrument, the end effector comprising opposable gripping jaws and a cutting blade, a shaft configured to be coupled to the drive system, an articulated wrist coupling the end effector to the shaft and one or more drive mechanisms in the shaft for coupling force or torque from the drive system to the end effector and the articulated wrist. The one or more processors are configured to measure a jaw angle between the gripping jaws, measure articulation of the articulated wrist, correct the jaw angle based on the articulation of the articulated wrist, determine a cutting length based on the corrected jaw angle, and perform a cutting operation according to the cutting length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: David W. WEIR, Julie L. BERRY, Melissa D. LIPPIATT, Daniel P. SARALIEV, Melody WU
  • Patent number: 10743897
    Abstract: A system and method of reducing blade exposures includes a surgical cutting. The surgical cutting instrument includes an end effector located at a distal end of the surgical cutting instrument, one or more drive units, a shaft coupled to the drive unit, an articulated wrist coupling the end effector to the shaft, and one or more drive mechanisms in the shaft for coupling force or torque from the drive units to the end effector and the articulated wrist. The end effector includes opposable gripping jaws and a cutting blade. To perform a cutting operation, the surgical cutting instrument measures a jaw angle between the gripping jaws, measures articulation of the articulated wrist, corrects the jaw angle based on the articulation of the articulated wrist, determines a restriction on the cutting operation based on the corrected jaw angle, and performs or prevents the cutting operation based on the restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David W. Weir, Julie L. Berry, Melissa D. Lippiatt, Daniel P. Saraliev, Melody Wu
  • Publication number: 20180161052
    Abstract: A system and method of reducing blade exposures includes a surgical cutting. The surgical cutting instrument includes an end effector located at a distal end of the surgical cutting instrument, one or more drive units, a shaft coupled to the drive unit, an articulated wrist coupling the end effector to the shaft, and one or more drive mechanisms in the shaft for coupling force or torque from the drive units to the end effector and the articulated wrist. The end effector includes opposable gripping jaws and a cutting blade. To perform a cutting operation, the surgical cutting instrument measures a jaw angle between the gripping jaws, measures articulation of the articulated wrist, corrects the jaw angle based on the articulation of the articulated wrist, determines a restriction on the cutting operation based on the corrected jaw angle, and performs or prevents the cutting operation based on the restriction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: David W. Weir, Julie L. Berry, Melissa D. Lippiatt, Daniel P. Saraliev, Melody Wu