Patents by Inventor Michael J. Slate

Michael J. Slate 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: 10201435
    Abstract: A robotic assembly control system is disclosed. The robotic assembly control system includes an exoskeleton apparatus adapted to be worn by a user, at least one robotic assembly, the at least one robotic assembly controlled by the user by way of the exoskeleton, and at least one mobile platform, the at least one mobile platform controlled by the user and wherein the at least one robotic assembly is attached to the at least one mobile platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dirk A. van der Merwe, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Stewart M. Coulter, Christopher M. Werner, Michael J. Slate, Ethan D. Stern
  • Patent number: 10202971
    Abstract: A peristaltic pump having at least first, second, and third stages is provided. The peristaltic pump includes a plunger, inlet and outlet valves, a spring, and an actuator. The plunger actuates toward and away from a tube, the inlet valve is upstream of the plunger, the outlet valve is downstream of the plunger, the spring biases the plunger toward the tube, and the actuator mechanically engages and disengages from the plunger. In the first stage, the inlet valve is opened and the plunger is actuated from the tube, in the second stage, the inlet valve is closed, the plunger is actuated toward the tube, and the actuator is mechanically disengaged from the plunger, and in the third stage, the outlet valve is opened. In the third stage or in a fourth stage, the actuator actuates the plunger toward the tube to discharge fluid downstream past the outlet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, John M. Kerwin, Colin H. Murphy, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael J. Slate, Michael S. Place, Larry B. Gray
  • Publication number: 20190039241
    Abstract: A force transmission system as part of a surgical system which may be configured to be a minimally invasive and/or computer assisted surgical system. Operation of the system may be controlled by transmission of a force from a first section to a second section of the system. The first section and the second section may be separated by a partition or a barrier. The first section may be a non-sterile section and the second section may be a sterile section of the surgical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael J. Slate, Prashant Bhat, Dirk A. van der Merwe, David D.B. Cannan, Keith D. Violette
  • Publication number: 20180291836
    Abstract: A Stirling cycle machine. The machine includes at least one rocking drive mechanism which includes: a rocking beam having a rocker pivot, at least one cylinder and at least one piston. The piston is housed within a respective cylinder and is capable of substantially linearly reciprocating within the respective cylinder. Also, the drive mechanism includes at least one coupling assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. The linear motion of the piston is converted to rotary motion of the rocking beam. Also, a crankcase housing the rocking beam and housing a first portion of the coupling assembly is included. The machine also includes a working space housing the at least one cylinder, the at least one piston and a second portion of the coupling assembly. An airlock is included between the workspace and the crankcase and a seal is included for sealing the workspace from the airlock and crankcase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael J. Slate, Prashant Bhat
  • Patent number: 10052761
    Abstract: A surgical system which may be configured to be a minimally invasive and/or computer assisted surgical system. Operation of the system may be controlled by transmission of a force from a first section to a second section of the system. The first section and the second section may be separated by a partition or a barrier. The first section may be a non-sterile section and the second section may be a sterile section of the surgical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael J. Slate, Prashant Bhat, Dirk A. van der Merwe, David D. B. Cannan, Keith D. Violette
  • Publication number: 20180128259
    Abstract: A peristaltic pump is disclosed that includes a plunger, a spring, an actuator, a position sensor, and a processor. The plunger actuates toward and away from a tube. The spring biases the plunger toward the tube. The actuator actuates the plunger away from the tube and mechanically engages and disengages from the plunger. The position sensor senses a position of the plunger. The processor receives the sensed position of the plunger and estimates fluid flow within the tube using a first position of the plunger when the actuator is engaged with the plunger and a second position of the plunger when the actuator is disengaged from the plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, John M. Kerwin, Colin H. Murphy, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael J. Slate, Michael S. Place, Larry B. Gray
  • Publication number: 20180104074
    Abstract: A robotic assembly control system is disclosed. The robotic assembly control system includes an exoskeleton apparatus adapted to be worn by a user, at least one robotic assembly, the at least one robotic assembly controlled by the user by way of the exoskeleton, and at least one mobile platform, the at least one mobile platform controlled by the user and wherein the at least one robotic assembly is attached to the at least one mobile platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Dirk A. van der Merwe, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Stewart M. Coulter, Christopher M. Werner, Michael J. Slate, Ethan D. Stern
  • Publication number: 20180106246
    Abstract: A peristaltic pump having at least first, second, and third stages is provided. The peristaltic pump includes a plunger, inlet and outlet valves, a spring, and an actuator. The plunger actuates toward and away from a tube, the inlet valve is upstream of the plunger, the outlet valve is downstream of the plunger, the spring biases the plunger toward the tube, and the actuator mechanically engages and disengages from the plunger. In the first stage, the inlet valve is opened and the plunger is actuated from the tube, in the second stage, the inlet valve is closed, the plunger is actuated toward the tube, and the actuator is mechanically disengaged from the plunger, and in the third stage, the outlet valve is opened. In the third stage or in a fourth stage, the actuator actuates the plunger toward the tube to discharge fluid downstream past the outlet valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, John M. Kerwin, Colin H. Murphy, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael J Slate, Michael S. Place, Larry B. Gray
  • Publication number: 20180066648
    Abstract: A peristaltic pump includes a cam shaft, first and second pinch-valve cams, first and second pinch-valve cam followers, a plunger cam, a plunger-cam follower, a tube receiver, a spring-cam plunger, a position sensor, and a processor. The plunger cam is coupled to the cam shaft. The plunger-cam follower is configured to engage the plunger cam. The spring-biased plunger is coupled to the plunger-cam follower where expansion of the plunger cam along a radial angle intersecting the plunger-cam follower as the cam shaft rotates pushes the plunger cam to disengage the spring-biased plunger from the tube and a spring coupled to the spring-biased plunger biases the spring-biased plunger to apply the crushing force to the tube. The position sensor is operatively coupled to the spring-biased plunger and is configured to determine a position of the spring-biased plunger. The processor estimates fluid flow using the position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, John M. Kerwin, Colin H. Murphy, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael J. Slate, Michael S. Place, Larry B. Gray
  • Patent number: 9844447
    Abstract: A robotic assembly control system is disclosed. The robotic assembly control system includes an exoskeleton apparatus adapted to be worn by a user, at least one robotic assembly, the at least one robotic assembly controlled by the user by way of the exoskeleton, and at least one mobile platform, the at least one mobile platform controlled by the user and wherein the at least one robotic assembly is attached to the at least one mobile platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dirk A. van der Merwe, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Stewart M. Coulter, Christopher M. Werner, Michael J. Slate, Ethan D. Stern
  • Publication number: 20170266378
    Abstract: A pump for pumping fluid includes a tube platen, a plunger, a bias member, inlet and outlet valves, an actuator mechanism, a position sensor, and a processor. The plunger is configured for actuation toward and away from the infusion-tube when the tube platen is disposed opposite to the plunger. The tube platen can hold an intravenous infusion tube. The bias member is configured to urge the plunger toward the tube platen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, John M. Kerwin, Colin H. Murphy, Jonathan Parker, Daniel F. Pawlowski, Dirk A. van der Merwe, Larry B. Gray, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael S. Place, Michael J. Slate
  • Publication number: 20170268497
    Abstract: A peristaltic pump includes a cam shaft, a plunger-cam follower, a tube receiver, a spring-biased plunger, a spring, a position sensor, and a processor. The cam shaft has a plunger cam. The plunger-cam follower engages the plunger cam to follow the plunger cam and to disengage from the plunger cam. The spring-biased plunger is coupled to the plunger-cam follower and the spring biases the spring-biased plunger toward the tube receiver. The position sensor determines a position of the spring-biased plunger when the plunger-cam follower is disengaged from the plunger cam and the spring applies a force from the spring-biased plunger against the tube. The processor estimates fluid flow utilizing the position of the spring-biased plunger as indicated by the position sensor when the plunger-cam follower is disengaged from the plunger cam and the spring applies the force from the spring-biased plunger against the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, John M. Kerwin, Colin H. Murphy, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael J. Slate, Michael S. Place, Larry B. Gray
  • Publication number: 20170221383
    Abstract: A modular electro-mechanical agent having a plurality of modules including mechanical and electrical components, that can be constructed to complete at least one pre-determined task and/or contribute in performing the at least one pre-determined task. The electro-mechanical agent can include extension modules and can be altered as per user preference to add, eliminate or modify any features of the agent for completing and/or participating in a plurality of pre-determined tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Scott Karol, Jason Michael Overson, William Daniel Hunt, Jacob William Scarpaci, Andrew Stephen Coll, Gregory Needel, Yuuki Gil Crowley, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael J. Slate, Prashant Bhat, Grant A. Peret
  • Patent number: 9675756
    Abstract: A pump for pumping fluid includes a tube platen, a plunger, a bias member, inlet and outlet valves, an actuator mechanism, a position sensor, and a processor. The plunger is configured for actuation toward and away from the infusion-tube when the tube platen is disposed opposite to the plunger. The tube platen can hold an intravenous infusion tube. The bias member is configured to urge the plunger toward the tube platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, John M. Kerwin, Colin H. Murphy, Jonathan Parker, Daniel F. Pawlowski, Dirk A. van der Merwe, Larry B. Gray, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael S. Place, Michael J. Slate
  • Patent number: 9677555
    Abstract: A peristaltic pump, and related system method are provided. The peristaltic pump includes a cam shaft, first and second pinch-valve cams, first and second pinch-valve cam followers, a plunger cam, a plunger-cam follower, a tube receiver, and a spring-biased plunger. The first and second pinch-valve cams are coupled to the cam shaft. The first and second pinch-valve cam followers each engage the first and second pinch-valve cams, respectively. The plunger cam is coupled to the cam shaft. The plunger-cam follower engages the plunger cam. The tube receiver is configured to receive a tube. The spring-biased plunger is coupled to the plunger-cam follower such that the expansion of the plunger cam along a radial angle intersecting the plunger-cam follower as the cam shaft rotates pushes the plunger cam follower towards the plunger and thereby disengages the spring-biased plunger from the tube. A spring coupled to the spring-biased plunger biases the spring-biased plunger to apply the crushing force to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, John M. Kerwin, Colin H. Murphy, Larry B. Gray, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael J. Slate, Michael S. Place
  • Publication number: 20170014998
    Abstract: A surgical system which may be configured to be a minimally invasive and/or computer assisted surgical system. Operation of the system may be controlled by transmission of a force from a first section to a second section of the system. The first section and the second section may be separated by a partition or a barrier. The first section may be a non-sterile section and the second section may be a sterile section of the surgical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael J. Slate, Prashant Bhat, Dirk A. van der Merwe, David D.B. Cannan, Keith D. Violette
  • Publication number: 20160097382
    Abstract: A peristaltic pump, and related system method are provided. The peristaltic pump includes a cam shaft, first and second pinch-valve cams, first and second pinch-valve cam followers, a plunger cam, a plunger-cam follower, a tube receiver, and a spring-biased plunger. The first and second pinch-valve cams are coupled to the cam shaft. The first and second pinch-valve cam followers each engage the first and second pinch-valve cams, respectively. The plunger cam is coupled to the cam shaft. The plunger-cam follower engages the plunger cam. The tube receiver is configured to receive a tube. The spring-biased plunger is coupled to the plunger-cam follower such that the expansion of the plunger cam along a radial angle intersecting the plunger-cam follower as the cam shaft rotates pushes the plunger cam follower towards the plunger and thereby disengages the spring-biased plunger from the tube. A spring coupled to the spring-biased plunger biases the spring-biased plunger to apply the crushing force to the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, John M. Kerwin, Colin H. Murphy, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael J. Slate, Michael S. Place
  • Patent number: D752209
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Bob D. Peret, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Matthew J. Johnson, Thomas S. Schnellinger, Michael S. Place, Michael J. Slate, David E. Collins
  • Patent number: D799025
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Matthew J. Johnson, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael J. Slate, Michael S. Place, David E. Collins
  • Patent number: D813376
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Bob D. Peret, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Matthew J. Johnson, Thomas S. Schnellinger, Michael S. Place, Michael J. Slate, David E. Collins