Patents by Inventor Michael Turner

Michael Turner 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: 20170172671
    Abstract: A system and method of breakaway clutching in a computer-assisted medical device includes an articulated arm having one or more first joints and a control unit coupled to the articulated arm and having one or more processors. The control unit operates each of the first joints in multiple states. The multiple states include a locked state, wherein movement of respective first joints is restricted, and a float state, wherein movement of the respective first joints is permitted. The control unit further switches one or more second joints selected from the first joints from the locked state to the float state when a stimulus on the second joints exceeds one or more unlock thresholds and switches the second joints from the float state to the locked state when a velocity of each of the second joints is below one or more lock thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel MILLER, Nitish SWARUP, Michael TURNER, Arjang M. HOURTASH, Paul G. GRIFFITHS, Paul W. MOHR
  • Publication number: 20170143437
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for operating a surgical system. In accordance with a method, a position of a surgical instrument is measured, the surgical instrument being included in a mechanical assembly having a plurality of joints and a first number of degrees of freedom, the position of the surgical instrument being measured for each of a second number of degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument. The method further includes estimating a position of each of the joints, where estimating the position of each joint includes applying the position measurements to at least one kinematic model of the mechanical assembly, the kinematic model having a third number of degrees of freedom greater than the first number of degrees of freedom. The method further includes controlling the mechanical assembly based on the estimated. position of the joints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Samuel Kwok Wai Au, Raymond A. Bonneau, Nicola Diolaiti, Pushkar Hingwe, Arjang M. Hourtash, Amy E. Kerdok, Michael Turner
  • Publication number: 20170076903
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for providing a directional output of X-rays are provided. In one embodiment, a sealed X-ray tube for use in portable X-ray devices is provided, and may comprise: a tube body; an anode comprising a notched focal spot portion, and a cathode cap comprising a cathode; wherein the cathode may be operable to direct a flow of electrons toward the notched focal spot portion of the anode such that electrons colliding with the notched focal spot portion may generate X-rays that may be output from the X-ray tube in a direction substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the anode and the X-ray tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Turner
  • Patent number: 9585726
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for operating a surgical system. In accordance with a method, a position of a surgical instrument is measured, the surgical instrument being included in a mechanical assembly having a plurality of joints and a first number of degrees of freedom, the position of the surgical instrument being measured for each of a second number of degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument. The method further includes estimating a position of each of the joints, where estimating the position of each joint includes applying the position measurements to at least one kinematic model of the mechanical assembly, the kinematic model having a third number of degrees of freedom greater than the first number of degrees of freedom. The method further includes controlling the mechanical assembly based on the estimated position of the joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Kwok Wai Au, Raymond A. Bonneau, Nicola Diolaiti, Pushkar Hingwe, Arjang M. Hourtash, Amy E. Kerdok, Michael Turner
  • Patent number: 9544809
    Abstract: A method is provided for triggering migration of call session state information. The method includes determining whether to migrate a network access agent associated with an access terminal in a wireless communication system based on at least one of mobility information associated with the access terminal and status information associated with the wireless communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Peretz Feder, Sureshbabu P. Nair, Ajay Rajkumar, Michael Turner, Lily H. Zhu
  • Publication number: 20160324590
    Abstract: A teleoperated surgical system includes a surgical instrument with an end effector and a master input device. A servomechanism may be operatively coupled to the end effector to apply a force to the end effector, and at least one processor may operatively couple the servomechanism to the master input device to apply a grip force with the first and second gripping elements in response to input at the master input device. The applied grip force may be based at least in part on a mechanical advantage of the surgical instrument end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: INUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael TURNER
  • Publication number: 20160237205
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nanoparticles of ?-conjugated polymers. The present invention also relates to an aqueous composition comprising these polymeric nanoparticles, to processes for making the nanoparticles, and to the use of these nanoparticles in the fabrication of electronic devices and components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: The University of Manchester
    Inventors: Mark McCairn, Michael Turner, Duangratchaneekorn Muenmart, Jair Azael Esquivel Guzman, Jonathan Maxmillian Behrendt, Andrew Bryan Foster
  • Publication number: 20160213435
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for controlling the movement of a mechanical body. In accordance with a method, desired movement information is received that identifies a desired motion of a mechanical body, the mechanical body having a first number of degrees of freedom. A plurality of instructions are then generated by applying the received desired movement information to a kinematic model, the kinematic model having a second number of degrees of freedom greater than the first number of degrees of freedom, each of the instructions being configured to control a corresponding one of the second number of degrees of freedom. A subset of the plurality of instructions are then transmitted for use in controlling the first number of degrees of freedom of the mechanical body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Arjang M. Hourtash, Samuel Kwok Wai Au, Raymond A. Bonneau, Nicola Diolaiti, Pushkar Hingwe, Amy E. Kerdok, Michael Turner
  • Publication number: 20160206386
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for operating a surgical system. In accordance with a method, a position of a surgical instrument is measured, the surgical instrument being included in a mechanical assembly having a plurality of joints and a first number of degrees of freedom, the position of the surgical instrument being measured for each of a second number of degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument. The method further includes estimating a position of each of the joints, where estimating the position of each joint includes applying the position measurements to at least one kinematic model of the mechanical assembly, the kinematic model having a third number of degrees of freedom greater than the first number of degrees of freedom. The method further includes controlling the mechanical assembly based on the estimated position of the joints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Samuel Kwok Wai Au, Raymond A. Bonneau, Nicola Diolaiti, Pushkar Hingwe, Arjang M. Hourtash, Amy E. Kerdok, Michael Turner
  • Patent number: 9387045
    Abstract: A teleoperated surgical system includes a surgical instrument with an end effector and a master input device. A servomechanism may be operatively coupled to the end effector to apply a force to the end effector, and at least one processor may operatively couple the servomechanism to the master input device to apply a grip force with the first and second gripping elements in response to input at the master input device. The applied grip force may be based at least in part on a mechanical advantage of the surgical instrument end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Turner
  • Publication number: 20160175061
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for performing minimally invasive surgery through an aperture of a patient. In accordance with a method, parameters are received from an input device associated with a surgeon, the parameters indicating a desired state of an end effector of a surgical instrument oriented through the aperture. The surgical instrument is included in a mechanical assembly having a first set of joints. Instructions are then computed for controlling the mechanical assembly using the received parameters by computing instructions for controlling a second set joints, the second set of joints including the first set of joints and an additional joint, the additional joint being absent from the mechanical assembly. The mechanical assembly is then driven so as to move the end effector toward the desired state based on the computed instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Pushkar Hingwe, Samuel Kwok Wai Au, Raymond A. Bonneau, Nicola Diolaiti, Arjang M. Hourtash, Amy E. Kerdok, Michael Turner
  • Publication number: 20160157125
    Abstract: A method is provided for triggering migration of call session state information. The method includes determining whether to migrate a network access agent associated with an access terminal in a wireless communication system based on at least one of mobility information associated with the access terminal and status information associated with the wireless communication system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Peretz Feder, Sureshbabu P. Nair, Ajay Rajkumar, Michael Turner, Lily H. Zhu
  • Publication number: 20160116599
    Abstract: A received Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum DSSS signal is processed by performing DSSS acquisition to obtain estimates of a frequency offset and a spreading code phase, sequentially obtaining, for each one of a plurality of segments of a received DSSS signal, a correlation function between the DSSS signal segment and a replica of a spreading code by using a Time and Frequency Transform based correlation method, the estimated frequency and the spreading code phase, and performing DSSS carrier tracking by tracking the phase of a correlation peak in the obtained correlation functions, and applying phase corrections to the obtained correlation functions to provide fine Doppler compensation. The time and frequency transform based correlation method involves, for each segment of the received DSSS signal, obtaining a plurality of samples and transforming the samples from the time domain to the frequency domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael TURNER, Kwok MAK
  • Patent number: 9295525
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for performing minimally invasive surgery through an aperture of a patient. In accordance with a method, parameters are received from an input device associated with a surgeon, the parameters indicating a desired state of an end effector of a surgical instrument oriented through the aperture. The surgical instrument is included in a mechanical assembly having a first set of joints. Instructions are then computed for controlling the mechanical assembly using the received parameters by computing instructions for controlling a second set joints, the second set of joints including the first set of joints and an additional joint, the additional joint being absent from the mechanical assembly. The mechanical assembly is then driven so as to move the end effector toward the desired state based on the computed instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Pushkar Hingwe, Samuel Kwok Wai Au, Raymond A. Bonneau, Nicola Diolaiti, Arjang M. Hourtash, Amy E. Kerdok, Michael Turner
  • Patent number: 9272416
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for controlling the movement of a mechanical body. In accordance with a method, desired movement information is received that identifies a desired motion of a mechanical body, the mechanical body having a first number of degrees of freedom. A plurality of instructions are then generated by applying the received desired movement information to a kinematic model, the kinematic model having a second number of degrees of freedom greater than the first number of degrees of freedom, each of the instructions being configured to control a corresponding one of the second number of degrees of freedom. A subset of the plurality of instructions are then transmitted for use in controlling the first number of degrees of freedom of the mechanical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Arjang M. Hourtash, Samuel Kwok Wai Au, Raymond A. Bonneau, Nicola Diolaiti, Pushkar Hingwe, Amy E. Kerdok, Michael Turner
  • Patent number: 9259280
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for operating a surgical system. In accordance with a method, a position of a surgical instrument is measured, the surgical instrument being included in a mechanical assembly having a plurality of joints and a first number of degrees of freedom, the position of the surgical instrument being measured for each of a second number of degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument. The method further includes estimating a position of each of the joints, where estimating the position of each joint includes applying the position measurements to at least one kinematic model of the mechanical assembly, the kinematic model having a third number of degrees of freedom greater than the first number of degrees of freedom. The method further includes controlling the mechanical assembly based on the estimated position of the joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Samuel Kwok Wai Au, Raymond A. Bonneau, Nicola Diolaiti, Pushkar Hingwe, Arjang M. Hourtash, Amy E. Kerdok, Michael Turner
  • Patent number: D749646
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: J.C. BAMFORD EXCAVATORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Turner, Toby Mellor, Jason Burgess, Simon Davies, Stuart Jones, Juan Carlos Ramires, John Boughton
  • Patent number: D750672
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: J.C. BAMFORD EXCAVATORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Samuel Payne, Michael Turner, Paul Colclough, David Morris
  • Patent number: D754214
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: J.C. BAMFORD EXCAVATORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Samuel Payne, Michael Turner, Paul Colclough, David Morris
  • Patent number: D768041
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: J.C. BAMFORD EXCAVATORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Turner, Paul Capper, Paul Smallman, Mark Prince