Patents by Inventor Michael Whitman

Michael Whitman 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: 20240119675
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically generating a co-ordination drawing of a project is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes inputting parametric information, and accessing a file associated with a schematic drawing of a project and identifying a plurality of elements in the schematic drawing from the file. The method further includes obtaining geometrical and connectivity information associated with each of the plurality of elements by analyzing each of the plurality of elements. Additionally, the method includes selecting one or more predefined objects from a spatial database based on the geometrical and connectivity information associated with each of the plurality of elements and the inputted parametric information. The method further includes automatically generating a coordination drawing of the project using the one or more predefined objects, wherein the coordination drawing provides routing information of the plurality of elements in the project.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Mechanical Software Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendan Cunney, Michael Cunney, Shaun Cunney, Keith Pedrick, Joshua Whitman
  • Patent number: 10758225
    Abstract: A calibration system for a surgical instrument. The calibration system includes an actuator, such as a motor system and a flexible shaft. The calibration system also includes a surgical instrument actuatable by the actuator. The calibration system also include calibration data corresponding to the surgical instrument. A processor is configured to process the calibration data for determining a position of the surgical instrument. The calibration system may include a sensor configured to provide a signal corresponding to a movement of the actuator, the processor being further configured to process the signal for determining a position of the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Michael Whitman
  • Publication number: 20170354410
    Abstract: A calibration system for a surgical instrument. The calibration system includes an actuator, such as a motor system and a flexible shaft. The calibration system also includes a surgical instrument actuatable by the actuator. The calibration system also include calibration data corresponding to the surgical instrument. A processor is configured to process the calibration data for determining a position of the surgical instrument. The calibration system may include a sensor configured to provide a signal corresponding to a movement of the actuator, the processor being further configured to process the signal for determining a position of the surgical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Whitman
  • Publication number: 20070075116
    Abstract: A cutting and stapling device for use as an attachment to an electromechanical device driver comprises an upper jaw and a lower jaw which separate and close against one another in a continuously parallel alignment. The upper jaw includes a series of staple guides corresponding to one or more staples in a removable staple tray disposed within a lower jaw, whereby a blade and wedge having a threaded bore travel upon a matching threaded shaft in a channel disposed in the lower jaw below the staple tray, such that rotation of the threaded shaft causes movement of the wedge through the channel while a sloped surface of the wedge contacts the staples to push the staples against the staples guides, closing the staples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventor: Michael Whitman
  • Publication number: 20070057014
    Abstract: A staple pocket arrangement on the anvil portion of a surgical stapler device includes pairs of staple pockets corresponding to each one of a plurality of staples to be closed. The staple pockets may have a generally triangular shape when viewed from above. Each respective staple leg is received at a longitudinal end of the staple pocket that provides a relatively wide target area for receiving the staple leg to eliminate or at least minimize the likelihood that a staple leg will miss the staple pocket due to, e.g., misalignment between a first jaw of the surgical stapler having the anvil and a second jaw of the surgical stapler having a cartridge configured to fire the staples. The staple pockets may be arranged in rows, each row of staple pockets being longitudinally offset from another row, such that each staple pocket in a first row of staple pockets is nested with a staple pocket from an adjacent row of staple pockets to make more efficient use of space on the anvil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Whitman, John Burbank
  • Publication number: 20070056932
    Abstract: A system and method for forming a staple pocket, e.g., on the anvil portion of a surgical stapler device. A laser-machining system may include a laser-emitting device that is configured to emit a laser beam or beams for forming staple pockets on the anvil of a surgical stapler. The staple pockets of an anvil may be formed successively or simultaneously. The anvil of the surgical stapler is mounted in a mounting mechanism so as to control its movement, and the laser-emitting device is controlled by a control module, which may control any aspect of the laser-machining operation, e.g., the intensity of the laser beam, the movement of the laser-emitting device relative to the anvil, etc. The control module may be a processor that includes software that provides instructions for the operation of the control module, and may be programmable by a user for inputting parameters, e.g., shape, arrangement, etc., corresponding to the staple pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Whitman, John Burbank, Donald Malinouskas
  • Publication number: 20070055219
    Abstract: A shaft being, e.g., flexible, that includes an elongated outer sheath, at least one drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath and a ring non-rotatably mounted on the at least one rotatable drive shaft and at least one light source mounted within the shaft, such that, upon rotation of the at least one rotatable drive shaft, the ring alternately blocks and allows light from the light source to be detected. The shaft may also include a moisture sensor disposed within the outer sheath of the shaft and configured to detect moisture within the outer sheath. The shaft may include couplings that connect a distal end of the outer sheath to a surgical attachment and a proximal end of the outer sheath to a remote power console.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Whitman, Donald Malinouskas
  • Publication number: 20070055304
    Abstract: A medical tool comprising an electromechanical driver and a surgical instrument attachment for use in invasive surgery, including a handle coupled to a flexible sheath which is in turn coupled to a surgical attachment. The handle of the driver includes the electromechanical driver and at least one processor element which controls the actions of the electromechanical driver, and therefore the application elements of the surgical attachment, based on information relayed between the processor element and remotely activateable sensor assemblies in the surgical instrument attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventor: Michael Whitman
  • Publication number: 20070023476
    Abstract: A surgical device includes a first jaw and a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw between a first position, in which the first and second jaws are aligned within a plane, and a second position, in which the second jaw is in non-parallel correspondence to the plane. The surgical device may include a surgical member, e.g., a cutting and/or stapling element, disposed within the first jaw, and a second driver configured to cause relative movement of the surgical member in a direction parallel to the plane. The first and second jaws may include a camming arrangement that is configured to move the second jaw between the first and second positions. The camming arrangement may include a channel disposed along at least a portion of one or both of the first and second jaws, a ball bearing disposed within the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Whitman, Peter Datcuk
  • Publication number: 20070023477
    Abstract: A surgical device is provided that includes a jaw portion with a first jaw and a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw. The surgical device also includes a shaft portion coupled to a proximal end of the jaw portion. A driver is configured to cause relative movement of the jaw portion and the shaft portion. The driver may be configured to cause the jaw portion to pivot relative to the shaft portion about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to first and second longitudinal axes defined by the jaw portion and the shaft portion, respectively. The driver may also be configured to cause at least a portion of the jaw portion to rotate relative to the shaft portion about the first longitudinal axis. Advantageously, the surgical device includes a surgical member, e.g., a cutting element and/or a stapling element, disposed within the first jaw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Whitman, Peter Datcuk
  • Publication number: 20060089628
    Abstract: An extender for use in an electro-mechanical surgical system that includes a surgical attachment that may be detachably coupled to an electro-mechanical driver device via a flexible shaft. The extender is a substantially rigid extender that includes a proximal end that may be detachably coupled to a distal end of the flexible shaft. The extender also includes a distal end that may be detachably coupled to the surgical attachment. The extender also includes at least one rotatable drive shaft configured to engage and be secured with a respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaft such that rotation of the respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaft by the electro-mechanical driver device causes the at least one rotatable drive shaft of the extender to rotate, thereby rotating a complementary connector of the surgical attachment so as to operate the surgical attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventor: Michael Whitman
  • Publication number: 20060020213
    Abstract: A surgical imaging device includes at least one light source for illuminating an object, at least two image sensors configured to generate image data corresponding to the object in the form of an image frame, and a video processor configured to receive from each image sensor the image data corresponding to the image frames and to process the image data so as to generate a composite image. The video processor may be configured to normalize, stabilize, orient and/or stitch the image data received from each image sensor so as to generate the composite image. Preferably, the video processor stitches the image data received from each image sensor by processing a portion of image data received from one image sensor that overlaps with a portion of image data received from another image sensor. Alternatively, the surgical device may be, e.g., a circular stapler, that includes a first part, e.g., a DLU portion, having an image sensor a second part, e.g., an anvil portion, that is moveable relative to the first part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Whitman, Donald Malinouskas
  • Publication number: 20050192609
    Abstract: An electromechanical surgical device includes: a housing; an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a distal end of the elongated shaft being detachably coupleable to a surgical instrument; at least two axially rotatable drive shafts disposed within the elongated shaft, a distal end of each of the drive shafts being configured to couple with the surgical instrument; a steering cable arrangement, the steering cable arrangement being configured to steer the distal end of the elongated shaft; and a motor system disposed within the housing, the motor system being configured to drive the drive shafts and the steering cable arrangement. A control system may be provided for controlling the motor system. A remote control unit may also be provided for controlling the motor system via the control system. Sensors, such as optical or Hall-effect devices, may be provided for determining the position of the elements of the surgical instrument based on the detected rotation of the drive shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Whitman, John Burbank, David Zeichner
  • Publication number: 20050187576
    Abstract: The present invention, in accordance with various embodiments thereof, relates to a surgical device for at least one of cutting and stapling a section of tissue. The surgical device includes a housing including at least two drivers. The surgical device also includes an anvil mechanically attachable to the housing and moveable relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position. The first driver operates to move the anvil relative to the housing to an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position. The second driver operates to move at least a portion of the housing relative to the anvil between the intermediate position and the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Whitman, David Nicholas