Patents by Inventor Nicholas H. Ragosta

Nicholas H. Ragosta 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: 11896338
    Abstract: A medical device drive system can include a rotational input, a coupling member engaged with the rotational input, a first gear having an engagement feature sized and shaped to engage with the coupling member, and a second gear coupled with the first gear, the second gear coupled to a movable element. The system can have a first system state and a second system state. In the first system state the coupling member is not engaged with the engagement feature and the first gear rotates without moving the coupling member. In the second system state the coupling member is engaged with the engagement feature of the first gear and rotation of the rotational input turns the coupling member, the first gear, and the second gear to move the movable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas H. Ragosta, Matthew A. Wixey
  • Patent number: 11877819
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes: a distal movable component; a proximal drive assembly including a drive shaft, a capstan, and a plurality of splines; a first cable extending between the distal movable component and the drive shaft; and a second cable extending between the distal movable component and the capstan. The drive shaft includes a tapered projection, and the capstan includes a tapered bore in which the tapered projection of the drive shaft is received. The plurality of splines engage the tapered projection of the drive shaft with the tapered bore of the capstan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, Nicholas H. Ragosta
  • Patent number: 11633239
    Abstract: A medical device drive system may include a locking structure, a locking device sized and shaped to engage with the locking structure, the locking device coupled to a drive system component, and a lifter configured to actuate the locking device into and out of engagement with the locking structure, wherein the drive system component is selectively lockable by movement of the lifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas H. Ragosta, Matthew A. Wixey
  • Publication number: 20230114904
    Abstract: A medical device drive system can include a rotational input, a coupling member engaged with the rotational input, a first gear having an engagement feature sized and shaped to engage with the coupling member, and a second gear coupled with the first gear, the second gear coupled to a movable element. The system can have a first system state and a second system state. In the first system state the coupling member is not engaged with the engagement feature and the first gear rotates without moving the coupling member. In the second system state the coupling member is engaged with the engagement feature of the first gear and rotation of the rotational input turns the coupling member, the first gear, and the second gear to move the movable element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas H. Ragosta, Matthew A. Wixey
  • Patent number: 11529206
    Abstract: A medical device drive system can include a rotational input, a coupling member engaged with the rotational input, a first gear having an engagement feature sized and shaped to engage with the coupling member, and a second gear coupled with the first gear, the second gear coupled to a movable element. The system can have a first system state and a second system state. In the first system state the coupling member is not engaged with the engagement feature and the first gear rotates without moving the coupling member. In the second system state the coupling member is engaged with the engagement feature of the first gear and rotation of the rotational input turns the coupling member, the first gear, and the second gear to move the movable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas H. Ragosta, Matthew A. Wixey
  • Publication number: 20220015849
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a dynamic preload tension feature for a tensioning element that actuates a distal end component of a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes a chassis at a proximal end of the surgical instrument, drive components mounted in the chassis, a distal end component at a distal end of the surgical instrument, a flexible tensioning element coupled between a first of the drive components and the distal end component, and a dynamic preload tensioner mounted in the chassis and coupled to a second of the drive components. The flexible tensioning element extends along a path. The dynamic preload tensioner is configured to be driven by the second of the drive components to be moved relative to the chassis and is positioned to change the path of the flexible tensioning element as the dynamic preload tensioner moves relative to the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, William Burbank, Thomas Grosvenor Cooper, Patrick Flanagan, Nicholas H. Ragosta, Donald Frank Wilson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220000572
    Abstract: A medical device drive system can include a rotational input, a coupling member engaged with the rotational input, a first gear having an engagement feature sized and shaped to engage with the coupling member, and a second gear coupled with the first gear, the second gear coupled to a movable element. The system can have a first system state and a second system state. In the first system state the coupling member is not engaged with the engagement feature and the first gear rotates without moving the coupling member. In the second system state the coupling member is engaged with the engagement feature of the first gear and rotation of the rotational input turns the coupling member, the first gear, and the second gear to move the movable element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Nicholas H. Ragosta, Matthew A. Wixey
  • Patent number: 11160625
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a dynamic preload tension feature for a tensioning element that actuates a distal end component of a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes a chassis at a proximal end of the surgical instrument, drive components mounted in the chassis, a distal end component at a distal end of the surgical instrument, a flexible tensioning element coupled between a first of the drive components and the distal end component, and a dynamic preload tensioner mounted in the chassis and coupled to a second of the drive components. The flexible tensioning element extends along a path. The dynamic preload tensioner is configured to be driven by the second of the drive components to be moved relative to the chassis and is positioned to change the path of the flexible tensioning element as the dynamic preload tensioner moves relative to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, William Burbank, Thomas Grosvenor Cooper, Patrick Flanagan, Nicholas H. Ragosta, Donald Frank Wilson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11076926
    Abstract: A medical device drive system can include a rotational input, a coupling member engaged with the rotational input, a first gear having an engagement feature sized and shaped to engage with the coupling member, and a second gear coupled with the first gear, the second gear coupled to a movable element. The system can have a first system state and a second system state. In the first system state the coupling member is not engaged with the engagement feature and the first gear rotates without moving the coupling member. In the second system state the coupling member is engaged with the engagement feature of the first gear and rotation of the rotational input turns the coupling member, the first gear, and the second gear to move the movable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas H. Ragosta, Matthew A. Wixey
  • Patent number: 11039835
    Abstract: A medical device drive system including a lever body having portions defining a lever body cavity, a nut housing in the lever body cavity, and a first nut at least partially in the first nut cavity. The first nut is slideable in the first nut cavity between an engaged position in which the lead screw interface is engaged with the engagement portion of the lead screw, and a disengaged position in which the lead screw interface is not engaged with the engagement portion of the lead screw. The lead screw interface of the first nut is selectively engageable with the engagement portion of the lead screw by sliding the lever body and pin relative to the first nut housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Wixey, William A. Burbank, Nicholas H. Ragosta
  • Patent number: 11020193
    Abstract: A medical device system can include a surgical tool, and a one-way input, and a drive system operatively coupled to the surgical tool and the oneway input device. The drive system can be rotatable in a first direction to effectuate a first operation of the surgical tool, and rotatable in a second direction to effectuate a second the operation of the surgical tool. The one-way input device can be operable to rotate the rotatable drive system in the second direction but not the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Wixey, Nicholas H. Ragosta
  • Publication number: 20210059778
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes: a distal movable component; a proximal drive assembly including a drive shaft, a capstan, and a plurality of splines; a first cable extending between the distal movable component and the drive shaft; and a second cable extending between the distal movable component and the capstan. The drive shaft includes a tapered projection, and the capstan includes a tapered bore in which the tapered projection of the drive shaft is received. The plurality of splines engage the tapered projection of the drive shaft with the tapered bore of the capstan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, Nicholas H. Ragosta
  • Patent number: 10792115
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes: a distal movable component; a proximal drive assembly including a drive shaft, a capstan, and a plurality of splines; a first cable extending between the distal movable component and the drive shaft; and a second cable extending between the distal movable component and the capstan. The drive shaft includes a tapered projection, and the capstan includes a tapered bore in which the tapered projection of the drive shaft is received. The plurality of splines engage the tapered projection of the drive shaft with the tapered bore of the capstan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, Nicholas H. Ragosta
  • Publication number: 20200138529
    Abstract: A medical device drive system may include a locking structure, a locking device sized and shaped to engage with the locking structure, the locking device coupled to a drive system component, and a lifter configured to actuate the locking device into and out of engagement with the locking structure, wherein the drive system component is selectively lockable by movement of the lifter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Nicholas H. Ragosta, Matthew A. Wixey
  • Publication number: 20190231464
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a dynamic preload tension feature for a tensioning element that actuates a distal end comport of a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes a chassis at a proximal end of the surgical instrument, drive components mounted in the chassis, a distal end component at a distal end of the surgical instrument, a flexible tensioning element coupled between a first of the drive components and the distal end component, and a dynamic preload tensioner mounted in the chassis and coupled to a second of the drive components. The flexible tensioning element extends along a path. The dynamic preload tensioner is configured to be driven by the second of the drive components to be moved relative to the chassis and is positioned to change the path of the flexible tensioning element as the dynamic preload tensioner moves relative to the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, William Burbank, Thomas Grosvenor Cooper, Patrick Flanagan, Nicholas H. Ragosta, Donald Frank Wilson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190201148
    Abstract: A medical device system can include a surgical tool, and a one-way input, and a drive system operatively coupled to the surgical tool and the oneway input device. The drive system can be rotatable in a first direction to effectuate a first operation of the surgical tool, and rotatable in a second direction to effectuate a second the operation of the surgical tool. The one-way input device can be operable to rotate the rotatable drive system in the second direction but not the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew A. Wixey, Nicholas H. Ragosta
  • Publication number: 20180271608
    Abstract: A medical device drive system can include a rotational input, a coupling member engaged with the rotational input, a first gear having an engagement feature sized and shaped to engage with the coupling member, and a second gear coupled with the first gear, the second gear coupled to a movable element. The system can have a first system state and a second system state. In the first system state the coupling member is not engaged with the engagement feature and the first gear rotates without moving the coupling member. In the second system state the coupling member is engaged with the engagement feature of the first gear and rotation of the rotational input turns the coupling member, the first gear, and the second gear to move the movable element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas H. Ragosta, Matthew A. Wixey
  • Publication number: 20180104012
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes: a distal movable component; a proximal drive assembly including a drive shaft, a capstan, and a plurality of splines; a first cable extending between the distal movable component and the drive shaft; and a second cable extending between the distal movable component and the capstan. The drive shaft includes a tapered projection, and the capstan includes a tapered bore in which the tapered projection of the drive shaft is received. The plurality of splines engage the tapered projection of the drive shaft with the tapered bore of the capstan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, Nicholas H. Ragosta