Patents by Inventor Paul Millman

Paul Millman 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: 20230054233
    Abstract: A surgical instrument may comprise a housing and a shaft a shaft extending within the housing. The shaft may include first and second ends. The shaft may be configured for rotation in response to either a robotic actuation of the shaft or a manual actuation of the shaft. The surgical instrument may also comprise a receiving member coupled to the first end of the shaft. The receiving member may be configured to releasably couple to a driver of a robotic manipulator to receive the robotic actuation from the driver to rotate the shaft and articulate an instrument component coupled to the shaft. The surgical instrument may also comprise a manual actuation component coupled to the second end of the shaft and extending from the housing. The manual actuation component may be configured to receive the manual actuation to rotate the shaft and articulate the instrument component coupled to the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: PAUL A. MILLMAN, David W. Bailey, Dean F. Hoornaert, David Q. Larkin, David S. Mintz
  • Patent number: 11517379
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a housing and a valve mounted in the housing. The valve is configured to control a flow of a fluid into or out of a surgical site in response to either a robotic actuation of the valve or a manual actuation of the valve. The valve comprises a valve shaft, a receiving member structurally coupled to the valve shaft, and a manual actuation component structurally coupled to the valve shaft and extending from the housing. The receiving member is configured to releasably couple to a driver of a robotic manipulator to receive the robotic actuation from the driver remotely controlled by a surgeon to adjust a state of the valve. The manual actuation component is configured to receive the manual actuation to adjust the state of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul A. Millman, David W. Bailey, Dean F. Hoornaert, David Q. Larkin, David S. Mintz
  • Patent number: 11439472
    Abstract: A slave manipulator manipulates a medical device in response to operator manipulation of an input device through joint control systems. The stiffness and strength of the slave manipulator are adjustable according to criteria such as the mode of operation of the slave manipulator, the functional type of the medical device currently being held by the slave manipulator, and the current phase of a medical procedure being performed using the slave manipulator by changing corresponding parameters of the control system. For safety purposes, such changes are not made until it is determined that it can be done in a smooth manner without causing jerking of the medical device. Further, an excessive force warning may be provided to surgery staff when excessive forces are being commanded on the slave manipulator for more than a specified period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Maria Prisco, Hubert Stein, Paul Millman, David W. Bailey, William C. Nowlin, Gregory K. Toth, Thomas R. Nixon
  • Publication number: 20220022980
    Abstract: A robotic system includes a base movable relative to a floor surface and a controllable arm extending from the base. The arm is configured to support and move a tool. The arm has a powered joint operable to position and/or orient a distal portion of the arm. The robotic system further includes a processor coupled to the powered joint and configured to drive the powered joint to reposition the base while the position and/or orientation of the distal portion of the arm is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Simon Peter DiMaio, Nicholas Leo Bernstein, Paul Millman, Dinesh Rabindran, Alec Paul Robertson
  • Publication number: 20210386427
    Abstract: A surgical stapler for applying a suture to tissue includes a first jaw and a second jaw configured to receive a cartridge. An actuation mechanism translates a drive member distally through the first and second jaws to apply staples to tissue such that a suture, in combination with the staples, forms a purse string when the stapler activated. The cartridge includes a first upper portion and a second lower portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Paul Millman, William Burbank, Nina Frankel, Steven D. Wexner
  • Publication number: 20210386507
    Abstract: A device for cleaning an instrument includes a manifold comprising one or more fluid inlets, and a tubular member rotatable relative to and extending distally from the manifold. The tubular member includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a fluid outlet at the distal end. The fluid outlet is configured to direct a flow of fluid generally across the distal end of the tubular member. The tubular member also includes one or more fluid passages fluidically coupled to the fluid outlet, and the one or more fluid passages extend from the fluid outlet to the manifold. The manifold and tubular member are configured to receive a shaft of an imaging instrument in a position such that the shaft of the imaging instrument extends through the manifold to the distal end of the tubular member. Systems and methods relate to instruments and cleaning devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert REID, Paul MILLMAN
  • Patent number: 11166770
    Abstract: A robotic system includes a base movable relative to a floor surface and a controllable arm extending from the base. The arm is configured to support and move a tool. The arm has a powered joint operable to position and/or orient a distal portion of the arm. The robotic system further includes a processor coupled to the powered joint and configured to drive the powered joint to reposition the base while the position and/or orientation of the distal portion of the arm is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Peter DiMaio, Nicholas Leo Bernstein, Paul Millman, Dinesh Rabindran, Alec Paul Robertson
  • Patent number: 11160622
    Abstract: A method of assigning an auxiliary input device to control a surgical instrument in a computer-assisted surgical system includes detecting a first surgical instrument coupled to a first manipulator interface assembly of a computer-assisted surgical system, the first manipulator interface assembly being controlled by a first input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Randal P. Goldberg, Michael Hanuschik, Paul Millman, Paul W. Mohr, Thomas R. Nixon, David W. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20210322115
    Abstract: A robotic system includes a base movable relative to a floor surface and a controllable arm extending from the base. The arm is configured to support and move a tool. The arm has a powered joint operable to position and/or orient the tool. The robotic system further includes a positioning indicator. A processor operates the positioning indicator to direct a manual repositioning of the base relative to the floor surface while the processor is operating the powered joint to maintain the position and/or orientation of the tool during the manual repositioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Simon Peter DiMaio, Nicholas Leo Bernstein, Paul Millman, Dinesh Rabindran, Alec Paul Robertson
  • Patent number: 11076925
    Abstract: A robotic system includes a base movable relative to a floor surface and a controllable arm extending from the base. The arm is configured to support and move a tool. The arm has a powered joint operable to position and/or orient the tool. The robotic system further includes a positioning indicator. A processor operates the positioning indicator to direct a manual repositioning of the base relative to the floor surface while the processor is operating the powered joint to maintain the position and/or orientation of the tool during the manual repositioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Peter DiMaio, Nicholas Leo Bernstein, Paul Millman, Dinesh Rabindran, Alec Paul Robertson
  • Publication number: 20210169592
    Abstract: A user interface for a surgical system can include a display configured to output video images of a remote surgical site at which one or more electrosurgical instruments of the surgical system are deployed; and a graphical user interface configured to be output on the display with the video images. The graphical user interface may comprise a visual indication of a state of the one or more electrosurgical instruments that indicates a state of the one or more electrosurgical instruments being ready for activation to deliver energy or actively delivering energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David W. ROBINSON, Thomas R. NIXON, Michael HANUSCHIK, Randal P. GOLDBERG, Jason HEMPHILL, David Q. LARKIN, Paul MILLMAN
  • Patent number: 10898287
    Abstract: A user interface for a surgical system can include a display configured to output video images of a remote surgical site at which one or more electrosurgical instruments of the surgical system are deployed; and a graphical user interface configured to be output on the display with the video images. The graphical user interface may comprise a visual indication of a state of the one or more electrosurgical instruments that indicates a state of the one or more electrosurgical instruments being ready for activation to deliver energy or actively delivering energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David W. Robinson, Thomas R. Nixon, Michael Hanuschik, Randal P. Goldberg, Jason Hemphill, David Q. Larkin, Paul Millman
  • Patent number: 10820949
    Abstract: A slave manipulator manipulates a medical device in response to operator manipulation of an input device through joint control systems. The stiffness and strength of the slave manipulator are adjustable according to criteria such as the mode of operation of the slave manipulator, the functional type of the medical device currently being held by the slave manipulator, and the current phase of a medical procedure being performed using the slave manipulator by changing corresponding parameters of the control system. For safety purposes, such changes are not made until it is determined that it can be done in a smooth manner without causing jerking of the medical device. Further, an excessive force warning may be provided to surgery staff when excessive forces are being commanded on the slave manipulator for more than a specified period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Prisco, Hubert Stein, Paul Millman, David Bailey, William Nowlin, Michael Ikeda, Thomas Nixon
  • Publication number: 20200281672
    Abstract: A method of assigning an auxiliary input device to control a surgical instrument in a computer-assisted surgical system includes detecting a first surgical instrument coupled to a first manipulator interface assembly of a computer-assisted surgical system, the first manipulator interface assembly being controlled by a first input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Randal P. GOLDBERG, Michael HANUSCHIK, Paul MILLMAN, Paul W. MOHR, Thomas R. NIXON, David W. ROBINSON
  • Publication number: 20200253672
    Abstract: A surgical flux transmission conduit comprises a data signal transmission pathway; a surgical flux transmission pathway; and a connector interface. The connector interface comprises a data signal transmission terminal feature in communication with the data signal transmission pathway, and a surgical flux transmission terminal feature in communication with the surgical flux transmission pathway. The connector interface of the surgical flux transmission conduit is configured to selectively mate with a first device connector interface having at least one device surgical flux transmission terminal feature and at least one device data signal terminal feature, and with a second device connector interface having at least one device surgical flux transmission terminal feature and without a device data signal transmission terminal feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory W. DACHS, II, Bruce M. SCHENA, Paul MILLMAN, Paul W. MOHR
  • Publication number: 20200246092
    Abstract: A user interface for a surgical system can include a display configured to output video images of a remote surgical site at which one or more electrosurgical instruments of the surgical system are deployed; and a graphical user interface configured to be output on the display with the video images. The graphical user interface may comprise a visual indication of a state of the one or more electrosurgical instruments that indicates a state of the one or more electrosurgical instruments being ready for activation to deliver energy or actively delivering energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David W. ROBINSON, Thomas R. NIXON, Michael HANUSCHIK, Randal P. GOLDBERG, Jason HEMPHILL, David Q. LARKIN, Paul MILLMAN
  • Publication number: 20200237456
    Abstract: A slave manipulator manipulates a medical device in response to operator manipulation of an input device through joint control systems. The stiffness and strength of the slave manipulator are adjustable according to criteria such as the mode of operation of the slave manipulator, the functional type of the medical device currently being held by the slave manipulator, and the current phase of a medical procedure being performed using the slave manipulator by changing corresponding parameters of the control system. For safety purposes, such changes are not made until it is determined that it can be done in a smooth manner without causing jerking of the medical device. Further, an excessive force warning may be provided to surgery staff when excessive forces are being commanded on the slave manipulator for more than a specified period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Giuseppe Maria Prisco, Hubert Stein, Paul Millman, David W. Bailey, William C. Nowlin, Gregory K. Toth, Thomas R. Nixon
  • Patent number: 10682191
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for reconfiguring a surgical manipulator by moving the manipulator within a null-space of a kinematic Jacobian of the manipulator arm. In one aspect, in response to receiving a reconfiguration command, the system drives a first set of joints and calculates velocities of the plurality of joints to be within a null-space. The joints are driven according to the reconfiguration command and the calculated movement so as to maintain a desired state of the end effector or a remote center about which an instrument shaft pivots. In another aspect, the joints are also driven according to a calculated end effector or remote center displacing velocities within a null-perpendicular-space of the Jacobian so as to effect the desired reconfiguration concurrently with a desired movement of the end effector or remote center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Arjang M. Hourtash, Paul W. Mohr, Pushkar Hingwe, Paul Millman, Bruce M. Schena, Roman L. Devengenzo, Scott Luke
  • Patent number: 10624706
    Abstract: A system for controlling a surgical instrument comprises an input device operably coupled to remotely control movement of a surgical instrument operably coupled to a computer-assisted surgical system; a first auxiliary input device configured to transmit an auxiliary function control signal to activate an auxiliary function of a surgical instrument in an operably coupled state of the first auxiliary input device and the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Randal P. Goldberg, Michael Hanuschik, Paul Millman, Paul W. Mohr, Thomas R. Nixon, David Robinson
  • Patent number: 10575909
    Abstract: A user interface for a surgical system can include a display configured to output video images of a remote surgical site at which one or more electrosurgical instruments of the surgical system are deployed; and a graphical user interface configured to be output on the display with the video images. The graphical user interface may comprise a visual indication of a state of the one or more electrosurgical instruments that indicates a state of the one or more electrosurgical instruments being ready for activation to deliver energy or actively delivering energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David W. Robinson, Thomas R. Nixon, Michael Hanuschik, Randal P. Goldberg, Jason Hemphill, David Q. Larkin, Paul Millman