Patents by Inventor Paul Shiels

Paul Shiels 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: 12376920
    Abstract: A surgical robot a robotic device and a cart. The cart is coupled to the robotic device and includes a steering assembly. The steering assembly includes wheels and is configured such that the wheels allow the cart to roll in a linear direction when a first mode is selected and the wheels allow the cart to roll in a rotational direction when a second mode is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Alan Ross, Paul Shiels
  • Patent number: 12364558
    Abstract: A surgical system and method of operating the same include a manipulator with a base, a robotic arm coupled to the base, and a saw tool coupled to the robotic arm to perform a cut of a bone. A control system is coupled the manipulator and obtains data defining a cutting plane for the bone and a pre-determined depth of the bone to be cut by the saw tool along the cutting plane. The control system associates a virtual planar boundary with the bone along the cutting plane and controls the manipulator to autonomously align the saw tool to the cutting plane. The control system controls the manipulator to activate and autonomously move the saw tool along the cutting plane to perform the cut. Autonomous movement of the saw tool is constrained to remain within the virtual planar boundary and not exceed the pre-determined depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Seamus Gilhooley, David Gene Bowling, Paul Shiels
  • Publication number: 20250152270
    Abstract: Surgical systems and methods for positioning a workpiece involve a first tool assembly including one of a coupler or a receiver, and a second tool assembly with an interface adapted to attach to the workpiece and including the other one of the coupler or the receiver. A tool guide is configured to mount to a surgical robot. The tool guide defines an aperture through which the first tool assembly is configured to extend. The tool guide is configured to support the first tool assembly and enable the first tool assembly to pivot relative to the tool guide to facilitate engagement between the coupler and receiver to align the first and second tool assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2025
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: David Gene Bowling, Paul Shiels, Jevin Scrivens, Greg Starr
  • Publication number: 20250057611
    Abstract: Surgical systems and methods involving a reamer tool and a surgical robotic arm. The reamer tool has a shaft, a tool engagement surface coupled to the shaft, and a reamer head attached to the shaft. The surgical robotic arm supports a guide that can receive the reamer tool. The guide has a pair of arms, each arm extending to an arm end and the arm ends being spaced apart from one another to provide an opening between the arm ends. A channel is formed between the arms. The guide enables a portion of the shaft to move through the opening between the arm ends such that the shaft portion can enter and exit the channel. The arms define a guide engagement surface that is arc-shaped and that enables contact with the tool engagement surface to facilitate alignment of the reamer tool and the guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Shiels, David Gene Bowling, Larry Douglas O'Cull, Patrick C. Kelly, Christopher Wayne Jones
  • Patent number: 12226173
    Abstract: Tools, assemblies, surgical systems enable impacting a prosthesis into a surgical site. The tool has an impactor head with a surface to receive an impact force that is manually imparted by a user. A tool shaft has a distal portion and a proximal portion fixed to the impactor head. The tool shaft can be supported by a robotically manipulated tool guide for alignment of the tool shaft relative to the surgical site. A compliance mechanism of the tool has a proximal body coupled to the distal portion of the tool shaft and a distal body supported by the proximal body. The distal body is adapted to releasably attach directly to the prosthesis. The distal body is moveable relative to the proximal body for providing compliant motion of the distal body and prosthesis relative to the tool shaft in response to the impact force that is manually imparted by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: David Gene Bowling, Paul Shiels, Jevin Scrivens, Greg Starr
  • Patent number: 12167899
    Abstract: An assembly for a surgical arm includes a tool to position a prosthesis and an end effector. The tool has a tool shaft extending along a tool axis and a tool engagement surface. The end effector has a mount attachable to the surgical arm, a body portion extending from the mount, a distal end, and a guide portion is at the distal end of the body portion to receive the tool. The guide portion has a pair of arms, each arm extending to an arm end and the arm ends are spaced apart from one another to provide an opening between the arm ends. A channel is formed between the arms and extends along a guide axis. The arms define an arc-shaped guide engagement surface to enable contact with the tool engagement surface for facilitating alignment of the tool axis and the guide axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Shiels, David Gene Bowling, Larry Douglas O'Cull, Patrick C. Kelly, Christopher Wayne Jones
  • Publication number: 20230397961
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system has a base and a robotic arm coupled to the base. The robotic arm has a plurality of links and joints. A tracker support assembly has an arm to support a tracker assembly for the base. An arm positioner is coupled between the base and the arm to enable movement of the arm relative to the base. The arm positioner is configured to rigidly secure the arm in response to movement of the arm to a predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Victor Soto, Paul Shiels
  • Publication number: 20230296121
    Abstract: A surgical cart includes a base and a plurality of wheels coupled to the base such that the base is moveable. The surgical cart also includes a first device coupled to the base and moveable relative to the base, and a first docking feature coupled to the base and moveable relative to the base. The surgical cart further includes a second device coupled to the base and moveable relative to the base, and a second docking feature coupled to the second device and moveable with the second device relative to the base. The first docking feature is engageable with the second docking feature to selectively couple the first device and the second device together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Shiels, Mohammad Salaheldin Sallam
  • Publication number: 20230277256
    Abstract: Surgical robotic systems and navigation systems employ a robotic arm including a plurality of links. A link tracker assembly is located on the surface of one or more of the links to enable the link to be tracked by a localizer. The link tracker assemblies can utilize a plurality of tracker elements that can be removably coupled to the link. A photosensor assembly is located on the surface of one or more of the links to receive signals from the localizer for controlling the link tracker assembly. The robotic arm can be coupled to a base and the systems can be used in collaboration with a base tracker that is coupled to the base. The robotic arm can also include a mounting interface for receiving an end effector and the systems can be used in collaboration with an end effector tracker that is coupled to the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Victor Soto, Alan Ross, David Gene Bowling, Jochen Breisacher, Jonathan Mark Morgan, Dave A. Sinclair, David DiPietro, David Robert Whisler, Paul David Ekegren, Paul Shiels
  • Publication number: 20230225815
    Abstract: A surgical system and method of operating the same include a manipulator with a base, a robotic arm coupled to the base, and a saw tool coupled to the robotic arm to perform a cut of a bone. A control system is coupled the manipulator and obtains data defining a cutting plane for the bone and a pre-determined depth of the bone to be cut by the saw tool along the cutting plane. The control system associates a virtual planar boundary with the bone along the cutting plane and controls the manipulator to autonomously align the saw tool to the cutting plane. The control system controls the manipulator to activate and autonomously move the saw tool along the cutting plane to perform the cut. Autonomous movement of the saw tool is constrained to remain within the virtual planar boundary and not exceed the pre-determined depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Seamus Gilhooley, David Gene Bowling, Paul Shiels
  • Publication number: 20230218355
    Abstract: A surgical robot a robotic device and a cart. The cart is coupled to the robotic device and includes a steering assembly. The steering assembly includes wheels and is configured such that the wheels allow the cart to roll in a linear direction when a first mode is selected and the wheels allow the cart to roll in a rotational direction when a second mode is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Alan Ross, Paul Shiels
  • Patent number: 11638620
    Abstract: A surgical robot includes a robotic arm, a cart supporting the robotic arm and including a steering assembly. The steering assembly comprises wheels and a handle. The handle is moveable to a first position, a second position, and a third position. The steering assembly is configured such that the wheels allow the cart to roll in a longitudinal direction when the handle is in the first position, the wheels allow the cart to be roll a rotational direction when the handle is in the second position, and the wheels allow the cart to roll in a lateral direction when the handle is in the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Alan Ross, Paul Shiels
  • Patent number: 11633248
    Abstract: Methods of cutting bone using a robotic cutting system are provided. The robotic cutting system includes one or more controllers, a robotic manipulator, and one or more cutting tools, such as those including a bur or a saw blade, that can be coupled to the robotic manipulator. An initial cut, such as a notch, is made into the bone with the bur or the saw blade. This notch is then used to constrain the saw blade for limiting skiving of the saw blade during cutting along a cutting plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Seamus Gilhooley, David Gene Bowling, Paul Shiels
  • Publication number: 20220160442
    Abstract: A surgical robot includes a robotic arm, a cart supporting the robotic arm and including a steering assembly. The steering assembly comprises wheels and a handle. The handle is moveable to a first position, a second position, and a third position. The steering assembly is configured such that the wheels allow the cart to roll in a longitudinal direction when the handle is in the first position, the wheels allow the cart to be roll a rotational direction when the handle is in the second position, and the wheels allow the cart to roll in a lateral direction when the handle is in the third position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Alan Ross, Paul Shiels
  • Publication number: 20220125531
    Abstract: An assembly for a surgical arm includes a tool to position a prosthesis and an end effector. The tool has a tool shaft extending along a tool axis and a tool engagement surface. The end effector has a mount attachable to the surgical arm, a body portion extending from the mount, a distal end, and a guide portion is at the distal end of the body portion to receive the tool. The guide portion has a pair of arms, each arm extending to an arm end and the arm ends are spaced apart from one another to provide an opening between the arm ends. A channel is formed between the arms and extends along a guide axis. The arms define an arc-shaped guide engagement surface to enable contact with the tool engagement surface for facilitating alignment of the tool axis and the guide axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Shiels, David Gene Bowling, Larry Douglas O'Cull, Patrick C. Kelly, Christopher Wayne Jones
  • Patent number: 11278363
    Abstract: A portable surgical robot includes a surgical device and a cart. The surgical device is coupled to the cart. The cart includes a chassis, a mount coupled to the chassis, a carriage pivotally coupled to the mount, and a set of wheels. The carriage includes a first bracket positioned at a first lateral end of the carriage and a second bracket positioned at a second lateral end of the carriage. A first wheel of the set of wheels is coupled to the first bracket and a second wheel of the set of wheels is coupled to the second bracket. The carriage is configured to pivot relative to the mount to prevent at least one of (i) rocking of the portable surgical robot, (ii) fluttering of the first wheel, (iii) fluttering of the second wheel, and (iv) tipping of the portable surgical robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Alan Ross, Paul Shiels
  • Publication number: 20220039888
    Abstract: Tools, assemblies, surgical systems enable impacting a prosthesis into a surgical site. The tool has an impactor head with a surface to receive an impact force that is manually imparted by a user. A tool shaft has a distal portion and a proximal portion fixed to the impactor head. The tool shaft can be supported by a robotically manipulated tool guide for alignment of the tool shaft relative to the surgical site. A compliance mechanism of the tool has a proximal body coupled to the distal portion of the tool shaft and a distal body supported by the proximal body. The distal body is adapted to releasably attach directly to the prosthesis. The distal body is moveable relative to the proximal body for providing compliant motion of the distal body and prosthesis relative to the tool shaft in response to the impact force that is manually imparted by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: David Gene Bowling, Paul Shiels, Jevin Scrivens, Greg Starr
  • Patent number: 11234775
    Abstract: An end effector for impacting a prosthesis at a surgical site along a trajectory maintained by a surgical robot. The end effector comprises an impactor assembly and a guide. The impactor assembly has a head to receive impact force, an interface to releasably attach to the prosthesis, a shaft extending along an impactor axis between the head and the interface, and an impactor engagement surface disposed between the head and the interface. The guide is adapted to attach to the surgical robot and comprises a channel extending along a guide axis and defining an opening arranged to receive a portion of the shaft of the impactor assembly, a guide engagement surface shaped to abut the impactor engagement surface, and a limiter to maintain abutment of the impactor engagement surface with the guide engagement surface to facilitate coaxial alignment of the axes with the trajectory maintained by the surgical robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Shiels, David Gene Bowling, Larry D. O'Cull, Patrick C. Kelly, Christopher W. Jones
  • Publication number: 20220022986
    Abstract: Methods of cutting bone using a robotic cutting system are provided. The robotic cutting system includes one or more controllers, a robotic manipulator, and one or more cutting tools, such as those including a bur or a saw blade, that can be coupled to the robotic manipulator. An initial cut, such as a notch, is made into the bone with the bur or the saw blade. This notch is then used to constrain the saw blade for limiting skiving of the saw blade during cutting along a cutting plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Seamus Gilhooley, David Gene Bowling, Paul Shiels
  • Patent number: 11185377
    Abstract: A tool for positioning a workpiece with a surgical robot. The tool comprises a mount adapted to attach to the surgical robot. A first assembly is provided and extends along an axis. A pivot bearing is coupled to the mount and supports the first assembly for rotation and translation about the axis and for at least partial articulation relative to the mount. A second assembly is provided and comprises an interface adapted to attach to the workpiece. One of the first assembly and the second assembly comprises a coupler and the other of the first assembly and the second assembly comprises a receiver shaped to engage the coupler to align the second assembly and the first assembly along the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: David Gene Bowling, Paul Shiels, Jevin Scrivens, Greg Starr