Patents by Inventor Paul Smitheman

Paul Smitheman 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: 20240298883
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a drive assembly and a dexterous endoscope. The endoscope defines a longitudinal axis and is actuatable by the drive assembly. The endoscope includes a camera assembly and an articulation assembly. The articulation assembly supports the camera assembly and is actuatable to move the camera assembly relative to the longitudinal axis. The distal wrist assembly includes links that are movable relative to one another, and the proximal wrist assembly includes links that are movable relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Aki Hannu Einari Laakso, Hans Christian Pflaumer, Rupert Anthony Barton, Adam Richard Turner, Paul Smitheman, Antony R. Burness, Robert Ian Noakes, Marcus Joseph Wolf
  • Publication number: 20240065538
    Abstract: A method for cleaning an endoscopic instrument of a robotic surgical system includes, in response to receiving an input to effectuate a cleaning of the endoscopic instrument, robotically retracting the endoscopic instrument from a patient; and robotically moving an elongated shaft of the endoscopic instrument, relative to a longitudinal axis of the endoscopic instrument, from an unarticulated position to an articulated position after the elongated shaft of the endoscopic instrument is fully withdrawn from the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Alan G. Sharer, Antony R. Burness, Clodagh E. Hogan, Leigh R. Shelford, Paul Smitheman, Aki Hannu Einari Laakso, Hans Christian Pflaumer
  • Publication number: 20220361971
    Abstract: A surgical instrument of a robotic surgical system includes an elongated shaft assembly, and end effector, and an instrument cassette assembly. The elongated shaft assembly has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The end effector is supported the distal end portion of the elongated shaft assembly. The instrument cassette assembly is supported on the proximal end portion of the elongated shaft assembly. The instrument cassette assembly includes a cassette housing and an actuator system supported in the cassette housing. The actuator system is operably coupled to the end effector for operating the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: James A. Boonzaier, Jack A. Hornsby, Akshaya Ahuja, Aki Hannu Einari Laakso, Hans C. Pflaumer, Rupert A. Barton, Adam R. Turner, Paul Smitheman, Matthew J. Brady