Patents by Inventor Paul Wilhelm Schnur

Paul Wilhelm Schnur 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: 11937891
    Abstract: A surgical robotic system includes at least one eye tracking system positioned detect the direction of at least one user's gaze. Input derived from the eye tracking system may be used to enter commands to the surgical robotic system depending on the directions of the gaze detected or other aspects of the gaze such as pupil dilation or speed of eye movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Andrew Hufford, Nicholas J Bender, Alexander John Maret, Matthew Robert Penny, Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Dustin Owen Vaughan, Sevan Abashian, Michael Okyen
  • Publication number: 20230390016
    Abstract: A robotic system assembly comprises a robotic manipulator including an actuator assembly and a surgical instrument having a base body mountable to the actuator assembly. The base includes a first control input and a second control input, wherein the first and second control inputs are positioned on different sides of the base. The actuator assembly is moveable between open and closed positions to facilitate removal and replacement of surgical instruments. When in the closed positions, drive elements of the actuator assembly are positioned to drive the first and second control inputs of the surgical instrument to cause end effector movement or actuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Penny, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Paul Wilhelm Schnur
  • Patent number: 11768204
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a fluid drive system and a surgical instrument removably positioned in operative engagement with the drive system. A sterile barrier covers non-sterile portions of the surgical system. Features of the sterile barrier are used to transfer motion output from the fluid drive system to the instrument for actuation of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Penny, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Nicholas J. Bender, Alexander John Maret, Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Sevan Abashian, Dustin Vaughan
  • Patent number: 11730556
    Abstract: A robotic system assembly comprises a robotic manipulator including an actuator assembly and a surgical instrument having a base body mountable to the actuator assembly. The base includes a first control input and a second control input, wherein the first and second control inputs are positioned on different sides of the base. The actuator assembly is moveable between open and closed positions to facilitate removal and replacement of surgical instruments. When in the closed positions, drive elements of the actuator assembly are positioned to drive the first and second control inputs of the surgical instrument to cause end effector movement or actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Penny, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Paul Wilhelm Schnur
  • Patent number: 11717364
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument having jaws is energized and actuated using a length of cable. The cable is formed of a conductive inner portion coated with a dielectric polymer. The cable extends through a pass-through in a portion of the jaw and is crimped to create a mechanical and electrical connection between the conductive inner portion and the conductive jaw material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Penny, Nicholas J. Jardine, Paul Wilhelm Schnur
  • Patent number: 11690688
    Abstract: A robotic system assembly comprises a robotic manipulator including an actuator assembly and a surgical instrument having a base body mountable to the actuator assembly. The base includes a first control input and a second control input, wherein the first and second control inputs are positioned on different sides of the base. The actuator assembly is moveable between open and closed positions to facilitate removal and replacement of surgical instruments. When in the closed positions, drive elements of the actuator assembly are positioned to drive the first and second control inputs of the surgical instrument to cause end effector movement or actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Penny, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Paul Wilhelm Schnur
  • Publication number: 20230121745
    Abstract: A powered user interface for a robotic surgical system operates in accordance with a mode of operation in which the actuators are operated to permit motion of the handle in pitch and yaw motion constrained with respect to a virtual fulcrum in a work space of the user interface, and insertion motion is constrained along an axis passing through the virtual fulcrum. In a virtual fulcrum setting mode, a user is prompted to give input to the system selecting a desired point in space for the virtual fulcrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Stefan Atay, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Matthew R Penny
  • Patent number: 11628028
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for use with a robotic manipulator includes an end effector assembly having one or two end effector members, each having a distal treatment end, a proximal end, and a tendon pass-through. Each end effector member is sandwiched between a corresponding pair of pulley members that, when assembled define an annular tendon pathway that is between the pulley members and that is aligned with the pass-through. For each end effector member, a tendon having a distal loop portion ends through the tendon pass-through, with its legs passing proximally from the pass-through, extending in opposite directions around the tendon pathway and proximally through the instrument's shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Penny, Nicholas J Jardine, Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Curtis P. Hanson, Robert Henson
  • Publication number: 20230064250
    Abstract: A user interface for a surgical robotic system includes a plurality of handles, each removably attachable to a user interface assembly by a quick release connector. The selection of handles can include handles of varying size, degree of complexity, handles adapted for laparoscopic motion, handles adapted for true cartesian motion or handles customized to surgeon anthropometric data, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Zachary S. Leonard, Nicholas J. Jardine
  • Patent number: 11547513
    Abstract: A powered user interface for a robotic surgical system includes a base, a handle mounted to the base and moveable relative to the base in at least six degrees of freedom, and actuators. The interface operates in accordance with a first mode of operation in which the actuators are operated to constrain predetermined ones of the joints to permit motion of the handle in only 4DOF with respect to the base, and a second mode of operation in which the actuators permit motion of the handle in at least 6DOF with respect to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Atay, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Matthew R Penny
  • Patent number: 11540890
    Abstract: A powered user interface for a robotic surgical system having a manipulator and a surgical instrument mounted to the manipulator includes a base and a linkage assembly that includes two two-bar linkage mechanisms. The linkage assembly is rotatably mounted to the base at a base joint, and a handle mounted to each of the two-bar linkage mechanisms. Sensors and actuators are arranged to measure and actuate the position and orientation of the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Stefan Atay, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Matthew R Penny
  • Patent number: 11517381
    Abstract: A user interface for a surgical robotic system includes a plurality of handles, each removably attachable to a user interface assembly by a quick release connector. The selection of handles can include handles of varying size, degree of complexity, handles adapted for laparoscopic motion, handles adapted for true cartesian motion or handles customized to surgeon anthropometric data, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J Jardine, Zachary S. Leonard, Paul Wilhelm Schnur
  • Publication number: 20220104898
    Abstract: A surgical robotic system includes at least one eye tracking system positioned detect the direction of at least one user's gaze. Input derived from the eye tracking system may be used to enter commands to the surgical robotic system depending on the directions of the gaze detected or other aspects of the gaze such as pupil dilation or speed of eye movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin Andrew Hufford, Nicholas J. Bender, Alexander John Maret, Matthew Robert Penny, Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Dustin Owen Vaughan, Sevan Abashian, Michael Oyken
  • Publication number: 20220061943
    Abstract: A powered user interface for a robotic surgical system having a manipulator and a surgical instrument mounted to the manipulator includes a base and a linkage assembly that includes two two-bar linkage mechanisms. The linkage assembly is rotatably mounted to the base at a base joint, and a handle mounted to each of the two-bar linkage mechanisms. Sensors and actuators are arranged to measure and actuate the position and orientation of the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Stefan Atay, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Matthew R Penny
  • Publication number: 20220061942
    Abstract: A powered user interface for a robotic surgical system includes a base, a handle mounted to the base and moveable relative to the base in at least six degrees of freedom, and actuators. The interface operates in accordance with a first mode of operation in which the actuators are operated to constrain predetermined ones of the joints to permit motion of the handle in only 4DOF with respect to the base, and a second mode of operation in which the actuators permit motion of the handle in at least 6DOF with respect to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Atay, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Matthew R Penny
  • Publication number: 20210405052
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a fluid drive system and a surgical instrument removably positioned in operative engagement with the drive system. A sterile barrier covers non-sterile portions of the surgical system. Features of the sterile barrier are used to transfer motion output from the fluid drive system to the instrument for actuation of the instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew R. Penny, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Nicholas J. Bender, Alexander John Maret, Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Sevan Abashian, Dustin Vaughan
  • Patent number: 11179214
    Abstract: A powered user interface for a robotic surgical system includes a handle on a linkage having a plurality of joints, a base, and actuators. The interface operates in accordance with a first mode of operation in which a plurality of its actuators are operated to constrain predetermined ones of the joints to permit motion of the handle in only 4DOF with respect to the base, and a second mode of operation in which the actuators permit motion of the handle in at least 6DOF with respect to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Atay, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Matthew R Penny
  • Patent number: 11119105
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a fluid drive system and a surgical instrument removably positioned in operative engagement with the drive system. A sterile barrier covers non-sterile portions of the surgical system. Features of the sterile barrier are used to transfer motion output from the fluid drive system to the instrument for actuation of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R Penny, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Nicholas J Bender, Alexander John Maret, Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Sevan Abashian, Dustin Vaughan
  • Publication number: 20210247396
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a fluid drive system and a surgical instrument removably positioned in operative engagement with the drive system. A sterile barrier covers non-sterile portions of the surgical system. Features of the sterile barrier are used to transfer motion output from the fluid drive system to the instrument for actuation of the instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew R. Penny, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Nicholas J. Bender, Alexander John Maret, Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Sevan Abashian, Dustin Vaughan
  • Publication number: 20210169595
    Abstract: A robotic system assembly comprises a robotic manipulator including an actuator assembly and a surgical instrument having a base body mountable to the actuator assembly. The base includes a first control input and a second control input, wherein the first and second control inputs are positioned on different sides of the base. The actuator assembly is moveable between open and closed positions to facilitate removal and replacement of surgical instruments. When in the closed positions, drive elements of the actuator assembly are positioned to drive the first and second control inputs of the surgical instrument to cause end effector movement or actuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Penny, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Paul Wilhelm Schnur