Patents by Inventor Richard Hitchens

Richard Hitchens 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: 7998020
    Abstract: An apparatus for selectively advancing and/or rotating an elongate device, includes a carrier mounted for rotation about a primary axis and a pair of opposed rollers on the carrier adapted to drive the device in a direction along the primary axis. A mechanism drives at least one of the rollers has a first gear and a second gear. A first input selectively rotates the second gear in first or second directions to advance or retract the elongate device. A second input selectively rotates the carrier in first and second directions to rotate the elongate device. The operation of the second input alone simultaneously rotates and advances/retracts the elongate device, and the coordinated operation of the first and second inputs rotates the elongate device without advancement/retraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Stereotaxis, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kidd, Richard Hitchens
  • Publication number: 20090105645
    Abstract: An apparatus for selectively advancing and/or rotating an elongate device, includes a carrier mounted for rotation about a primary axis and a pair of opposed rollers on the carrier adapted to receive and engage an elongate device between them, and drive the device in a direction along the primary axis. A drive mechanism for driving at least one of the pair of opposed rollers, the drive mechanism comprising a first gear pivotally mounted about a first axis perpendicular to the primary axis, a second gear engaging the first gear, rotatably mounted about an axis parallel to the primary axis. A first input for selectively rotating the second gear in first or second directions to advance or retract an elongate device engaged by the pair of opposed rollers. A second input for selectively rotating the carrier in first and second directions to rotate an elongate device engaged by the pair of opposed rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Brian Kidd, Richard Hitchens