Patents by Inventor S. Christoper Anderson

S. Christoper Anderson 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: 9668816
    Abstract: A force transmission transmits a force to a primary output gimbal plate and a secondary output gimbal plate. The secondary output gimbal plate supports the primary output gimbal plate. Each of three primary levers is supported by a primary pivot. Each primary lever is coupled to the primary output gimbal plate such that the three couplings are not collinear. Each of three secondary levers is supported by a secondary pivot. Each secondary lever is coupled to one of the primary levers by a force applying connector. Each secondary lever is coupled to the secondary output gimbal plate such that the three couplings are not collinear. The output gimbal plates may be coupled to the levers by flexible cables. The cables may be substantially contained within a tube. The output gimbal plates may be substantially smaller than the input gimbal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cooper, Anthony McGrogan, Matthew Reagan Williams, Eugene F. Duval, S. Christoper Anderson
  • Publication number: 20140076077
    Abstract: A force transmission transmits a force to a primary output gimbal plate and a secondary output gimbal plate. The secondary output gimbal plate supports the primary output gimbal plate. Each of three primary levers is supported by a primary pivot. Each primary lever is coupled to the primary output gimbal plate such that the three couplings are not collinear. Each of three secondary levers is supported by a secondary pivot. Each secondary lever is coupled to one of the primary levers by a force applying connector. Each secondary lever is coupled to the secondary output gimbal plate such that the three couplings are not collinear. The output gimbal plates may be coupled to the levers by flexible cables. The cables may be substantially contained within a tube. The output gimbal plates may be substantially smaller than the input gimbal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cooper, Anthony McGrogan, Matthew Reagan Williams, Eugene F. Duval, S. Christoper Anderson
  • Publication number: 20140076076
    Abstract: A force transmission includes a gimbal plate having two degrees of freedom. Each of three lever arms is supported by a pivot between two ends of the lever arm. One end of each lever arm is coupled to the gimbal plate such that the three couplings are not collinear. An equalizer cable has two opposing ends, each end fixedly coupled to one of the lever arms. The equalizer cable is routed over a lever arm pulley pivotally coupled to another of the lever arms between the pivot and one end of the lever arm. The gimbal plate may be coupled to the three lever arms by flexible cables or by links that transmit compression forces but not tension forces. The cables may be substantially contained within a tube. The links may be electrically non-conductive. The force transmission may control a surgical end effector in a teleoperated surgical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cooper, Anthony McGrogan, Matthew Reagan Williams, Eugene F. Duval, S. Christoper Anderson
  • Patent number: 8603077
    Abstract: A force transmission transmits a force received by an input gimbal plate having two degrees of freedom to an output gimbal plate. The input gimbal plate is coupled to a first end of least three lever arms supported by a pivot. The output gimbal plate is coupled to a second end of the lever arms. The output gimbal plate may be coupled to the lever arms by flexible cables. The cables may be substantially contained within a tube. The output gimbal plate may be substantially smaller than the input gimbal plate. The force transmission may include a secondary output gimbal plate coupled to secondary levers that are coupled to the lever arms. The secondary levers may be third class levers. The secondary output gimbal plate may move proportionately to movement of the output gimbal plate. The force transmission may control a surgical end effector in a robotic surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cooper, Anthony McGrogan, Matthew Reagan Williams, Eugene F. Duval, S. Christoper Anderson
  • Publication number: 20110277580
    Abstract: A force transmission transmits a force received by an input gimbal plate having two degrees of freedom to an output gimbal plate. The input gimbal plate is coupled to a first end of least three lever arms supported by a pivot. The output gimbal plate is coupled to a second end of the lever arms. The output gimbal plate may be coupled to the lever arms by flexible cables. The cables may be substantially contained within a tube. The output gimbal plate may be substantially smaller than the input gimbal plate. The force transmission may include a secondary output gimbal plate coupled to secondary levers that are coupled to the lever arms. The secondary levers may be third class levers. The secondary output gimbal plate may move proportionately to movement of the output gimbal plate. The force transmission may control a surgical end effector in a robotic surgical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cooper, Anthony McGrogan, Matthew Reagan Williams, Eugene F. Duval, S. Christoper Anderson