Patents by Inventor S. Duke Herrell

S. Duke Herrell 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).

  • Concentric tube robot
    Patent number: 10441371
    Abstract: A robotic surgical apparatus includes at least two tubes having a nested, concentric configuration with an inner tube positioned in an outer tube. The tubes are configured to deliver surgical therapy. A first tube carrier connected to the outer tube and a second tube carrier connected to the inner tube. The first tube carrier and its associated outer tube and the second tube carrier and its associated inner tube form a robotic arm assembly. An actuator for actuating the robotic arm assembly is configured to receive the robotic arm assembly via a tube insertion interface into which the robotic arm assembly can be inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Richard J. Hendrick, Robert J. Webster, III, S. Duke Herrell, Philip J. Swaney, Ray Lathrop
  • SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR ENDOSCOPIC DEPLOYMENT OF ROBOTIC CONCENTRIC TUBE MANIPULATORS FOR PERFORMING SURGERY
    Publication number: 20190175288
    Abstract: An apparatus (20) for performing endoscopic surgery on a patient (12) includes at least two concentric tube manipulators (150) adapted to carry devices (152, 154) for performing a surgical operation. A transmission (200) operates the concentric tube manipulators (150). An endoscope tube (106) has a proximal end portion fixed to the transmission (200). The concentric tube manipulators (150) extend from the transmission (200) through an inner lumen (102) of the endoscope tube (106) and are operable to extend from a distal end (104) of the endoscope tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: S. Duke Herrell, Robert J. Webster, Trevor Bruns, Philip J. Swaney, Richard Hendrick
  • System and method for endoscopic deployment of robotic concentric tube manipulators for performing surgery
    Patent number: 10238457
    Abstract: An apparatus (20) for performing endoscopic surgery on a patient (12) includes at least two concentric tube manipulators (150) adapted to carry devices (152, 154) for performing a surgical operation. A transmission (200) operates the concentric tube manipulators (150). An endoscope tube (106) has a proximal end portion fixed to the transmission (200). The concentric tube manipulators (150) extend from the transmission (200) through an inner lumen (102) of the endoscope tube (106) and are operable to extend from a distal end (104) of the endoscope tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: S. Duke Herrell, Robert J. Webster, III, Trevor Bruns, Philip J. Swaney, Richard Hendrick
  • CONCENTRIC TUBE ROBOT
    Publication number: 20170095299
    Abstract: A robotic surgical apparatus includes at least two tubes having a nested, concentric configuration with an inner tube positioned in an outer tube. The tubes are configured to deliver surgical therapy. A first tube carrier connected to the outer tube and a second tube carrier connected to the inner tube. The first tube carrier and its associated outer tube and the second tube carrier and its associated inner tube form a robotic arm assembly. An actuator for actuating the robotic arm assembly is configured to receive the robotic arm assembly via a tube insertion interface into which the robotic arm assembly can be inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Richard J. Hendrick, Robert J. Webster, III, S. Duke Herrell, Philip J. Swaney, Ray Lathrop
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENDOSCOPIC DEPLOYMENT OF ROBOTIC CONCENTRIC TUBE MANIPULATORS FOR PERFORMING SURGERY
    Publication number: 20150080907
    Abstract: An apparatus (20) for performing endoscopic surgery on a patient (12) includes at least two concentric tube manipulators (150) adapted to carry devices (152, 154) for performing a surgical operation. A transmission (200) operates the concentric tube manipulators (150). An endoscope tube (106) has a proximal end portion fixed to the transmission (200). The concentric tube manipulators (150) extend from the transmission (200) through an inner lumen (102) of the endoscope tube (106) and are operable to extend from a distal end (104) of the endoscope tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: S. Duke Herrell, Robert J. Webster, III, Trevor Bruns, Philip J. Swaney, Richard Hendrick