Patents by Inventor Sven Brudniok

Sven Brudniok 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: 11292139
    Abstract: A gripper includes at least one first gripper finger adjustably mounted to a gripper main body by a gripping finger mount, at least one second gripper finger cooperating with the first gripper finger, and a motor-drivable transmission configured to adjust the at least one first gripper finger relative to the gripper main body and the at least one second gripper finger such that a clamping force is generated, whereby an article can be held in a clamped manner by the gripper. The transmission includes a first transmission member connected to the first gripper finger, and a second transmission member mounted on the gripper main body by a transmission-member bearing arrangement having a first transmission member bearing configured to absorb the transmission-bearing reaction force that acts in a direction of the clamping force. The transmission-member bearing arrangement includes a sensor configured to sense the transmission-bearing reaction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Sven Brudniok
  • Patent number: 11185995
    Abstract: A robot gripper includes a first gripper finger and at least one second gripper finger, a gripper main body, a base element mounted for rotation about a first rotational axis relative to the gripper main body by a first rotary joint, and an intermediate element mounted for rotation relative to the base element by a second rotary joint. The gripper further includes a finger carrier carrying the first gripper finger and mounted for rotation relative to the intermediate element by a third rotary joint, namely about a third rotational axis, and a drive device that is separate from the first, second, and third rotary joints. The drive device is supported against the gripper main body and is configured to adjust the finger carrier relative to the second gripper finger with a drive force that is introduced into the finger carrier by the drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Sven Brudniok
  • Publication number: 20210229296
    Abstract: A robot gripper includes a first gripper finger and at least one second gripper finger, a gripper main body, a base element mounted for rotation about a first rotational axis relative to the gripper main body by a first rotary joint, and an intermediate element mounted for rotation relative to the base element by a second rotary joint. The gripper further includes a finger carrier carrying the first gripper finger and mounted for rotation relative to the intermediate element by a third rotary joint, namely about a third rotational axis, and a drive device that is separate from the first, second, and third rotary joints. The drive device is supported against the gripper main body and is configured to adjust the finger carrier relative to the second gripper finger with a drive force that is introduced into the finger carrier by the drive device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventor: Sven Brudniok
  • Patent number: 10836046
    Abstract: A robot gripper includes a main gripper body that has a connection flange designed to secure the rotational gripper to a tool flange of a robotic arm; a base element that is mounted on the main gripper body such that it can rotate about a first rotational axis by a first rotational joint able to be adjusted automatically by a first drive motor; a first gripper finger mounted such that it can rotate about a second rotational axis aligned parallel to the first rotational axis, relative to the base element, by a second rotational joint which can be adjusted automatically by a second drive motor; and at least one additional gripper finger. The second rotational joint is configured to adjust the first gripper finger individually, using the second drive motor, independently of the at least one additional gripper finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Brudniok, Wolfgang Schober
  • Publication number: 20200306994
    Abstract: A gripper includes at least one first gripper finger adjustably mounted to a gripper main body by a gripping finger mount, at least one second gripper finger cooperating with the first gripper finger, and a motor-drivable transmission configured to adjust the at least one first gripper finger relative to the gripper main body and the at least one second gripper finger such that a clamping force is generated, whereby an article can be held in a clamped manner by the gripper. The transmission includes a first transmission member connected to the first gripper finger, and a second transmission member mounted on the gripper main body by a transmission-member bearing arrangement having a first transmission member bearing configured to absorb the transmission-bearing reaction force that acts in a direction of the clamping force. The transmission-member bearing arrangement includes a sensor configured to sense the transmission-bearing reaction force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventor: Sven Brudniok
  • Patent number: 10391635
    Abstract: A positioning device for a robot includes an end effector, in particular a surgical end effector, which has a base and a flange to which the robot can be secured, wherein the flange is connected to the base by a kinematic system which has at least two joints. The flange can be adjusted from a first position relative to the base, in particular at least substantially on a circular path or straight line, to a second position by the kinematic system, the second position being spaced apart from the first position. An orientation means reorients the flange from a first orientation in the first position into a second orientation in the second position, the second orientation being rotated about a reference axis by at least 75 degrees, in particular relative to the first orientation, as a result of an adjustment from a first position into a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Jakob Berghofer, Sven Brudniok, Sebastian Lohmeier, Martin Riedel
  • Patent number: 10390900
    Abstract: A surgical instrument arrangement has a modular motor drive unit which has a drive arrangement having at least one output element, an instrument shaft that can be detachably connected to the drive unit, and a drive arrangement having at least one input drive element. The output drive arrangement and the input drive arrangement can be coupled to each other by a mechanical interface that has at least one single-sided linkage, a pin, and a cut-out, wherein the pin can be radially expanded in the cut-out. Alternatively, a gap may be formed between the pin and the cut-out, which gap is wavy in the radial direction, and in which a radially displaceable, axially fixed intermediate element arrangement is arranged. The surgical instrument arrangement may also include a sterile barrier, which is provided to envelop the drive unit and to be arranged between the drive unit and the instrument shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Lohmeier, Wolfgang Schober, Sven Brudniok
  • Patent number: 10391644
    Abstract: A robot includes a robot controller that is designed and configured to execute a robot program, and a robot arm having at least three joints connected by links and a number of drives corresponding to the at least three joints. Each drive is designed to adjust one of the at least three joints allocated to the drive. The joints can be actuated in an automated manner in accordance with the robot program or in a manual drive mode by the robot controller to automatically adjust the associated joint, wherein at least one of the links includes a force measuring device designed to measure a force on the link in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Sven Brudniok
  • Patent number: 10307121
    Abstract: An X-ray arrangement for a medical work station includes a frame having a first frame section supporting an X-ray transmitter and a second frame section opposite the first frame section and supporting an X-ray receiver. The medical work station further includes an adjustment device configured to change a relative pose of at least one of the X-ray transmitter or the X-ray receiver relative to the frame by adjusting at least one of the pose of the X-ray transmitter at the first frame section or the pose of the X-ray receiver (at the second frame section independently of one other. In one aspect, the frame may be shaped as a C-arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Sven Brudniok
  • Patent number: 10258421
    Abstract: A surgical instrument arrangement has a modular motor drive unit which has a drive arrangement having at least one output element, an instrument shaft that can be detachably connected to the drive unit, and a drive arrangement having at least one input drive element. The output drive arrangement and the input drive arrangement can be coupled to each other by a mechanical interface that has at least one single-sided linkage, a pin, and a cut-out, wherein the pin can be radially expanded in the cut-out. Alternatively, a gap may be formed between the pin and the cut-out, which gap is wavy in the radial direction, and in which a radially displaceable, axially fixed intermediate element arrangement is arranged. The surgical instrument arrangement may also include a sterile barrier, which is provided to envelop the drive unit and to be arranged between the drive unit and the instrument shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Lohmeier, Wolfgang Schober, Sven Brudniok
  • Publication number: 20180281202
    Abstract: The invention relates to a robot gripper comprising: a main gripper body that has a connection flange designed to secure the rotational gripper to a tool flange of a robotic arm; also a base element that is mounted on said main gripper body such that it can rotate about a first rotational axis by means of a first rotational joint able to be adjusted automatically by a first drive motor; and a first gripper finger mounted such that it can rotate about a second rotational axis aligned parallel to the first rotational axis, relative to the base element, by means of a second rotational joint which can be adjusted automatically by a second drive motor; as well as at least one additional gripper finger, said second rotational joint being designed to adjust the first gripper finger individually, using the second drive motor, independently of said at least one additional gripper finger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Sven Brudniok, Wolfgang Schober
  • Publication number: 20180215054
    Abstract: A robot includes a robot controller that is designed and configured to execute a robot program, and a robot arm having at least three joints connected by links and a number of drives corresponding to the at least three joints. Each drive is designed to adjust one of the at least three joints allocated to the drive. The joints can be actuated in an automated manner in accordance with the robot program or in a manual drive mode by the robot controller to automatically adjust the associated joint, wherein at least one of the links includes a force measuring device designed to measure a force on the link in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventor: Sven Brudniok
  • Patent number: 9782225
    Abstract: A surgical instrument arrangement has a modular motor drive unit which has a drive arrangement having at least one output element, an instrument shaft that can be detachably connected to the drive unit, and a drive arrangement having at least one input drive element. The output drive arrangement and the input drive arrangement can be coupled to each other by a mechanical interface that has at least one single-sided linkage, a pin, and a cut-out, wherein the pin can be radially expanded in the cut-out. Alternatively, a gap may be formed between the pin and the cut-out, which gap is wavy in the radial direction, and in which a radially displaceable, axially fixed intermediate element arrangement is arranged. The surgical instrument arrangement may also include a sterile barrier, which is provided to envelop the drive unit and to be arranged between the drive unit and the instrument shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Lohmeier, Wolfgang Schober, Sven Brudniok
  • Publication number: 20170274533
    Abstract: A positioning device for a robot includes an end effector, in particular a surgical end effector, which has a base and a flange to which the robot can be secured, wherein the flange is connected to the base by a kinematic system which has at least two joints. The flange can be adjusted from a first position relative to the base, in particular at least substantially on a circular path or straight line, to a second position by the kinematic system, the second position being spaced apart from the first position. An orientation means reorients the flange from a first orientation in the first position into a second orientation in the second position, the second orientation being rotated about a reference axis by at least 75 degrees, in particular relative to the first orientation, as a result of an adjustment from a first position into a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Jakob Berghofer, Sven Brudniok, Sebastian Lohmeier, Martin Riedel
  • Patent number: 9730757
    Abstract: A surgical instrument according to the invention, particularly a robot-guided surgical instrument, has a shaft end (1), a tool holder (2), which is mounted on the shaft end so as to be able to rotate about a yaw axis (G), and a tool (3) with a main lever (3A), in particular a blade and/or jaw, which is mounted on the tool holder so as to rotate about a pitch axis (N), and a gear transmission with a drive wheel (31), which is mounted on the tool holder so as to be rotatable about an input gear axis (G) by a driving means (200), and, in force-fit and/or form-fit connection therewith, an output wheel (30), which is mounted on the tool holder so as to rotate about an output gear axis (N) and by means of which the tool is rotatable about the pitch axis, or a wraparound transmission with a drive wheel, which is mounted on the tool holder so as to be rotatable about an input gear axis by a driving means, an output wheel, which is mounted on the tool holder so as to be able to rotate about an output gear axis and by
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventor: Sven Brudniok
  • Publication number: 20170188985
    Abstract: An X-ray arrangement for a medical work station includes a frame having a first frame section supporting an X-ray transmitter and a second frame section opposite the first frame section and supporting an X-ray receiver. The medical work station further includes an adjustment device configured to change a relative pose of at least one of the X-ray transmitter or the X-ray receiver relative to the frame by adjusting at least one of the pose of the X-ray transmitter at the first frame section or the pose of the X-ray receiver (at the second frame section independently of one other. In one aspect, the frame may be shaped as a C-arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventor: Sven Brudniok
  • Publication number: 20160166340
    Abstract: A surgical instrument has a pre-tensioned pair of flexible links comprising a first flexible link strand and a counter-rotating second flexible link strand for actuating a degree of freedom of the instrument, in particular an end effector, in opposite senses, by an input assembly. The first flexible link strand has a higher tensile stiffness than the second flexible link strand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Sven Brudniok
  • Publication number: 20150173731
    Abstract: A surgical instrument arrangement has a modular motor drive unit which has a drive arrangement having at least one output element, an instrument shaft that can be detachably connected to the drive unit, and a drive arrangement having at least one input drive element. The output drive arrangement and the input drive arrangement can be coupled to each other by a mechanical interface that has at least one single-sided linkage, a pin, and a cut-out, wherein the pin can be radially expanded in the cut-out. Alternatively, a gap may be formed between the pin and the cut-out, which gap is wavy in the radial direction, and in which a radially displaceable, axially fixed intermediate element arrangement is arranged. The surgical instrument arrangement may also include a sterile barrier, which is provided to envelop the drive unit and to be arranged between the drive unit and the instrument shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Sebastian Lohmeier, Wolfgang Schober, Sven Brudniok
  • Publication number: 20150173728
    Abstract: A surgical instrument arrangement has a modular motor drive unit which has a drive arrangement having at least one output element, an instrument shaft that can be detachably connected to the drive unit, and a drive arrangement having at least one input drive element. The output drive arrangement and the input drive arrangement can be coupled to each other by a mechanical interface that has at least one single-sided linkage, a pin, and a cut-out, wherein the pin can be radially expanded in the cut-out. Alternatively, a gap may be formed between the pin and the cut-out, which gap is wavy in the radial direction, and in which a radially displaceable, axially fixed intermediate element arrangement is arranged. The surgical instrument arrangement may also include a sterile barrier, which is provided to envelop the drive unit and to be arranged between the drive unit and the instrument shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Sebastian Lohmeier, Wolfgang Schober, Sven Brudniok
  • Publication number: 20150173839
    Abstract: A surgical instrument arrangement has a modular motor drive unit which has a drive arrangement having at least one output element, an instrument shaft that can be detachably connected to the drive unit, and a drive arrangement having at least one input drive element. The output drive arrangement and the input drive arrangement can be coupled to each other by a mechanical interface that has at least one single-sided linkage, a pin, and a cut-out, wherein the pin can be radially expanded in the cut-out. Alternatively, a gap may be formed between the pin and the cut-out, which gap is wavy in the radial direction, and in which a radially displaceable, axially fixed intermediate element arrangement is arranged. The surgical instrument arrangement may also include a sterile barrier, which is provided to envelop the drive unit and to be arranged between the drive unit and the instrument shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Sebastian Lohmeier, Wolfgang Schober, Sven Brudniok