Patents by Inventor Tao Zhao

Tao Zhao 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: 11721995
    Abstract: A method of discharging a battery assembly used to power at least part of an object includes detecting when power to the object is turned off, detecting, with aid of a timer, an amount of time elapsed since the power to the object is turned off, and initiating a controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly when the amount of time exceeds a threshold length of time. The controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly is performed by a self-discharging circuit electrically coupled to the battery assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tao Zhao, Juncheng Zhan, Yuancai Liu, Lei Wang, Wentao Wang
  • Publication number: 20230240750
    Abstract: Devices, systems, methods, and computer program products for planning medical procedures are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a system for planning a medical procedure includes a processor and memory operably coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations including receiving a three-dimensional model of an anatomic region of a patient and evaluating whether the three-dimensional model is suitable for use in a registration procedure to be performed in the anatomic region. The evaluating includes: analyzing a span of the three-dimensional model along at least two different directions, determining whether the three-dimensional model includes at least one segmented component corresponding to at least one structure of the anatomic region, and performing a registration between the three-dimensional model and a virtual registration data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy D. Soper, Tao Zhao, Federico Barbagli, Pechin Chien Pau Lo
  • Patent number: 11707336
    Abstract: A method and system for hand tracking in a robotic system includes a hand tracking system and a controller coupled to the hand tracking system. The controller is configured to receive, from the hand tracking system, a plurality of locations of a hand; determine if the hand is in a first hand pose based on the plurality of locations; in response to determining that the hand is in the first hand pose, and switch the robotic system to a hand trajectory detection mode. While in the hand trajectory detection mode, the control unit is configured to detect, based on hand tracking information from the hand tracking system, that the hand has performed a first hand trajectory of a plurality of known hand trajectories; and in response to detecting the first hand trajectory, change a mode of operation of the robotic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Simon P. Dimaio, Paul E. Lilagan, Tao Zhao
  • Publication number: 20230218193
    Abstract: A method performed by a computing system comprises receiving a first set of spatial information from an instrument positioned within an anatomic passageway. The first set of spatial information includes a plurality of spatial data records including position information for a distal end of the instrument at a plurality of time periods. The method further comprises ordering the plurality of spatial data records in a time-gathered order. The method further comprises evaluating a spatial relationship between first and second consecutive spatial data records of the plurality of spatial data records. The method further comprises filtering the first set of spatial information based upon the evaluated spatial relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Tao Zhao, Prashant Chopra, Vincent Duindam, Dorin Panescu, Lei Fan
  • Publication number: 20230215007
    Abstract: A method performed by a computing system comprises receiving a fluoroscopic image of a patient anatomy while a portion of a medical instrument is positioned within the patient anatomy. The fluoroscopic image has a fluoroscopic frame of reference. The portion has a sensed position in an anatomic model frame of reference. The method further comprises identifying the portion in the fluoroscopic image and identifying an extracted position of the portion in the fluoroscopic frame of reference using the identified portion in the fluoroscopic image. The method further comprises registering the fluoroscopic frame of reference to the anatomic model frame of reference based on the sensed position of the portion and the extracted position of the portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Tao Zhao, Federico Barbagli, Caitlin Q. Donhowe, Vincent Duindam, Michael D. Paris, Timothy D. Soper, Oliver J. Wagner
  • Patent number: 11690678
    Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting image-guided procedures include a device having an instrument usable to collect location data for one or more passageways and one or more processors coupled to the instrument. The one or more processors are configured to organize a plurality of points within the location data based on a corresponding insertion depth of the instrument when each of the plurality of points is collected, create a passageway tree based on the points, identify at least three non-collinear landmark locations within the passageway tree, create a seed transformation between one or more of the at least three non-collinear landmark locations and corresponding model locations in model data, and register, using the seed transformation, the plurality of points to the model data for the one or more passageways. In some embodiments, the at least three non-collinear landmark locations are based on a main branch point in the passageway tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Tao Zhao
  • Patent number: 11678813
    Abstract: A method and medical system for estimating the deformation of an anatomic structure that comprises generating a first model of at least one anatomical passageway from anatomical data describing a patient anatomy and determining a shape of a device positioned within the branched anatomical passageways. The method and medical system also comprise generating a second model of the plurality of branched anatomical passageways by adjusting the first model relative to the determined shape of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Vincent Duindam, Prashant Chopra, Tao Zhao
  • Patent number: 11666397
    Abstract: A medical system comprises a memory for receiving intraoperative external image data for at least a portion of a patient anatomy. The memory further receives intraoperative pose data for a medical instrument of the medical system. The medical system further comprises a processor configured for generating a first model of the patient anatomy. The processor is further configured for, based on the intraoperative external image data, intraoperatively generating an updated model of the patient anatomy that is different from the first model. The updated model includes an anatomical structure that is not present in the first model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Dorin Panescu, Prashant Chopra, Jonathan M. Sorger, Tao Zhao
  • Publication number: 20230157783
    Abstract: A computer-assisted medical device is configured and used to endoluminally navigate to a location in the gastrointestinal system and there treat certain body lumen wall areas while avoiding other body lumen wall areas. Embodiments ablate the inner mucosal layer and sub-mucosal nerve plexus of the stomach, duodenum and jejunum to effect treatment of insulin resistance and metabolic disorders, such as Type II diabetes (T2D), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), congestive heart failure (CHF) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Various sensors are used to assist a clinical operator to navigate from the mouth through the pyloric sphincter and into and through the duodenum and/or jejunum. Various sensors are used to map and identify portions of the duodenum and/or jejunum. Various lumen wall ablation devices and methods are described. Various post-treatment assessments are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Kyle R. Miller, Joseph D. Bogusky, Duane W. Marion, Ian E. McDowall, Tabish Mustufa, Dinesh Rabindran, Benjamin J. Schoettgen, Jignesh Shah, Tao Zhao
  • Patent number: 11657502
    Abstract: A method for image segmentation comprises receiving volumetric image data for an anatomical region and generating a first volumetric patch from the volumetric image data. The method also comprises generating a second volumetric patch from the first volumetric patch by weighting a plurality of volumetric units in the first volumetric patch and receiving the second volumetric patch as an input to a convolutional neural network. The method also comprises conducting a down-sampling filter process and conducting an up-sampling filter process within the convolutional neural network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Junning Li, Pechin Chien Pau Lo, Ahmed Taha, Tao Zhao
  • Patent number: 11650231
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes: a plurality of legs, each leg including a high-side switch connected between a voltage supply node and a phase node and a low-side switch connected between the phase node and a reference node; a phase current sensor for each leg and configured to sense current flowing through the high-side switch or the low-side switch of the corresponding leg; a single current sensor connected between the reference node and the low-side switches, or between the voltage supply node and the high-side switches; and a controller. During a subperiod of a switching period, the controller is configured to sample the current sensed by at least one of the phase current sensors and a current sensed by the single current sensor such that the current in one or more of the legs is sampled during the same subperiod as the current flowing through the single current sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Tao Zhao, Pablo Yelamos Ruiz
  • Publication number: 20230145309
    Abstract: A system and method of planning a procedure includes a planning workstation including: a display system; and a user input device. The planning workstation is configured to: display image data via the display system; receive a first user input via the user input device; display via the display system a target of a medical procedure within the displayed image data identified based at least on the first user input; display an interactive image via the display system, the interactive image including the image data, a plurality of connected anatomical passageways, and the identified target; receive a second user input via the user input device; display via the display system a trajectory between the target and an exit point along a nearest passageway of the plurality of connected anatomical passageways identified based at least on the second user input; receive a third user input via the user input device; and adjust the interactive image based at least on the defined trajectory and the third user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Bai Wang, Federico Barbagli, Energy Cruse, II, Scott S. Ichikawa, Pechin Chien Pau Lo, Oscar G. Salazar, Aaron B. Tinling, Oliver J. Wagner, Tao Zhao
  • Publication number: 20230132831
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, system and computer program product for task failover in an unstable environment, wherein the unstable environment includes a plurality of reclaimable nodes. According to the method, it is monitored if any node of the plurality of reclaimable nodes is to be reclaimed. Whether a task on any node of the plurality of reclaimable nodes is recoverable is determined. Responsive to the task being recoverable, data of the recoverable task is stored. Responsive to a node being reclaimed and the task on the reclaimed node being recoverable, at least one associated task of at least one associated node of the reclaimed node is notified to wait.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Guang Han Sui, Wei Ge, Lan Zhe Liu, Zhang Li Ping, ER TAO ZHAO
  • Patent number: 11638999
    Abstract: A system comprises a first robotic arm adapted to support and move a tool and a second robotic arm adapted to support and move a camera. The system also comprises an input device, a display, and a processor. The processor is configured to, in a first mode, command the first robotic arm to move the camera in response to a first input received from the input device to capture an image of the tool and present the image as a displayed image on the display. The processor is configured to, in a second mode, display a synthetic image of the first robotic arm in a boundary area around the captured image on the display, and in response to a second input, change a size of the boundary area relative a size of the displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Simon P. DiMaio, Daniel J. Halabe, Christopher J. Hasser, Brian D. Hoffman, David Q. Larkin, Catherine J. Mohr, Paul W. Mohr, Tao Zhao, Wenyi Zhao
  • Patent number: 11635775
    Abstract: A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes receiving, by a processor of the UAV, a plurality of images captured by an imaging device coupled to the UAV, identifying, by the processor, a target in at least one image of the plurality of images, determining, by the processor, whether the target is a stationary target or a moving target based on analyzing the plurality of images, and automatically effecting, by the processor, movement of the UAV based on determining the target is the stationary target or the moving target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mingyu Wang, Tao Zhao, Yun Yu, Guyue Zhou, Ketan Tang, Cong Zhao, Ang Liu, You Zhou, Minjian Pang, Xiao Hu, Litian Zhang
  • Patent number: 11633125
    Abstract: A method of tracking a medical instrument comprises receiving a model of an anatomical passageway formation and receiving a set of ordered sensor records for the medical instrument. The set of ordered sensor records provide a path history of the medical instrument. The method further comprises registering the medical instrument with the model of the anatomical passageway formation based on the path history. The method further includes displaying a virtual visualization image in a display system, the virtual visualization image being based on the registering of the medical instrument with the model of the anatomical passageway and depicting a rendered view of the model of the anatomical passageway from a perspective of the medical instrument within the model of the anatomical passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Tao Zhao, Prashant Chopra, Vincent Duindam, Dorin Panescu, Lei Fan
  • Patent number: 11636597
    Abstract: A medical system includes an instrument, a display system, and a processing unit. The instrument includes an instrument shape sensor. The processing unit includes one or more processors. The processing unit is configured to, receive an anatomic model of a patient anatomy, receive shape sensor data from the instrument shape sensor while the instrument is positioned within the patient anatomy and registered to the anatomic model, determine a preferred fluoroscopic image plane for display on the display system based on the received shape sensor data and the area of interest, and provide an indication on the display system to guide positioning of a fluoroscopy system to obtain a fluoroscopic image in the preferred fluoroscopic image plane. An area of interest is identified in the anatomic model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Tao Zhao, Federico Barbagli, Caitlin Q. Donhowe, Vincent Duindam, Michael D. Paris, Timothy D. Soper, Oliver J. Wagner
  • Publication number: 20230122128
    Abstract: A method includes receiving geophysical data representative of a geophysical structure; providing the geophysical data as one or more input data to a neural network; training the neural network to reconstruct the geophysical structure that was received and provide one or more uncertainty metrics for one or more features of the geophysical structure that is reconstructed; reconstructing, using the neural network that has been trained, the geophysical structure; and determining, using the neural network that has been trained, the one or more uncertainty metrics by implementing a second drop out condition on the one or more nodes of the one or more hidden layers of the neural network. The training is performed at least partially by implementing a first drop out condition on one or more nodes of one or more hidden layers of the neural network to randomly set an output of the one or more nodes to zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Xiaoli CHEN, Tao ZHAO, Hiren MANIAR, Aria ABUBAKAR
  • Publication number: 20230099928
    Abstract: An integrated circuit with a fault reporting structure. The integrated circuit has at least one power MOSFET having a plurality of MOSFET cells with each MOSFET cell having a drain metal and a source metal, and the integrated circuit has a power MOSFET area for routing the drain metals and the source metals of the plurality of MOSFET cells. The fault reporting structure has a metal net routed in the power MOSFET area or in an area above or below the power MOSFET area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Chiahsin Chang, Tao Zhao, Xintong Lyu
  • Patent number: 11613354
    Abstract: A method for controlling flight includes displaying, in a real-time manner, a picture photographed and sent by a photographing device carried by an aerial vehicle; determining a no-clicking area in the picture based on a position of an obstacle or a no-fly zone; receiving a click operation of a user on the picture; and controlling a flight of the aerial vehicle based on the click operation. Controlling the flight of the aerial vehicle based on the click operation includes invalidating the click operation in response to determining a click location of the click operation being in the no-clicking area; and controlling the flight of the aerial vehicle based on a position of the click location in response to determining the click location being not in the no-clicking area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tao Zhao, Guyue Zhou, Ang Liu, Xiao Hu, Litian Zhang