Patents by Inventor Thane Somers

Thane Somers 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).

  • Self-cleaning endoscope
    Patent number: 10709321
    Abstract: A self-cleaning endoscope and methods of using the same are described. The self-cleaning endoscope includes a housing having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, a lens positioned at the distal end of the housing, and a lens protector coupled to the distal end of the housing external to the lens. The self-cleaning endoscope also includes a shaft extending longitudinally through the housing. The shaft is operatively coupled to the lens protector and configured to rotate the lens protector about an axis of rotation coaxial with the shaft. The self-cleaning endoscope further includes a motor at the proximal end of the housing. The motor is operatively coupled to the shaft and configured to drive rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventors: Eric C. Leuthardt, Guy Genin, Chester Yarbrough, Thane Somers, Daniel Margolis
  • SELF-CLEANING ENDOSCOPE
    Publication number: 20180014720
    Abstract: A self-cleaning endoscope and methods of using the same are described. The self-cleaning endoscope includes a housing having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, a lens positioned at the distal end of the housing, and a lens protector coupled to the distal end of the housing external to the lens. The self-cleaning endoscope also includes a shaft extending longitudinally through the housing. The shaft is operatively coupled to the lens protector and configured to rotate the lens protector about an axis of rotation coaxial with the shaft. The self-cleaning endoscope further includes a motor at the proximal end of the housing. The motor is operatively coupled to the shaft and configured to drive rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Eric C. Leuthardt, Guy Genin, Chester Yarbrough, Thane Somers, Daniel Margolis