Patents by Inventor Timothy Allen Limon

Timothy Allen Limon 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).

  • Publication number: 20230329814
    Abstract: A method of reprocessing a surgical instrument includes flowing a flow of irrigation fluid through an accessory drive device operably coupled to the surgical instrument, the accessory drive device comprising inflatable bladders, and the flow of irrigation fluid causing inflation of the bladders. The method further includes converting inflation of the bladders to motion of an input drive member of the surgical instrument; converting the motion of the input drive member to motion of an actuation element of the surgical instrument; converting the motion of the actuation element to motion of a distal component of the surgical instrument; and irrigating the surgical instrument with the flow of irrigation fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Allen Limon
  • Patent number: 11730553
    Abstract: A method of reprocessing a surgical instrument includes converting force associated with a flow of fluid used during reprocessing of a surgical instrument to a drive force to drive an input drive member of a transmission mechanism of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Allen Limon
  • Publication number: 20200261173
    Abstract: A method of reprocessing a surgical instrument includes converting force associated with a flow of fluid used during reprocessing of a surgical instrument to a drive force to drive an input drive member of a transmission mechanism of the instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Allen LIMON
  • Patent number: 10588706
    Abstract: An accessory drive device includes a housing, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a drive mechanism, and an output drive member. The output drive member may be driven by the drive mechanism and engage with an input drive member on a transmission mechanism of a surgical instrument. The drive mechanism may be configured to be driven by a motive force produced by fluid flowing through the housing from the inlet to the outlet, with the fluid being delivered by a fluid source of a reprocessing device. A portable, accessory drive device for a surgical instrument includes a portable housing to be removably coupled to a transmission mechanism of an instrument and a drive mechanism to drive an input drive member of the transmission mechanism. A method of reprocessing a surgical instrument includes converting a force associated with a flow of fluid for reprocessing to drive an instrument input drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Allen Limon
  • Patent number: 9921094
    Abstract: A surgical instrument flow indicator comprises a body defining a flow passage comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is configured to be fluidically coupled to a fluid supply source and wherein the outlet is configured to be fluidically coupled to the surgical instrument. The flow indicator further comprises a flow indication mechanism in flow communication with the flow passage, the flow indication mechanism being configured to transition from a first state to a second state in response to a threshold force exerted on the flow indication mechanism, wherein in the second state, the flow indication mechanism has an arrangement indicating to an observer that the flow indication mechanism transitioned from the first state to the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Allen Limon
  • Publication number: 20160175062
    Abstract: An accessory drive device includes a housing, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a drive mechanism, and an output drive member. The output drive member may be driven by the drive mechanism and engage with an input drive member on a transmission mechanism of a surgical instrument. The drive mechanism may be configured to be driven by a motive force produced by fluid flowing through the housing from the inlet to the outlet, with the fluid being delivered by a fluid source of a reprocessing device. A portable, accessory drive device for a surgical instrument includes a portable housing to be removably coupled to a transmission mechanism of an instrument and a drive mechanism to drive an input drive member of the transmission mechanism. A method of reprocessing a surgical instrument includes converting a force associated with a flow of fluid for reprocessing to drive an instrument input drive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Allen LIMON
  • Publication number: 20160135899
    Abstract: A surgical instrument flow indicator comprises a body defining a flow passage comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is configured to be fluidically coupled to a fluid supply source and wherein the outlet is configured to be fluidically coupled to the surgical instrument. The flow indicator further comprises a flow indication mechanism in flow communication with the flow passage, the flow indication mechanism being configured to transition from a first state to a second state in response to a threshold force exerted on the flow indication mechanism, wherein in the second state, the flow indication mechanism has an arrangement indicating to an observer that the flow indication mechanism transitioned from the first state to the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Allen Limon