Patents by Inventor Tobias Ortmaier

Tobias Ortmaier 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: 20110184558
    Abstract: The invention relates to a robot (R, 70) and to a method for controlling a robot (R, 70). The distance (d) between an object (P) and the robot (R, 70) and/or the derivative thereof or a first motion of the object (P) is detected by means of a non-contact distance sensor (20, 20?) arranged in or on a robot arm (M) of the robot (R, 70) and/or on or in an end effector (19?) fastened on the robot arm (M). The robot arm (M) is moved based on the first motion detected by means of the distance sensor (20, 20?), a target force or a target torque to be applied by the robot (R) is determined based on the distance (d) detected between the object (P) and the robot (R), and/or a function of the robot (R) or a parameterization of a function of the robot (R) is triggered based on the first motion detected and/or a target distance between the object (P) and the robot (R) and/or the derivative thereof detected by means of the distance sensor (20, 20?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: KUKA LABORATORIES GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk Jacob, Tobias Ortmaier
  • Publication number: 20110118872
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical robot (R) and a method for meeting the performance requirements of a medical robot (R). The robot (R) comprises several axes (1-6) and a controller (17). A medical tool (21 -24) is fixed to a fixing device (18) on the robot (R) and the working range (30) of the robot (R) is set by the controller (17) in particular with safe techniques such that the robot (R) meets the performance requirements of the medical tool (21-24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Ortmaier, Marc-Walter Ueberle
  • Publication number: 20110054688
    Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray device (2) for a medical workplace (1, 21). The X-ray device (2) comprises a robot (R) with a plurality of axes (9), a control device (10) for controlling the axes (9) for movement of the robot (R), and a fastening device (8), and a support device (11) disposed at the fastening device (8), said support device comprising an X-ray radiation source (12) and an X-ray radiation receiver (14). A 3D model (15, 15a) of the robot (R) and the support device (11) provided is stored in the control device (10), said 3D model modeling the spatial extension of the robot (R) and the support device (11) during movement of the robot (R). The 3D model (15,15a) also models the spatial extension of at least one other device (3, 4, R2) of the medical workplace (1, 21) and/or of a living organism (5) located within the medical workplace (1, 21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Ortmaier, Peter Heiligensetzer
  • Publication number: 20110022407
    Abstract: A method for error recognition in a control system of a medical treatment and/or diagnosis device includes processing, by the control system, data in a regular operating mode and supplying, by the control system, test data of a test data record to a safety-critical component of the control system in a test mode of the control system. The safety-critical component of the control system is also checked in the test mode of the control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Lorenz Bewig, Till Engelmann, Andreas Hagenauer, Torsten Hasenzahl, Dirk Jacob, Matthias Mühlhäusser, Tobias Ortmaier, Dietmar Tscharnuter
  • Publication number: 20100292707
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sterile barrier (S) for a surgical robot (1) comprising at least one joint (12 . . . 15) with two opposing joint members (40, 42) that rotate relative to one another about a common joint axis (16 . . . 19) and a torque sensor (29) comprising: at least two sterile barrier sections (24 . . . 28) each with an end section (38, 39) for sealed attachment to a respective joint end section (41, 43) of the joint member (40, 42); and a sealing arrangement (30) for producing a sterile and sealed rotating connection of the end sections (38, 39) of the at least two sterile barrier sections (24 . . . 28); and a surgical robot (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Ortmaier, Dirk Jacob, Thomas Neff, Achim Heinze
  • Publication number: 20100275719
    Abstract: The invention relates to a robot (R), a medical work station, and a method for projecting an image (20) onto the surface of an object (P). The robot (R) comprises a robot arm (A) and a device (18) for projecting the image (20) onto the surface of the object (P), said device (18) being mounted on or integrated into the robot arm (A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Ortmaier, Dirk Jacob, Georg Passig
  • Publication number: 20100274389
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical device, a medical work station, and a method for registering an object (P). The medical device comprises a navigation system (17, 18) and a robot (R) having several axes of rotation (1-6). The navigation system (17, 18) comprises a detection device (18) for detecting prominent points on an object (P) or markers (M) placed on the object (P) as well as a processing device (17) for determining the position of the object (P) on the basis of the prominent points or markers (M) detected by means of the detection device (18). The detection device (18) of the navigation system is mounted on the robot (R).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Ortmaier, Dirk Jacob, Thomas Neff
  • Publication number: 20100256960
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a position for and positioning a detection device (E) of a navigation system. First, a computer simulation of a system is done that comprises a robot (R) which has first markers (M1) of a navigation system or first prominent points, a three-dimensional object (P) which has second markers (M2) of the navigation system or second prominent points, and a detection device (E) of the navigation system. Various positions of the robot (R), the object (P), and/or the detection device (E) are simulated, and the quality of the detectability of the first markers (M1) or the first prominent points on the robot (R) and/or the second markers (M2) or the second prominent points on the object (P) are automatically determined for the simulated positions by means of the detection device (E). The determined qualities and the corresponding simulated positions and/or the simulated position having the highest or at least a sufficiently high determined quality is/are output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Ortmaier, Dirk Jacob
  • Publication number: 20100058850
    Abstract: In a method to test a brake of a robot that has a number of axes, an actuator associated with one of the axes, a brake associated with this axis that is set up to at least reduce a movement of this axis, and a torque sensor associated with this axis, which determines the torque acting on this axis. The brake is activated, the torque acting on the axis is determined by the torque sensor given an activated brake, and the functional capability of the brake is assessed in a processor based on an evaluation of the torque determined by the torque sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: TOBIAS ORTMAIER, Marc-Walter Ueberle
  • Patent number: 7646161
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a robot arm, which is particularly suitable for use in medical applications, a robot arm (10) with a redundant number of joints is used. A torque acting in at least one joint (12a, 12b) is sensed. By means of a control device, the torque acting in this joint (12a, 12b) is controlled to become substantially 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignees: Deutsches Zentrum Fuer Luft-Und Raumfahrt E.V., Brainlab AG
    Inventors: Alin Albu-Schäffer, Christian Ott, Ulrich Hagn, Tobias Ortmaier
  • Publication number: 20070129846
    Abstract: An anthropomorphic medical robot arm includes a base end, a first arm element, a base joint coupling the base end to the first arm element, a second arm element, a middle joint coupling the second arm element to the first arm element, a distal functional end, a distal joint coupling the distal functional end to the second arm element, and at least one selectively operable movement inhibitor operable on the base joint, middle joint and/or distal joint so as to restrict the functionally possible range of movement of the robot arm to the range of movement of a human arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: BRAINLAB AG
    Inventors: Rainer Birkenbach, Andreas Hartlep, Richard Wohlgemuth, Michael Bertram, Alin Albu-Schaffer, Markus Grebenstein, Ulrich Hagn, Klaus Johl, Mathias Nickl, Tobias Ortmaier, Franz Hacker, Stefan Jorg, Rainer Konietschke
  • Publication number: 20070120512
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a robot arm, which is particularly suitable for use in medical applications, a robot arm (10) with a redundant number of joints is used. A torque acing in at least one joint (12a, 12b) is sensed. By means of a control device, the torque acting in this joint (12a, 12b) is controlled to become substantially 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Inventors: Alin Albu-Schaffer, Christian Ott, Ulrich Hagn, Tobias Ortmaier