Patents by Inventor Tom Nixon

Tom Nixon 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: 9623563
    Abstract: Telerobotic, telesurgical, and surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods selectively calibrate end effector jaws by bringing the jaw elements into engagement with each other. Commanded torque signals may bring the end effector elements into engagement while monitoring the resulting position of a drive system, optionally using a second derivative of the torque/position relationship so as to identify an end effector engagement position. Calibration can allow the end effector engagement position to correspond to a nominal closed position of an input handle by compensating for wear on the end effector, the end effector drive system, then manipulator, the manipulator drive system, the manipulator/end effector interfacing, and manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Nixon
  • Patent number: 9317651
    Abstract: Telerobotic, telesurgical, and surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods selectively calibrate end effector jaws by bringing the jaw elements into engagement with each other. Commanded torque signals may bring the end effector elements into engagement while monitoring the resulting position of a drive system, optionally using a second derivative of the torque/position relationship so as to identify an end effector engagement position. Calibration can allow the end effector engagement position to correspond to a nominal closed position of an input handle by compensating for wear on the end effector, the end effector drive system, then manipulator, the manipulator drive system, the manipulator/end effector interfacing, and manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Tom Nixon
  • Publication number: 20150314451
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tool having a wrist mechanism that provides pitch and yaw rotation in such a way that the tool has no singularity in roll, pitch, and yaw. In one embodiment, a minimally invasive surgical instrument comprises an elongate shaft having a working end, a proximal end, and a shaft axis between the working end and the proximal end; and an end effector. A wrist member has a flexible tube including an axis extending through an interior surrounded by a wall. The wall of the flexible tube includes a plurality of lumens oriented generally parallel to the axis of the flexible tube. The wrist member has a proximal portion connected to the working end of the elongate shaft and a distal portion connected to the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Nixon
  • Patent number: 9085083
    Abstract: Telerobotic, telesurgical, and surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods selectively calibrate end effector jaws by bringing the jaw elements into engagement with each other. Commanded torque signals may bring the end effector elements into engagement while monitoring the resulting position of a drive system, optionally using a second derivative of the torque/position relationship so as to identify an end effector engagement position. Calibration can allow the end effector engagement position to correspond to a nominal closed position of an input handle by compensating for wear on the end effector, the end effector drive system, then manipulator, the manipulator drive system, the manipulator/end effector interfacing, and manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Tom Nixon
  • Publication number: 20140330434
    Abstract: Telerobotic, telesurgical, and surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods selectively calibrate end effector jaws by bringing the jaw elements into engagement with each other. Commanded torque signals may bring the end effector elements into engagement while monitoring the resulting position of a drive system, optionally using a second derivative of the torque/position relationship so as to identify an end effector engagement position. Calibration can allow the end effector engagement position to correspond to a nominal closed position of an input handle by compensating for wear on the end effector, the end effector drive system, then manipulator, the manipulator drive system, the manipulator/end effector interfacing, and manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: TOM NIXON
  • Patent number: 8761930
    Abstract: Telerobotic, telesurgical, and surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods selectively calibrate end effector jaws by bringing the jaw elements into engagement with each other. Commanded torque signals may bring the end effector elements into engagement while monitoring the resulting position of a drive system, optionally using a second derivative of the torque/position relationship so as to identify an end effector engagement position. Calibration can allow the end effector engagement position to correspond to a nominal closed position of an input handle by compensating for wear on the end effector, the end effector drive system, then manipulator, the manipulator drive system, the manipulator/end effector interfacing, and manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Nixon
  • Publication number: 20130274922
    Abstract: Telerobotic, telesurgical, and surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods selectively calibrate end effector jaws by bringing the jaw elements into engagement with each other. Commanded torque signals may bring the end effector elements into engagement while monitoring the resulting position of a drive system, optionally using a second derivative of the torque/position relationship so as to identify an end effector engagement position. Calibration can allow the end effector engagement position to correspond to a nominal closed position of an input handle by compensating for wear on the end effector, the end effector drive system, then manipulator, the manipulator drive system, the manipulator/end effector interfacing, and manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: TOM NIXON
  • Patent number: 8452447
    Abstract: Telerobotic, telesurgical, and surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods selectively calibrate end effector jaws by bringing the jaw elements into engagement with each other. Commanded torque signals may bring the end effector elements into engagement while monitoring the resulting position of a drive system, optionally using a second derivative of the torque/position relationship so as to identify an end effector engagement position. Calibration can allow the end effector engagement position to correspond to a nominal closed position of an input handle by compensating for wear on the end effector, the end effector drive system, then manipulator, the manipulator drive system, the manipulator/end effector interfacing, and manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Nixon
  • Publication number: 20120083801
    Abstract: Telerobotic, telesurgical, and surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods selectively calibrate end effector jaws by bringing the jaw elements into engagement with each other. Commanded torque signals may bring the end effector elements into engagement while monitoring the resulting position of a drive system, optionally using a second derivative of the torque/position relationship so as to identify an end effector engagement position. Calibration can allow the end effector engagement position to correspond to a nominal closed position of an input handle by compensating for wear on the end effector, the end effector drive system, then manipulator, the manipulator drive system, the manipulator/end effector interfacing, and manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Nixon
  • Publication number: 20110301754
    Abstract: Robotic devices, systems, and methods for use in robotic surgery and other robotic applications, and/or medical instrument devices, systems, and methods includes both a reusable processor and a limited-use robotic tool or medical treatment probe. A memory the limited-use component includes machine readable code with data and/or programming instructions to be implemented by the processor. Programming of the processor can be updated by shipping of new data once downloaded by the processor from a component, subsequent components can take advantage of the updated processor without repeated downloading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory K. Toth, Nitish Swarup, Tom Nixon, David Q. Larkin, Steven J. Colton
  • Publication number: 20080221732
    Abstract: Robotic devices, systems, and methods for use in robotic surgery and other robotic applications, and/or medical instrument devices, systems, and methods includes both a reusable processor and a limited-use robotic tool or medical treatment probe. A memory the limited-use component includes machine readable code with data and/or programming instructions to be implemented by the processor. Programming of the processor can be updated by shipping of new data once downloaded by the processor from a component, subsequent components can take advantage of the updated processor without repeated downloading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory K. Toth, Nitish Swarup, Tom Nixon, David Q. Larkin, Steven J. Colton
  • Patent number: 7386365
    Abstract: Telerobotic, telesurgical, and surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods selectively calibrate end effector jaws by bringing the jaw elements into engagement with each other. Commanded torque signals may bring the end effector elements into engagement while monitoring the resulting position of a drive system, optionally using a second derivative of the torque/position relationship so as to identify an end effector engagement position. Calibration can allow the end effector engagement position to correspond to a nominal closed position of an input handle by compensating for wear on the end effector, the end effector drive system, then manipulator, the manipulator drive system, the manipulator/end effector interfacing, and manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Nixon
  • Patent number: 7379790
    Abstract: Robotic devices, systems, and methods for use in robotic surgery and other robotic applications, and/or medical instrument devices, systems, and methods includes both a reusable processor and a limited-use robotic tool or medical treatment probe. A memory the limited-use component includes machine readable code with data and/or programming instructions to be implemented by the processor. Programming of the processor can be updated by shipping of new data once downloaded by the processor from a component, subsequent components can take advantage of the updated processor without repeated downloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory K. Toth, Nitish Swarup, Tom Nixon, David Q. Larkin, Steven J. Colton
  • Publication number: 20080114494
    Abstract: Telerobotic, telesurgical, and surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods selectively calibrate end effector jaws by bringing the jaw elements into engagement with each other. Commanded torque signals may bring the end effector elements into engagement while monitoring the resulting position of a drive system, optionally using a second derivative of the torque/position relationship so as to identify an end effector engagement position. Calibration can allow the end effector engagement position to correspond to a nominal closed position of an input handle by compensating for wear on the end effector, the end effector drive system, then manipulator, the manipulator drive system, the manipulator/end effector interfacing, and manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Nixon
  • Publication number: 20050251156
    Abstract: Robotic devices, systems, and methods for use in robotic surgery and other robotic applications, and/or medical instrument devices, systems, and methods includes both a reusable processor and a limited-use robotic tool or medical treatment probe. A memory the limited-use component includes machine readable code with data and/or programming instructions to be implemented by the processor. Programming of the processor can be updated by shipping of new data once downloaded by the processor from a component, subsequent components can take advantage of the updated processor without repeated downloading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Toth, Nitish Swarup, Tom Nixon, David Larkin, Steven Colton
  • Publication number: 20050251110
    Abstract: Telerobotic, telesurgical, and surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods selectively calibrate end effector jaws by bringing the jaw elements into engagement with each other. Commanded torque signals may bring the end effector elements into engagement while monitoring the resulting position of a drive system, optionally using a second derivative of the torque/position relationship so as to identify an end effector engagement position. Calibration can allow the end effector engagement position to correspond to a nominal closed position of an input handle by compensating for wear on the end effector, the end effector drive system, then manipulator, the manipulator drive system, the manipulator/end effector interfacing, and manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventor: Tom Nixon