Patents by Inventor Volkmar Falk
Volkmar Falk 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).
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Patent number: 12221729Abstract: The object of the invention is a method of manufacturing a three-dimensionally shaped floor paneling, luggage compartment paneling or load floor paneling for motor vehicles, the carpet surface of which has a needled structure on the visible side, as well as the panellings themselves.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2020Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignee: ADLER PELZER HOLDING GMBHInventors: Frank Falk, Volkmar Schulze
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Publication number: 20240108288Abstract: An implantable sensor (1) for determining at least one parameter, in particular a physical parameter, comprises a sensor body (3). The sensor body (3) is responsive to the at least one parameter and is configured to yield at least one response signal (SR) upon an interrogation of the sensor body (3) with at least one interrogation signal (SI) comprising acoustic waves. The at least one response signal (SR) is associated with the at least one parameter. The sensor body (3) comprises or consists of at least one material having an ordered structure (4). The at least one response signal (SR) is associated with one or more bulk effects of the at least one material having an ordered structure (4).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2021Publication date: April 4, 2024Applicant: ETH ZurichInventors: Christofer HIEROLD, Cosmin ROMAN, Lucrezia MAINI, Volkmar FALK, NIkola CESAROVIC
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Patent number: 11045640Abstract: A biomedical apparatus for pumping blood of a human or an animal patient through a secondary blood circuit is provided, including a blood pump, an inlet duct and an outlet duct for guiding blood of the patient to the blood pump and back to the patient. The apparatus further includes a measuring device with at least one pressure sensor for measuring pressure values in the patient's circulatory system. A controller is provided that includes at least two different preset control algorithms for regulating the operating point of the blood pump based on the measured pressure values. The controller is configured to select one of these preset control algorithms for being applied in dependence on the position of the at least one pressure sensor in the patient's circulatory system.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2017Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: ETH ZurichInventors: Gregor Ochsner, Marianne Schmid Daners, Raffael Amacher, Mirko Meboldt, Volkmar Falk, Anastasios Petrou, Markus Wilhelm, Barbara Röhrnbauer
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Publication number: 20200171227Abstract: An implantable pump system can deliver blood within the body of a patient, with a blood pump which delivers a fluid in an axial direction. The blood pump can include a rotatingly drivable rotor as well as a pump casing surrounding the rotor, as well as a support tube, in which the pump casing is arranged and held, wherein an annular gap is formed between the support tube and the pump casing. An almost physiological blood flow is rendered possible in this manner, by way of the combination of a flow through the pump casing on the one hand, and the annular gap on the other hand.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Applicants: Berlin Heart GmbH, Universität ZürichInventors: Ulrich Tim Opfermann, Andreas Arndt, Volkmar Falk
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Publication number: 20190076588Abstract: A biomedical apparatus for pumping blood of a human or an animal patient through a secondary blood circuit is provided, including a blood pump, an inlet duct and an outlet duct for guiding blood of the patient to the blood pump and back to the patient. The apparatus further includes a measuring device with at least one pressure sensor for measuring pressure values in the patient's circulatory system. A controller is provided that includes at least two different preset control algorithms for regulating the operating point of the blood pump based on the measured pressure values. The controller is configured to select one of these preset control algorithms for being applied in dependence on the position of the at least one pressure sensor in the patient's circulatory system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2017Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Gregor Ochsner, Marianne Schmid Daners, Raffael Amacher, Mirko Meboldt, Volkmar Falk, Anastasios Petrou, Markus Wilhelm, Barbara Röhrnbauer
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Publication number: 20170021074Abstract: The invention relates to an implantable pump system for delivering blood within the body of a patient, with a blood pump which delivers a fluid in an axial direction and comprises a rotatingly drivable rotor as well as a pump casing surrounding the rotor, as well as a support tube, in which the pump casing is arranged and held, wherein an annular gap is formed between the support tube and the pump casing. An almost physiological blood flow is rendered possible in this manner, by way of the combination of a flow through the pump casing on the one hand, and the annular gap on the other hand.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: Ulrich Tim Opfermann, Andreas Arndt, Volkmar Falk
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Patent number: 9119654Abstract: Surgical methods and devices allow closed-chest surgery to be performed on a heart of a patient while the heart is beating. A region of the heart is stabilized by engaging a surface of the heart with a stabilizer without having to stop the heart. Motion of the target tissues is inhibited sufficiently to treat the target tissues with robotic surgical tools which move in response to inputs of a robotic system operator. A stabilizing surface of the stabilizer is coupled to a drive system to position the surface from outside the patient, preferably by actuators of the robotic servomechanism. Exemplary stabilizers includes a suture or other flexible tension member spanning between a pair of jointed bodies, allowing the member to occlude a coronary blood vessel and/or help stabilize the target region between the stabilizing surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2012Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Andris D. Ramans, David J. Rosa, Volkmar Falk
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Publication number: 20120123217Abstract: Surgical methods and devices allow closed-chest surgery to be performed on a heart of a patient while the heart is beating. A region of the heart is stabilized by engaging a surface of the heart with a stabilizer without having to stop the heart. Motion of the target tissues is inhibited sufficiently to treat the target tissues with robotic surgical tools which move in response to inputs of a robotic system operator. A stabilizing surface of the stabilizer is coupled to a drive system to position the surface from outside the patient, preferably by actuators of the robotic servomechanism. Exemplary stabilizers includes a suture or other flexible tension member spanning between a pair of jointed bodies, allowing the member to occlude a coronary blood vessel and/or help stabilize the target region between the stabilizing surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2012Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Andris D. Ramans, David J. Rosa, Volkmar Falk
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Patent number: 8177835Abstract: A method as a workflow for imaging for a heart valve implant procedure includes positioning the patient and an articulated imaging apparatus relative to one another, inducing rapid ventricular pacing in the patient, and imaging a region of the patient's heart to obtain image date for a three-dimensional image. The three-dimensional data is used to construct a three-dimensional image of the region of the patient's heart an the three-dimensional image is displayed for use in the implanting of the replacement heart valve. Optional steps may include obtaining a real time two-dimensional image of the patient's heart and superimposing the real time two-dimensional image with the constructed three dimensional image. The replacement valve is moved into position in the patient's heart during rapid ventricular pacing and breath hold using the superimposed two-dimensional and three-dimensional image information.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2009Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Alois Noettling, Jan Boese, Matthias John, Volkmar Falk, Thomas Walther
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Patent number: 8105235Abstract: Surgical methods and devices allow closed-chest surgery to be performed on a heart of a patient while the heart is beating. A region of the heart is stabilized by engaging a surface of the heart with a stabilizer without having to stop the heart. Motion of the target tissues is inhibited sufficiently to treat the target tissues with robotic surgical tools which move in response to inputs of a robotic system operator. A stabilizing surface of the stabilizer is coupled to a drive system to position the surface from outside the patient, preferably by actuators of the robotic servomechanism. Exemplary stabilizers includes a suture or other flexible tension member spanning between a pair of jointed bodies, allowing the member to occlude a coronary blood vessel and/or help stabilize the target region between the stabilizing surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2004Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Andris D. Ramans, David J. Rosa, Volkmar Falk
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Publication number: 20110046725Abstract: A method as a workflow for imaging for a heart valve implant procedure includes positioning the patient and an articulated imaging apparatus relative to one another, inducing rapid ventricular pacing in the patient, and imaging a region of the patient's heart to obtain image date for a three-dimensional image. The three-dimensional data is used to construct a three-dimensional image of the region of the patient's heart an the three-dimensional image is displayed for use in the implanting of the replacement heart valve. Optional steps may include obtaining a real time two-dimensional image of the patient's heart and superimposing the real time two-dimensional image with the constructed three dimensional image. The replacement valve is moved into position in the patient's heart during rapid ventricular pacing and breath hold using the superimposed two-dimensional and three-dimensional image information.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2009Publication date: February 24, 2011Inventors: Alois Noettling, Jan Boese, Matthias John, Volkmar Falk, Thomas Walther
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Publication number: 20050107808Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing a surgical procedure on a beating heart of a patient. Methods are provided which include positioning an end effector in close proximity to a surgical site on the heart, the end effector being mounted on a robotically controlled arm. The motion of the surgical site is monitored and end effector tracking command signals computed in response to the monitored motion of the surgical site. The tracking command signals are forwarded to actuators operatively associated with the robotically controlled arm to cause the arm to move the end effector generally to track motion of the surgical site. The method further includes inputting an end effector movement command signal, and forwarding the end effector movement command signal to the actuators to cause the end effector to move relative to the surgical site so as to perform at least part of the surgical procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2004Publication date: May 19, 2005Applicant: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.Inventors: Philip Evans, Frederic Moll, Gary Guthart, William Nowlin, Rand Pendleton, Christopher Wilson, Andris Ramans, David Rosa, Volkmar Falk, Robert Younge
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Patent number: 6858003Abstract: A surgical system or assembly for performing cardiac surgery includes a surgical instrument; a servo-mechanical system engaged to the surgical instrument for operating the surgical instrument; and an attachment assembly for removing at least one degree of movement from a moving surgical cardiac worksite to produce a resultant surgical cardiac worksite. The surgical system or assembly also includes a motion tracking system for gathering movement information on a resultant surgical cardiac worksite. A control computer is engaged to the attachment assembly and to the motion tracking system and to the servo-mechanical system for controlling movement of the attachment assembly and for feeding gathered information to the servo-mechanical system for moving the surgical instrument in unison with the resultant surgical cardiac worksite such that a relative position of the moving surgical instrument with respect to the resultant surgical cardiac worksite is generally constant.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2002Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.Inventors: Philip C. Evans, Frederic H. Moll, Gary S. Guthart, William C. Nowlin, Rand P. Pendleton, Christopher P. Wilson, Andris D. Ramans, David J. Rosa, Volkmar Falk, Robert G. Younge
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Publication number: 20050033270Abstract: Surgical methods and devices allow closed-chest surgery to be performed on a heart of a patient while the heart is beating. A region of the heart is stabilized by engaging a surface of the heart with a stabilizer without having to stop the heart. Motion of the target tissues is inhibited sufficiently to treat the target tissues with robotic surgical tools which move in response to inputs of a robotic system operator. A stabilizing surface of the stabilizer is coupled to a drive system to position the surface from outside the patient, preferably by actuators of the robotic servomechanism. Exemplary stabilizers includes a suture or other flexible tension member spanning between a pair of jointed bodies, allowing the member to occlude a coronary blood vessel and/or help stabilize the target region between the stabilizing surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2004Publication date: February 10, 2005Applicant: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.Inventors: Andris Ramans, David Rosa, Volkmar Falk
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Patent number: 6764445Abstract: Surgical methods and devices allow closed-chest surgery to be performed on a heart of a patient while the heart is beating. A region of the heart is stabilized by engaging a surface of the heart with a stabilizer without having to stop the heart. Motion of the target tissues is inhibited sufficiently to treat the target tissues with robotic surgical tools which move in response to inputs of a robotic system operator. A stabilizing surface of the stabilizer is coupled to a drive system to position the surface from outside the patient, preferably by actuators of the robotic servomechanism. Exemplary stabilizers includes a suture or other flexible tension member spanning between a pair of jointed bodies, allowing the member to occlude a coronary blood vessel and/or help stabilize the target region between the stabilizing surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2001Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.Inventors: Andris D. Ramans, David J. Rosa, Volkmar Falk
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Publication number: 20030055410Abstract: A surgical system or assembly for performing cardiac surgery includes a surgical instrument; a servo-mechanical system engaged to the surgical instrument for operating the surgical instrument; and an attachment assembly for removing at least one degree of movement from a moving surgical cardiac worksite to produce a resultant surgical cardiac worksite. The surgical system or assembly also includes a motion tracking system for gathering movement information on a resultant surgical cardiac worksite. A control computer is engaged to the attachment assembly and to the motion tracking system and to the servo-mechanical system for controlling movement of the attachment assembly and for feeding gathered information to the servo-mechanical system for moving the surgical instrument in unison with the resultant surgical cardiac worksite such that a relative position of the moving surgical instrument with respect to the resultant surgical cardiac worksite is generally constant.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.Inventors: Philip C. Evans, Frederic H. Moll, Gary S. Guthart, William C. Nowlin, Rand P. Pendleton, Christopher P. Wilson, Andris D. Ramans, David J. Rosa, Volkmar Falk, Robert G. Younge
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Patent number: 6468265Abstract: A surgical system or assembly for performing cardiac surgery includes a surgical instrument; a servo-mechanical system engaged to the surgical instrument for operating the surgical instrument; and an attachment assembly for removing at least one degree of movement from a moving surgical cardiac worksite to produce a resultant surgical cardiac worksite. The surgical system or assembly also includes a motion tracking system for gathering movement information on a resultant surgical cardiac worksite. A control computer is engaged to the attachment assembly and to the motion tracking system and to the servo-mechanical system for controlling movement of the attachment assembly and for feeding gathered information to the servo-mechanical system for moving the surgical instrument in unison with the resultant surgical cardiac worksite such that a relative position of the moving surgical instrument with respect to the resultant surgical cardiac worksite is generally constant.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1999Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.Inventors: Philip C. Evans, Frederic H. Moll, Gary S. Guthart, William C. Nowlin, Rand P. Pendleton, Christopher P. Wilson, Andris D. Ramans, David J. Rosa, Volkmar Falk, Robert G. Younge
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Patent number: 6398726Abstract: Surgical methods and devices allow closed-chest surgery to be performed on a heart of a patient while the heart is beating. A region of the heart is stabilized by engaging a surface of the heart with a stabilizer without having to stop the heart. Motion of the target tissues is inhibited sufficiently to treat the target tissues with robotic surgical tools which move in response to inputs of a robotic system operator. A stabilizing surface of the stabilizer is coupled to a drive system to position the surface from outside the patient, preferably by actuators of the robotic servomechanism. Exemplary stabilizers includes a suture or other flexible tension member spanning between a pair of jointed bodies, allowing the member to occlude a coronary blood vessel and/or help stabilize the target region between the stabilizing surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1999Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.Inventors: Andris D. Ramans, David J. Rosa, Volkmar Falk
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Publication number: 20020045888Abstract: Surgical methods and devices allow closed-chest surgery to be performed on a heart of a patient while the heart is beating. A region of the heart is stabilized by engaging a surface of the heart with a stabilizer without having to stop the heart. Motion of the target tissues is inhibited sufficiently to treat the target tissues with robotic surgical tools which move in response to inputs of a robotic system operator. A stabilizing surface of the stabilizer is coupled to a drive system to position the surface from outside the patient, preferably by actuators of the robotic servomechanism. Exemplary stabilizers includes a suture or other flexible tension member spanning between a pair of jointed bodies, allowing the member to occlude a coronary blood vessel and/or help stabilize the target region between the stabilizing surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2001Publication date: April 18, 2002Applicant: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.Inventors: Andris D. Ramans, David J. Rosa, Volkmar Falk