Patents by Inventor Wenyi Zhao

Wenyi Zhao 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: 9948852
    Abstract: An imaging system comprises an image capturing device, a viewer, a control element, and a processor. The control element controls or adjusts an image characteristic of one of the image capturing device and the viewer. The processor is programmed to determine a depth value relative to the image capturing device, determine a desirable adjustment to the control element by using the determined depth value, and control adjustment of the control element to assist manual adjustment of the control element to the desirable adjustment. The processor may also be programmed to determine whether the adjustment of the control element is to be automatically or manually adjusted and control adjustment of the control element automatically to the desirable adjustment if the control element is to be automatically adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Lilagan, Wenyi Zhao
  • Publication number: 20180086710
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of determining the purity of a sample of 3,4-diaminopyridine comprising determining the presence, absence, or amount of a dimer of 3,4-diaminopyridine or a dimer of 3,4-diaminopyridine in the form of a salt, solvate or complex or a combination thereof. The invention also relates to methods of detecting and quantitating degradation in a sample of 3,4-diaminopyridine. Dimers of 3,4-diaminopyridine and methods of making and isolating the same are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Guy Alan Schiehser, Rajendra Shah, Wenyi Zhao
  • Publication number: 20180071033
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and tools for tool tracking using image-derived data from one or more tool-located references features. In some embodiments, an associated medical system includes a tool having a distal end that is insertable into a patient body, a stereo image capture device insertable into the patient body so that the stereo image capture device captures a stereo image of at least a portion of the a two-dimensional marker at least partially surrounding a portion of the tool, and a processor coupled to the image capture device and configured to determine a pose of the tool by processing the stereo image. Associated methods and tools are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Tao Zhao, Wenyi Zhao, William C. Nowlin
  • Patent number: 9877633
    Abstract: A bleeding detection unit in a surgical system processes information in an acquired scene before that scene is presented on a display unit in the operating room. For example, the bleeding detection unit analyzes the pixel data in the acquired scene and determines whether there are one or more initial sites of blood in the scene. Upon detection of an initial site of blood, the region is identified by an initial site icon in the scene displayed on the display unit. In one aspect, the processing is done in real-time which means that there is no substantial delay in presenting the acquired scene to the surgeon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc
    Inventors: Wenyi Zhao, Catherine J. Mohr, Jonathan M. Sorger
  • Patent number: 9867669
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and tools for tool tracking using image-derived data from one or more tool located reference features. A method includes: directing illuminating light from a light source onto a robotic surgical tool within a patient body, wherein the tool includes a plurality of primitive features having known positions on the tool, and wherein each feature includes a spherical reflective surface; capturing stereo images of the plurality of primitive features when the tool is within the patient body, wherein the stereo images are captured by an image capture device adjacent the illumination source so that the illumination light reflected from the imaged primitive features toward the image capture device substantially aligns with spherical centers of the surfaces of the imaged primitive features, and determining a position for the tool by processing the stereo images so as to locate the spherical centers of the imaged primitive features by using the reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Zhao, Wenyi Zhao, William C. Nowlin
  • Publication number: 20180000329
    Abstract: An endoscope with an optical channel is held and positioned by a robotic surgical system. A capture unit captures (1) a visible first image at a first time and (2) a visible second image combined with a fluorescence image at a second time. An image processing system receives (1) the visible first image and (2) the visible second image combined with the fluorescence image and generates at least one fluorescence image. A display system outputs an output image including an artificial fluorescence image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: David D. Scott, Wenyi Zhao, Brian D. Hoffman, John D. Stern, Tao Zhao
  • Patent number: 9860510
    Abstract: An imaging system processes images of a plurality of objects which have been captured by an image capture device for display. Normal processing of the images is modified as either a function of a depth corresponding to one or more of the plurality of objects appearing in the captured images relative to the image capture device or as a function of the depth and one or more image characteristics extracted from the captured images. A depth threshold may be used to avoid inadvertent modifications due to noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy E. Kerdok, Wenyi Zhao
  • Patent number: 9844313
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus is disclosed including an image sensor, a color filter array, and an image processor. The image sensor has an active area with a matrix of camera pixels. The color filter array is in optical alignment over the matrix of the camera pixels. The color filter array assigns alternating single colors to each camera pixel. The image processor receives the camera pixels and includes a correlation detector to detect spatial correlation of color information between pairs of colors in the pixel data captured by the camera pixels. The correlation detector further controls demosaicing of the camera pixels into full color pixels with improved resolution. The apparatus may further include demosaicing logic to demosaic the camera pixels into the full color pixels with improved resolution in response to the spatial correlation of the color information between pairs of colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc
    Inventors: Jeffrey DiCarlo, David D. Scott, Wenyi Zhao
  • Publication number: 20170336220
    Abstract: A system and method for visual inertial navigation are described. In some embodiments, a device comprises an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor, a camera, a radio-based sensor, and a processor. The IMU sensor generates IMU data of the device. The camera generates a plurality of video frames. The radio-based sensor generates radio-based sensor data based on an absolute reference frame relative to the device. The processor is configured to synchronize the plurality of video frames with the IMU data, compute a first estimated spatial state of the device based on the synchronized plurality of video frames with the IMU data, compute a second estimated spatial state of the device based on the radio-based sensor data, and determine a spatial state of the device based on a combination of the first and second estimated spatial states of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Broaddus, Muzaffer Kal, Wenyi Zhao, Ali M. Tatari, Dan Bostan, Saud Akram
  • Patent number: 9808206
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, an interactive vital signs scanning method is disclosed including concurrently scanning for a plurality of vital signs with a portable vital signs scanner; detecting movement of the portable vital signs scanner during the scanning for the plurality of vital signs; and determining a measure of quality of the scanning for the plurality of vital signs with the portable vital signs scanner. In another embodiment, a method of improving the quality of vital signs data is disclosed including concurrently sensing data from a plurality of vital signs sensors over a period of time with a portable vital signs scanner; determining a plurality of vital sign values for a respective plurality of vital signs in response to the sensed data from the plurality of vital signs sensors over the period of time; and fusing at least two vital sign values of the plurality of vital sign values for the respective plurality of vital signs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Scanadu, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyi Zhao, Brandon Dennis Woolsey, Walter De Brouwer, Eron Anthony Villarreal, Whitney Morgan McGowan, Martin Zizi
  • Publication number: 20170301068
    Abstract: Provided are a system and method for image sharpening is provided that involves capturing an image, and then decomposing the image into a plurality of image-representation components, such as RGB components for example. Each image-representation component is transformed to obtain an unsharpened multi-resolution representation for each image-representation component. A multi-resolution representation includes a plurality of transformation level representations. Sharpness information is transported from an unsharpened transformation level representation of a first one of the image-representation components to a transformation level representation of an unsharpened multi-resolution representation of a second one of the image-representation components to create a sharpened multi-resolution representation of the second one of the image-representation components. The sharpened multi-resolution representation of the second one of the image-representation components is then transformed to obtain a sharpened image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Wenyi Zhao, Simon P. DiMaio, David D. Scott
  • Patent number: 9789608
    Abstract: A synthetic representation of a robot tool for display on a user interface of a robotic system. The synthetic representation may be used to show the position of a view volume of an image capture device with respect to the robot. The synthetic representation may also be used to find a tool that is outside of the field of view, to display range of motion limits for a tool, to remotely communicate information about the robot, and to detect collisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Daniel J. Halabe, Tao Zhao, Simon Dimaio, Christopher J. Hasser, Catherine J. Mohr, Paul W. Mohr, David Q. Larkin, Wenyi Zhao, Brian D. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9783497
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of determining the purity of a sample of 3,4-diaminopyridine comprising determining the presence, absence, or amount of a dimer of 3,4-diaminopyridine or a dimer of 3,4-diaminopyridine in the form of a salt, solvate or complex or a combination thereof. The invention also relates to methods of detecting and quantitating degradation in a sample of 3,4-diaminopyridine. Dimers of 3,4-diaminopyridine and methods of making and isolating the same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Jacobus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Alan Schiehser, Rajendra Shah, Wenyi Zhao
  • Publication number: 20170282372
    Abstract: A synthetic representation of a robot tool for display on a user interface of a robotic system. The synthetic representation may be used to show the position of a view volume of an image capture device with respect to the robot. The synthetic representation may also be used to find a tool that is outside of the field of view, to display range of motion limits for a tool, to remotely communicate information about the robot, and to detect collisions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Simon P. DiMaio, Daniel J. Halabe, Christopher J. Hasser, Brian D. Hoffman, David Q. Larkin, Catherine J. Mohr, Paul W. Mohr, Tao Zhao, Wenyi Zhao
  • Patent number: 9775499
    Abstract: An endoscope with an optical channel is held and positioned by a robotic surgical system. A capture unit captures (1) a visible first image at a first time and (2) a visible second image combined with a fluorescence image from the light at a second time. An image processing system receives (1) the visible first image and (2) the visible second image combined with the fluorescence image and generates at least one fluorescence image. A display system outputs an output image including an artificial fluorescence image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Scott, Wenyi Zhao, Brian D. Hoffman, John D. Stern, Tao Zhao
  • Patent number: 9697588
    Abstract: Provided are a system and method for image sharpening is provided that involves capturing an image, and then decomposing the image into a plurality of image-representation components, such as RGB components for example. Each image-representation component is transformed to obtain an unsharpened multi-resolution representation for each image-representation component. A multi-resolution representation includes a plurality of transformation level representations. Sharpness information is transported from an unsharpened transformation level representation of a first one of the image-representation components to a transformation level representation of an unsharpened multi-resolution representation of a second one of the image-representation components to create a sharpened multi-resolution representation of the second one of the image-representation components. The sharpened multi-resolution representation of the second one of the image-representation components is then transformed to obtain a sharpened image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyi Zhao, Simon P. DiMaio, David D. Scott
  • Patent number: 9526587
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and tools for tool tracking using image-derived data from one or more tool-located reference features. A method includes: capturing a first image of a tool that includes multiple features that define a first marker, where at least one of the features of the first marker includes an identification feature; determining a position for the first marker by processing the first image; determining an identification for the first marker by using the at least one identification feature by processing the first image; and determining a tool state for the tool by using the position and the identification of the first marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Zhao, Wenyi Zhao, Daniel J. Halabe, Brian D. Hoffman, William C. Nowlin
  • Patent number: 9503713
    Abstract: Stereo gaze tracking estimates a 3-D gaze point by projecting determined right and left eye gaze points on left and right stereo images. The determined right and left eye gaze points are based on one or more tracked eye gaze points, estimates for non-tracked eye gaze points based upon the tracked gaze points and image matching in the left and right stereo images, and confidence scores indicative of the reliability of the tracked gaze points and/or the image matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyi Zhao, Brandon D. Itkowitz, George Mylonas, Gung-Zhong Yang
  • Patent number: 9492240
    Abstract: Robotic and/or measurement devices, systems, and methods for telesurgical and other applications employ input devices operatively coupled to tools so as to allow a system user to manipulate tissues and other structures being measured. The system may make use of three dimensional position information from stereoscopic images. Two or more discrete points can be designated in three dimensions so as to provide a cumulative length along a straight or curving structure, an area measurement, a volume measurement, or the like. The discrete points may be identified by a single surgical tool or by distances separating two or more surgical tools, with the user optionally measuring a structure longer than a field of view of the stereoscopic image capture device by walking a pair of tools “hand-over-hand” along the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Tao Zhao, Simon Di Maio, Wenyi Zhao, Christopher J. Hasser, Myrian J. Curet, Catherine J. Mohr, Hubert Stein
  • Patent number: D783838
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Scanadu Incorporated
    Inventors: Wenyi Zhao, Brandon Dennis Woolsey, Walter De Brouwer, Whitney Morgan McGowan, Yves A. Behar