Patents by Inventor William Robert McLaughlin

William Robert McLaughlin 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: 20230243715
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method directed to detecting damage to an optical fiber of a medical device. The optical fiber includes one or more core fibers each including a plurality of sensors configured to (i) reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and (ii) alter the reflected light signal for use in determining a physical state of the multi-core optical fiber. The system also includes a console having non-transitory computer-readable medium storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing a broadband incident light signal to the multi-core optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals, receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the broadband incident light by one or more of the plurality of sensors, identifying at least one unexpected spectral width or a lack of an expected spectral width, and determining the damage has occurred to the optical fiber based on the identification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Anthony K. Misener, Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20230194795
    Abstract: An optical connector cleaning device configured to couple with and perform an optical cleaning and a disinfection of an optical connector of a medical device. The cleaning device includes a holding section and a cleaning section extending away from the holding section, the cleaning section extendable through a sterile barrier. A cleaning ribbon and a disinfecting ribbon, having a disinfectant absorbed therein, extend across a tip of the cleaning device so as to be sandwiched between the tip and the optical connector. An optical assessment system of the device evaluates optical transmission of the optical connector. Manipulation of actuators causes sliding displacement of the cleaning ribbon and the disinfecting ribbon across a tip of the cleaning device. Replaceable cartridges store unused and used portions of the cleaning ribbon and a disinfecting ribbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Steffan Sowards, Anthony K. Misener, William Robert McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20230148872
    Abstract: A medical system that includes a temperature scanning device configured to identify and locate blood vessels by obtaining a thermal image from a skin surface where blood flowing within blood vessels beneath the skin surface has been altered to define temperature variations of the skin. The system includes a console configured to communicate with the temperature scanning device, the console including processors and logic that, when executed by the processors, causes operations including defining the thermal image. The system may further include a camera, and/or an ultrasound probe. The thermal image may be portrayed on various forms of a display include augmented reality glasses. The thermal image may be overlayed onto a camera image and/or an ultrasound image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin, Anthony K. Misener
  • Publication number: 20230148993
    Abstract: An ultrasound-imaging system includes an ultrasound probe and a console. The ultrasound probe includes (i) an array of ultrasonic transducers, activated ultrasonic transducers of the array of ultrasonic transducers configured to emit generated ultrasound signals into a patient, receive reflected ultrasound signals from the patient, and convert the reflected ultrasound signals into corresponding electrical signals of the ultrasound signals for processing into an ultrasound image, and (ii) a secondary data collection module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin, Anthony K. Misener
  • Publication number: 20230147164
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system including an ultrasound probe having an array of ultrasonic transducers configured to emit generated ultrasound signals into a patient, receive reflected ultrasound signals from the patient, and convert the reflected ultrasound signals into corresponding electrical signals of the ultrasound signals for processing into ultrasound images. The system includes a console having a processor to execute logic that, when executed, causes operations including capturing first and second ultrasound images of a target insertion area of a patient at a first time, generating and causing rendering of a notification indicating results of a comparison of the first ultrasound image and the second ultrasound image. The operations can also include determining, via a machine learning model, whether the second ultrasound image corresponds to the second ultrasound image by at least a threshold amount, and providing a visual indication of a result of applying the trained machine learning model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin, Anthony K. Misener
  • Publication number: 20230138970
    Abstract: An ultrasound-imaging system includes an ultrasound probe coupled with a console. Operations of the system can include detecting one or more blood vessels within the ultrasound image and identifying each blood vessel as a vein, an artery or other anatomic element using doppler ultrasound functionality of the ultrasound probe. Operations can also include determining a confidence for the blood vessel identification, and defining a window for doppler ultrasound operation. Operations can further include assessing a blood flow rate within blood vessels, and superimposing notifications atop the ultrasound image pertaining to the identity of the blood vessel including a confidence for the identity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Steffan Sowards, Anthony K. Misener, William Robert McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20230135562
    Abstract: An ultrasound-imaging system can include an ultrasound probe, a console, and a display screen. The ultrasound probe includes an array of ultrasonic transducers that, when activated, emit generated ultrasound signals into a patient, receive reflected ultrasound signals from the patient, and convert the reflected ultrasound signals into corresponding electrical signals for processing into ultrasound images. Operations of the system can include detecting one or more black holes within the ultrasound image and identifying each black hole as a vein, an artery or other anatomic element using doppler ultrasound functionality of the ultrasound probe. Operations can also include defining a window for doppler ultrasound operation, and assessing a blood flow rate within blood vessels. Operations can also include rendering notifications atop the ultrasound image pertaining to the identity of the black hole without obstructing the image of black hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Anthony K. Misener, Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20230132148
    Abstract: Dynamically adjusting ultrasound-imaging systems include an ultrasound probe, a console, and a display screen. The ultrasound probe includes an array of ultrasonic transducers that, when activated, emit generated ultrasound signals into a patient, receive reflected ultrasound signals from the patient, and convert the reflected ultrasound signals into corresponding electrical signals for processing into ultrasound images. The console is configured to execute instructions for defining an orientation of an image plane with respect to a blood vessel based on a shape a blood image and further with respect to a direction of blood flow within the blood vessel via doppler ultrasound. The orientation of image plane may be defined by a comparison of an ultrasound image with corresponding ultrasound images stored in memory. The system may automatically reorient the image plane to align with the blood vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Steffan Sowards, Anthony K. Misener, William Robert McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20230126813
    Abstract: A system and method directed to detecting placement of a medical device within a patient body, the system including a medical device including an optical fiber having core fibers. Each of the one or more core fibers can include a plurality of sensors each configured to reflect a light signal having an altered characteristic due to strain experienced by the optical fiber. The system can further include logic configured to determine a 3D shape of the medical device in accordance with the strain of the optical fiber. The logic can be configured to define a reference plane for the 3D shape and render an image of the 3D shape on a display of the system in accordance with the reference plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Steffan Sowards, Anthony K. Misener, William Robert McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20230121370
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system that includes an ultrasound imaging probe having a first optical fiber integrated therein and a console optically coupled with the ultrasound imaging probe via a first elongate member. The console includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon logic, that when executed by the one or more processors, causes operations that can include providing an incident light signal to the first optical fiber via the first elongate member, receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the incident light from the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, processing the reflected light signals to determine a first three-dimensional (3D) shape extending along a length including at least portions of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, and causing rendering of an image of the first 3D shape on a display of the medical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin, Anthony K. Misener
  • Patent number: 11630009
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to detecting damage to an optical fiber of a medical device. The optical fiber includes core fibers including a plurality of sensors configured to (i) reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and (ii) change a characteristic of the reflected light signal based on experienced strain. The system also includes a console having memory storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the broadband incident light by one or more of the plurality of sensors, processing the reflected light signals to detect fluctuations of a portion of the optical fiber, and determining a location of the portion of the optical fiber or a defect affecting a vessel in which the portion is disposed based on the detected fluctuations. The portion may be a distal tip of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Bard Access Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony K. Misener, Steffan Sowards, Shayne Messerly, William Robert McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 11622816
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to detecting malposition of a medical device within a vessel of a patient, such as an Azygos vein. The medical device can include a multi-core optical fiber including a plurality of core fibers, where each of the plurality of core fibers includes a plurality of sensors is configured to reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and change a characteristic of the reflected light signal for use in determining a physical state of the multi-core optical fiber. The system can include a console having non-transitory computer-readable medium storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing a broadband incident light signal to the multi-core optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals, processing the reflected light signals, and determining whether the medical device has entered the Azygos vein of the patient based on the reflected light signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Bard Access Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony K. Misener, Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 11624677
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to detecting damage to an optical fiber of a medical device. The optical fiber includes one or more core fibers each including a plurality of sensors configured to (i) reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and (ii) alter the reflected light signal for use in determining a physical state of the multi-core optical fiber. The system also includes a console having non-transitory computer-readable medium storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing a broadband incident light signal to the multi-core optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals, receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the broadband incident light by one or more of the plurality of sensors, identifying at least one unexpected spectral width or a lack of an expected spectral width, and determining the damage has occurred to the optical fiber based on the identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Bard Access Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony K. Misener, Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20230102059
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic signature identification system. The system can include a magnetic signature identification device having one or more magnetometers configured to detect magnetic characteristics defined by magnetic elements including dipoles coupled with a target medical device. Logic, when executed by one or more processors, determines a magnetic signature of the target medical device based upon a magnetic field defined by the magnetic characteristics. The system may include multiple medical devices having distinct magnetic signatures stored in memory and the logic may determine an identity of the target medical device by a comparison of the magnetic signature of the target medical device with the distinct magnetic signatures. The magnetic characteristics may be defined by any combination of all or any subset of the number, length, spacing, or orientation of the dipoles. The magnetic signature identification system may be coupled with a device tracking system and/or other medical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin, Anthony K. Misener
  • Publication number: 20230101371
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic signature imprinting system including an imprinting device and a medical device having ferrous elements. The imprinting device includes an active area configured to receive the medical device. The active area includes one or more electromagnets configured to generate one or more electromagnetic fields to imprint a magnetic signature. The imprinting device further includes one or more sensors or a user input mechanism configured to detect one or more characteristics of the medical device and a console in communication with each of the electromagnets and the sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Bard Access Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin, Anthony K. Misener
  • Publication number: 20230101030
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method directed to detecting placement of a medical device within a patient body, where the system includes a medical device including an optical fiber having core fibers. Each of the one or more core fibers includes a plurality of sensors that can be configured to reflect a light signal having an altered characteristic due to strain experienced by the optical fiber. The system further includes logic that can be configured to determine a 3D shape of the medical device in accordance with the strain of the optical fiber. The logic can further be configured to (i) define a reference frame for the 3D shape, and (ii) render an image of the 3D shape on a display of the system in accordance with the reference frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Anthony K. Misener, Steffan Sowards, William Robert McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20230097431
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a medical device system and method for detecting placement of a medical device having an elongate probe for insertion within a patient body. The system can determine a live 3D shape of the elongate probe via shape sensing of an optical fiber extending along the elongate probe during insertion. The system can capture a reference shape of the live 3D shape and define a pathway in front of the live 3D shape. A user can be notified when the live 3D shape exceeds a buffer zone of the pathway. A current reference shape can be compared with a preceding reference frame to assess a validity of the current reference frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Steffan Sowards, Anthony K. Misener, William Robert McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20230096231
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic signature imprinting system including an imprinting device and a medical device including ferrous elements. The imprinting device includes an active area having a magnet moving system, one or more sensors, and a console. The magnet moving system is configured to change the location or orientation of one or more magnets to generate one or more magnetic fields to imprint a magnetic signature. The one or more sensors are configured to detect one or more characteristics of the medical device and the console is in communication with the magnet moving system and the one or more sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: William Robert McLaughlin, Steffan Sowards, Anthony K. Misener
  • Publication number: 20230081198
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing tracking information of a medical instrument using optical fiber technology in combination with magnetic sensing technology. The medical device includes an optical fiber. The medical device further includes magnetic elements. A magnet field sensor can be configured to detect magnetic fields defined by the magnetic elements, and to provide electrical signals in accordance with the detection of the magnetic fields to a console. The operations of the console include (i) processing the reflected light signals to determine a physical state of the optical fiber, (ii) processing the electrical signals to determine the positions of the magnetic elements, and (iii) combining the physical state of the medical device with the positions of the one or more of the plurality of magnetic elements to determine at least one of a position, a shape, and an orientation of the medical device within the patient body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Steffan Sowards, Anthony K. Misener, William Robert McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20230082991
    Abstract: A medical system is disclosed that includes a medical device having an optical fiber, and an interchangeable connection component configured to provide a fiber optic connection between the medical device and capital equipment. The connection component is configured to facilitate cleaning and/or polishing of fiber optic interfaces include therewith. The connection component is also configured for replacement by a medical technician while the capital equipment is operational. The capital equipment may include one or more of an optical interrogator, a patch cable, a medical probe, an ultrasound machine, a display, a magnet sensor, or an electro-cardiogram (ECG) machine. The medical device may include an elongate member configured for insertion within the patient body, where the optical fiber core extends along a length of the elongate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Steffan Sowards, Anthony K. Misener, William Robert McLaughlin