Patents by Inventor Woojin Lee
Woojin Lee 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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Publication number: 20070088340Abstract: A robotic surgery apparatus comprising: a surgical instrument for use at an internal operative site of a subject; a mechanically drivable mounting unit on which the surgical instrument is mounted, the mounting unit being drivably movable outside the operative site of the subject; an electrically driven drive unit for driving movement of the mounting unit; mechanical cabling drivably intercoupled to the mounting unit at one end of the cabling; the mechanical cabling having another end which is readily drivably couplable to and decouplable from the drive unit. The drive unit being readily manually portable and readily attachable to and detachable from a fixed support on or relative to which the subject is mounted.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2006Publication date: April 19, 2007Applicant: HANSEN MEDICAL, INC.Inventors: David Brock, Woojin Lee
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Patent number: 7169141Abstract: A robotic surgery apparatus comprising: a surgical instrument for use at an internal operative site of a subject; a mechanically drivable mounting unit on which the surgical instrument is mounted, the mounting unit being drivably movable outside the operative site of the subject; an electrically driven drive unit for driving movement of the mounting unit; mechanical cabling drivably intercoupled to the mounting unit at one end of the cabling; the mechanical cabling having another end which is readily drivably couplable to and decouplable from the drive unit. The drive unit being readily manually portable and readily attachable to and detachable from a fixed support on or relative to which the subject is mounted.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Hansen Medical, Inc.Inventors: David L. Brock, Woojin Lee
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Publication number: 20070021737Abstract: An instrument guide device comprises an elongated guide shaft having proximal and distal ends and including an instrument lumen for receiving therethrough a manually operated instrument having an instrument shaft. A distal bendable member is disposed at the distal end of the guide shaft and a proximal bendable member is disposed at the proximal end of the guide shaft. Actuation means extends between the distal and proximal bendable members and provides a bending of the distal bendable member controlled from the proximal bendable member. The proximal bendable member is controlled from the manually operated instrument to cause a corresponding bending of said distal bendable member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2005Publication date: January 25, 2007Inventor: Woojin Lee
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Patent number: 7147650Abstract: An endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument includes a distal tool, a rigid or flexible elongated shaft that supports the distal tool, and a proximal handle or control member, where the tool and the handle are coupled to the respective distal and proximal ends of the elongated shaft via bendable motion members. The tool and the tool motion member are coupled to the handle and the handle motion member via cables and a push rod in such a way that the movement of the handle with respect to the elongated shaft in any direction is replicated by the tool at the distal end of the shaft. The magnitude of the tool motion with respect to the handle motion may be scaled depending on the size of the handle motion member with respect to that of the tool motion member.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2004Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Inventor: Woojin Lee
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Publication number: 20060206101Abstract: An endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument includes a distal tool, a rigid or flexible elongated shaft that supports the distal tool, and a proximal handle or control member, where the tool and the handle are coupled to the respective distal and proximal ends of the elongated shaft via bendable motion members. The tool and the tool motion member are coupled to the handle and the handle motion member via cables and a push rod in such a way that the movement of the handle with respect to the elongated shaft in any direction is replicated by the tool at the distal end of the shaft. The magnitude of the tool motion with respect to the handle motion may be scaled depending on the size of the handle motion member with respect to that of the tool motion member.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2006Publication date: September 14, 2006Inventor: Woojin Lee
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Patent number: 7090683Abstract: A remote control flexible instrument system, employing a shaft which supports a tool, is described in which the has proximal and distal ends with at least a portion thereof extending through a lumen of the human body so as to locate the shaft at an internal target site. A master station including an input device provides control of the instrument situated at a slave station. The master station can control at least one degree-of-freedom of the flexible instrument. A controller intercouples the master and slave stations and is operated in accordance with a computer algorithm that receives a command from the input device for controlling at least one degree-of-freedom of the catheter so as to respond in accordance with action at the input device. The flexible instrument further comprises a controlled flexible segment along the shaft, for controlled bending at the flexible segment to guide the shaft and to dispose the tool at an operative site.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2001Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Hansen Medical, Inc.Inventors: David L. Brock, Woojin Lee, Gary Rogers, Barry Weitzner, Robert E. Ailinger
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Publication number: 20060095074Abstract: The surgical instrument includes a distal tool, a rigid or flexible elongated shaft that supports the distal tool, and a proximal handle or control member, where the tool and the handle are coupled to the respective distal and proximal ends of the elongated shaft via distal and proximal bendable motion members. Actuation means extends between said distal and proximal members whereby any deflection of said control handle with respect to said elongated instrument shaft causes a corresponding bending of said distal motion member for control of said working member. A manually rotatable member is arranged adjacent to the control handle for manually rotating the instrument shaft and working member relative to the control handle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2005Publication date: May 4, 2006Inventors: Woojin Lee, Andres Chamorro
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Publication number: 20060020287Abstract: The surgical instrument includes a distal tool, a rigid or flexible elongated shaft that supports the distal tool, and a proximal handle or control member, where the tool and the handle are coupled to the respective distal and proximal ends of the elongated shaft via distal and proximal bendable motion members. Actuation means extends between said distal and proximal members whereby any deflection of said control handle with respect to said elongated instrument shaft causes a corresponding bending of said distal motion member for control of said working member. A manually rotatable member is arranged adjacent to the control handle for manually rotating the instrument shaft and working member relative to the control handle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2005Publication date: January 26, 2006Inventors: Woojin Lee, Andres Chamorro
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Publication number: 20050228440Abstract: A surgical instrument system for use in surgical procedures is disclosed. The surgical instrument system includes a guide assembly, a surgical tip assembly, and a drive unit. The guide assembly includes an elongated portion having a central axis of rotation, and a distal end that is positioned a radial distance away from the central axis. The surgical tip assembly may be attached to the guide assembly. The drive unit is coupled to the guide assembly for rotating the guide assembly and thereby rotating the surgical tip with respect to the central axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2004Publication date: October 13, 2005Applicant: endoVia Medical Inc.Inventors: David Brock, Woojin Lee
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Publication number: 20050216033Abstract: A robotically controlled medical instrument includes a bending section with a unibody construction, a tool supported at a distal end of the bending section and used to perform a medical procedure on a subject such as a human patient, and an electronic controller that controls the bending section to provide at least one degree-of-freedom of movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2004Publication date: September 29, 2005Applicant: endo Via Medical Inc.Inventors: Woojin Lee, Andres Chamorro, Barry Weitzner
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Patent number: 6949106Abstract: A master station of a master/slave surgery system, adapted to be manually manipulated by a surgeon to, in turn, control motion at a slave station at which is disposed a surgical instrument in response to the surgeon manipulation, the master station comprising: a lower positioner assembly; upper positioner assembly supported over the lower positioner assembly and rotational relative to the lower positioner assembly to enable lateral side-to-side surgeon manipulation; and an arm assembly having a hard assembly at its distal end for engagement by the surgeon's hand, and a proximal end pivotally supported from the upper positioner assembly to enable an orthogonal forward-and-back surgeon manipulation in a direction substantially orthogonal to the lateral surgeon manipulation.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2001Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: endoVia Medical, Inc.Inventors: David L. Brock, Woojin Lee
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Publication number: 20050096694Abstract: An endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument includes a distal tool, a rigid or flexible elongated shaft that supports the distal tool, and a proximal handle or control member, where the tool and the handle are coupled to the respective distal and proximal ends of the elongated shaft via bendable motion members. The tool and the tool motion member are coupled to the handle and the handle motion member via cables and a push rod in such a way that the movement of the handle with respect to the elongated shaft in any direction is replicated by the tool at the distal end of the shaft. The magnitude of the tool motion with respect to the handle motion may be scaled depending on the size of the handle motion member with respect to that of the tool motion member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2004Publication date: May 5, 2005Inventor: Woojin Lee
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Publication number: 20050049580Abstract: A surgical instrument system having an instrument member or shaft with a distal portion positionable through an incision of a patient to an internal site and for operation by a surgeon from outside the patient. A tool is carried at the distal end of the instrument shaft controlled by the surgeon in performing a procedure at an operative site of the patient. At least first and second turnable members are spacedly disposed along the instrument shaft distal portion, both disposed within the internal site, and each controlled from outside the patient for providing at least respective first and second degrees of freedom of control of the tool. The turnable members may be either a pivot joint or a bendable section.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2004Publication date: March 3, 2005Applicant: endo Via Medical , Inc.Inventors: David Brock, Woojin Lee
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Patent number: 6843793Abstract: A program of instructions for the processor which include: receiving an insertion length of a medical instrument inserted in a patient; and determining a distal end location of the instrument at a target site in the patient from the insertion length. The instrument typically has a straight proximal portion and curved distal portion, lies in a single plane and is a rigid guide member. The instrument is typically inserted and then fixed at a pivot axis outside the patient. The pivot axis is generally aligned with an insertion point at which the instrument is inserted into the patient. The program of instructions may include determining a subsequent location of the distal end associated with pivoting about the pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: endoVia Medical, Inc.Inventors: David L. Brock, Woojin Lee
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Publication number: 20040193146Abstract: A robotically controlled surgical instrument includes a first jaw and a second jaw used to grasp an item, and a drive mechanism that increases the force applied to the item grasped. The drive mechanism and the jaws can be provided with an accommodating mechanism that allows continued movement of the drive mechanism towards a locked position even after the jaws contact a larger item so that the drive mechanism can move to the locked position when grasping items of different sizes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2003Publication date: September 30, 2004Applicant: endo Via Medical, Inc.Inventors: Woojin Lee, Andres Chamorro, Robert Ailinger, Dwight Meglan
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Publication number: 20040176751Abstract: A robotic medical apparatus for performing a medical procedure or application on an anatomy, said apparatus comprising: a first medical instrument member having a working end adapted to be disposed at an internal target area at which the medical procedure or application is to be performed; and a second medical instrument member having a working end adapted to be disposed at an internal target area at which the medical procedure or application is to be performed. The first medical instrument member is disposed so as to extend into the anatomy at a first ingress location and passing intraluminally; and the second medical instrument member is disposed so as to extend into the anatomy at a second ingress location different than said first ingress location and passing extraluminally.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2003Publication date: September 9, 2004Applicant: endoVia Medical, Inc.Inventors: Barry D. Weitzner, Gary S. Rogers, Albert Solbjor, Dwight Meglan, Robert Ailinger, David L. Brock, Woojin Lee, David Driscoll
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Publication number: 20040049205Abstract: A surgical apparatus includes a slider mechanism, a surgical instrument coupled to the slider mechanism, and a single cable bundle that couples the slider mechanism and instrument to a driver. The single cable bundle includes a first cable that operates the slider mechanism and thus the instrument with one degree-of-freedom of movement, and a second cable that operates the instrument itself with another degree-of-freedom of movement. The cable bundle is attached to the slider mechanism at a location that is stationary.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2002Publication date: March 11, 2004Applicant: endo Via Medical, Inc.Inventors: Woojin Lee, Michael J. Mazzuca, Michael C. Gorhan
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Patent number: 6692485Abstract: An articulated apparatus is disclosed that includes an actuator base and a plurality of serially coupled link members that are mutually joined to one another at a plurality of joints. Each of the serially coupled link members has an axis of rotation. The plurality of link member includes a proximal link member that is proximal to the actuator base, and a distal link member that is distal to the actuator base, and each link member includes a proximal end and a distal end. The apparatus also includes a plurality of actuators that are located at the base, and each actuator is associated with a respective link member. The apparatus further includes a plurality of tendons, each of which is coupled to an actuator and a respective link member for effecting movement of the link member with respect to the actuator base.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: endoVia Medical, Inc.Inventors: David L. Brock, Woojin Lee
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Publication number: 20030135204Abstract: A robotically controlled medical instrument includes a bending section with a unibody construction, a tool supported at a distal end of the bending section and used to perform a medical procedure on a subject such as a human patient, and an electronic controller that controls the bending section to provide at least one degree-of-freedom of movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2002Publication date: July 17, 2003Applicant: endo Via Medical, Inc.Inventors: Woojin Lee, Andres Chamorro, Barry Weitzner
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Patent number: 6554844Abstract: A surgical instrument end effector apparatus that includes a pair of jaws, a first pivot for supporting one of the jaws, a link member connected to one of the jaws, and a second pivot for supporting the link member. The link member has a first unlocked position in which one jaw member is opened relative to the other jaw member, and a second locked position in which one jaw member is locked closed relative to the other jaw member.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: endoVia Medical, Inc.Inventors: Woojin Lee, David L. Brock