Patents Issued in January 10, 2019
  • Publication number: 20190008337
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner that includes a first cleaner module and a second cleaner module that is removably coupled to the first cleaner module. The first cleaner module includes a first body and a first dust collection unit, and the second cleaner module includes a second body and a second dust collection unit. Thus, when done in an upright mode, cleaning can be done with a sufficiently great suction force. When done in a handy mode after the second cleaner module is separated, cleaning can be easily done using the second cleaner module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae Woon LIM, Tae Gwang KIM, Jeong Hee CHO, Tak Soo KIM, Dong Hun YOO, Byung Jo LEE, Yun Won JUNG
  • Publication number: 20190008338
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner has an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and a suction motor positioned in the air flow path. A cyclone chamber positioned in the air flow path has a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet. At least one energy storage member is positioned in an energy storage chamber having an energy storage chamber wall. The cyclone air outlet faces the energy storage chamber wall whereby air exiting the cyclone chamber impinges on the energy storage chamber wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20190008339
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner has an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. A cyclone chamber positioned in the air flow path has a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet. A pre-motor filter is positioned downstream of the cyclone air outlet and a suction motor is positioned in the air flow path downstream of the pre-motor filter. The pre-motor filter is vertically spaced from the cyclone axis of rotation when the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, and air travels generally rearwardly from the pre-motor filter to the suction motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20190008340
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner has an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. A handle has a hand grip portion. The handle upwardly and forwardly when the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner. A cyclone chamber, a pre-motor filter and a suction motor are positioned in the air flow path. The cyclone axis of rotation and the suction motor axis of rotation each extend in a forward/rearward direction. The handle is positioned at the rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner and the suction motor is located at an upper end of the handle. The suction motor axis of rotation is vertically displaced from the cyclone axis of rotation when the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20190008341
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner has an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. A cyclone chamber positioned in the air flow path has a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet. A handle having a hand grip portion extend upwardly and forwardly when the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner. At least one energy storage member is positioned in an energy storage chamber. A suction motor is positioned in the air flow path upstream of the clean air outlet, wherein the suction motor is located at an upper end of the handle and rearward of the at least one energy storage member when the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20190008342
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner has an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and a suction motor positioned in the air flow path. A cyclone chamber positioned in the air flow path has a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet. A longitudinally extending battery pack which extend upwardly and forwardly when the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner. A portion of the dirt collection region is located below a portion of the battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20190008343
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner has an inlet conduit that is removably connectable to an accessory tool. An accessory power coupler extends in the same direction as the inlet conduit and is positioned laterally to one side of the inlet conduit The accessory power coupler has electrical connectors, wherein the electrical connectors of the accessory power coupler are inter-engaged with compatible electrical connectors provided on the accessory tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Jason Thorne, Andre D. Brown
  • Publication number: 20190008344
    Abstract: An autonomous cleaner includes: a cleaner body; a cleaning module protruded from one side of the cleaner body, and having a castor; caterpillar units provided at both sides of the cleaner body, and positioned at a rear side of the cleaning module, wherein the caterpillar unit includes: a driving module; a driving wheel mounted to the driving module, and formed to be rotatable by receiving a driving force from the driving module; a driven wheel mounted to the driving module, and provided at a rear side of the driving wheel; and a belt formed to entirely enclose the driving wheel and the driven wheel as a closed loop, and configured to rotate the driven wheel when the driving wheel is rotated. The cleaner body is supported on a floor surface by the castor and the driven wheel, or by the driving wheel and the driven wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Hwang Kim, Sungil Park
  • Publication number: 20190008345
    Abstract: An assembly includes a sensor arm extensible from a pillar of a vehicle, a sensor and a sensor window each attached to the sensor arm, a blower positioned between the sensor window and the pillar, and a duct extending from the blower to direct airflow from the blower across the sensor window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Schmidt, Scott A. Black
  • Publication number: 20190008346
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner has an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. An air treatment member is positioned in the air flow path. A removable pre-motor filter assembly is positioned downstream of the air treatment member and upstream of a suction motor, the pre-motor filter assembly comprising a pre-motor filter and a filter support member, the filter support member having an outlet conduit wherein a terminal end of the outlet conduit extends at a first angle to a direction of air flow through the outlet conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Nina Conrad, Dave Petersen
  • Publication number: 20190008347
    Abstract: A self-propelled electronic device comprising a housing: when an obstacle is detected ahead while the housing is moving straight forward along a outbound or a return path while it travels in a zigzag manner in a closed region, the housing travels along the obstacle such that the obstacle is located on a predetermined side of the housing, and when the housing advances by a predetermined pitch width in a direction orthogonal to a back-and-forth direction during traveling along the obstacle, the housing changes its direction and moves straight forward along a next return path or outbound path, whereas, when the housing again returns to the outbound path or return path along which it has traveled before, during traveling along the obstacle, wherein if its orientation is reversed based on its orientation when the housing has traveled along the outbound path or the return path, the housing ends traveling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventor: TOSHIHIRO SENOO
  • Publication number: 20190008348
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner has an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. A cyclone assembly including a dirt collection region is positioned in the air flow path, a pre-motor filter is positioned downstream from the cyclone chamber and a suction motor is positioned upstream of a clean air outlet. A battery pack is positioned such that at least a portion of the battery pack is positioned rearward of the dirt collection region and at least a portion of the battery pack underlies at least a portion of one or both of the cyclone assembly and the pre-motor filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20190008349
    Abstract: A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner that includes an agitator defining a longitudinal axis and being rotatable about said longitudinal axis; a motor configured to rotate the agitator; and a coolant path extending from an inlet to an outlet. The coolant path is configured to direct an air flow from the inlet, past the motor and subsequently over or through the motor, to the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Oliver Rayleigh STRUTT, Samuel Fraser TWIST
  • Publication number: 20190008350
    Abstract: A cleaning device comprises an upper cleaning solution tank comprising an outlet, a motorized chassis located beneath the solution tank and an electronics compartment defined at least partly by splash shields and a drip shield. The splash shields define a top and sides of the electronics compartment, and the drip shield defines a bottom side of the electronics compartment and includes at least one drip hole smaller than 2 mm in diameter. A wire opening in the splash shields includes a protective cover overlying the opening, the protective covering containing at least one passage facing in a direction opposite to the solution tank allowing a wire to pass through the passage, through the wire opening, and into the electronics compartment. Fluid lines extend from the outlet towards a bottom of the cleaning device and exterior to the electronics compartment. An enclosed electronics unit may also include wire openings and protective covers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventor: Frank Chudkosky
  • Publication number: 20190008351
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a chassis having forward and rearward portions and a drive system carried by the chassis. The forward portion of the chassis defines a substantially rectangular shape. The robot includes a cleaning assembly mounted on the forward portion of the chassis and a bin disposed adjacent the cleaning assembly and configured to receive debris agitated by the cleaning assembly. A bin cover is pivotally attached to a lower portion of the chassis and configured to rotate between a first, closed position providing closure of an opening defined by the bin and a second, open position providing access to the bin opening. The robot includes a body attached to the chassis and a handle disposed on an upper portion of the body. A bin cover release is actuatable from substantially near the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Mark Steven Schnittman, Zivthan A. Dubrovsky, Jeffrey W. Mammen, Aaron Solochek
  • Publication number: 20190008352
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a body, a controller supported by the body, a drive supporting the body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface in response to commands from the controller, and a pad holder attached to an underside of the body to hold a removable cleaning pad during operation of the robot. The pad includes a mounting plate and a mounting surface. The mounting plate is attached to the mounting surface. The robot includes a pad sensor to sense a feature on the pad and to generate a signal based on the feature, which is defined in part by a cutout on the card backing. The mounting plate enables the pad sensor to detect the feature. The controller is responsive to the signal to perform operations including selecting a cleaning mode based on the signal, and controlling the robot according to a selected cleaning mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Ping-Hong Lu, Joseph M. Johnson, Daniel Foran, Marcus Williams, Andrew Graziani
  • Publication number: 20190008353
    Abstract: Provided herein a vacuum cleaner capable of effectively escaping from a situation where driving wheels are in an idling state. The vacuum cleaner includes a main casing, driving wheels, a control unit and an idling detection part. The driving wheels enable the main casing to travel. The control unit controls the driving of the driving wheels to make the main casing autonomously travel. The idling detection part detects that the driving wheels are in an idling state. In the case where the idling detection part detects that the driving wheels are in an idling state, the control unit controls the operation of the driving wheels so as to, after the operation to make the main casing retreat by a certain distance, repeat consecutively for a plurality of times the operation to make the main casing turn in a specified one direction and advance by a specified distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: TOSHIBA LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS & SERVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshihiro KAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20190008354
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a wiping product well suited to absorbing a solvent and releasing the solvent onto an adjacent surface. The wiping product can also be constructed so as to have excellent abrasion resistance. The wiping product can be used in numerous applications and is particularly well suited for wiping unfinished surfaces, such as metal surfaces and composite surfaces for removing contaminants, such as oil and grease. The wiping product is made from a hydroentangled and thermally bonded web containing staple fibers and conjugated fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Mary F. Mallory, Joseph K. Baker, Ning Yang, David M. Jackson
  • Publication number: 20190008355
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes a main body and cleaning strips bound to the main body at binding regions. The cleaning strips each include cleaning regions. At least one cleaning strip of the cleaning strips is strengthened at the binding region thereof to the main body. A cleaning region of the at least one cleaning strip is less strengthened or not strengthened compared with the binding region. Different cleaning strips and/or cleaning regions have different widths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventor: Diana Thyson
  • Publication number: 20190008356
    Abstract: Disclosed a dishwasher, wherein dishes placed on a conveyor are washed, rinsed, and dried while being sequentially conveyed to a washing chamber, a rinsing chamber, and a drying chamber, the dishwasher including: a heat exchanger allowing hot air to be supplied to the drying chamber by heat exchange; a wash water tank in which water supplied to the washing chamber or the rinsing chamber is stored; and a spray device spraying water supplied from the wash water tank onto the dishes placed on the conveyor, whereby it is possible to save energy by providing a single heat exchanger to preheat wash water and rinse water and supply hot air to the drying chamber, and to improve circulation of wash water by a filtering device applied to a structure for reusing wash water, thereby improving sanitation of dishwashing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventor: Sung Hyun KIM
  • Publication number: 20190008357
    Abstract: A utensil rack for a dishwasher has a set of wave profiles. One subset of wave profiles has wave crests spaced from each other a first distance and a second set of wave profiles has wave crests spaced from each other a second distance less than the first distances. The utensil rack can be in the form of tray. A stemware section has one subset of wave profiles and a cutlery section has a second subset of wave profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: SUJIT S. NAIK, HRUSHIKESH C. PRABHU
  • Publication number: 20190008358
    Abstract: A medical observation apparatus includes: a display unit that displays thereon an observation image corresponding to a result of examination on a subject; a first camera that performs imaging of plural persons surrounding the subject, and outputs a surrounding image; a selecting unit that selects, based on the surrounding image, an indicator from the plural persons; a line of sight detecting unit that detects a line of sight of the indicator; and a display control unit that causes the display unit to display thereon a superimposed image having a pointer superimposed on the observation image, the pointer being at a position according to a destination of the line of sight of the indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Sumihiro Uchimura
  • Publication number: 20190008359
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an endoscope locking method in which a locking condition is set based on change in coordinates of a manipulation portion. When a sampled X coordinate and Y coordinate of the manipulation portion meet a set change in coordinates of the manipulation portion, a locking signal is sent out, and thus an endoscope is locked. The method can achieve one-hand manipulation, and automatically achieves the locking of the endoscope according to the change in coordinates of the manipulation portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Tianyue MA, Jiangfan YAN, Shaoming LIN
  • Publication number: 20190008360
    Abstract: A robotic assembly comprises a deployment catheter including a steerable distal region and further comprises a balloon assembly coupled to the steerable distal region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Ruey-Feng Peh, Vahid Saadat, Edmund A. Tam
  • Publication number: 20190008361
    Abstract: An image selection unit selects a B2 image signal of which an image blurring amount satisfies a first condition, from a B2 image signal at a first timing T1 or B2 image signals at the second timing T2 to an N-th timing TN. A computed image signal generation unit performs computation based on a B1 image signal at the first timing T1 and a second image signal selected in the image selection unit, thereby generating a computed image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiro IMAI
  • Publication number: 20190008362
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus, an endoscope system, an image processing method, an image processing program, and a recording medium capable of accurately estimating blood vessel information. An image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes: an image acquisition unit that acquires an image of a living body; a blood vessel index value calculation unit that calculates a blood vessel index value of the living body from the acquired image; a blood vessel density calculation unit that calculates a blood vessel density of the living body from the acquired image; a blood vessel index value correction unit that corrects the calculated blood vessel index value according to the calculated blood vessel density; and a blood vessel information estimation unit that estimates blood vessel information of the living body based on the corrected blood vessel index value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Shumpei KAMON
  • Publication number: 20190008363
    Abstract: A medical system is provided comprising a medical device including a handle and a mechanism for moving a distal end of the medical device; an auxiliary medical device comprising a basket retrieval device including a basket sheath disposed over a basket wire and received into a working channel of the medical device; a knob assembly in communication with the basket retrieval device, the knob assembly rotatable so that the basket sheath, wire, or both move within the working channel; and a base removably connecting the auxiliary medical device to the handle wherein the handle and the base are configured to be simultaneously gripped with a hand, and wherein the mechanism is configured to be moved with a first finger to move the distal end of the medical device and the knob assembly is configured to be rotated with a second finger to move the basket sheath wire, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Judy L. Walish, Kurt Shelton, Allison B. Dianis
  • Publication number: 20190008364
    Abstract: An endoscopic treatment tool includes a port, a sheath having a proximal region inserted into the port and a distal region continuing to the proximal region to extend to the outside of the port, a flap having a distal end in the distal region and a proximal end in the proximal region and extending in a longitudinal axis direction of the sheath from a distal end to a proximal end of the sheath, a notch surface formed in the sheath between the proximal end of the flap and the proximal end of the sheath to form a notch shape in the flap along the longitudinal axis, and a rotation preventing portion disposed between the notch surface and the internal surface of the port, wherein the rotation preventing portion has an inclined surface inclined from the opening toward the lumen and an engaging surface capable of engaging with the notch surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuya YAMANAKA
  • Publication number: 20190008365
    Abstract: An optical assembly adapted to be positioned within an endoscope tip and having three modular camera units, comprising: a front modular camera unit defined by a front central axis and a first and second side modular camera units defined by first and second side central axes that are substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the front central axis. Each modular camera unit further comprises a holder for housing an associated optical element and an image sensor in data communication with a corresponding printed circuit board. The front, first side and second side modular camera units are respectively positioned in first, second and third compartments of an assembly holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Endochoice, Inc.
    Inventors: Yaniv KIRMA, Golan SALMAN, Amram AIZENFELD, Leonid KRIVOPISK, Moshiko LEVI, Stephan WIETH, Jeruham AVRON, Robby DASCALO, Avi LEVY, Mark GILREATH, Victor LEVIN
  • Publication number: 20190008366
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for processing and recognizing non-contact types of human input to prevent contamination are generally described herein. In example embodiments, human input is captured, recognized, and used to provide active input for control or data entry into a user interface. The human input may be provided in variety of forms detectable by recognition techniques such as speech recognition, gesture recognition, identification recognition, and facial recognition. In one example, the human input recognition techniques are used in connection with a device cleaning workflow used to obtain data and human input during cleaning procedures while minimizing cross-contamination between the contaminated device or person and other objects or persons. In another example, the human input recognition techniques are used in connection with a device tracking workflow used to obtain data and human input while tracking interactions with and locations of the contaminated or uncontaminated device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Ward Sly, Stacy Lemmer, Terry Mistalski, Michael Petersen
  • Publication number: 20190008367
    Abstract: This disclosure discloses a surgical system that includes, for example, a patient-side cart (also referred to as a surgical robot) and a console apparatus. The patient-side cart includes an endoscope apparatus that includes three or more endoscope arms. The console apparatus manipulates the patient-side cart. In the endoscope apparatus, for example, feature points of respective images obtained by respective imaging devices of the three or more endoscopes are used to join the respective images together to generate a composite image, and the composite image is displayed on a display screen. The composite image generated from the images in three visual fields to be provided to an operator ensures providing an image in a wide range, and allows the operator to confirm various sites by a visual check during surgery (ensuring an endoscopic surgery while having a large visual field as in a laparotomy) (FIG. 1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicants: NIKON CORPORATION, MEDICAROID CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuro ISHIKAWA, Masato HAMATANI, Jun NAGATSUKA, Shunji WATANABE, Jiro INOUE, Yasuhiko HASHIMOTO, Hirofumi TANAKA, Yoshiyuki TAMURA, Mitsuichi HIRATSUKA
  • Publication number: 20190008368
    Abstract: A scanning endoscope includes: an optical fiber for illumination including an incidence side to which illumination light enters and an irradiate side from which the illumination light is irradiated, and configured to irradiate an object from the irradiation side with the illumination light; a holder configured to hold the optical fiber; a plurality of drive elements arranged so as to make the optical fiber swing between the irradiation side and the holder, and configured to make the optical fiber swing according to a drive signal; and a cylinder made of metal, and securing the optical fiber and the plurality of drive elements, wherein the cylinder is electrically connected to a ground potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsunori KUMAI
  • Publication number: 20190008369
    Abstract: An endoscope includes: a rigid insertion portion inserted into a subject; an image sensor provided at a distal end of the insertion portion and configured to acquire an image of the subject; a rigid channel provided in the insertion portion, extended to be inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, and having a tubular shape into which a long member is inserted; and a signal cable including signal lines extended from the image sensor to transmit a signal acquired by the image sensor, and formed by winding a portion around an outer circumference of the channel at least one turn, wherein an arrangement of the channel and the signal cable at a first end side of the insertion portion is different from an arrangement of the channel and the signal cable at a second end side of the insertion portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko HASHIGUCHI, Kenichi NISHINA, Teppei TSURUTA, Yasuhiro IIJIMA, Kei IRIE
  • Publication number: 20190008370
    Abstract: A medical tubing member is used in a medical system that allows fluid to flow between an inside and outside of a subject. The medical tubing member includes a first tubing member and a second tubing member. The first tubing member is configured to be arranged outside the subject and is configured to be connected to a first line disposed in an endoscope. The first tubing member is configured to supply the fluid from the outside of the subject to the inside of the subject. The second tubing member is configured to be arranged outside the subject and configured to be connected to a second tubular line disposed in the endoscope. The second tubing member is configured to discharge the fluid from the inside of the subject to the outside of the subject. The second tubing member is disposed inside the first tubing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Hino
  • Publication number: 20190008371
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a first instrument defining a first channel and a second instrument receivable by the first channel. The second instrument defines a second channel. A valve coupled to the first instrument controls fluid flow through the first channel, such that impedance of fluid flow through the first channel is substantially the same without the second instrument received in the first channel and with the first channel partially blocked by the second instrument. In another aspect, a surgical apparatus includes an outer member and an inner member received within the outer member to define a first channel therebetween. The inner member houses an optical lens and defines a second channel for receiving a surgical instrument. The first and second channels are configured such that a pump having an inflow rate of up to about 0.7 L/min connected to the second channel can maintain fluid pressure inside an organ.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Cemal Shener-Irmakoglu, Christopher R. Newell, Petter Hedstrom, Kenneth W. Krause
  • Publication number: 20190008372
    Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes a light emitting element, an image pickup device of a rolling shutter scheme, and a control section. The control section performs control for switching between a first illumination mode for irradiating light on a subject in a readout period in which readout of an electric signal is performed in order for each of lines in the image pickup device and a second illumination mode for not irradiating light on the subject in the readout period. The control section controls the image pickup device to perform electronic shutter processing in all-line exposure period in which exposure of a plurality of lines is simultaneously performed in a frame corresponding to timing when one of the first illumination mode and the second illumination mode is switched to the other illumination mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi TANAKA, Yoichiro SAKANOUE
  • Publication number: 20190008373
    Abstract: The present application provides an arthroscopic system, which comprises an disposable arthroscope having a distal end and a proximal end, and comprising a light source, a lens set, an image sensor, a transmitter, and a control interface. The present application eliminates the possibility of infecting the patient with contaminated devices by its cost-effectively disposable arthroscope. The present application also provides a method for image rotating in an arthroscopic system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Chung-Sheng Chen, Ching-Chuan Jiang, Chien-Hsiang Chang, Wei-lin Chen
  • Publication number: 20190008374
    Abstract: An endoscope system has a light source, an imaging device, and an operation device. The imaging device has a first substrate, a second substrate, and an optical filter. The optical filter is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and allows only light having a predetermined wavelength band to pass the therethrough. In all wavelengths included in the predetermined wavelength band, a light absorption coefficient of oxidized hemoglobin is larger than a light absorption coefficient of reduced hemoglobin or the light absorption coefficient of the oxidized hemoglobin is smaller than the light absorption coefficient of the reduced hemoglobin. The operation device calculates an oxygen saturation on the basis of a first pixel signal generated in the first substrate and a second pixel signal generated in the second substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20190008375
    Abstract: An endoscopic device having embodiments of a hybrid imaging sensor that optimizes a pixel array area on a substrate using a stacking scheme for placement of related circuitry with minimal vertical interconnects between stacked substrates and associated features are disclosed. Embodiments of maximized pixel array size/die size (area optimization) are disclosed, and an optimized imaging sensor providing improved image quality, improved functionality, and improved form factors for specific applications common to the industry of digital imaging are also disclosed. Embodiments of the above may include systems, methods and processes for staggering ADC or column circuit bumps in a column or sub-column hybrid image sensor using vertical interconnects are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Depuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent Blanquart, Joshua D. Talbert, Jeremiah D. Henley, Donald M. Wichern
  • Publication number: 20190008376
    Abstract: A radial illumination system is for projecting a light pattern radially. A light source generates a light output to an optical fiber. A ferrule is provided around the end of the optical fiber, and a reflector is mounted over or in the ferrule or integral with the ferrule, for redirecting the light to form generally radial light. In this way, a simple design with low component count is able to perform the optical alignment and optical reflecting functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Pippinus Maarten Robertus WORTELBOER, Antonius Johannes Josephus RADEMAKERS
  • Publication number: 20190008377
    Abstract: A method of providing diagnosis information includes acquiring, from a first imaging area of an eye to be inspected, a first set of signals to create three-dimensional tomographic data, acquiring, from a second imaging area including at least a part of the first imaging area, a second set of signals to create three-dimensional motion contrast data, generating a first display image of the eye to be inspected using the first set of signals, generating a second display image using the second set of signals, and changing, when the first display image and the second display image are displayed side by side, at least one of display magnifications, lateral display positions of the eye to be inspected, a display range in the depth direction of the eye to be inspected, and viewpoints for a three-dimensional display, for the first display image and the second display image correspondingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventor: Toshiharu Sumiya
  • Publication number: 20190008378
    Abstract: An ophthalmological device according to the embodiments comprises an objective lens, a subjective inspection optical system, and an interference optical system. The subjective inspection optical system includes an optical element capable of correcting aberration of a subject's eye and projects a visual target onto the subject's eye via the objective lens and the optical element. The interference optical system splits light from a light source into reference light and measurement light, projects the measurement light onto the subject's eye via the objective lens and the optical element, generates interference light between returning light of the measurement light and the reference light, and detects the generated interference light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Takefumi HAYASHI, Kouta FUJII
  • Publication number: 20190008379
    Abstract: Angle multiplexed optical coherence tomography systems and methods can be used to evaluate ocular tissue and other anatomical structures or features of a patient. The angle multiplexed optical coherence tomography system includes a light source, an optical assembly for obtaining a plurality of sample beams corresponding to respective anatomical locations of the eye of the patient, where individual sample beams are associated with a respective non-zero angle relative to a reference beam, and a detection mechanism that detects individual unique interference patterns respectively provided by the plurality of sample beams, for simultaneous evaluation of the anatomical locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas D. Raymond, Devon E. Reid
  • Publication number: 20190008380
    Abstract: An ophthalmological device according to the embodiments comprises an objective lens, an objective measurement optical system, an interference optical system, and an image forming unit. The objective measurement optical system irradiates light onto a subject's eye via the objective lens and detects returning light from the subject's eye. The interference optical system splits light from a light source into reference light and measurement light, projects the measurement light onto the subject's eye via the objective lens so as to overlap at least part of an area of the irradiated light at the subject's eye by the objective measurement optical system, generates interference light between returning light of the measurement light and the reference light, and detects the generated interference light. The image forming unit forms a tomographic image of the subject's eye based on a detection result of the interference light by the interference optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: TOPCON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takefumi HAYASHI, Kouta FUJII
  • Publication number: 20190008381
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a state of health of an eye using a pupillometer is provided comprising an ocular fixture, a testing compartment, a camera, and a controller. The testing compartment comprises a plurality of chromatic beam emitters arranged about a visual field. The ocular fixture is positioned to facilitate exposure of light sensitive ocular structures of the eye to a chromatic stimuli. The camera is positioned to record temporal pupil responses of the eye. The controller controls emission wavelength, intensity, and duration of the chromatic beam emitters. The controller processes temporal pupil response data to generate signals representative of the eye positioned at the ocular fixture in response to the chromatic stimuli at a plurality of locations in the visual field. The method comprises driving the chromatic beam emitters with the controller to generate signals using chromatic stimuli and determining the state of health of the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Ygal ROTENSTREICH, Ifat SHER
  • Publication number: 20190008382
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for illuminating the fundus of an eye for wide-angle fundus photography. The present disclosure delivers light through a pars planar area of the eye for illuminating the interior of the eye, or through an eyelid and a pars plana of the eye. Trans-pars-planar illumination frees the entire pupil for imaging and therefore eliminates need for pupil dilation or complex balancing between illumination and imaging in previous wide-angle fundus photography based on trans-pupillary illumination. Additionally, the present disclosure discloses, when an optical fiber bundle multiple-channel trans-pars-planar illuminator placed adjacent to the pars plana, at least one optical fiber in the optical fiber bundle aligns with the pars plana to deliver light through the pars plana into the fundus of the eye, thus eliminating the previous problem of having to move an optical fiber to search a location of the pars plana.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Biolight Engineering LLC
    Inventors: Devrim TOSLAK, Xincheng YAO
  • Publication number: 20190008383
    Abstract: A method and system of removing artifacts in electroencephalogram (EEG) signals is provided. Digital EEG data, based on a digitizing of analog EEG signals of a patient from a first electrode, is received. Digital sweat sensor data, based on a digitizing of analog sweat sensor signals of the patient that are contemporaneous with the analog EEG signals, is received. A transform is applied to the digital sweat sensor data based on a predetermined sweat stress profile of the patient. The digital EEG data is adaptively adjusted by subtracting the transformed sweat sensor data from the digital EEG data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Payel Das, Ryan Hubbard
  • Publication number: 20190008384
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing machine-generated medical events detected from one or more patients are described herein. A medical event management system includes an event analyzer circuit to detect a medical event using physiological data from a patient-triggered episode acquired from a medical device. The event analyzer circuit determines a confidence score of the medical event detection, and generates an alignment indicator indicating a degree of concordance between the detected medical event and the information about the patient-triggered episode. The system assigns priority information to the patient-triggered episode using the generated alignment indicator and the confidence score of the detection. An output circuit can output the received physiological information to a user or a process according to the assigned priority information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Amy Jean Brisben, Qi An, Pramodsingh Hirasingh Thakur, David J. Ternes, JoAnna Trapp Simpson, Viktoria A. Averina, Deepa Mahajan, Sunipa Saha, Krzysztof Z. Siejko
  • Publication number: 20190008385
    Abstract: An inductive sensor system for remote powering and communication with an analyte sensor (e.g., a fully implantable analyte sensor). The system may include an analyte sensor and transceiver. The system may be ferrite-enhanced. The transceiver may implement a passive telemetry for communicating with the analyte sensor via an inductive magnetic link for both power and data transfer. The link may be a co-planar, near field communication telemetry link. The transceiver may include a reflection plate configured to focus flux lines linking the transceiver and the sensor uniformly beneath the transceiver. The transceiver may include an amplifier configured to amplify battery power and provide radio frequency (RF) power to a transceiver antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Szymon Tankiewicz, Joshua C. Schaefer, Andrew DeHennis, Todd Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20190008386
    Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) energy is transmitted through the application of a RF signal to an external RF energy interface, where the RF signal oscillates at a frequency in an energy transmission band. The transmitted RF energy is received at an implanted medical device, and energy derived from the received RF energy is stored in a direct current (DC) energy storage component of the device. A therapeutic output signal is generated from the stored energy and delivered by the implantable medical device to a patient through one or more electrodes. The therapeutic output signal is configurable to provide either one of RF stimulation therapy and RF ablation therapy, and comprises pulses of an RF signal oscillating at a frequency in a therapy band that is greater than the energy transmission band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Harry Puryear, Timothy J. Cox, Serafin Y. Samson, Nazmi Peyman, Omid Souresrafil, Gregory F. Molnar