David M Weir

US Patent:

8120301, Feb 21, 2012

Filed:

Mar 9, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/400726

Inventors:

Randal P. Goldberg - San Jose CA, US
Michael Hanuschik - Mountain View CA, US
Henry Hazebrouck - Sunnyvale CA, US
Paul Millman - San Jose CA, US
Deepak Kapoor - Cupertino CA, US
John Zabinski - Fremont CA, US
David Robinson - Mountain View CA, US
David Weir - San Francisco CA, US
Salvatore J. Brogna - Pleasanton CA, US

Assignee:

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

B64C 13/20

US Classification:

318581, 318432, 318799

Abstract:

A control console to remotely control medical equipment is disclosed having a base with an ergonomically adjustable pedal system. The base further has an opening to receive the pedal system. The pedal system includes a moveable pedal tray with a pedal base. The tray includes a first left pedal assembly and a first right pedal assembly, and an upper tier having a second left pedal assembly and a second right pedal assembly respectively in alignment with and elevated above the first left pedal assembly and the first right pedal assembly. Rollers are rotatable coupled to the moveable pedal tray to allow it roll over a floor. A drive assembly is coupled between the moveable pedal tray and the base. The drive assembly applies a force to the to roll the moveable pedal tray over the floor within the opening of the base.

US Patent:

20120205419, Aug 16, 2012

Filed:

Jan 13, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/350512

Inventors:

David Weir - Emerald Hills CA, US
Kevin Durant - Alameda CA, US
Patrick Flanagan - Santa Clara CA, US
David Robinson - Mountain View CA, US

Assignee:

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B 17/068
A61B 19/00

US Classification:

227 2, 2271751

Abstract:

Systems and methods are provided for detecting failure in clamping of a material and/or firing of a staple into a clamped material and indicating such failure to a user on a user interface. The system and methods are particularly suited for use with end effectors having closing and/or firing mechanisms coupled to an actuator. By monitoring a driving parameter of an actuator that effects the clamping and/or firing, the systems and methods provide an indication of failure in response to the monitored drive parameter. In some embodiments, an indication of failure is output when the monitored drive parameter is outside an acceptable range of desired driving parameters during clamping and/or firing. The disclosed systems and methods are particularly beneficial when used for minimally invasive surgery.

US Patent:

20120209314, Aug 16, 2012

Filed:

Jan 13, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/350502

Inventors:

David Weir - Emerald Hills CA, US
Grant Duque - San Jose CA, US
Kevin Durant - Alameda CA, US
Patrick Flanagan - Santa Clara CA, US
Maggie Nixon - San Jose CA, US
David Robinson - Mountain View CA, US
John Zabinski - Fremont CA, US

Assignee:

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B 17/28

US Classification:

606205

Abstract:

End effectors with closing mechanisms, and related tools and methods are disclosed. The disclosed end effectors may be particularly beneficial when used for minimally invasive surgery. An example surgical tool comprises a first and second jaw movable between a closed grasped or clamped configuration and an open configuration. The tool further comprises a soft grip mode for grasping the tissue at a first force during which a separation parameter between the jaws is measured, and a therapeutic clamping mode in which the jaws clamp on the body tissue at a force greater than the grasping force. The methods comprise grasping the body tissue between jaw members, measuring the separation parameter between jaws, indicating on a user interface the separation parameter for comparison to a desired separation parameter, and then releasing the body tissue for repositioning or therapeutically clamping the body tissue in response to the separation parameter indication.

US Patent:

20130110129, May 2, 2013

Filed:

Oct 26, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/662390

Inventors:

John W. Zabinski - Fremont CA, US
Alan Eton Loh - Los Altos CA, US
Bruce M. Schena - Menlo Park CA, US
David W. Weir - Emerald Hills CA, US
David W. Bailey - Portola Valley CA, US
Melody Wu - Sunnyvale CA, US

Assignee:

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B 19/00
F16B 21/00

US Classification:

606130, 403326

Abstract:

A latch mechanism selectively retains a first assembly to a second assembly. The first and second assemblies are configured for sliding engagement along an engagement axis. The latch mechanism includes a latch shaft mounted to the first assembly to rotate about a latch shaft axis, a torsion spring to bias the latch shaft relative to the first assembly, and a transverse latch member coupled with the second assembly. The latch mechanism is configured to automatically latch in response to the first assembly being pushed toward the second assembly. The transverse latch member interacts with the latch shaft to rotate the latch shaft in a first direction in response to movement of the first assembly toward the second assembly. Further motion of the first assembly toward the second assembly results in rotation of the latch shaft opposite to the first direction into a retention configuration that retains the transverse latch member.

US Patent:

46717803, Jun 9, 1987

Filed:

Oct 30, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/793044

Inventors:

David F. Weir - San Ramon CA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

F16D 374

US Classification:

464 85

Abstract:

A flexible coupling for joining two rotating shafts, the coupling having opposed hubs one attached to each shaft, the hubs each having an annular array of radical grooves on opposing faces thereof and a plurality of generally rectangular shaped laminated graphite epoxy plates with radially extended projections which are provided with an integral laminated elastomer/metal shear sandwich structure and are held in the radial grooves by restraint fittings attached to the hubs.

US Patent:

20230072380, Mar 9, 2023

Filed:

Nov 17, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/989430

Inventors:

- Sunnyvale CA, US
Nicola Diolaiti - Menlo Park CA, US
David W. Weir - Sunnyvale CA, US
Dimitrios Chatzigeorgiou - Sunnyvale CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 34/00
A61B 34/35

Abstract:

A medical instrument system includes actuators, a medical instrument, and a control system operably connected to the actuators. The medical instrument includes an end portion and transmission systems, each of which couples the end portion to an actuator of the actuators such that the actuators are operable to drive the transmission systems to move the end portion. The control system is configured to execute operations including determining a difference between a current configuration of the end portion and a desired configuration of the end portion, and operating the actuators to apply tensions to the transmission systems based on the difference and based on constant offset tensions. The constant offset tensions are independent of current tensions experienced by the transmission systems.

US Patent:

20230067515, Mar 2, 2023

Filed:

Nov 7, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/982343

Inventors:

- Sunnyvale CA, US
David W. WEIR - San Carlos CA, US
Matthew A. WIXEY - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 17/28
A61B 17/22
A61B 34/00
A61B 34/35

Abstract:

Techniques for grasp adjustment include a computer-assisted device comprising a repositionable structure configured to support an end effector and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to receive one or more images of the end effector; determine, based on the one or more images, at least one of a first length between a proximal end of jaws of the end effector and a proximal end of a grasping zone, a second length corresponding to a length of the grasping zone, a third length between a distal end of the grasping zone and the distal end of the at least one jaw; or an angle between the jaws of the end effector; and adjust a force or a torque magnitude limit used to limit actuation of the end effector based on at least one of the first length, the second length, the third length, or the angle.

US Patent:

20210353292, Nov 18, 2021

Filed:

Aug 2, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/391335

Inventors:

- Sunnyvale CA, US
David W. WEIR - San Carlos CA, US

Assignee:

INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B 17/072
A61B 17/068
A61B 34/30

Abstract:

A system comprises a surgical instrument comprising an end effector comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member, the second jaw member comprising or being configured to receive a plurality of staples; and an actuation mechanism operably coupled to the end effector to actuate the end effector to perform at least one of a clamping procedure or a staple firing procedure. The system further comprises a drive system configured to drive the actuation mechanism, a controller operably coupled to the drive system, and a user interface operably coupled to the controller, which is configured to determine the clamping procedure or the staple firing procedure has failed based on a magnitude of an actuation force applied by the drive system to the actuation mechanism; and cause the user interface to output a failure indication indicative of the failure.