Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100121269 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENSING FORCE ON A ROBOTICALLY CONTROLLED MEDICAL INSTRUMENT - A medical system comprises a medical probe including an elongated probe body, a lumen extending within the probe body, an axially flexible section, and a push-pull member slidably disposed within the lumen. The system comprises a ditherer mechanically coupled to the member for cyclically displacing it axially back and forth within the lumen, such that the ends of the probe body are axially displaced relative to each other via the axially flexible section. The system further comprises a sensor for sensing a force axially applied to the distal end of the probe body. A method comprises introducing a medical probe into a patient, axially dithering the distal end of the medical probe back and forth relative to the proximal end of the medical probe, and sensing a force applied between tissue of the patient and the distal end of the medical probe while the distal end is axially dithered. | 05-13-2010 |
20110295248 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED MINIMALLY INVASIVE INSTRUMENT COMMAND - In one embodiment a system may comprise a controller including a master input device; and an electromechanically steerable elongate instrument having proximal interface and portions, the proximal interface portion being configured to be operatively coupled to an electromechanical instrument driver in communication with the controller, the distal portion being configured to be interactively navigated adjacent internal tissue structures of a patient's body in response to signals from the controller; wherein the controller is operatively coupled to a treatment interactivity variable sensor selected from the group consisting of: a cardiac electrogram electrode, an RF generator power output sensor, an instrument distal portion impedance sensor, and an instrument distal portion force sensor; and wherein the controller is configured to affect the operation of the electromechanically steerable elongate catheter by automatically executing an instrument movement or treatment command based upon changes in information received from the treatment interactivity variable sensor. | 12-01-2011 |
20110295267 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED TISSUE STRUCTURE TRAVERSAL - Systems and methods are described for automating aspects of minimally invasive therapeutic treatment of patients. A robotic tissue structure traversal system may comprise a controller including a master input device, an electromechanically controlled elongate instrument having a proximal interface portion and a distal portion, the proximal interface portion being configured to be operatively coupled to an electromechanical instrument driver in communication with the controller, the distal portion comprising a traversing tip and being configured to be interactively navigated about internal structures of a patient's body in response to signals from the controller; and a load sensor operatively coupled between the distal portion of the elongate instrument and the controller; wherein the controller is configured to automatically advance the traversing tip through a thickness of an internal structure by observing loads from the load sensor. | 12-01-2011 |
20110295268 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED MASTER INPUT SCALING - Embodiments are described for automating aspects of minimally invasive therapeutic treatment of patients. A robotic medical instrument system, comprising an elongate instrument having proximal and distal ends; a controller configured to selectively actuate one or more motors operably coupled to the instrument to thereby selectively move the instrument; a master input device in communication with the controller and configured to generate input commands in response to a directional movement of the master input device; and a load sensor operatively coupled to the elongate instrument and configured to sense magnitude and direction of loads applied to the distal end of the elongate instrument; wherein the controller is configured to compute an instrument movement command to selectively move the instrument based upon the input commands and an input command scaling factor applied to the input commands, the input command scaling factor being variable with the magnitude of sensed loads. | 12-01-2011 |
20120022405 | METHOD OF SENSING FORCES ON A WORKING INSTRUMENT - A method for estimating the force on a distal end of a working catheter includes positioning a portion of a robotically controlled guide catheter and working catheter into a body lumen wherein a distal end of the working catheter projects distally from a distal end of the guide catheter. The working catheter and guide catheter are dithered with respect to one another using a dithering device operatively connected to a proximal portion of the working catheter. The coupling may occur directly to the working catheter or via a seal such as a Touhy seal. The force experienced by the working catheter at a proximal region is measured through at least one dithering cycle. The force at the distal end of the working catheter is then estimated based on the measured force at the proximal region. The estimated force may be displayed to a physician on, for example, a monitor. | 01-26-2012 |
20120116253 | Apparatus for Measuring Distal Forces on a Working Instrument - A robotic catheter manipulator includes a guide catheter including proximal and distal ends and lumen extending there through. A flexible bellows is secured at one end to the proximal end of the guide catheter and at the other end to a seal configured to receive a working catheter. In a loaded state, the working catheter is fixed relative to the seal. A ditherer is operatively connected to the seal for dithering the working catheter relative to the guide catheter when placed therein. The robotic catheter manipulator includes at least one force sensor for measuring the force applied to the working catheter by the ditherer. Force measurements may be translated into an estimated force that is experienced at the distal end of the working catheter which may then be displayed to the physician via a monitor or display. | 05-10-2012 |
20150283311 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR EXPRESSION OF HUMAN BREAST MILK - Systems, methods, and devices for milk expression are provided. In one aspect, a system includes an expression apparatus having an interface configured to engage a breast and an actuation assembly operably coupled to the interface. Actuation of the actuation assembly causes the interface to apply vacuum pressure against the breast to express milk from the breast. The system also includes a computing device configured to communicate with the expression apparatus via a data connection. | 10-08-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100121138 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENSING FORCE - A medical system comprises a medical probe including an elongated probe body, a lumen extending within the probe body, an axially flexible section, and a push-pull rod slidably disposed within the lumen. The system comprises a ditherer mechanically coupled to the rod for cyclically displacing it axially back and forth within the lumen, such that the ends of the probe body are axially displaced relative to each other via the axially flexible section. The system further comprises a sensor for sensing a force axially applied to the distal end of the probe body. A method comprises introducing a medical probe into a patient, axially dithering the distal end of the medical probe back and forth relative to the proximal end of the medical probe, and sensing a force applied between tissue of the patient and the distal end of the medical probe while the distal end is axially dithered. | 05-13-2010 |
20100253487 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HAPTIC DEVICES HAVING MULTIPLE OPERATIONAL MODES - A haptic device having a plurality of operational modes, including a first operational mode and a second operational mode is provided. The first operational mode is associated with a frequency range. The second operational mode is associated with a frequency range that is different from the frequency range of the first operational mode. A controller is coupled to the haptic device, and is configured to send the haptic device a plurality of control schemes. Each control scheme is uniquely associated with an operational mode from the plurality of operational modes. | 10-07-2010 |
20110102340 | Method And Apparatus For Providing Tactile Sensations - Products and processes for providing tactile sensations to input devices or electronic devices are provided. Input devices include mechanical input devices (such as, for example, mechanical switches) and non-mechanical input devices (such as, for example, touchpads). Tactile feedback is provided by using an actuator or other means in communication with the input device or electronic device. A controller may be employed to receive signals from the input devices and control the actuator. Tactile feedback to an input device or electronic device may be provided in response to one or more events or situations. Such an event or situation may be any one designated. Examples of such events and situations include the level of pressure placed on an input device; the availability or lack of availability of a function associated with an input device; and the function, menu, or mode of operation associated with an input device's activation. A variety of feedback types and combinations may be selected. | 05-05-2011 |
20130027324 | Method And Apparatus For Providing Tactile Sensations - Systems and methods for providing tactile sensations are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of outputting a display signal configured to display a graphical object on a touch-sensitive input device; receiving a sensor signal from the touch-sensitive input device, the sensor signal indicating an object contacting the touch-sensitive input device; determining an interaction between the object contacting the touch-sensitive input device and the graphical object; and generating an actuator signal based at least in part on the interaction. | 01-31-2013 |
20130158477 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENSING FORCE ON A ROBOTICALLY CONTROLLED MEDICAL INSTRUMENT - A medical system comprises a medical probe including an elongated probe body, a lumen extending within the probe body, an axially flexible section, and a push-pull member slidably disposed within the lumen. The system comprises a ditherer mechanically coupled to the member for cyclically displacing it axially back and forth within the lumen, such that the ends of the probe body are axially displaced relative to each other via the axially flexible section. The system further comprises a sensor for sensing a force axially applied to the distal end of the probe body. A method comprises introducing a medical probe into a patient, axially dithering the distal end of the medical probe back and forth relative to the proximal end of the medical probe, and sensing a force applied between tissue of the patient and the distal end of the medical probe while the distal end is axially dithered. | 06-20-2013 |
20130214914 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HAPTIC DEVICES HAVING MULTIPLE OPERATIONAL MODES - A haptic device having a plurality of operational modes, including a first operational mode and a second operational mode is provided. The first operational mode is associated with a frequency range. The second operational mode is associated with a frequency range that is different from the frequency range of the first operational mode. A controller is coupled to the haptic device, and is configured to send the haptic device a plurality of control schemes. Each control scheme is uniquely associated with an operational mode from the plurality of operational modes. | 08-22-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100106604 | Multi-Stage Bidding System for Guaranteed Advertising Contracts in a Network of Networks - This patent discloses a system to host a multi-stage competition for an online advertisement opportunity in a network of networks. The online advertisement opportunity may be received in a second network from a first network as a result of a process where a first bid from a first software agent representing a guaranteed contract may be compared with a second bid from a second software agent representing one of a nonguaranteed contract and a guaranteed contract. A third bid for the online advertisement opportunity may be received in the second network from a third software agent representing a guaranteed contract. In addition, a fourth bid for that same online advertisement opportunity may be received in the second network from a fourth software agent representing one of a nonguaranteed contract and a guaranteed contract. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106613 | Bidding System for Guaranteed Advertising Contracts in an Online Spot Market - This patent discloses a system to host a competition for an online advertisement opportunity. Notice of the online advertisement opportunity may be sent to software agents, one of which may represent a guaranteed contract. On receipt of the notice, the software agents may prepare and submit bids. An ad server may receive bids, including a first bid from a first software agent representing a guaranteed contract and a second bid from a second software agent representing a nonguaranteed contract. The ad server may screen out bids and arbitrate the remaining bids to determine a highest bidder for the online advertisement opportunity. | 04-29-2010 |
20100228635 | Unified Marketplace for an Online Advertisement Bidding System - An online advertising system integrates third party agents to permit the third party agents to participate in auctions to bid on a per opportunity basis. An advertising exchange module receives requests for opportunities to serve online advertisements to users. In response, an advertising exchange module applies one or more business rules to determine third party agents that qualify to serve the online advertisement. A bid gateway module generates and transmits requests for bids to the third party agents. The bid gateway module then receives bids from the third party agents in response to the requests for bids. The advertising exchange module then selects an advertisement based on the bid. The online advertisement exchange system provides a unified marketplace to permit integrator networks to bid on both ads pursuant to guaranteed contracts and ads not subject to guaranteed contracts (e.g., non-guaranteed ads). The online advertisement system further includes traffic management to allow the third parties to regulate bid requests sent from the online advertisement system. In some embodiments, the online advertising system caches bids, to efficiently implement the per opportunity auction, and transmits information, such as targeting information, to the third party agents to aid in the third party agents' formulation of bids. | 09-09-2010 |
20100228637 | Architecture for an Online Advertisement Bidding System - An online advertising system integrates third party agents to permit the third party agents to participate in auctions to bid on a per opportunity basis. An advertising exchange module receives requests for opportunities to serve online advertisements to users. In response, an advertising exchange module applies one or more business rules to determine third party agents that qualify to serve the online advertisement. A bid gateway module generates and transmits requests for bids to the third party agents. The bid gateway module then receives bids from the third party agents in response to the requests for bids. The advertising exchange module then selects an advertisement based on the bid. The online advertisement exchange system provides a unified marketplace to permit integrator networks to bid on both ads pursuant to guaranteed contracts and ads not subject to guaranteed contracts (e.g., non-guaranteed ads). The online advertisement system further includes traffic management to allow the third parties to regulate bid requests sent from the online advertisement system. In some embodiments, the online advertising system caches bids, to efficiently implement the per opportunity auction, and transmits information, such as targeting information, to the third party agents to aid in the third party agents' formulation of bids. | 09-09-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080250136 | ACCELERATED AND REPRODUCIBLE DOMAIN VISITOR TARGETING - A device, system, and method are directed towards managing and tracking of cross-domain user activities through use of a beacon. As a user of a client device requests content from different domain services managed by a common entity, they may receive a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to a beacon in at least one of the different domains. In one embodiment, the beacon is a single pixel image. The client device may also receive a Match-ID. A beacon server in one of the other domains may receive the request for the beacon, and store in a domain log the Match-ID, and other information about the client device, which domain service provided the URL, and/or other related user activities. The different domain logs may then be employed for use in searching for matching Match-IDs, joining common user or client device activities, and for tracking other cross-domain user activities. | 10-09-2008 |
20090313371 | ACCELERATED AND REPRODUCIBLE DOMAIN VISITOR TARGETING - A device, system, and method are directed towards managing and tracking of cross-domain user activities through use of a beacon. As a user of a client device requests content from different domain services managed by a common entity, they may receive a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to a beacon in at least one of the different domains. In one embodiment, the beacon is a single pixel image. The client device may also receive a Match-ID. A beacon server in one of the other domains may receive the request for the beacon, and store in a domain log the Match-ID, and other information about the client device, which domain service provided the URL, and/or other related user activities. The different domain logs may then be employed for use in searching for matching Match-IDs, joining common user or client device activities, and for tracking other cross-domain user activities. | 12-17-2009 |
20110307579 | ACCELERATED AND REPRODUCIBLE DOMAIN VISITOR TARGETING - A device, system, and method are directed towards managing and tracking of cross-domain user activities through use of a beacon. As a user of a client device requests content from different domain services managed by a common entity, they may receive a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to a beacon in at least one of the different domains. In one embodiment, the beacon is a single pixel image. The client device may also receive a Match-ID. A beacon server in one of the other domains may receive the request for the beacon, and store in a domain log the Match-ID, and other information about the client device, which domain service provided the URL, and/or other related user activities. The different domain logs may then be employed for use in searching for matching Match-IDs, joining common user or client device activities, and for tracking other cross-domain user activities. | 12-15-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20150046844 | CABLE READER SNIPPETS AND POSTBOARD - Various systems and methods are provided that allow reviewers to quickly save, identify, retrieve, and share communications. For example, systems and methods described herein may allow a reviewer to store at least a portion of a communication, called a snippet, in a postboard. For example, a reviewer can highlight a portion of the content of a communication. Once the portion is highlighted, the reviewer can select a snippet command, which stores the highlighted portion in the postboard. Each snippet stored in a postboard includes at least a portion of the content that was highlighted and a link to the communication from which the snippet originates. | 02-12-2015 |
20150046845 | CABLE READER LABELING - Various systems and methods are provided that allow reviewers to properly and timely label communications and easily view such communications. Certain systems and methods organize one or more communications in a tile layout so that reviewers can properly and timely label communications. A reviewer can hover over any of the communications to view more details regarding the communication and/or label the communication. For example, while the cursor is placed over the displayed communication, the reviewer can provide a command, such as a key command. Once the command is provided, the displayed communication is labeled with a label associated with the command. | 02-12-2015 |
20150046870 | CONTEXT-SENSITIVE VIEWS - A context-sensitive viewing system is disclosed in which various data visualizations, also referred to a contextual views, of a common set of data may be viewed by a user on an electronic device. Data in the system may comprise data objects and associated properties and/or metadata, and may be stored in one or more electronic data stores. As a user of the system views and manipulates a first contextual view of a set of data objects, one or more other contextual views of the same set of data objects may be updated accordingly. Updates to the secondary contextual views may, in various embodiments, happen real-time. Further, the secondary contextual views may be visible to the user simultaneously with the primary contextual view. A user may switch from one view to another, and may manipulate data in any view, resulting in updates in the other views. | 02-12-2015 |
20150046876 | LONG CLICK DISPLAY OF A CONTEXT MENU - In cases where the right mouse click operation to access a context menu is disabled, the techniques described in the disclosure may provide access to the context menu through a long click of the left mouse button. For example, the user may click and hold the left mouse button for at least a threshold period of time, and in response thereto, the user interface is updated to display the context menu. To indicate to the user how long it would take for the context menu to appear, an icon can be displayed next to the cursor, or as a part of the cursor. The icon can show the relative time left before the context menu is displayed (e.g., an elapsed and/or remaining portion of the threshold period of time, etc.). | 02-12-2015 |
20150135052 | SPACE-OPTIMIZED DISPLAY OF MULTI-COLUMN TABLES - The display of a multi-column table can be optimized. For example, a container, such as a multi-column table, can have a first container width. The container includes first text, second text, and a divider, such as an icon, whitespace, or text, between the first text and the second text. The first text, the second text, and the divider can have a combined text width. The container can be resized to a second container width that is smaller than the first container width. If it is determined that the combined text width is then greater than the second container width, the first text, the second text, or both can be abbreviated until the combined text width is less than the second container width. | 05-14-2015 |