Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140121676 | ROBOTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPINAL AND OTHER SURGERIES - The present invention relates to a method, such as a surgical method for assisting a surgeon for placing screws in the spine using a robot attached to a passive structure. The present invention also related to a method, such as a surgical method for assisting a surgeon for removing volumes in the body of a patient using a robot attached to a passive structure and to a device to carry out said methods. | 05-01-2014 |
20150045813 | ROBOTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPINAL AND OTHER SURGERIES - The present invention relates to a method, such as a surgical method for assisting a surgeon for placing screws in the spine using a robot attached to a passive structure. The present invention also related to a method, such as a surgical method for assisting a surgeon for removing volumes in the body of a patient using a robot attached to a passive structure and to a device to carry out said methods. | 02-12-2015 |
20150100066 | APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR PRECISE GUIDANCE OF SURGICAL TOOLS - Described herein are systems, apparatus, and methods for precise placement and guidance of tools during a surgical procedure, particularly a spinal surgical procedure. The system features a portable robot arm with end effector for precise positioning of a surgical tool. The system requires only minimal training by surgeons/operators, is intuitive to use, and has a small footprint with significantly reduced obstruction of the operating table. The system works with existing, standard surgical tools, does not require increased surgical time or preparatory time, and safely provides the enhanced precision achievable by robotic-assisted systems. | 04-09-2015 |
20150196365 | NOTCHED APPARATUS FOR GUIDANCE OF AN INSERTABLE INSTRUMENT ALONG AN AXIS DURING SPINAL SURGERY - Described herein is a surgical instrument guide for use with a robotic surgical system, for example, during spinal surgery. In certain embodiments, the guide is attached to or is part of an end effector of a robotic arm, and provides a rigid structure that allows for precise preparation of patient tissue (e.g., preparation of a pedicle) by drilling, tapping, or other manipulation, as well as precise placement of a screw in a drilled hole or affixation of a prosthetic or implant in a prepared patient situation. | 07-16-2015 |
20150202009 | STERILE DRAPE AND ADAPTER FOR COVERING A ROBOTIC SURGICAL ARM AND PREVENTING CONTAMINATION OF A STERILE FIELD - Described herein are a sterile drape and adapter for use with a robotic surgical system, for example, during spinal surgery. In certain embodiments, the sterile drape and adapter cover a robotic surgical arm and prevent contamination of a sterile field. The sterile drape may attached to the robotic arm via a sterile adapter that ensures the drape is tightly stretched over the tool holder and robot interface to provide a structure that provides for repeatable and rigid positioning of the sterile drape. Tightly stretching the drape over the sterile adapter and tightening the tool holder to the robotic arm using, for example, a tightening screw, reduces the likelihood of folds in the drape between the tool holder and robot interface. Thus, errors between the robot model and the actual situation because of the position of the tool holder relative to the robot interface are minimized. | 07-23-2015 |
20150223897 | STERILE HANDLE FOR CONTROLLING A ROBOTIC SURGICAL SYSTEM FROM A STERILE FIELD - Described herein are a sterile handle for use with a robotic surgical system, for example, during spinal surgery. In certain embodiments, the sterile handle adds functionalities and an interface to existing surgical tools such that the robotic system may be commanded from the sterile field during surgery. The sterile handle permits a user, such as a surgeon, to physically manipulate the location of the end-effector of a robotic surgical system. The sterile handle may include an input device that allows the user to limit the movement of the end-effector, such as limiting the movement to translations or rotations only. The sterile handle may detect the presence of a user's hand. This ensures the end-effector is only moved when the user manipulates the sterile handle and reduces the likelihood that the end-effector is moved unintentionally. | 08-13-2015 |
20150305817 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HOLDER FOR USE WITH A ROBOTIC SURGICAL SYSTEM - Described herein is a surgical instrument holder for use with a robotic surgical system, for example, during spinal surgery. In certain embodiments, the surgical instrument holder is an interface between the robotic arm and a surgical instrument used during surgery. This interface may hold the surgical instrument precisely, rigidly, and in a stable manner while permitting a surgeon to easily and quickly install or withdraw the instrument in case of emergency. | 10-29-2015 |
20150366624 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY - Minimally invasive surgical techniques are used to obtain access to vertebrae while protecting soft tissues in the surrounding area. The dilators may be used to provide a working channel through which the operation is performed. Standard dilators may be used with a robotic surgical system to provide precise guidance of surgical tools. A dilator may be held by the robot and automatically repositioned when the surgeon adjusts a trajectory for performing the surgery. The dilator itself may be used as a surgical instrument guide along with dilator adaptors that adjust the diameter of a portion of the dilator to allow for different sized tools to be guided by the dilator. Alternatively, surgical instrument guides may also be held by the robotic arm such that tools are guided by a surgical instrument guide through the dilator to perform a medical procedure. | 12-24-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140235265 | DYNAMIC PROXIMITY CONTROL SYSTEM - An illustrative dynamic proximity control system uses proximity to a mobile user's mobile station as a proxy for predicting which of several remote-controlled targets the mobile user wishes to remote-control via the mobile station or via a centralized controller in communication with the mobile station. The system dynamically sorts, filters, and arranges how the mobile user perceives the remote-controlled targets. The system and method enhance the mobile user's immediate access to targets that are close by, e.g., within the same room as the mobile user, by dynamically tailoring the choices provided to the user on the mobile station's display. Thus, the mobile user is presented with nearby choices that are likely candidates for remote control. Remote targets are filtered out. The system optionally includes location-beacon devices associated with each of the remote-controlled targets. Beacon signals received from the location-beacon devices enable the illustrative system to estimate the location of a respective target and, based on the location estimate, to tailor the choices of remote-controlled targets that are presented to the mobile user in a user interface on the mobile station's display, and to dynamically update the user interface and remotely control the targets based on proximity changes. | 08-21-2014 |
20150105880 | System and Apparatus for Reordering Consumable Goods Associated with Appliances, and Method Thereof - A consumable-goods reordering system in which a system controller has access to the signals transmitted by each smart appliance relevant to the environment being monitored, such as a home. Each appliance monitors a particular physical condition that is related to the appliance's usage of a consumable good, senses changes in the condition being monitored, and reports states of the condition. Meanwhile, the system controller memorizes and maintains the states of various processing events, such as when an appliance reported a particular state of the monitored condition. By considering the information reported by the multiple smart appliances, as well as by accounting for the states corresponding to the various events, the system controller is able to continually update a representation of the state of the monitored environment. Having such context awareness enables the system controller to generate intelligently various reorder messages for transmission to the various suppliers of the consumables. | 04-16-2015 |
20150105911 | AUTOMATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM WITH CONTEXT AWARENESS - An automation system is disclosed in which a system controller has access to the signals transmitted by each sensor device that is relevant to the environment being controlled. Each sensor device monitors a particular physical condition, senses changes in the condition being monitored, and reports states of the condition, which is made available to the system controller. Meanwhile, the system controller memorizes and maintains the states of various processing events, such as when a sensor device reported a particular state of the condition that the sensor monitors. By considering the information reported by the various and multiple sensor devices, as well as by accounting for the memorized states corresponding to the various events, the system controller is able to generate and continually update a representation of the state of the controlled environment. Having such context awareness enables the design and implementation of sophisticated reasoning logic and conditional logic. | 04-16-2015 |
20150120943 | Secure mobile access to resources within a private network - A technique is disclosed that provides a secure end-to-end connection between a mobile station in a public network and a resource server in a private network. First, a virtual private network (VPN) connection is established by the resource server within the private network, to a VPN/socket secure (SOCKS) proxy in the public network. Subsequently, the SOCKS proxy receives an access request from the mobile station and, in response, sets up a Hypertext Transport Protocol Secure (HTTPS) connection between the resource server and mobile station. Then, a reverse proxy service operating at the resource server retrieves data packets from a resource device, such as a webcam, and encrypts and pushes the packets to the mobile station. | 04-30-2015 |
20150145655 | Dynamic Proximity Control System - An illustrative dynamic proximity control system uses proximity to a mobile user's mobile station as a proxy for predicting which of several remote-controlled targets the mobile user wishes to remote-control via the mobile station or via a centralized controller in communication with the mobile station. The system dynamically sorts, filters, and arranges how the mobile user perceives the remote-controlled targets. The system and method enhance the mobile user's immediate access to targets that are close by, e.g., within the same room as the mobile user, by dynamically tailoring the choices provided to the user on the mobile station's display. Thus, the mobile user is presented with nearby choices that are likely candidates for remote control. Remote targets are filtered out. The system optionally includes location-beacon devices associated with each of the remote-controlled targets. Beacon signals received from the location-beacon devices enable the illustrative system to estimate the location of a respective target and, based on the location estimate, to tailor the choices of remote-controlled targets that are presented to the mobile user in a user interface on the mobile station's display, and to dynamically update the user interface and remotely control the targets based on proximity changes. | 05-28-2015 |
20150192914 | AUTOMATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM WITH INFERENCE AND ANTICIPATION - An automation system is disclosed in which a system controller has access to the signals transmitted by each sensor device that is relevant to the environment being controlled. Each sensor device monitors a particular physical condition, senses changes in the condition being monitored, and reports states of the condition, which is made available to the system controller. Meanwhile, the system controller memorizes and maintains the states of various processing events, such as when a sensor device reported a particular state of the condition that the sensor monitors. By considering the information reported by the various and multiple sensor devices, as well as by accounting for the memorized states corresponding to the various events, the system controller is able to generate and continually update a representation of the state of the controlled environment. Having such context awareness enables the design and implementation of sophisticated reasoning logic and conditional logic. | 07-09-2015 |
20150200787 | Automation System Comprising a Monitoring Device and Methods Therefor - A monitoring device for use in an automation system, such as for a home, warehouse, or any type of structure. The monitoring device includes sensors, a processor, and a transmitter. Using its sensors, the monitoring device is capable of acquiring data about itself and/or its environment. That data is used by the monitoring device and/or a central controller to generate a request for an actor, such as lighting, an HVAC system, motorized drapes, a home entertainment system, other home systems, or appliances, to change its state. | 07-16-2015 |
20150234372 | Appliance capable of advertising needs and responding to needs of other appliances and systems - A home automation and control system that enables the coordinated performance of household functions by appliances and of shopping for consumables, including shopping for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and other consumables that are needed and used by appliances and their consumer users. The disclosed system comprises one or more networked “smart” appliances and a controlling device such as a smartphone that executes an application configured to interact with the smart appliances. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, at least some of the smart appliances are configured to sense various needs as they arise and to broadcast those needs to the system at large. In addition, at least some of the smart appliances are configured to fulfill those needs advertised by the other appliances within the system and to perform household functions. | 08-20-2015 |
20150302534 | System and method for administering licenses stored in an electronic module, and product unit comprising said module - The product unit disclosed herein has identification data that are stored internally in memory. This stored identification data can be viewed as the product unit's “digital nameplate,” in that the data can represent the product unit's identifier, brand, and so on. Each data set is digitally signed while on the production line by using an encryption technique. The digitally signed data set is then written into the product unit's memory where it can be used for verification. A first digitally-signed data set can be used to control the use of one or more software modules that are provided by a software owner. The data that are undergoing signature contain at least one globally-unique identifier, which can be used to identify cloning attempts. Additionally, more than one digital signature can be used, in order to protect and control the use of features other than the software, such as the product brand. | 10-22-2015 |
20150304112 | System and method for administering licenses stored by a product unit, and administration of said unit in the field - The product unit disclosed herein has identification data that are stored internally in memory. This stored identification data can be viewed as the product unit's “digital nameplate,” in that the data can represent the product unit's identifier, brand, and so on. Each data set is digitally signed while on the production line by using an encryption technique. The digitally signed data set is then written into the product unit's memory where it can be used for verification. A first digitally-signed data set can be used to control the use of one or more software modules that are provided by a software owner. The data that are undergoing signature contain at least one globally-unique identifier, which can be used to identify cloning attempts. Additionally, more than one digital signature can be used, in order to protect and control the use of features other than the software, such as the product brand. | 10-22-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140045592 | DELIVERY OF PROJECTIONS FOR RENDERING - A workflow for 3D content authoring, delivery, and rendering is facilitated based on pre-authored image projections to obtain improvements in authoring efficiency. Additionally, a content delivery platform centered on such pre-authored image projections provides a mechanism for significantly improving streaming efficiency for 3D worlds. Multiple images encode primary surface detail of 3D worlds in real-time applications. Examples of such projections include images that can be as rich as film frames, feature animation frames, high end digital renders, concept paintings, or any suitable combination thereof. An algorithm for improved image projection camera path trajectories, sampling selection, and blending may be implemented by various systems and methods to facilitate smooth transitions during movements of a player within a game set in the 3D space. In addition, a back-projection technique may be implemented by various systems and methods to propagate revisions of one or more projections. | 02-13-2014 |
20140247982 | GENERATION OF INTERMEDIATE IMAGES FOR TEXTURE COMPRESSION - A machine may be configured to process an uncompressed image to obtain a set of intermediate images, which may be alternatively known as working images or temporary images. Such a set of intermediate images may be used as input for an image compression algorithm that, when executed by the machine or other compression engine, outputs a compressed version of the uncompressed image. For example, a compression format called “PVRTC,” which may be used on certain portable devices, accepts a set of three intermediate images as input, specifically, one full resolution, low precision version of the original uncompressed image, plus two low resolution, low frequency color versions of the original uncompressed image. A set of intermediate images for such a compression format may be generated by the machine from the original uncompressed image. | 09-04-2014 |
20140248948 | SEQUENTIAL SELECTION OF MULTIPLE OBJECTS - A device may be configured to provide a user interface that supports sequential selection of objects displayed on a screen. As configured, the device may display a presentation of multiple objects, and the device may receive a user input that defines a path within the presentation of displayed objects. The device may then determine the sequential order of a selected subset of the displayed objects. Based on this sequential order, the device may select, initiate, and perform an action that is targeted at the selected subset of the objects. In the context of an action game, the user may trace the path through various enemies, and the device may select and perform the action based on the number of enemies, the type of enemies, or the order in which the enemies were selected. Selection and initiation of the action may begin while the user input is still being received. | 09-04-2014 |
20150154789 | GENERATION OF INTERMEDIATE IMAGES FOR TEXTURE COMPRESSION - A machine may be configured to process an uncompressed image to obtain a set of intermediate images, which may be alternatively known as working images or temporary images. Such a set of intermediate images may be used as input for an image compression algorithm that, when executed by the machine or other compression engine, outputs a compressed version of the uncompressed image. For example, a compression format called “PVRTC,” which may be used on certain portable devices, accepts a set of three intermediate images as input, specifically, one full resolution, low precision version of the original uncompressed image, plus two low resolution, low frequency color versions of the original uncompressed image. A set of intermediate images for such a compression format may be generated by the machine from the original uncompressed image. | 06-04-2015 |
20150177931 | SEQUENTIAL SELECTION OF MULTIPLE OBJECTS - A device may be configured to provide a user interface that supports sequential selection of objects displayed on a screen. As configured, the device may display a presentation of multiple objects, and the device may receive a user input that defines a path within the presentation of displayed objects. The device may then determine the sequential order of a selected subset of the displayed objects. Based on this sequential order, the device may select, initiate, and perform an action that is targeted at the selected subset of the objects. In the context of an action game, the user may trace the path through various enemies, and the device may select and perform the action based on the number of enemies, the type of enemies, or the order in which the enemies were selected. Selection and initiation of the action may begin while the user input is still being received. | 06-25-2015 |
20150317823 | RENDERING BASED ON MULTIPLE PROJECTIONS - A workflow for 3D content authoring, delivery, and rendering is facilitated based on pre-authored image projections to obtain improvements in authoring efficiency. Additionally, a content delivery platform centered on such pre-authored image projections provides a mechanism for significantly improving streaming efficiency for 3D worlds. Multiple images encode primary surface detail of 3D worlds in real-time applications. Examples of such projections include images that can be as rich as film frames, feature animation frames, high end digital renders, concept paintings, or any suitable combination thereof. An algorithm for improved image projection camera path trajectories, sampling selection, and blending may be implemented by various systems and methods to facilitate smooth transitions during movements of a player within a game set in the 3D space. In addition, a back-projection technique may be implemented by various systems and methods to propagate revisions of one or more projections. | 11-05-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140266935 | MINI FLAT ANTENNA SYSTEM - A system for communicating with a subcutaneous sensor includes a transceiver with a flat antenna. The flat antenna may include a cross section in which the height and the width are not equal. The coils of the antenna may be mounted on a substrate, which may be flexible. The flexible substrate may allow the antenna to conform to the contours of body parts, such as arms, wrists, ankles, legs, or waists. | 09-18-2014 |
20140275859 | IMPLANTATION AND ANTENNA ORIENTATION OF AN IMPLANTABLE SENSOR - A sensor system including an implantable sensor and an external transceiver. Aspects of the sensor system may provide improved implantation and antenna orientation of the implanted sensor. The sensor may include a sensor antenna, the transceiver may include a transceiver antenna. In some embodiments, the sensor antenna and/or transceiver antenna may include a first set of coils oriented in a first plane and a second set of coils oriented in a second plane that is different than the first plane. In some embodiments, the sensor may have a geometry that will prevent or reduce movement and/or rotation of the implanted sensor. For instance, in some embodiments, the sensor may be enclosed in silicon that contains antenna coils and/or include wings, a fluid filled sack, a swelling material, an expansion material, and/or arms. | 09-18-2014 |
20140350359 | ANALYTE SENSOR TRANSCEIVER CONFIGURED TO PROVIDE TACTILE, VISUAL, AND/OR AURAL FEEDBACK - A transceiver for interfacing with an analyte sensor. The transceiver may include an interface device and a notification device. The interface device may be configured to convey a power signal to the analyte sensor and to receive data signals from the analyte sensor. The notification device may be configured to generate one or more of a vibrational, aural, and visual signal based on one or more data signals received from the analyte sensor. The interface device of the transceiver may receive analyte data from the analyte sensor, and the transceiver may comprise a processor configured to calculate an analyte concentration value based on the received analyte data. The notification device may be configured to generate one or more of aural, visual, or vibrational alarm when the calculated analyte concentration value exceeds or falls below a threshold value. | 11-27-2014 |
20150045635 | CO-PLANAR, NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION TELEMETRY LINK FOR AN ANALYTE SENSOR - 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. | 02-12-2015 |