Carolyn M Fenech

US Patent:

20220400975, Dec 22, 2022

Filed:

Aug 24, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/894515

Inventors:

- SUNNYVALE CA, US
Caitlin Q. Donhowe - Mountain View CA, US
Vincent Duindam - San Francisco CA, US
Carolyn M. Fenech - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 5/06
A61B 34/20

Abstract:

A catheter system comprises an elongate flexible catheter and a support structure mounted on the catheter. The support structure comprises a first alignment feature and a second alignment feature. The first alignment feature is configured to mate with a first sensor component and the second alignment feature configured to mate with a second sensor component. When the system further comprises a first sensor component mated with the first alignment feature and a second sensor component mated with the second alignment feature, the first sensor component is fixed relative to the second sensor component in at least one degree of freedom at the support structure by the first and second alignment features.

US Patent:

20220304668, Sep 29, 2022

Filed:

Jun 15, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/841500

Inventors:

- Sunnyvale CA, US
Samuel Kwok Wai Au - Mountain View CA, US
Carolyn M. Fenech - San Jose CA, US
Giuseppe Maria Prisco - Calci Pisa, IT

International Classification:

A61B 17/00
A61B 34/00
A61B 34/30

Abstract:

A surgical device comprises a tube including a proximal segment and a distal segment and a plurality of force transmission elements coupled to the tube. The force transmission elements are actuatable to alter the distal segment of the tube between a flexible state and a stiffened state. The device also comprises a plurality of routing members. Each routing member is coupled to a wall of the tube. The routing members are configured to receive and route the force transmission elements along a length of the tube while permitting the length of the tube to flex and compress. The device also comprises a decoupling structure that generates a reduced force transmitted to the proximal segment when an applied force is applied to the distal segment by the force transmission elements.

US Patent:

20230084195, Mar 16, 2023

Filed:

Nov 22, 2022

Appl. No.:

18/058012

Inventors:

- Sunnyvale CA, US
Carolyn M. Fenech - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 34/00
A61B 34/35
A61B 34/37
A61B 90/00
A61B 1/00

Abstract:

Described herein is an apparatus for guiding an elongated flexible instrument, the apparatus comprising a variable-length support assembly adapted to maintain a length of the elongated flexible instrument in a fixed configuration relative to the variable-length support assembly as the variable-length support assembly is moved along a longitudinal axis. The variable-length support assembly includes a plurality of linkages connected in series along the longitudinal axis, and the variable-length support assembly has a compact configuration and an expanded configuration.

US Patent:

20200397423, Dec 24, 2020

Filed:

Sep 8, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/014566

Inventors:

- SUNNYVALE CA, US
Samuel Kwok Wai Au - Mountain View CA, US
Carolyn M. Fenech - San Jose CA, US
Guiseppe Maria Prisco - Calci Pisa, IT

International Classification:

A61B 17/00
A61B 34/00
A61B 34/30

Abstract:

A surgical device comprises a tube including a proximal segment and a distal segment and a plurality of force transmission elements coupled to the tube. The force transmission elements are actuatable to alter the distal segment of the tube between a flexible state and a stiffened state. The device also comprises a plurality of routing members. Each routing member is coupled to a wall of the tube. The routing members are configured to receive and route the force transmission elements along a length of the tube while permitting the length of the tube to flex and compress. The device also comprises a decoupling structure that generates a reduced force transmitted to the proximal segment when an applied force is applied to the distal segment by the force transmission elements.

US Patent:

20200345436, Nov 5, 2020

Filed:

May 19, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/877760

Inventors:

- SUNNYVALE CA, US
Stephen J. BLUMENKRANZ - Los Altos CA, US
Carolyn M. FENECH - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 34/35
A61B 34/00
A61B 34/30

Abstract:

A minimally invasive medical instrument comprises an elongate flexible body comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, a transition portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and an inner sheath extending at least within the proximal portion. The inner sheath comprises a plurality of conduits extending through a wall of the inner sheath. A distal end of each conduit terminates at the transition portion. The flexible body further comprises a steerable tube extending within the distal portion. The steerable tube comprises a plurality of grooves in a wall of the steerable tube. The medical instrument further comprises at least one tendon extending from the proximal portion into the distal portion of the flexible body. In the proximal portion, the tendon extends through at least one conduit of the plurality of conduits. In the distal portion, the tendon extends within at least one groove of the plurality of grooves.

US Patent:

20200261175, Aug 20, 2020

Filed:

May 5, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/867393

Inventors:

- SUNNYVALE CA, US
Carolyn M. Fenech - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 34/00
A61B 1/00
A61B 90/00
A61B 34/37
A61B 34/35

Abstract:

Described herein is an apparatus for guiding an elongated flexible instrument, the apparatus comprising a variable-length support assembly adapted to maintain a length of the elongated flexible instrument in a fixed configuration relative to the variable-length support assembly as the variable-length support assembly is moved along a longitudinal axis. The variable-length support assembly includes a plurality of linkages connected in series along the longitudinal axis, and the variable-length support assembly has a compact configuration and an expanded configuration.

US Patent:

20200254223, Aug 13, 2020

Filed:

Apr 30, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/863067

Inventors:

- SUNNYVALE CA, US
Samuel Kwok Wai Au - Mountain View CA, US
Caitlin Q. Donhowe - Mountain View CA, US
Carolyn M. Fenech - San Jose CA, US
Catherine J. Mohr - Mountain View CA, US
Giuseppe Maria Prisco - Calci Pisa, IT

International Classification:

A61M 25/06
A61B 1/00
A61B 1/005
A61B 1/018
A61B 5/06
A61B 10/02
A61M 25/00
A61B 1/01
A61B 10/04
A61M 25/01

Abstract:

A robotic system comprises an instrument including a proximal section and a distal section. The distal section comprises a steerable segment and a distal tip. The instrument also includes a main lumen and a pull wire. The system also comprises a sensor to detect a position of the distal tip of the instrument and a computing device that causes the system to determine, based on a sensor signal, a movement of the distal tip of the instrument in response to insertion of a probe into the main lumen and to generate a control signal based on the determined movement. The system also comprises a drive interface connected to the pull wire at the proximal section of the instrument. The drive interface adjusts a tensioning of the pull wire based on the control signal. The tensioning returns the distal tip of the instrument towards a working configuration before the movement occurred.

US Patent:

20200163581, May 28, 2020

Filed:

Jan 24, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/752064

Inventors:

- Sunnnyvale CA, US
Caitlin Q. Donhowe - Mountain View CA, US
Vincent Duindam - San Francisco CA, US
Carolyn M. Fenech - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 5/06
A61B 34/20

Abstract:

A catheter system comprises an elongate flexible catheter and a support structure mounted on the catheter. The support structure comprises a first alignment feature and a second alignment feature. The first alignment feature is configured to mate with a first sensor component and the second alignment feature configured to mate with a second sensor component. When the system further comprises a first sensor component mated with the first alignment feature and a second sensor component mated with the second alignment feature, the first sensor component is fixed relative to the second sensor component in at least one degree of freedom at the support structure by the first and second alignment features.