Sarcos Lc

Sarcos Group

Precision Vascular Systems, Inc.

Raytheon Company

Sarcos Investments Lc

Biomedical Engineering Solutions, Inc.

David L Wells

Stephen C Jacobsen

Clark C Davis

Stephen L Jacobsen

Michael R McNeely

John A Lippert

Scott B McClellan

John E Wood

Kent Backman

Patricia M Moulis

Annette M L McClellan

Thomas G Taylor

A miniaturized imaging device and method of viewing small luminal cavities are described. The imaging device can be used as part of a catheter, and can include a solid state imaging device (SSID) including an imaging array, and a graduated refractive index (GRIN) lens optically coupled to the imaging array of the SSID.

Miniaturized imaging device including GRIN lens optically coupled to SSID

A surgical device for performing internal ligation of a fallopian tube or other tubular anatomical structure, by application of one or more ligating bands to a folded portion of the wall of the tubular structure. Also the invention includes a method of using the device. The inventive method and device may be used for sterilization to prevent undesired pregnancies, or for other medical applications. The device includes an elongated tubular element that is inserted into the fallopian tube; a grasper that extends out of the tubular element, grasps the interior of the fallopian tube and retracts into the tubular element drawing in a folded bundle of the fallopian tube tissue; and a pusher balloon for pushing a ligating band from the tip of the tubular element onto the tissue bundle.

Method and system for internal ligation of tubular structures

A guidewire system configured for introduction into a body lumen, comprising a core wire having proximal end and a distal end and a tapering profile, and a micromachined tube coupled to the core wire, and a joint where the micromachined tube is joined to the core wire; the location of the joint being at a location on the tapering profile where the torsional force which can be transferred by the core wire and the micromachined tubing are substantially the same.

Coronary guidewire system

A micro-lithographic apparatus and method for selectively exposing/masking resist material on a non-planer workpiece or filamentary substrate includes a hollow, energy transparent tubular member with a hollow for containing the workpiece. The tubular member is selectively coated with a layer of energy-opaque material to form the desired pattern. The transparent tube and opaque coating selectively expose/mask the resist material on the workpiece. Alternatively, the apparatus and method include an energy opaque tubular member with apertures formed through the walls of the tubular member. The apertures form the desired pattern. The opaque tube with apertures selectively exposes/masks the resist material. The apparatus and method may also include an energy source and a rotating device for rotating the tubular member, with the workpiece disposed therein, to the energy source or rotating energy source around tubular member or have energy source surround tubular member.

Micro-lithographic method and apparatus using three-dimensional mask

A sensor system for sensing movement comprises a rod anchored at one end to a base and plurality of strain gauges circumferentially disposed about the rod. The free end of the rod may be subject to forces in various directions. The strain gauges produce signals whose magnitudes are an indication of the degree of strain occurring at the location of the strain gauges. The use of three or more strain gauges spaced circumferentially about the rod provide both direction and degree of bend of the rod.

Movement actuator/sensor systems

A catheter guidewire includes an elongate solid body about which a catheter may be threaded for guidance to a target location in a vasculature passageway of a body. The elongate body includes a proximal end and a distal end, with the distal end being curved. Cuts are formed either by saw-cutting, laser cutting or etching at spaced-apart locations along the length of the body to increase its lateral flexibility. Integral beams are also formed within the body to maintain its torsional strength. The relative location and size of cuts and beams may be selectively adjusted so as to control the direction and degree of flexure, and the change in torsional stiffness relative to flexibility.

Guidewire system

A method of coating a surface of a filament. In particular, the invention rotates a member (13) about a first axis (54), which will rotate a tubular member (16), which is rotatably coupled to the rotating member at an angle to the first axis, through a plane and about a longitudinal axis (56) of the tubular member that is co-planer to the plane. This is done to assist in the depositing of a uniform material onto the filament that extends through the tubular member and through a deposition area (40). It is important for the method to maintain the deposition area at an intersection of the first axis, longitudinal axis and plane, while the filament is being rotated in step. The method provides for adjusting the deposition area to expose a different length of the filament to the deposition of material thereon. Additionally, the method further comprises the steps of: un-winding a length of the filament that is in a feed basket coupled to one end of the tubular member; feeding the filament length through the tubular member; and collecting the filament length in a receiving basket that is coupled to another end of the tubular member. It is noted that there is a step of rotating a traction wheel, which is fixedly coupled about the tubular member at an end opposite to where the tubular member is rotatably coupled to the rotating member, about the longitudinal axis to cause the tubular member to rotate through the plane and about the co-planer longitudinal axis. Wherein the traction wheel runs along a top surface of a circular wall that is located equal distant about the first axis.

Method for coating a filament

A stent for disposition in a body passageway or duct to maintain the duct walls apart, for example, to allow the flow of fluid therethrough, includes an elongate flexible support wire formed into an annular lattice having a central void, for disposition at a target location in the duct. Also included is an elongate flexible connecting wire joined at a distal end to the annular lattice and having a discontinuity for severing when supplied with a perturbation signal, a balloon catheter having an expandable section disposable in the void of the annular lattice so that when the expandable section is expanded, it forces the annular lattice radially outwardly to contact and hold apart the duct walls, and a fluid supply for supplying fluid to the expandable section of the balloon catheter to cause it to expand. A perturbation signal source is provided for supplying the perturbation signal to the discontinuity of the connecting wire to cause severance thereof.

Stent apparatus and method

A fixture apparatus for material deposition or processing on a long, flexible, nonplanar, filamentary substrate has a tubular member for holding the filamentary substrate rotatably disposed on a base. An opening is formed in the tubular member through which material is deposited on the surface of the filamentary substrate. Moveable tubes are each slidingly disposed in the tubular member on either side of the opening. The tubes and/or the tubular member hold the filamentary substrate on both sides of a deposition area on the substrate to maintain the straight configuration of the long, flexible, filamentary substrate. The tubes and/or tubular member also physically masks the filamentary substrate to prevent material deposition outside the deposition area on the substrate. The base has a circular path and a rotating member. A wheel is coupled to one side of the tubular member and is rotatably disposed on the circular path of the base. The other side of the tubular member is rotatable coupled to the rotating member of the base by a bearing. The rotating member causes the wheel to turn about a vertical axis in a circular path. The wheel is fixed to the tubular member causing the tubular member to rotate about a horizontal axis or longitudinal axis of the tubular member. As the rotating member turns and the wheel rolls, the tubular member the filamentary substrate is rotated about the two different axes to uniformly deposit material on the filament.

Three-dimensional micro fabrication device for filamentary substrates

Controlled bending movement of a flexible elongate rod or filament in response to a bend signal indicative of a desired amount of bending is effected by a strip of shape-changing material disposed on a first side of an elongate rod element, the shape changing material changing shape in response to an actuation signal, thereby causing the filament element to bend, and a sensor including a strain gauge disposed on the rod element on a second side opposite the first side, said sensor sensing the amount of bend in the rod element from strain indicated, and a feedback control comparing the amount of bend of the filament sensed to a desired amount of bend defined by said bend signal and altering the actuation signal as required to make the amount of bend sensed the same as the amount of bend desired.

Controlled bending actuator system

An apparatus for selectively controlling a flow of fluid includes a valve body, preferable comprised of a flexible tube having an inlet and an outlet. An actuable element, such as a shape memory alloy, is associated with the valve body. The shape memory alloy is responsive to actuation signals, heat or electrical signals, for changing its shape. When its shape changes, it causes a corresponding change in shape of the valve body thereby change a flow of fluid through the valve body.

A movement actuator includes an elongate filament made of a flexible material, and a strip of shape memory alloy disposed on the surface of one side of the filament. The shape memory alloy is responsive to actuation signals, heat or electrical signals, for changing its shape and when its shape changes, it causes the filament to move, i.e., bend, to accommodate the change in shape of the alloy. Also included is a signal supply device for selectively applying heat signals or electrical current to the strip of shape memory alloy to causes the alloy to change its shape and cause the filament to bend. Other patterns for the shape memory alloy could be disposed on the filament to cause other kinds of movements. For example, a helical pattern of the shape memory alloy about the filament would cause the filament to twist when the helical pattern were caused to shorten or lengthen.

A system for determining acceleration by measuring the movement of a rod within a housing. The rod is an elongate flexible rod disposed in the housing with one end being attached to the housing and the other end being free to move when the housing is accelerated. Movement of the rod is measured with field detectors disposed on an inside wall of the housing. The field detectors are used for determining the direction and degree of movement of the rod when the housing is accelerated.

Sensor system for determining acceleration

A movement actuator includes an elongate filament made of a flexible material, and a strip of shape memory alloy disposed on the surface of one side of the filament. The shape memory alloy is responsive to actuation signals, heat or electrical signals, for changing its shape and when its shape changes, it causes the filament to move, i.e., bend, to accommodate the change in shape of the alloy. Also included is a signal supply device for selectively applying heat signals or electrical current to the strip of shape memory alloy to cause the alloy to change its shape and cause the filament to bend. Other patterns for the shape memory alloy could be disposed on the filament to cause other kinds of movements. For example, a helical pattern of the shape memory alloy about the filament would cause the filament to twist when the helical pattern were caused to shorten or lengthen.

Apparatus for non-planar treatment of a workpiece utilizing exposure beam lithography includes a vacuum chamber, an exposure beam generator such as an electron beam generator disposed in the chamber for directing a beam towards a work location, a chuck disposed in the chamber for holding and positioning the workpiece at the work location, a rotary motorized stage disposed in the chamber and responsive to first control signals for selectively rotating the chuck, and thus the workpiece, to thereby expose different areas of the workpiece to the beam, and a linear motorized stage disposed in the chamber on which the rotary stage is mounted, said linear motor being responsive to second control signals for selectively moving the rotary stage and thus the chuck and workpiece in a linear direction which is generally parallel with the axis of rotation of the rotary stage. The workpiece is thus exposed over additional areas by operation of the linear stage. A controller supplies first and second control signals to the rotary stage and linear stage respectively to selectively effect the operation thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

David L Wells