Brigham Young University

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Purdue Research Foundation

Delco Electronics Corporation

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Happijac Company

Larry L Howell

Spencer P Magleby

Brian D Jensen

Clayton Grames

Anton Edis Bowden

Bryce Edmondson

Terri C Bateman

Jason Dearden

Jacob Sheffield

Kendall Hal Seymour

Jeffrey E Niven

Jordan Tanner

Lance Hyatt

Peter Schleede

Robert J Lang

Peter Halverson

Gregory M Roach

David C Morgan

Todd G Nelson

Alex Avila

Scott Cunnington

Kyler Tolman

Erica Crampton

Jacob Greenwood

David W Bailey

Craig Lusk

Aaron Lyle Herring

Samuel Earl Wilding

Robert H Todd

Bryce Parker DeFigueiredo

Timothy W McLain

Jeffrey K Anderson

Scott Lyon

Brent Weight

Brandon Scott Sargent

Eric M Stratton

Landen A Bowen

Robert K Messenger

Morgan Daniel Murphy

C Martin Rasmussen

Robert Matthew Panas

Martin L Culpepper

Christopher M DiBiasio

Kyle Hansen

Michael J Whiting

Matthew Frank Parkinson

Jacob Hunter

Joseph O Jacobsen

Scott L Thomson

Erik Bassett

Allen Boyd Mackay

John J Pierce

Guimin Chen

Brian Geoffrey Winder

Nathan Brad Crane

Chris A Mattson

Brian M Olsen

Ashok Midha

Jason Lund

Michael McCain

Nathan Masters

Jason Alan Briscoe

John J Parise

Shae Lorenc

John B Larsen

Eric Call

Curtis R Huffmire

Nathan Burnside

Holly Greenburg Nihipali

Troy A Gomm

Kevin Campbell Francis

Cory Nelson Newton

Deanne Clements

Bradford J Brown

Mary E Wilson

Kendal Hal Seymour

Joseph Tyler Eddington

Shannon Alisa Zirbel

Nathan Pehrson

Spencer P Megleby

Maxwell J Bean

Hannah Rose Lutz

Trevor Stephens

Elijah Garner

Todd Coons

Eric Dodgen

Christian Dennis Lott

Michael Sean Baker

Amelia Mariah Parkinson

Trent Zimmerman

Jared Bruton

Holly C Greenberg

Toni Cede&ntilde;o

Chris Johnson

Nathan B Albrechtsen

Doug Hayes

Devin D LeBaron

Avinesh Ojha

A method and apparatus for connected deployable arms off of cylindrical surfaces including an outer cylinder defining an outer circumference and an inner cylinder concentric with the outer cylinder around a central aperture, one or more primary developable mechanisms linked to one or more secondary developable mechanisms. The deployable arms transition from a first closed state wherein the primary developable mechanisms and secondary developable mechanisms are contained entirely within the outer cylinder outer circumference to a second open state wherein the inner cylinder rotates relative to the outer cylinder, forcing the primary developable mechanisms and secondary developable mechanisms to extend outside the outer cylinder outer circumference.

Connected deployable arms off of cylindrical surfaces for increased mobility

An implantable medical device, illustratively an elastic bar, for the gradual correction of pectus excavatum in patients.

Elastic bar for pectus excavatum repair

A diaper is provided which includes at least one origami pattern. The at least one origami pattern includes a pattern of pre-determined fold lines. A method of manufacturing a diaper is also provided. In one step, at least one origami pattern is selected, comprising a pattern of fold-lines, to meet at least one of the following three parameters for the diaper: (1) sag; (2) shape-conformance; or (3) wicking. In another step, the diaper is manufactured to include the selected at least one origami pattern.

Origami patterns for diapers

The embodiments described herein can be used in a variety of grasping, cutting, and manipulating operations. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a shaft, a tool member, and a flexure. The shaft has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and defines a longitudinal axis. The distal end portion includes a ground portion. The tool member has an engagement portion and an actuation portion. The engagement portion is disposed distally from the actuation portion, and can exert an engagement force on a target structure. The actuation portion receives an actuation force. The flexure has a first end portion coupled to the ground portion of the shaft, and a second end portion coupled to the tool member. The flexure is configured to deform elastically when the actuation force is exerted on the actuation portion of the tool member such that the tool member rotates relative to the shaft.

Compliant mechanisms having inverted tool members

A device and methodology for cleaning optical instruments. The device includes a sheath, a wiper mechanism, and an actuator. The sheath attaches to an optical instrument such that the wiper mechanism is in proximity to a lens of the optical instrument. The wiper mechanism includes a blade and a compliant deployment system having first and second curved cross members attached to the blade and sheath such that they bias the blade in a first state where the blade is in a deployed position but can de-form allowing the blade to transition to a second state in a stored position. The actuator maintains tension on the blade to keep the blade in the second state and when the actuator releases tension on blade spring energy stored by the deformation of the curved cross members is released transitioning the blade to the first deployed position providing a wipe of the wiper mechanism.

Integrated cleaning device and system for optical instruments

An example deployable structure includes at least one base member, at least one first articulable member, at least one second articulable member, and at least one interference member. The deployable structure must include at least one base member, at least one first articulable member, at least one second articulable member, and at least one interference member otherwise the deployable structure may not be switchable between the compact and deployed states thereof. The base member is articulably connected to the first articulable member using a first hinge, the first articulable member is articulably connected to the second articulable member using a second hinge, and the interference member is articulably connected to the second articulable member using a third hinge. The interference member is also attached to the base member, for example, using a fourth hinge. The deployable structure is configured to switch from at least a compact state to a deployed state.

Deployable structures, methods including the same and systems including the same

A hollow rod developable actuator tool including a first link comprising an outer cylinder, a second link comprising a first tool member pivotably connected to the first link at a first joint mounted in a first cavity in the wall of the outer cylinder, a third link comprising a second tool member pivotably connected to the first tool member at a second link, and a fourth link comprising an inner cylinder to which the second tool member is also pivotably connected at a third link mounted in a second cavity in the wall of the inner cylinder. When the inner cylinder of the fourth link is rotated in relation to the outer cylinder of the first link the actuator tool transitions from a first state where the tool is closed to a second state where the tool is open.

Developable and collapsable internal cutting mechanism

The embodiments described herein can be used in a variety of grasping, cutting, and manipulating operations. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a first joint member, a second joint member, and a flexure. The first joint member includes a first connection portion and a contact surface. The second joint member including a second connection portion. A first end portion of the flexure is coupled to the first connection portion, and a second end portion of the flexure is coupled to the second connection portion. The flexure is configured to deform elastically when the first joint member and the second joint member move from a first configuration to a second configuration. When in the first configuration, the central portion of the flexure is spaced apart from the contact portion. When in the second configuration, the central portion of the flexure contacting the contact portion.

Joint assemblies with cross-axis flexural pivots

Deployable Euler Spiral Connectors (DESCs) are introduced as compliant deployable flexures that can span gaps between segments in a mechanism and then lay flat when under strain in a stowed position. This paper presents models of Euler spiral beams combined in series and parallel that can be used to design compact compliant mechanisms. Constraints on the flexure parameters of DESCs are also presented. Analytic models developed for the force-deflection behavior and stress were compared to finite element analysis and experimental data. A spinal implant and a linear ratcheting system are presented as illustrative applications of DESCs.

Deployable compliant mechanism

A hollow rod developable actuator tool including a first link comprising an outer cylinder, a deployment ring including second link comprising a first portion pivotably connected to the first link at a first joint mounted in a first cavity in the wall of the outer cylinder and a third link comprising a second tool portion pivotably connected to the first portion at a second link, and a fourth link comprising an inner cylinder to which the second portion of the deployment ring is also pivotably connected at a third link mounted in a second cavity in the wall of the inner cylinder. When the inner cylinder of the fourth link is rotated in relation to the outer cylinder of the first link the actuator tool transitions from a first state where the deployment ring is stowed within the tool to a second state where the deployment ring is deployed externally.

Developable and collapsible shaft deployment mechanism

A hollow rod developable actuator tool including a cylinder defining the outer circumference of the hollow rod, a first tool mechanism, and a second tool mechanism. The hollow rod developable actuator tool transitions from a first closed state wherein the first tool mechanism and second tool mechanism are contained entirely within the outer circumference of the hollow rod to a second open state wherein the first tool mechanism and second tool mechanism extent outside the outer circumference of the hollow rod.

Developable and collapsable external cutting or gripping mechanism

A lamina emergent torsional (LET) joint that includes an integrated membrane to reduce, or eliminate, certain unwanted motions and/or displacements associated with the operation of the LET joint is disclosed. The membrane-integrated LET joint (i.e., M-LET) can be used as a hinge for a lamina emergent mechanism and/or as a surrogate fold for an origami application to ensure accurate and repeatable transitions from a planar (i.e., lamina) state to a non-planar (i.e., lamina-emergent) state, and vice versa.

Membrane integrated lamina emergent torsion joint

An example barrier can be switchable between an at least partially collapsed state and at least partially expanded state (e.g., a deployed state). For example, the barrier can be formed from a continuous sheet and a plurality of rigid sections (e.g., rigid panels) attached or incorporated into the continuous sheet. The barrier can also include a plurality of hinges, such as hinge lines, between the panels that are formed from the continuous sheet. The hinges enable the barrier to be rigid foldable (e.g., the hinges can fold and unfold while the rigid sections remain stiff and rigid) between the expanded and collapsed states.

Deployable origami-inspired barriers

The embodiments described herein can be used in a variety of sample retrieval, grasping, cutting, and manipulating operations. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an elongated member and a retention member movably coupled to the elongated member. The elongated member includes a cutting portion configured to cut a target sample when moved, and defines an internal volume within which at least a portion of the target sample can be received. The retention member includes an engagement portion configured to move between a first position and a second position when the retention member is actuated. The engagement portion is configured to extend within the internal volume to exert a force on the target sample within the internal volume when the engagement portion is in the second position.

Sample retrieval tool with compliant retention member

A deployable tube apparatus may include a spool and a flexible sheet coiled about the spool in a laterally unfurled condition. The flexible sheet may have a first lateral margin and a second lateral margin, and may be deployable from the laterally unfurled condition with the first and the second lateral margins spaced from each other to a deployed tubular condition where the first and the second lateral margins are coupled to each other to form an enclosed lumen. The deployable tube apparatus may provide lateral support to an elongated flexible instrument, such as a catheter. Methods of creating and using the deployable tube apparatus are described.

Deployable tube apparatus for delivery of an elongate device and methods of use

Growing community of inventors

Orem, UT, United States of America

Larry L Howell