The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 14, 2026
Filed:
Dec. 19, 2023
Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Matthew D. Rohr Daniel, San Francisco, CA (US);
Troy K. Adebar, San Jose, CA (US);
David W. Bailey, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Los Altos, CA (US);
Edward P. Donlon, San Jose, CA (US);
Mark E. Froggatt, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Christopher M. Major, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Randall L. Schlesinger, San Mateo, CA (US);
INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A system comprises an optical fiber, a manipulator assembly, and a control unit. The manipulator assembly comprises a chassis, an optical fiber cleaning assembly housed within the chassis, and a drive mechanism housed within the chassis. The optical fiber cleaning assembly comprises a cleaning tape, a first spool on which the cleaning tape is wound, and a second spool onto which the cleaning tape is drawn after use. The drive mechanism is configured to advance the cleaning tape from the first spool to the second spool such that a portion of the cleaning tape wipes a face of the optical fiber. The control unit is configured to control the drive mechanism to advance the cleaning tape.