Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110120702 | GENERATING PROBABILISTIC INFORMATION ON SUBTERRANEAN FRACTURES - Systems, methods, and instructions encoded in a computer-readable medium can perform operations related to generating probabilistic information on characteristics of natural fractures of a subterranean formation. Fitted fracture models are generated based on microseismic event data for a subterranean region. The fitted fracture models represent estimated locations of fractures in the subterranean region. A distribution of fracture parameter values is generated based on the fitted fracture models. The distribution includes fracture parameter values and a probability associated with each fracture parameter value. Generating the fitted fracture models may include, for example, fitting a plane, a line or another type of equation to the measured locations of microseismic events. In some implementations, an injection treatment may be simulated and/or designed based on the probability distribution. | 05-26-2011 |
20110120706 | Refining Information on Subterranean Fractures - Systems, methods, and instructions encoded in a computer-readable medium can perform operations related to refining information on characteristics of natural fractures of a subterranean formation. Fracture pattern models are generated based on sampling an initial distribution of values for a fracture parameter. Each fracture pattern model may include, for example, a model of natural fractures in a subterranean formation. Each fracture pattern model is compared to microseismic event data for a subterranean region. A refined distribution for the fracture parameter is generated based on the comparison. Generating the refined distribution may include, for example, selecting values of the fracture parameter from fracture pattern models that correlate with the microseismic event data. In some implementations, an injection treatment may be simulated and/or designed based on the refined distribution. | 05-26-2011 |
20110120718 | Simulating Subterranean Fracture Propagation - Systems, methods, and instructions encoded in a computer-readable medium can perform operations related to simulating subterranean fracture propagation. A subterranean formation model representing rock blocks of a subterranean formation is received. The subterranean formation model is used to predict a response of each rock block to one or more forces acting on the rock block during an injection treatment for the subterranean formation. The predicted responses of the rock blocks may include, for example, a fracture, a rotation, a displacement, a dilation of an existing fracture, and/or another type of response. In some implementations, an injection treatment may be designed for a subterranean formation based on the predicted response of the rock blocks. | 05-26-2011 |
20110125471 | Probabilistic Earth Model for Subterranean Fracture Simulation - Systems, methods, and instructions encoded in a computer-readable medium can perform operations related to generating a model of a subterranean formation based on a probabilistic earth model. An earth model including a probability distribution for a property of a subterranean region is received. A subterranean formation model is generated based on sampling the probability distribution for the property. The subterranean formation model includes information on boundaries of rock blocks of a formation in the subterranean region. The subterranean formation model may be used for simulating an injection treatment applied to the formation, for example, to predict fracture propagation in the formation. In some implementations, the subterranean formation model may be used for designing an injection treatment for the formation. | 05-26-2011 |
20110125476 | Probabilistic Simulation of Subterranean Fracture Propagation - Systems, methods, and instructions encoded in a computer-readable medium can perform operations related to stochastic simulation of subterranean fracture propagation. A plurality of subterranean formation models, each representing a subterranean formation, are analyzed to obtain information on predicted results of applying an injection treatment to the subterranean formation. Each of the analyzed subterranean formation models is generated by simulating forces acting on rock blocks of the subterranean formation during the injection treatment. Each simulation has an input parameter value determined for that simulation based on sampling a distribution of values for a characteristic of the subterranean formation. The characteristic may include, for example, a natural fracture parameter. The information on the predicted results of applying the injection treatment may include, for example, an output probability distribution. In some implementations, the information may be used to design an injection treatment for the subterranean formation. | 05-26-2011 |
20130006597 | SIMULATING SUBTERRANEAN FRACTURE PROPAGATION - Systems, methods, and instructions encoded in a computer-readable medium can perform operations related to simulating subterranean fracture propagation. A subterranean formation model representing rock blocks of a subterranean formation is received. The subterranean formation model is used to predict a response of each rock block to one or more forces acting on the rock block during an injection treatment for the subterranean formation. The predicted responses of the rock blocks may include, for example, a fracture, a rotation, a displacement, a dilation of an existing fracture, and/or another type of response. In some implementations, an injection treatment may be designed for a subterranean formation based on the predicted response of the rock blocks. | 01-03-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090149851 | Thermal Penetration and Arc Length Controllable Electrosurgical Pencil - An electrosurgical pencil is provided, which includes an elongated housing, an electrocautery electrode supported within the housing and extending distally from the housing. The electrocautery electrode is connected to a source of electrosurgical energy. The pencil also includes at least one voltage divider network supported on the housing and electrically connected to the source of electrosurgical energy for controlling intensity, frequency, and/or mode of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrocautery electrode. | 06-11-2009 |
20090254077 | Arc Generation in a Fluid Medium - An electrosurgical generator is disclosed. The generator includes a radio frequency output stage configured to generate a frequency waveform to an active electrode of an electrosurgical instrument when the active electrode is disposed in a fluid medium. The generator also includes a sensor circuit configured to measure tissue impedance and a controller configured to increase power of the radio frequency waveform to a predetermined electrical arcing level in response to the tissue impedance being within an open circuit impedance range and tissue contact impedance range. The controller is further configured to lower the power of the radio frequency waveform to a lower level when the tissue impedance is outside the open circuit impedance range and the tissue contact impedance range. | 10-08-2009 |
20100094285 | System and Method for Controlling Electrosurgical Snares - A system and method for controlling electrosurgical snares are disclosed. The system includes an electrosurgical instrument having an elongate tubular sheath having proximal and distal ends, the sheath having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and a shaft having proximal and distal ends. The shaft extends through and is axially movable relative to the sheath. A snare loop is provided at the distal end of the shaft and is configured for encircling tissue. Movement of the shaft relative to the tubular sheath changes the diameter of the exposed snare loop. A feedback sensor operatively connected to the elongated tubular sheath which determines at least one condition of the snare loop, and an electrosurgical generator provides electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical snare instrument. The generator is configured to receive feedback measurements from the electrosurgical snare instrument and to adjust electrosurgical energy as a function of the measurements. | 04-15-2010 |
20110184407 | Hernia Repair System - A hernia repair system includes a surgical mesh, one or more electrosurgical instruments, and one or more return electrodes. The one or more electrosurgical instruments are configured to position the surgical mesh adjacent tissue in an underlying tissue site. The one or more return electrodes are positionable adjacent the tissue and externally relative to the underlying tissue site. The one or more electrosurgical instruments and the one or more return electrodes are configured to selectively apply an effective amount of pressure and electrosurgical energy to the surgical mesh such that upon the application of electrosurgical energy and pressure, the surgical mesh seals to one side of the tissue at the underlying tissue site. | 07-28-2011 |
20120004652 | Inductive Powered Surgical Device with Wireless Control - A system and method for wirelessly powering an electrosurgical device using a generator to generate a radio frequency (RF) energy field. A switch on the electrosurgical device sends a wireless signal to the generator, where the generator allows a current to pass through an inductive coil to generate the RF energy field, The RF energy field induces a current to flow across an inductive coil within the electrosurgical device. The current flow is then processed though a RF conditioning circuit and outputted to the end effector assembly of the device. | 01-05-2012 |
20120123404 | Fingertip Electrosurgical Instruments for Use in Hand-Assisted Surgery and Systems Including Same - A bipolar electrosurgical instrument includes a first electrode plate capable of applying bipolar energy into tissue, and a second electrode plate capable of applying bipolar energy into tissue. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument also includes a first attachment member coupled to the first electrode plate, and a second attachment member coupled to the second electrode plate. The first attachment member is configured to couple the first electrode plate to a user's finger, and the second attachment member is configured to couple the second electrode plate to the user's thumb, whereby the first and second electrode plates are arrangeable to opposingly face one another. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123405 | Power Glove - A system and method for powering a wireless electrosurgical device using a powered glove. The powered glove includes at least a conductive pad on a finger and a thumb. The glove is connected to a generator and supplies power to the wireless electrosurgical device when at least two conductive pads touch conductive buttons on the wireless device. The user selects the operating mode by selecting different combination of conductive buttons and/or switches on the wireless device. The generator senses a voltage drop across a circuit within the electrosurgical device to determine the operating mode. The generator then supplies the RF energy based on the selected operating mode via the glove to the wireless device. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123410 | Fingertip Electrosurgical Instruments for Use in Hand-Assisted Surgery and Systems Including Same - A fingertip-mountable electrosurgical instrument includes a monopolar electrode capable of directing energy into tissue, and a holder configured to be operably coupled to the monopolar electrode. The holder is also configured to be operably coupled to an energy source. The holder includes a housing body and one or more attachment members coupled to the housing body. The one or more attachment members are configured to be removeably attachable to a user's finger. The housing body includes a distal end and a proximal end. The monopolar electrode is mechanically coupled to the distal end of the housing body. | 05-17-2012 |
20120303024 | THERMAL PENETRATION AND ARC LENGTH CONTROLLABLE ELECTROSURGICAL PENCIL - An electrosurgical pencil is provided, which includes an elongated housing, an electrocautery electrode supported within the housing and extending distally from the housing. The electrocautery electrode is connected to a source of electrosurgical energy. The pencil also includes at least one voltage divider network supported on the housing and electrically connected to the source of electrosurgical energy for controlling intensity, frequency, and/or mode of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrocautery electrode. | 11-29-2012 |
20130144285 | Portable Surgical Instruments - A portable surgical instrument (PSI) includes a shaft extending therefrom. An end effector operably supported at the distal end of the shaft includes a pair of jaw members. One or both of the jaw members is activatable to treat tissue. A selectively removable generator pivotally couples to the housing to energize the activatable jaw member. The generator defining one or more apertures at a distal end thereof and a pivot member disposed at a proximal end thereof. A locking mechanism configured to operably couple to the elongated shaft of the housing includes one or more locking fingers configured to releasably couple to the one or more apertures disposed at the distal end of the generator such that generator is selectively and removably engageable with the housing of the portable surgical instrument. | 06-06-2013 |
20130289561 | Method of Switching Energy Modality on a Cordless RF Device - The present disclosure is directed to an electrosurgical instrument having a housing that includes a generator configured to output electrosurgical energy and a controller configured to control the output of the generator. The instrument also includes a switch coupled to the controller and configured to provide a signal to the controller to select the energy modality of the electrosurgical energy. An indicator is also included to provide an indication of the selected energy modality. | 10-31-2013 |
20130325047 | Ultrasonic Surgical Instrument - An ultrasonic surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing. A shaft is supported on the housing and defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. The shaft supports a jaw member at a distal end thereof. The jaw member is movable between open and clamping configurations. A probe includes proximal and distal ends. The distal end has an active blade thereon configured to effect tissue when the jaw member is in the clamping configuration. The proximal end has at least one mating feature thereon. A rotating assembly operably supported on the housing is configured to rotate the shaft. The rotating assembly includes a torque adapter that is engageable with the at least one mating feature to selectively and releasably couple the probe to the housing. | 12-05-2013 |
20140094800 | HERNIA REPAIR SYSTEM - A hernia repair system includes a surgical mesh, one or more electrosurgical instruments, and one or more return electrodes. The one or more electrosurgical instruments are configured to position the surgical mesh adjacent tissue in an underlying tissue site. The one or more return electrodes are positionable adjacent the tissue and externally relative to the underlying tissue site. The one or more electrosurgical instruments and the one or more return electrodes are configured to selectively apply an effective amount of pressure and electrosurgical energy to the surgical mesh such that upon the application of electrosurgical energy and pressure, the surgical mesh seals to one side of the tissue at the underlying tissue site. | 04-03-2014 |
20140107684 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT - A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument includes a housing having a shaft operably supported thereon and a jaw member supported at a distal end of the shaft. The jaw member is movable between open and clamping configurations. The surgical instrument also includes a probe that has proximal and distal ends. The distal end has an active blade thereon that is configured to treat tissue when the jaw member is in a clamping configuration. The proximal end of the probe is configured to selectively engage a generator that is configured to selectively couple to the housing. An adjusting assembly is operably supported on the housing and is configured to selectively rotate the probe to engage the proximal end of the probe to the generator to secure the generator to the housing. | 04-17-2014 |
20140350545 | INDUCTIVE POWERED SURGICAL DEVICE WITH WIRELESS CONTROL - A system and method for wirelessly powering an electrosurgical device using a generator to generate a radio frequency (RF) energy field. A switch on the electrosurgical device sends a wireless signal to the generator, where the generator allows a current to pass through an inductive coil to generate the RF energy field. The RF energy field induces a current to flow across an inductive coil within the electrosurgical device. The current flow is then processed through a RF conditioning circuit and outputted to the end effector assembly of the device. | 11-27-2014 |
20150082624 | ASEPTIC BAG TO ENCAPSULATE AN ENERGY SOURCE OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT - A method of preparing a surgical system for surgery includes inserting a battery assembly into an inner chamber of an aseptic bag through an open end of the aseptic bag, positioning a portion of a housing of a surgical instrument through the open end of the aseptic bag, coupling the battery assembly to the surgical instrument, and sealing the open end of the aseptic bag. The battery assembly is coupled to the surgical instrument while the battery assembly is within the inner chamber of the aseptic bag. When the open end of the aseptic bag is sealed the battery assembly is encapsulated within the inner chamber of the aseptic bag. A generator of the surgical system may additionally or alternatively be encapsulated similarly. | 03-26-2015 |
20150088127 | ASEPTIC BAG TO ENCAPSULATE AN ENERGY SOURCE OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT - A surgical system includes a surgical instrument, a battery assembly, and an aseptic bag. The battery assembly is configured to removably couple to the surgical instrument. The aseptic bag is sized and configured to encapsulate and seal the battery assembly within an inner chamber. The aseptic bag can cooperate with a fixed handle of the surgical instrument to encapsulate and seal the battery assembly within the aseptic bag. The aseptic bag may additionally or alternatively encapsulate a generator of the surgical system. | 03-26-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100208244 | FLASH LADAR SYSTEM - The present invention pertains in general to a single, integrated flash LADAR system and method. The system includes data processing hardware and software, a passive two-dimensional camera, a three-dimensional camera, a light source, and a common optical path. One or more star trackers can also be included. In addition, auxiliary components, such as an inertial measurement unit and a global positioning system receiver can be included. The system can be closely integrated with a critical algorithm suite that operates in multiple modes, in real-time to enable landing, docking, and navigation functions, such as Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), Altimetry, Velocimetry, Terrain Relative Navigation (TRN), Hazard Detection and Avoidance (HDA), and dust penetration. | 08-19-2010 |
20120044476 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF SCENE AND ACTION CAPTURE USING IMAGING SYSTEM INCORPORATING 3D LIDAR - The present invention pertains to systems and methods for the capture of information regarding scenes using single or multiple three-dimensional LADAR systems. Where multiple systems are included, those systems can be placed in different positions about the imaged scene such that each LADAR system provides different viewing perspectives and/or angles. In accordance with further embodiments, the single or multiple LADAR systems can include two-dimensional focal plane arrays, in addition to three-dimensional focal plane arrays, and associated light sources for obtaining three-dimensional information about a scene, including information regarding the contours of the objects within the scene. Processing of captured image information can be performed in real time, and processed scene information can include data frames that comprise three-dimensional and two-dimensional image data. | 02-23-2012 |