IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,207,834
Granted Patent B2
US 12,207,834 · App. 17/307,794 · Granted Jan 28, 2025

Surgical apparatus

Inventors: Daniel H. Kim (Houston, TX); Dong Suk Shin (Houston, TX); Taeho Jang (Houston, TX); Yong Man Park (Houston, TX)
Assignee: BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
A61B17/2909A61B1/3132A61B17/29A61B34/37A61B34/71A61B34/74A61B2017/00305A61B2017/00309A61B2017/00314A61B2017/00323A61B2017/0046A61B2017/2906A61B2017/291A61B2034/301A61B2034/306A61B2034/715A61B2090/064
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,207,834
App. No.
17/307,794
Granted
Jan 28, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure provides a surgical apparatus comprising: a steerable member that is bendable and comprises a plurality of bending segments with channels therein; and a plurality of bending actuation wires that are arranged to pass through the steerable member and cause the steerable member to bend, the steerable member comprising at least one outwardly opening lumen through which the bending actuation wires pass.

Claims (27)

1. A surgical apparatus comprising:

a steerable member that is bendable and comprises a plurality of bending segments, wherein each bending segment includes an intermediate joint having at least a first link portion and a second link portion spaced from the first link portion by a gap, and wherein the intermediate joint is arranged along a longitudinal axis direction of each bending segment;

a plurality of bending actuation wires disposed through the steerable member;

adjacent bending segments moveable with respect to each other by a movement mechanism comprising a first off-axis hinge and a second off axis hinge, each of the first and second off-axis hinges extending across the gap between the first link portion and the second link portion and the first and second off-axis hinges spaced from one another in a direction other than the central, longitudinal axis of the intermediate joint, each off-axis hinge comprising:

a first interfacing half extending from the first link portion and having a first protrusion end and a second protrusion end coupled to the first link portion, the first protrusion end and the second protrusion end offset from one another on opposed sides of the central, longitudinal axis of the first interfacing half, each of the first protrusion end and the second protrusion end having a convex curved surface having a portion thereof extending a maximum distance from the first link portion; and

a second interfacing half extending from the second link portion and having a first recess end and a second recess end coupled to the second link portion, the first recess end and the second recess end offset from one another on opposed sides of the central, longitudinal axis of the second interfacing half, the first recess end and the second recess end having a concave curved surface having a portion thereof extending a minimum distance from the second link portion, wherein the first interfacing half and the second interfacing half pivot with respect to each other to form at least a first pivot point that is offset from the central, longitudinal axis of the intermediate joint, so that the intermediate joint is allowed to bend about a single axis through the at least a first pivot point, and wherein the first link portion and the second link portion are positionable with respect to each other wherein in a first relative position thereof, the first protrusion end of the first interfacing half is in contact with the first recess end of the second interfacing half, and the second protrusion end of the first interfacing half is in contact with the second recess end of the second interfacing half and the portion of the surface of the first protrusion end extending the maximum distance from the first link portion is in contact with the portion of the surface of the first recess end extending the minimum distance from the second link portion, and the portion of the surface of the second protrusion end extending the maximum distance from the first link portion is in contact with the portion of the surface of the second recess end extending the minimum distance from the second link portion, and the longitudinal axis of the first link portion is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second link portion, and in a second relative position thereof, the first protrusion end of the first interfacing half is in contact with the first recess end of the second interfacing half, and the second protrusion end of the first interfacing half is spaced from the second recess end of the second interfacing half and the longitudinal axis of the first interfacing half is askew to the longitudinal axis of the second interfacing half.

2. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first link portion and the second link portion are positionable with respect to each other in a third relative position thereof, where the first protrusion end of the first interfacing half is spaced from the first recess end of the second interfacing half, and the second protrusion end of the first interfacing half is in contact with the second recess end of the second interfacing half.

3. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second link portions further include at least one actuation wire lumen extending therethrough, and an actuation wire of the bending actuation wires extends therethrough.

4. The surgical apparatus of claim 3 , wherein elongation of the bending actuation wire is compensated by being offset by the motion of the first or the second off-axis hinges.

5. The surgical apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first and second link portions include an outer circumferential wall, wherein the outer circumferential wall extends over a first portion of the at least one actuation wire lumen, and a second portion of the at least one actuation wire lumen is open at the circumferential wall.

6. The surgical apparatus of claim 5 , wherein each link portion of the first and second link portions includes a central lumen, and the at least one actuation wire lumen is located radially outwardly of the location of the central lumen.

7. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bending segments include a series of inter-stacked intermediate joints.

8. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second link portions are disk shaped planar members having at least one surface, and in the first relative positions thereof, the facing at least surface of the first and second link portions are parallel to one another.

9. A surgical apparatus comprising:

a steerable member that is bendable and comprises a plurality of bending segments, wherein each bending segment includes an intermediate joint having at least a first body portion and a second body portion spaced from the first link portion by a gap, wherein the first body portion includes at least a first body surface, the second body portion includes a second body surface facing the first body surface across the gap, and wherein the intermediate joint is arranged along a longitudinal axis direction of each bending segment;

a first interfacing half and a second interfacing half, extending from the first body surface and a third interfacing half and a fourth interfacing half extending from the second body surface, the first interfacing half and the third interfacing half cooperatively arranged to form a first multi axis hinge joint comprising a first hinge joint and a second hinge joint in the gap and the second interfacing half and the fourth interfacing half cooperatively arranged to form the second hinge joint in the gap, the first interfacing half and the second interfacing half spaced from one another in a direction other than the central, longitudinal axis of the intermediate joint, and the third interfacing half and the fourth interfacing half spaced from one another in a direction other than the central, longitudinal axis of the intermediate joint;

the first interfacing half having a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first and second protrusions spaced from one another in a direction other than the direction between the first interfacing half and the second interfacing half, the first and second protrusions located at a distal end of the first interfacing half, each of the first and second protrusions having a convex curved surface having a distal portion thereof located further from the first interfacing half than other portions of the convex curved surface of the first and second protrusions, each distal portion extending a maximum distance from the first body surface; and

a third interfacing half having a first recess and a second recess at the distal end thereof, the first and second protrusions spaced from one another in a direction other than the direction between the third interfacing half and the fourth interfacing half, each of the first and second recesses having a concave curved surface having a proximal portion thereof located closer to the third interfacing half than other portions of the concave curved surface of the first and second recesses, each proximal portion extending a minimum distance from the second body surface relative to all of the other portions of the concave curved surface of the first and second recesses;

wherein the first body portion and the second body portion are moveably positionable with respect to each other to pivot with respect to each other only about the first hinge joint and the second hinge joint, wherein in a first relative position thereof, the first protrusion of the first interfacing half is in contact with the first recess of the third interfacing half and the distal portion of the convex surface of the first protrusion is in contact with the proximal Page 5portion of the concave surface of the first recess, and the distal portion of the convex surface of the second protrusion is in contact with the proximal portion of the concave surface of the second recess, and the second protrusion of the first interfacing half is in contact with the second recess of the third interfacing half, and in a second relative position thereof, the first protrusion of the first interfacing half is in contact with the first recess of the third interfacing half, and the second protrusion of the first interfacing half is spaced from the second recess of the third interfacing half; and

wherein in the first relative position, the portion of the surface of the first protrusion extending the maximum distance from the first body surface is in contact with the portion of the surface of the first recess extending the minimum distance from the second body surface.

10. The surgical apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first body portion and the second body portion are positionable with respect to each other in a third relative position thereof, where the first protrusion of the first interfacing half is spaced from the first recess of the third interfacing half, and the second protrusion of the first interfacing half is in contact with the second recess of the third interfacing half.

11. The surgical apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of bending actuation wires disposed through the steerable member, wherein the first body portion and the second body portion further include at least one actuation wire lumen extending therethrough, and an actuation wire of the bending actuation wires extends therethrough.

12. The surgical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein elongation of the bending actuation wire is compensated by being offset by the motion of the first hinge joint or the second hinge joint.

13. The surgical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first and second body portions includes an outer circumferential wall, wherein the outer circumferential wall extends over a first portion of the at least one actuation wire lumen, and a second portion of the at least one actuation wire lumen is open at the circumferential wall.

14. The surgical apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each link portion includes a central lumen, and the at least one actuation wire lumen is located radially outwardly of the location of the central lumen.

15. The surgical apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of bending segments include a series of inter-stacked intermediate joints.

16. The surgical apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first and second body portions are disk shaped planar members having at least one surface, and in the first relative positions thereof, the facing at least surface of the first and second body portions are parallel to one another.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2021
From: KIM, DANIEL H.; SHIN, DONG SUK; JANG, TAEHO; PARK, YONG MAN
To: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
Reel/Frame 056133/0428 →
Continuity (3)
Division 15562594
Provisional Application 62424273 · Nov 18, 2016
Related Publication 20210322046A1 · Oct 21, 2021
References Cited (339)
US 5174168A · Takagi et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5329923A · Lundquist · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5337732A · Grundfest et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5534762A · Kim · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5624380A · Takayama et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 6162171A · Ng et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6244644B1 · Lovchik et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6398726B1 · Ramans et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6417638B1 · Guy et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6468203B2 · Belson · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6554844B2 · Lee et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6587750B2 · Gerbi et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6610007B2 · Belson et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6679836B2 · Couvillon, Jr. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6684129B2 · Salisbury, Jr. et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6699235B2 · Wallace et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6817974B2 · Cooper et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6835173B2 · Couvillon, Jr. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6858005B2 · Ohline et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6869396B2 · Belson · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6879315B2 · Guy et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6879880B2 · Nowlin et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6890297B2 · Belson · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6949106B2 · Brock et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6969395B2 · Eskuri · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6997870B2 · Couvillon, Jr. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7044907B2 · Belson · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7063671B2 · Couvillon, Jr. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7087013B2 · Belson et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7097615B2 · Banik et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7101363B2 · Nishizawa et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7169141B2 · Brock et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7199052B2 · Cohen · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7261686B2 · Couvillon, Jr. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7320700B2 · Cooper et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7411576B2 · Massie et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7503474B2 · Hillstead et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7543518B2 · Buckingham et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7574250B2 · Niemeyer · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7608083B2 · Lee et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7615066B2 · Danitz et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7631834B1 · Johnson et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7666135B2 · Couvillon, Jr. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7678117B2 · Hinman et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7736356B2 · Cooper et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7744608B2 · Lee et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7744622B2 · Brock et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US RE41475E · Grabover et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7766896B2 · Kornkven Volk et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7819884B2 · Lee et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7854738B2 · Lee et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7862580B2 · Cooper et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7879004B2 · Seibel et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7909844B2 · Alkhatib et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7955321B2 · Kishi et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8020468B2 · Yang · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8021377B2 · Eskuri · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8062212B2 · Belson · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8069747B2 · Buckingham et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8083669B2 · Murakami et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8092371B2 · Miyamoto et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8114097B2 · Brock et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8123740B2 · Madhani et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8133199B2 · Weber et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8142421B2 · Cooper et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8182418B2 · Durant et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8187169B2 · Sugiyama et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8192422B2 · Zubiate et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8206429B2 · Gregorich et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8224485B2 · Unsworth · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8226546B2 · Belson · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8306656B1 · Schaible et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8317777B2 · Zubiate et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8323297B2 · Hinman et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8328714B2 · Couvillon, Jr. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8337521B2 · Cooper et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8347754B1 · Veltri et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8348834B2 · Bakos · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8365633B2 · Simaan et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8366604B2 · Konstorum · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8414598B2 · Brock et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8414632B2 · Kornkven Volk et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8439828B2 · Dejima et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8444547B2 · Miyamoto et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8483880B2 · de la Rosa Tames et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8486010B2 · Nomura · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8517921B2 · Tremaglio et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8517924B2 · Banik et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8517926B2 · Uchimura · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8523899B2 · Suzuki · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8578810B2 · Donhowe · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8608647B2 · Durant et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8617054B2 · Miyamoto et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8641602B2 · Belson · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8644988B2 · Prisco et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8663097B2 · Arai · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8672837B2 · Roelle et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8679004B2 · Konstorum · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8708892B2 · Sugiyama et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8715270B2 · Weitzner et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8721530B2 · Ohline et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8758232B2 · Graham et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8768509B2 · Unsworth · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8771260B2 · Conlon et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8777843B2 · Banju et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8790243B2 · Cooper et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8827894B2 · Belson · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8827948B2 · Romo et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8834354B2 · Belson · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8834390B2 · Couvillon, Jr. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8845524B2 · Belson et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8845622B2 · Paik et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8888764B2 · Devengenzo et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8919348B2 · Williams et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8920970B2 · Sunkara et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8927048B2 · Leeflang et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8986196B2 · Larkin et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9055961B2 · Manzo et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9060678B2 · Larkin et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9060796B2 · Seo · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9147825B2 · Kim et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9149274B2 · Spivey et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9173548B2 · Omori · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9173713B2 · Hart et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9192447B2 · Choi et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9193451B2 · Salyer · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9205560B1 · Edsinger et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9259274B2 · Prisco · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9289266B2 · Weitzner et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9314309B2 · Seo · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9345462B2 · Weitzner et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9358031B2 · Manzo · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9370640B2 · Zhang et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9393000B2 · Donhowe · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9498601B2 · Tanner et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9561083B2 · Yu et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9724162B2 · Crainich et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20020120252A1 · Brock et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020133173A1 · Brock et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20030006669A1 · Pei et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030060927A1 · Gerbi et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20050075538A1 · Banik et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050096502A1 · Khalili · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050103706A1 · Bennett et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050131279A1 · Boulais et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050216033A1 · Lee et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050273085A1 · Hinman et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060058582A1 · Maahs et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060111618A1 · Couvillon · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060266642A1 · Akle et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070027519A1 · Ortiz et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070112311A1 · Harding et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070123750A1 · Baumgartner et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070249909A1 · Volk et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070250036A1 · Volk et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070299422A1 · Inganas et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070299427A1 · Yeung et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080051829A1 · Eidenschink et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080086081A1 · Eidenschink et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080177282A1 · Lee et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080188868A1 · Weitzner et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080188869A1 · Weitzner et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080188871A1 · Smith et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080221391A1 · Weitzner et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080243175A1 · Moore et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090024086A1 · Zhang et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090082723A1 · Krogh et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090105645A1 · Kidd et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090149702A1 · Onoda et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090157048A1 · Sutermeister et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090171160A1 · Ito et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090171161A1 · Ewers et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090259141A1 · Ewers et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090326319A1 · Takahashi et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100010309A1 · Kitagawa · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100101346A1 · Johnson et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100113875A1 · Yi et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100300230A1 · Helmer · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110040408A1 · De La Rosa Tames et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110092963A1 · Castro · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110100146A1 · Feng · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110251599A1 · Shellenberger et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110295063A1 · Umemoto et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120004502A1 · Weitzner et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120071863A1 · Lee et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120078053A1 · Phee et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120143174A1 · Choi et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120179097A1 · Cully et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120220831A1 · Cooper et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120238952A1 · Mitchell et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120239032A1 · Zhang et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130035537A1 · Wallace et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130072913A1 · Yi et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130123692A1 · Zhang et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130199327A1 · Park et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130213170A1 · Kim et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130218005A1 · Desai et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130253424A1 · Kim et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130255410A1 · Lee et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130263424A1 · Giocastro · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130281924A1 · Shellenberger · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140005683A1 · Stand et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140012286A1 · Lee et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140046305A1 · Castro et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140107570A1 · Mitchell et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140142591A1 · Alvarez et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140142592A1 · Moon et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140163318A1 · Swanstrom · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140163327A1 · Swanstrom · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140180089A1 · Alpert et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140228631A1 · Kwak et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140243592A1 · Kato et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140257329A1 · Jang et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140257330A1 · Choi et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140276594A1 · Tanner et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140276940A1 · Seo · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140288413A1 · Hwang et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140303643A1 · Ha et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140324070A1 · Min et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140336669A1 · Park · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140379000A1 · Romo et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150018841A1 · Seo · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150045812A1 · Seo · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150066051A1 · Kwon et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150088060A1 · Wang et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150101442A1 · Romo · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150105629A1 · Williams et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150119637A1 · Alvarez et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150119638A1 · Yu et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150119903A1 · Hinman et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150133858A1 · Julian et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150164594A1 · Romo et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150164595A1 · Bogusky et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150164596A1 · Romo et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150165163A1 · Alvarez et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150230869A1 · Shim et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150297865A1 · Hinman et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150335480A1 · Alvarez et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160001038A1 · Romo et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160074028A1 · Castro · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160151122A1 · Alvarez et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160151908A1 · Woodley et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160184032A1 · Romo et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160270865A1 · Landey et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160270866A1 · Yu et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160287279A1 · Bovay et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160287840A1 · Jiang · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160296294A1 · Moll et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160331477A1 · Yu et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160331613A1 · Lee et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160374541A1 · Agrawal et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160374766A1 · Schuh · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170120457A1 · Saraliev · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20180078247A1 · Nakadate · 2018 [cited by examiner]
AU 2001089246A1 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
CN 1728972A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
CN 105026116A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
EP 1876504A1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
EP 2737922A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 61188701 · 1986 [cited by applicant]
JP H1119032A · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP 2000279376A · 2000 [cited by applicant]
JP 2004350495A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005216743A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2006521882A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007029274A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007502198A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007175517A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008501477A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009136566A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009285099A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010017483A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012512670A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013208506A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013540004A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014500070A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015501729A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015163413A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 03001986A2 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
WO 2003105671A2 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
WO 2004052171A2 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
WO 2006084744A2 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010039387A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010066788A2 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011060317A2 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011108161A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012070838A2 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012078309A2 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012167043A2 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012168936A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013162206A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2014126653A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO 2014189876A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015057990A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015107999A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015127250A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015142290A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
Australian Application No. 2021204249, Notice of Acceptance dated May 12, 2022, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
Australian Application No. 2021204249, Examination Report No. 1 dated Jan. 18, 2022, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Australian Application No. 2021204243, Examination Report No. 1 dated Jan. 18, 2022, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
Canadian Application No. 3,004,197, Office Action dated May 13, 2021, 3 pages. [cited by applicant]
Canadian Application No. 3,004,197, Office Action dated May 25, 2022, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Canadian Application No. 3,152,866, Office Action dated Jun. 8, 2022, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Application No. 2019-192101, Office Action dated Jun. 14, 2022, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Application No. 2020-139162, Office Action dated Apr. 26, 2022, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Mexican Patent Application No. MX/a/2018/006000, Office Action dated May 10, 2022, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
Brazilian patent application BR 12 2022 007758-7, Office Action, Jun. 14, 2022, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Brazilian patent application BR 12 2022 007759-5, Office Action, Jun. 14, 2022, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Brazilian patent application BR 12 2022 007760-9, Office Action, Jun. 14, 2022, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Brazilian patent application BR 12 2022 007761-7, Office Action, Jun. 14, 2022, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Canadian Patent Application No. 3,004,197, Office Action dated Dec. 9, 2021, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-192101, Office Action dated Nov. 2, 2021 w/English translation, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-139164, Office Action dated Jun. 22, 2021 w/English translation, 12 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-139163, Office Action dated Jun. 29, 2021 w/English translation, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-139162, Office Action dated Jul. 6, 2021 w/English translation, 12 pages. [cited by applicant]
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-7019036, Office Action dated Jul. 27, 2021 w/Eng Translation, 13 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-192101, Office Action dated Dec. 22, 2020 w/English translation, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
European Search Report, Application No. 17748266.8, Jan. 2, 2019, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Supplemental Partial European Search Report, EP17748276, Oct. 15, 2018, 18 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-541212, Office Action dated Jul. 17, 2019, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
European Application No. 17748266.8, Communication pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC dated Oct. 30, 2019, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Australian Application No. 2017214552, Examination Report No. 1, dated Mar. 12, 2020, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-541212, Notice of Reasons for Rejection dated Mar. 31, 2020, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
European Application No. 17748266.8, Communication pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC dated Jun. 16, 2020, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
Chinese Application No. 201780007593.6, Frist Notification of Office Action dated Jun. 22, 2020, 17 pages. [cited by applicant]
Australian Application No. 2020227057, Examination Report No. 1 dated Sep. 23, 2020, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Australian Application No. 2020227056, Examination Report No. 1 dated Sep. 29, 2020, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Partial European Search Report dated Sep. 20, 2023, for European Application No. 22208388.3. [cited by applicant]
Australian Application No. 2022218532, Examination Report No. 1 dated Aug. 28, 2023, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
Canadian Application No. 3,152,866, Office Action dated Jun. 6, 2023, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Canadian Patent Applicatio No. 3,152,866, Office Action dated Dec. 9, 2022, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Canadian Application No. 3,152,869, Office Action dated May 2, 2023, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Canadian Application No. 3,152,874, Office Action dated May 2, 2023, 3 pages. [cited by applicant]
Chinese Appliation No. 2021106660807.8, Office Action dated Nov. 10, 2023, 17 pages. [cited by applicant]
Chinese Application No. 202110660810.X, Office Action dated Nov. 8, 2023, 16 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Application No. 2020-139162, Office Action dated Nov. 15, 2022, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Application No. 2022-035199, Office Action dated Oct. 24, 2023, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Application No. 2022-035199, Office Action dated Feb. 14, 2023, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Application No. 2022-163672, Office Action dated Sep. 19, 2023 (partial translation), 13 pages. [cited by applicant]