IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,642,595
Granted Patent B2
US 12,642,595 · App. 17/693,765 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Articulating drill system

Inventors: Stan G. Shalayev (Fremont, CA); Joel F. Zuhars (Fremont, CA); Allen B. Kantrowitz (Fremont, CA); In K. Mun (Fremont, CA); Daniel Fuller (Fremont, CA); Simon R. Grover (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: Think Surgical, Inc.
A61B34/20A61B17/1624A61B17/1626A61B17/1691A61B90/36A61B2034/2048A61B2034/2055A61B2034/2065A61B2090/309
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,642,595
App. No.
17/693,765
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An articulating drill system is provided that includes a hand-held portion and a drill portion. At least two actuators are provided for controlling at least two axes of the drill portion. In some embodiments, a tool is provided with the drill portion and adapted to interact with patient tissue. The drill portion can be modified to include at least two rigid objects in communication with the actuators and attached to the drill portion. The system can be used to make any linear cut within a deviation of ±1.0 mm and ±1.0°, or better in patient tissue.

Claims (29)

1 . An articulating surgical device for positioning a tool relative to a bone at a pre-planned location comprising:

a hand-held portion;

a working portion movably coupled to the hand-held portion and configured to drive the tool;

an actuator system for moving the working portion relative to the hand-held portion in response to control signals corresponding to movement of at least one of the bone and the articulating surgical device for positioning the tool relative to the bone at the pre-planned location;

at least one light-emitting-diode; and

a processor configured to actuate the at least one light-emitting-diode (LEDs) for wirelessly transmitting data, wherein the data comprises a first data type for indicating a position and orientation of at least a portion of the articulating surgical device and a second data type different than the first data type.

2 . The articulating surgical device of claim 1 wherein the control signals are generated by the processor.

3 . The articulating surgical device of claim 2 wherein the processor is housed in the hand-held portion.

4 . The articulating surgical device of claim 2 further comprising a receiver for receiving data from a navigation system, wherein the processor is operatively coupled to the receiver and configured to generate the control signals using the received data.

5 . The articulating surgical device of claim 4 wherein the receiver is an optical receiver.

6 . The articulating surgical device of claim 1 wherein the actuator system comprises a first actuator and a second actuator housed in the hand-held portion for moving the working portion in pitch and translation relative to the hand-held portion.

7 . The articulating surgical device of claim 6 wherein the working portion is movably coupled to the hand-held portion by a first linear member and a second linear member, the first linear member having a first end connected to the working portion and a second end operatively coupled to the first actuator, and the second linear member having a first end connected to the working portion and a second end operatively coupled to the second actuator.

8 . The articulating surgical device of claim 7 wherein the second end of the first linear member is operatively coupled to the first actuator by a first screw, and the second end of the second linear member is operatively coupled to the second actuator by a second screw.

9 . The articulating surgical device of claim 6 wherein the translational movement of the working portion relative to the hand-held portion is along an axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hand-held portion.

10 . The articulating surgical device of claim 1 further comprising at least three LEDs.

11 . The articulating surgical device of claim 1 wherein the at least one LED is coupled to the working portion.

12 . The articulating surgical device of claim 1 wherein the tool comprises at least one of a drill bit or a saw blade.

13 . The articulating surgical device of claim 1 further comprising a motor housed in the working portion for driving the tool.

14 . A system, comprising:

the articulating surgical device of claim 1 ; and

a navigation system.

15 . The system of claim 14 wherein the navigation system comprises an optical tracking system.

16 . The system of claim 14 wherein the articulating surgical device further

comprising a receiver for receiving data from the navigation system, wherein the processor is operatively coupled to the receiver and configured to generate

control signals using the received data.

17 . The system of claim 14 wherein the processor is housed in the hand-held portion.

18 . The system of claim 14 wherein the actuator system comprises a first actuator and a second actuator housed in the hand-held portion for moving the working portion in pitch and translation relative to the hand-held portion.

19 . The system of claim 18 wherein the translational movement of the working portion relative to the hand-held portion is along an axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hand-held portion.

20 . The system of claim 14 wherein the tool comprises at least one of a drill bit or a saw blade.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2026
From: THINK SURGICAL, INC.
To: SYMBIOTIC CAPITAL AGENCY LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075736/0843 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: SHALAYEV, STAN G.; ZUHARS, JOEL F.; KANTROWITZ, ALLEN B.; MUN, IN K.; FULLER, DANIEL; GROVER, SIMON R.
To: THINK SURGICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 059255/0149 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16659153 · Oct 21, 2019
Continuation 15512180
Provisional Application 62054009 · Sep 23, 2014
Related Publication 20220192761A1 · Jun 23, 2022
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