Granted Patent B2

US 12,648,684 · App. 18/416,071 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Inventor: J. Mathieu Massicotte (North Reading, MA)

A61B1/00156A61B1/00016A61B1/00032A61B1/00082A61B1/00142A61B1/00148A61B1/0016A61B1/05A61B5/06

Abstract

Claims (94)

1 . A device comprising:

a toroidal device, the toroidal device comprising:

a toroid envelope having one continuous uninterrupted wall, the wall having an exterior surface facing an exterior of the toroidal device, and an interior surface facing an interior of the toroidal device;

a hole passing through the toroidal device along a central axis of the toroidal device, the exterior surface having an inner part facing the hole and radially toward the central axis and an outer part facing away from the hole and radially away from the central axis;

the toroidal device having a top portion and a bottom portion respectively above and below the central axis, respective portions of the inner part of the exterior surface in the top portion and the inner part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion being adjacent and cooperating to form a channel:

the top portion comprising, within the interior:

i. a top geared wheel;

ii. a top internal curved spiral (ICS) gear configured to engage the top geared wheel;

iii. a top internal spur (IS) gear coupled to the top ICS gear;

iv. a top direct current (DC) motor having a top spur gear at one end that is configured to engage the top IS gear and an engagement gear assembly at another, opposite end that is configured to engage a top non-geared wheel;

the bottom portion comprising, within the interior:

i. a bottom geared wheel;

ii. a bottom ICS gear configured to engage the bottom geared wheel;

iii. a bottom IS gear coupled to the bottom ICS gear;

iv. a bottom DC motor having a bottom spur gear at one end that is configured to engage the bottom IS gear and another engagement gear assembly at another, opposite end that is configured to engage a bottom non-geared wheel;

the top ICS gear and the bottom ICS gear are part of a single ICS gear confined within the toroidal device and the top IS gear and the bottom IS gear are part of a single IS gear within the toroidal device;

the top DC motor and the bottom DC motor are powered by at least one power source located within the toroidal device; and

the top DC motor is configured to rotate the top spur gear that engages the top IS gear coupled to the top ICS gear to cause the top geared wheel to move rotationally in a first direction, resulting in a first inversion in the top portion such that at least a portion of the inner part of the exterior surface in the top portion becomes part of the outer part of the exterior surface in the top portion and at least a portion of the outer part of the exterior surface in the top portion becomes part of the inner part of the exterior surface in the top portion and, at the same time, the bottom DC motor is configured to rotate the bottom spur gear that engages the bottom IS gear coupled to the bottom ICS gear to cause the bottom geared wheel to move rotationally in a second direction, resulting in a second inversion in the bottom portion such that at least a portion of the inner part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion becomes part of the outer part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion and at least a portion of the outer part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion becomes part of the inner part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion, the first direction being opposite that of the second direction, the first and second inversions safely propelling the device without sliding of the outer part of the exterior surface in the top portion and the outer part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion against any contacted external wall and allowing low friction movement of the device.

2 . The device as per claim 1 , wherein the toroidal device is a toroidal balloon.

3 . The device as per claim 1 , wherein any one of the top DC motor or the bottom DC motor further comprises a set of planetary gears.

4 . The device as per claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a chamber to hold or release any one of, or a combination of, the following: compressed gas, liquid or solid.

5 . The device as per claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter and an antenna configured to transmit a signal receivable by an external receiver to enable determination of a location of the device.

6 . The device as per claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be positioned via a probe, a scope, or a catheter.

7 . The device as per claim 1 , wherein the wall is made from nylon.

8 . The device as per claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises at least one light source and at least one camera disposed within the interior in the top portion or the bottom portion.

9 . The device as per claim 1 , wherein the outer part of the exterior surface in the top portion or the outer part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion is coated with a coagulogenic substance, an antimicrobial agent, or a combination thereof.

10 . A device comprising:

a toroidal device, the toroidal device comprising:

a toroid envelope having one continuous uninterrupted wall, the wall having an exterior surface facing an exterior of the toroidal device, and an interior surface facing an interior of the toroidal device;

a hole passing through the toroidal device along a central axis of the toroidal device, the exterior surface having an inner part facing the hole and radially toward the central axis and an outer part facing away from the hole and radially away from the central axis;

the toroidal device having a top portion and a bottom portion respectively above and below the central axis, respective portions of the inner part of the exterior surface in the top portion and the inner part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion being adjacent and cooperating to form a channel;

the top portion comprising, within the interior:

i. a first top geared wheel;

ii. a second top geared wheel;

iii. a first top internal curved spiral (ICS) gear configured to engage the first top geared wheel;

iv. a first top internal spur (IS) gear coupled to the first top ICS gear;

v. a first top DC motor having a first top spur gear at one end that is configured to engage the first top IS gear;

vi. a second top DC motor that abuts the first top DC motor at one end and has a second top spur gear at another end;

vii. a second top IS gear configured to engage the second top spur gear; and

viii. a second top ICS gear coupled to the second top IS gear and configured to engage the second top geared wheel; and

the bottom portion comprising, within the interior:

i. a first bottom geared wheel;

ii. a second bottom geared wheel;

iii. a first bottom ICS gear configured to engage the first bottom geared wheel;

iv. a first bottom IS gear coupled to the first bottom ICS gear;

v. a first bottom DC motor having a first bottom spur gear at one end that is configured to engage the first bottom IS gear;

vi. a second bottom DC motor that abuts the first bottom DC motor at one end and has a second bottom spur gear at another end;

vii. a second bottom IS gear configured to engage the second bottom spur gear; and

viii. a second bottom ICS gear coupled to the second bottom IS gear and configured to engage the second bottom geared wheel;

the first top ICS gear and the first bottom ICS gear are part of a single first ICS gear confined within the toroidal device and the first top IS gear and the first bottom IS gear are part of a single first IS gear within the toroidal device;

the second top ICS gear and the second bottom ICS gear are part of a single second ICS gear confined within the toroidal device and the second top IS gear and the second bottom IS gear are part of a single second IS gear within the toroidal device;

the first top DC motor, the second top DC motor, the first bottom DC motor, and the second bottom DC motor are powered by at least one power source located within the toroidal device; and

the first top DC motor is configured to rotate the first top spur gear that engages the first top IS gear coupled to the first top ICS gear to cause the first top geared wheel to move rotationally in a first direction, and the second top DC motor is configured to rotate the second top spur gear that engages the second top IS gear coupled to the second top ICS gear to cause the second top geared wheel to move rotationally in the first direction, resulting in a first inversion in the top portion such that at least a portion of the inner part of the exterior surface in the top portion becomes part of the outer part of the exterior surface in the top portion and at least a portion of the outer part of the exterior surface in the top portion becomes part of the inner part of the exterior surface in the top portion and, at the same time, the first bottom DC motor is configured to rotate the first bottom spur gear that engages the first bottom IS gear coupled to the first bottom ICS gear to cause the first bottom geared wheel to move rotationally in a second direction, and the second bottom DC motor is configured to rotate the second bottom spur gear that engages the second bottom IS gear coupled to the second bottom ICS gear to cause the second bottom geared wheel to move rotationally in the second direction, resulting in a second inversion in the bottom portion such that at least a portion of the inner part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion becomes part of the outer part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion and at least a portion of the outer part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion becomes part of the inner part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion, the first direction being opposite that of the second direction, the first and second inversions safely propelling the device without sliding of the outer part of the exterior surface in the top portion and the outer part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion against any contacted external wall and allowing low friction movement of the device.

11 . The device as per claim 10 , wherein the toroidal device is a toroidal balloon.

12 . The device as per claim 10 , wherein any one of the first top DC motor, the second top DC motor, the first bottom DC motor, or the second bottom DC motor further comprises a set of planetary gears.

13 . The device as per claim 10 , wherein the device further comprises a chamber to hold or release any one of, or a combination of, the following: compressed gas, liquid or solid.

14 . The device as per claim 10 , further comprising a transmitter and an antenna configured to transmit a signal receivable by an external receiver to enable determination of a location of the device.

15 . The device as per claim 10 , wherein the device is configured to be positioned via a probe, a scope, or a catheter.

16 . The device as per claim 10 , wherein the wall is made from nylon.

17 . The device as per claim 10 , wherein the device further comprises at least one light source and at least one camera disposed within the interior in the top portion or the bottom portion.

18 . The device as per claim 10 , wherein the outer part of the exterior surface in the top portion or the outer part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion is coated with a coagulogenic substance, an antimicrobial agent, or a combination thereof.

19 . A device comprising:

a toroidal device, the toroidal device comprising:

a toroid envelope having one continuous uninterrupted wall, the wall having an exterior surface facing an exterior of the toroidal device, and an interior surface facing an interior of the toroidal device;

a hole passing through the toroidal device along a central axis of the toroidal device, the exterior surface having an inner part facing the hole and radially toward the central axis and an outer part facing away from the hole and radially away from the central axis;

the toroidal device having a top portion and a bottom portion respectively above and below the central axis, respective portions of the inner part of the exterior surface in the top portion and the inner part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion being adjacent and cooperating to form a channel:

the top portion comprising, within the interior;

i. a first top geared wheel;

ii. a second top geared wheel;

iii. a first top internal curved spiral (ICS) gear configured to engage the first top geared wheel;

iv. a second top ICS gear configured to engage the second top geared wheel;

v. a first top internal spur (IS) gear coupled to the first top ICS gear;

vi. a second top IS gear coupled to the second top ICS gear;

vii. a top DC motor having a first top spur gear at one end and a second top spur gear at another, opposite end, the first top spur gear configured to engage the first top IS gear and the second top spur gear configured to engage the second top IS gear;

the bottom portion comprising, within the interior:

i. a first bottom geared wheel;

ii. a second bottom geared wheel;

iii. a first bottom ICS gear configured to engage the first bottom geared wheel;

iv. a second bottom ICS gear configured to engage the second bottom geared wheel;

v. a first bottom IS gear coupled to the first bottom ICS gear;

vi. a second bottom IS gear coupled to the second bottom ICS gear;

vii. a bottom DC motor having a first bottom spur gear at one end and a second bottom spur gear at another, opposite end, the first bottom spur gear configured to engage the first bottom IS gear and the second bottom spur gear configured to engage the second bottom IS gear;

the first top ICS gear and the first bottom ICS gear are part of a single first ICS gear confined within the toroidal device and the first top IS gear and the first bottom IS gear are part of a single first IS gear within the toroidal device;

the second top ICS gear and the second bottom ICS gear are part of a single second ICS gear confined within the toroidal device and the second top IS gear and the second bottom IS gear are part of a single second IS gear within the toroidal device;

the top DC motor and the bottom DC motor are powered by at least one power source located within the toroidal device; and

the top DC motor is configured to rotate the first top spur gear that engages the first top IS gear coupled to the first top ICS gear to cause the first top geared wheel to move rotationally in a first direction, and the top DC motor is configured to rotate the second top spur gear that engages the second top IS gear coupled to the second top ICS gear to cause the second top geared wheel to move rotationally in the first direction, resulting in a first inversion in the top portion such that at least a portion of the inner part of the exterior surface in the top portion becomes part of the outer part of the exterior surface in the top portion and at least a portion of the outer part of the exterior surface in the top portion becomes part of the inner part of the exterior surface in the top portion and, at the same time, the bottom DC motor is configured to rotate the first bottom spur gear that engages the first bottom IS gear coupled to the first bottom ICS gear to cause the first bottom geared wheel to move rotationally in a second direction, and the bottom DC motor is configured to rotate the second bottom spur gear that engages the second bottom IS gear coupled to the second bottom ICS gear to cause the second bottom geared wheel to move rotationally in the second direction, resulting in a second inversion in the bottom portion such that at least a portion of the inner part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion becomes part of the outer part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion and at least a portion of the outer part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion becomes part of the inner part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion, the first direction being opposite that of the second direction, the first and second inversions safely propelling the device without sliding of the outer part of the exterior surface in the top portion and the outer part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion against any contacted external wall and allowing low friction movement of the device.

20 . The device as per claim 19 , wherein the toroidal device is a toroidal balloon.

21 . The device as per claim 19 , wherein any one of the top DC motor or the bottom DC motor further comprises a set of planetary gears.

22 . The device as per claim 19 , wherein the device further comprises a chamber to hold or release any one of, or a combination of, the following: compressed gas, liquid or solid.

23 . The device as per claim 19 , further comprising a transmitter and an antenna configured to transmit a signal receivable by an external receiver to enable determination of a location of the device.

24 . The device as per claim 19 , wherein the device is configured to be positioned via a probe, a scope, or a catheter.

25 . The device as per claim 19 , wherein the inner part of the exterior surface in the top portion, the outer part of the exterior surface in the top portion, the inner part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion, and the outer part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion are made from nylon.

26 . The device as per claim 19 , wherein the device further comprises at least one light source and at least one camera disposed within the interior of the toroidal device in the top portion or the bottom portion.

27 . The device as per claim 19 , wherein the outer part of the exterior surface in the top portion or the outer part of the exterior surface in the bottom portion is coated with a coagulogenic substance, an antimicrobial agent, or a combination thereof.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (15)