Computer vision techniques

Systems and methods that use computer vision techniques in connection with robotic surgery are discussed. A robotic surgery system may include an implantable device engagement sub-system, a targeting sub-system, and/or an insertion verification sub-system. The system may use computer vision techniques to facilitate implanting a micro-manufactured bio-compatible electrode device in biological tissue (e.g., neurological tissue such as the brain) using robotic assemblies. The system can attach, via robotic manipulation, the electrode to an engagement element of an insertion needle. The system can further irradiate the electrode using a near-ultraviolet (near-UV) wavelength of light, obtain images of the electrode with light fluoresced from the polymer portion in response to the irradiating, triangulate a 3D location of the electrode, analyze a target tissue contour using computer vision, select an insertion site, and surgically implant the micron-scale electrode at the insertion site via robotic assembly and based on the triangulated location.

The abstract as published by the patent office, from US2020085508A1. It describes the invention; it is not a statement of what is protected.

• Surgical access

  Insertion tools and robots · Surgical planning and procedure

• Interface and electrodes

  Electrodes and arrays

What the filing appears to be about, read by published rules from its title, abstract and classification codes (A61B2034/2055, A61B2034/2065, A61B2090/309, A61B2090/3941, A61B34/20). The claims define what a patent protects, and they are not read here.

Surgical access

A probe soft enough for the brain to tolerate is too soft to push in by hand, and each route into the head has its own risk. The problem behind it: placing many contacts exactly, without injuring tissue or vessels, in an operation short and repeatable enough to offer widely.

Interface and electrodes

Everything downstream works with what the contacts pick up. Their number, size and distance from the neurons set the ceiling on the signal. The problem behind it: more contacts, closer to neurons, that still record after years in tissue that reacts to them.

Why the layer matters to the field, not a judgement of this filing. A patent family shows that protection was sought. It does not show that the technology was built, is used in a product, or works in people. The whole stack

One invention, published 11 times in 7 offices. Each publication opens in Espacenet.

• CanadaCA3112749A119 Mar 2020
• United StatesUS2020085508A119 Mar 2020US11291508B25 Apr 2022 · grant
• International (PCT)a route to several countries, not a countryWO2020056179A119 Mar 2020
• AustraliaAU2019339486A120 May 2021
• European Patent Officea route to several countries, not a countryEP3849434A121 Jul 2021EP3849434A427 Apr 2022EP3849434B118 Sep 2024 · grant
• South KoreaKR20210130698A1 Nov 2021
• JapanJP2022500216A4 Jan 2022JP7538129B221 Aug 2024 · grant

1. 14 Sep 2018First filingEarliest priority, at United States. The family is counted in this year.
2. 12 Sep 2019ApplicationsFiled at Canada, United States, International (PCT), Australia, European Patent Office, South Korea, Japan.
3. 16 Sep 2019Owner recordedUnited States, on US2020085508A1: assignment; owner named: NEURALINK CORP., CALIFORNIA.
4. 19 Mar 2020First publicationCA3112749A1, Canada.
5. 5 Apr 2022Grant publishedUS11291508B2, United States.
6. 14 Sep 2023Office recordAustralia, on AU2019339486A1: application lapsed section 142(2)(a) - no request for examination in relevant period.
7. 16 Jan 2024Office recordJapan, on JP2022500216A: notification of reasons for refusal.
8. 5 Jun 2024Owner recordedEuropean Patent Office, on EP3849434A1: party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred); owner named: NEURALINK CORP..
9. 21 Aug 2024Grant publishedJP7538129B2, Japan.
10. 18 Sep 2024Grant publishedEP3849434B1, European Patent Office.
11. 29 Oct 2024Office recordSouth Korea, on KR20210130698A: decision to refuse application.
12. 13 Mar 2026Office recordInternational (PCT), on WO2020056179A1: wipo information: withdrawn in national office.
13. 4 May 2026Office recordCanada, on CA3112749A1: renewal or maintenance fee not paid.
14. 26 Aug 2026Office recordEuropean Patent Office, on EP3849434A1: lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] (AT, BE, BG, CH, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SK, SM, TR).

Dates as the offices published them. Office records are in the offices' own words and are a selection: refusals, lapses and withdrawals, and records that name an owner. Each concerns one member of the family, not the family as a whole, and another member in the same office may stand. Whether a patent is in force today is not assessed.

Organisation

Neuralink · 31 families identified

• Bibliographic data, family members and office records: European Patent Office, Open Patent Services (the DOCDB and INPADOC databases), read 7 Oct 2026.
• The record itself, with its claims and description: US2020085508A1 in Espacenet
• Counted as a BCI patent family: classified A61N1/0529 (electrodes for brain stimulation); filed by Neuralink Corp., an organisation already in the graph; describes neural hardware or methods without naming the field; cites a family already accepted. How families are found and judged