Patents Examined by Eyamindae C Jallow
  • Patent number: 11723664
    Abstract: A surgical device includes a handle assembly having a controller and a motor. The surgical device also includes an adapter assembly having: a tubular housing having a proximal end portion configured to couple to the handle assembly and a distal end portion; and an actuation assembly configured to couple to the motor. The surgical further includes a reload configured to couple to the distal end portion of the adapter assembly; and an anvil assembly including an anvil head pivotally coupled to an anvil shaft, the anvil assembly configured to couple to the actuation assembly and the reload. The controller of the surgical device is configured to control the motor to actuate the actuation assembly to move the anvil assembly in a distal direction for a distance based on a dimension of one of the reload or the anvil head, thereby pivoting the anvil head relative to the anvil shaft while maintaining engagement of the anvil assembly to the reload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Joseph Guerrera, Steven H. Joyce
  • Patent number: 11717299
    Abstract: A circular stapling device for performing anastomosis procedures includes an end effector that includes or is adapted to deliver probiotics to an anastomotic site during formation of the anastomosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Miller, Haley E. Strassner, Justin P. Williams
  • Patent number: 11717300
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly, and a camera assembly. The cartridge assembly supports an array of fasteners therein. The anvil assembly is movably positioned relative to the cartridge assembly between an unclamped position and a clamped position for forming the array of fasteners. The camera assembly is coupled to the anvil assembly and positioned to collect and transmit image data of a fastened tissue site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: David A. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 11718444
    Abstract: A container for storage of molten material from an industrial facility, and method of manufacture thereof, is provided to maximize internal volume of the container while providing structural stability. The container includes walls having rounded convex-shaped edges at each wall junction. A first head is connected to the walls at a first end of the container, and a second head closes the second end of the container. The second head is connected to the walls at a second end of the container. Corners are defined at the intersection of the walls with the first head and second head at the first end and the second end respectively. A first flange is connected to the first head to receive molten material, and the first head is shaped as a tapered shoulder to smoothly transition from the first flange to the junction of the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: ATKINS NUCLEAR SECURED HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eric C. Smith
  • Patent number: 11712509
    Abstract: A circular stapling instrument includes an adapter assembly having a tubular body, a shell assembly disposed on a distal portion of the tubular body, and a seal assembly supported on the tubular body. The seal assembly includes an inflatable member disposed proximal of the shell assembly, wherein the inflatable member includes a first diameter when in a deflated condition and a second diameter when in an inflated condition, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Haley Strassner, Charles R. Kollar, Drew R. Seils, Justin Williams, Joseph Eisinger
  • Patent number: 11702232
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for producing at extremely high production speeds small pouches filled with tobacco or other granular, powdered or solid content is provided. An endless web substrate, with or without flavor film thereon, is formed into a tubular shape with a longitudinal seam. The tube is cut to individual lengths, and a procession of tubes is crimp-closed at one end, filled and crimp-closed at the other end to complete pouch production. During production, the seams formed at the crimped ends of the pouch are parallel to one another and the longitudinal seam of the pouch is midway between the sides of the pouch and orthogonal to the seams formed at the crimped ends of the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. Garthaffner, Dwight D. Williams, Jeremy J. Straight, David J. Webb, Carl G. Miller
  • Patent number: 11691245
    Abstract: A surface preparation support apparatus includes a creeper and a linear actuator. The linear actuator includes a base-end and a tool-end that is opposite the base-end. The base-end is coupled to the creeper. The tool-end is linearly movable relative to the base-end. A surface preparation tool is coupleable to the tool-end of the linear actuator. The surface preparation support apparatus also includes an actuator-controller. The actuator-controller is coupled to the linear actuator. The actuator-controller is operable to selectively actuate the linear actuator. The surface preparation support apparatus further includes a tool-controller. The tool-controller is configured to be coupled to the surface preparation tool. The tool-controller is operable to selectively energize the surface preparation tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kadon A. Kyte, Jason A. Kerestes, Mary F. Tobin
  • Patent number: 11691775
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for producing a small pouch with a predetermined amount of particulate material therein, a predetermined amount of the particulate material is portioned from a bulk supply and compacted into a single discrete caplet. The caplet is the deposited into an open hollow pouch closed at one end thereof, and the open end is then closed with the caplet between the closed ends of the pouch. The caplet in the pouch is then compressed to return it to its particulate form. The particulate material may be granular or shredded tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. Garthaffner, Barry S. Smith
  • Patent number: 11691260
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a gear case having a spindle, a motor case connected to a rear end of the gear case along a longitudinal axis; a handle portion extending from a rear end of the motor case along the longitudinal axis; a motor housed inside the motor case; a fan in rotational connection with the motor; at least one air intake arranged at least one of the motor case or the handle portion near the rear end of the motor case; and a power module including power switches for driving the motor and a heat sink. The power module is housed in at least one of the motor case or the handle portion near the rear end of the motor case such that rotation of the fan causes air flow to enter through the air intake and flow near the heat sink and through the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Kelleher, William F. Gallagher, Sean R. Templeton, Mark R. Poetzl, Seth M. Robinson, Marcell E. Coates, Madhur M. Purohit, Timothy J. Seeley, Joshua M. Lewis
  • Patent number: 11684369
    Abstract: A method of operating a surgical assembly is disclosed. The method includes receiving a first input from a first RFID scanner indicative of a first information stored in a first RFID chip of a first modular component of the surgical assembly, receiving a second input from a second RFID scanner indicative of a second information stored in a second RFID chip of a second modular component of the surgical assembly, determining an operational parameter of a motor of the surgical assembly based on the first input and the second input, and causing the motor to effect a tissue treatment motion of the first modular component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Kevin M. Fiebig
  • Patent number: 11679486
    Abstract: A pneumatic tool includes a casing, a cylinder unit, a valve knob and a pneumatic sealing device. The casing has a main portion that has an inner surface defining a receiving space therein, and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface. The cylinder unit is mounted in the receiving space. The valve knob is disposed in the receiving space and is rotatably connected to the cylinder unit. The pneumatic sealing device includes a ring member that is ring-shaped and rigid, that surrounds and is connected to the valve knob, and that is clamped between the inner surface of the casing and the cylinder unit for keeping a distance between the casing and the cylinder unit constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Basso Industry Corp.
    Inventors: Da-Jay Lin, San-Yih Su
  • Patent number: 11675014
    Abstract: A power tool includes: a rechargeable battery; a motor; a drive circuit; an operation unit; a battery state detection circuit; a control circuit; and an interruption circuit. The battery state detection circuit detects a battery voltage, and when the detected battery voltage is lower than or equal to a prescribed voltage, the battery state detection circuit outputs a low-voltage signal. The control means outputs a control signal to the drive circuit instructing to drive the motor when the operation unit is operated and halts the output of the control signal to the drive circuit instructing to halt driving the motor in response to the low-voltage signal. The interruption circuit outputs an interruption signal to the drive circuit in response to the low-voltage signal to thereby interrupt the drive circuit and halt driving the motor irrespective of whether or not the control signal is outputted to the drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazutaka Iwata
  • Patent number: 11667096
    Abstract: A machine for forming packing templates includes a infeed mechanism that can feed multiple feeds of sheet material into the machine without repositioning the infeed mechanism or forming creases or bends in the sheet material. The machine also includes a separation and cutting systems with one or more cutting tables and biased knives that cut the sheet material packaging templates. The machine also includes creasing roller(s) that forms creases in the sheet material. The machine also includes a system for reducing or eliminating the impact of irregularities in the sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: AVERCON BVBA
    Inventors: David Michel Provoost, Herman Germain De Dycker, Dimitri Daniël Raphaël Van Steenkiste, Stefaan Albert Marie-Louise Hamerlinck
  • Patent number: 11666339
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil defining a plurality of staple forming pockets and a stapling head assembly configured to drive a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The stapling head assembly comprises a coupling member configured to actuate the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly, a firing assembly configured to drive the plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil, and a deck member. The deck member includes a deck surface extending radially between an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, and a plurality of staple openings extending through the deck surface. The plurality of staple openings define at least one cross shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: John Kevin Bruce, John Scott Kimsey, Yvan D. Nguetio Tchoumkeu, Morgan R. Hunter, Cory Kimball, Gregory J. Bakos, Christopher Q. Seow, Pierre Mesnil, Laura S. Downing, Jeffery Bruns, Ryan W. McGhee, Chester O. Baxter, III, John E. Feds, Michael J. Stokes
  • Patent number: 11660834
    Abstract: A pleated filter preparation system is provided for accurately counting pleats along a continuous sheet of pleated filter material and cutting the sheet into filter strips to be formed into filters. The pleated filter preparation system includes a pleat driver having multiple drive gears that engage with the pleats of the pleated filter material to move the pleated filter material through the system. A pleat counter counts peaks and valleys of each pleat comprising the pleated filter material so as to identify a target pleat to be cut. The pleat counter clamps and stretches the target pleat to distinguish the target pleat among the other pleats. A punch cut station cuts the target pleat to form a filter strip having a desired number of pleats. A pleat compressor compresses the filter strips to a predetermined size and then ejects the filter strips into a suitable container or bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: K&N Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Richard Fiello
  • Patent number: 11661369
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing glass containers handles the containers individually after a hot forming process and annealing to prevent glass-to-glass contact. By handling the containers individually and preventing glass-to-glass contact damage to the containers in the form of checks and scratches is avoided. To prevent contact of the containers and damage arising from the contact, the equipment including conveyors, pushers, starwheels, shuttles, and transfer heads that move the glass containers through the apparatus maintains the glass containers in uniform spaced relationship at each stage of container processing until the containers are packaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Gerresheimer Glass Inc.
    Inventor: Dean Scardino
  • Patent number: 11653926
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil and a stapling head assembly. The anvil defines staple forming pockets. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member, a firing assembly, and a staple deck. The coupling member is configured to actuate relative to the body to thereby acuate the anvil relative to the body. The firing assembly is configured to drive staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The staple deck is defined by an outer arched perimeter and an inner arched perimeter fixed to the body. The staple deck defines staple openings. At least one non-tangential staple opening in the of staple openings extends along a longitudinal axis in a non-tangential relationship with a closest tangent line of the inner arched perimeter or the outer arched perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Shannon L. Jones, Gregory J. Bakos, Jeffery Bruns, Ryan W. McGhee, Scott A. Jenkins, Laura S. Downing, John E. Feds, Maxwell T. Rockman, John E. Brady, Ravi Patel, Aaron C. Voegele, Austin J. Bridges
  • Patent number: 11653916
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly operatively associated with the staple cartridge assembly, and a surgical buttress. The staple cartridge assembly includes a tissue facing surface having staple retaining slots defined therein, each staple retaining slot housing a staple therein, and an annular knife disposed radially inwardly of the tissue facing surface. The anvil assembly includes an anvil member including a tissue facing surface having staple forming recesses defined therein, and an anvil shaft extending from the anvil member. The surgical buttress is releasably disposed on the tissue facing surface of the staple cartridge assembly or the anvil assembly. The surgical buttress has an annular configuration defining a central aperture therethrough, and includes body segments extending radially outwardly about the central aperture in spaced radial relation relative to each other, and a ring segment interconnecting the body segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Charles R. Kollar, Kevin R. Fogarty
  • Patent number: 11654543
    Abstract: A stator for a brushless DC (BLDC) motor includes a stator core having stator teeth extending radially inwardly towards a center bore, stator windings respectively wound around the stator teeth, and insulating inserts having substantially the same longitudinal length as the stator core. The insulating inserts are longitudinally received between adjacent stator windings at or near inner tips of the adjacent stator teeth to substantially seal the center bore of the stator assembly from the stator windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Oktavec, David J. Smith, Jarrett A. Dunston, Andrew M. Palich, Michael R. Marjomaa, Kevin L. Pulley
  • Patent number: 11655131
    Abstract: A system of measuring a top surface of a closure to determine if the closure is properly affixed to a container. Multiple paths of measurements may be collected and analyzed. In various analysis paradigms, measurements on a given path are separated into different sets, such as a leading set that generally includes the first third of measurements, a trailing set that includes the trailing set of measurements, and a middle set that includes the middle third of measurements. Several methods of analysis may be based on a presumption that a properly affixed closure is symmetrical or near symmetrical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Silgan White Cap LLC
    Inventor: Thomas C. Schafer