Patents Examined by Robert Long
  • Patent number: 10117656
    Abstract: A loading unit assembly includes a shell assembly and a locking collar. The shell assembly has a proximally extending annular ring that defines a cylindrical opening. The annular ring defines a lock opening that passes through the annular ring. The shell assembly defines a retention slot that is adjacent the annular ring on an opposite side of the annular ring from the lock opening. The locking collar is positioned about the annular ring and has a body, a lock, and a retention tab. The body includes a release surface. The locking collar has a locked configuration wherein the lock extends into the cylindrical opening and an unlocked configuration wherein the lock is disposed outwardly of the cylindrical opening. The side of the locking collar opposite the lock is prevented from moving outwardly in relation to the annular ring when the release surface is pressed inwardly towards the annular ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Anthony Sgroi, Jr., Christopher Penna
  • Patent number: 10118282
    Abstract: An Impulse wrench includes: a housing, a motor with a stator and a rotor, an impulse unit including an output shaft, a power control unit connected to the motor, and a trigger supported on the housing and connected to the power control unit and arranged to selectively deliver signals to activate the power control unit, wherein the impulse unit including the output shaft is axially displaceable in relation to the housing. The trigger includes a sensor arranged to be activated and deliver signals in response to axial displacements of the impulse unit including the output shaft relative to the housing, and the power control unit is arranged to control the motor operation in response to signals received from said sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Industrial Technique AB
    Inventor: Hans Niklas Öberg
  • Patent number: 10117675
    Abstract: A surgical system including a surgical instrument and a protection device is included. The surgical system includes a surgical instrument having an extension assembly releasably coupled thereto. The extension assembly includes a trocar member disposed within a distal end of the extension assembly and the trocar member includes an engagement feature defined in an outer surface thereof. The protection device is releasably coupled to the engagement feature of the trocar member, thereby providing a barrier adjacent a tip of the trocar member. A method of sterilizing a surgical instrument is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Ramiro Cabrera, Stephen Paul, David Valentine
  • Patent number: 10111665
    Abstract: An electromechanical surgical system includes an electromechanical surgical device, an adapter assembly, and a surgical loading unit. The adapter assembly includes a rotatable drive sleeve configured to receive a rotatable drive connector of the surgical device, a single rotatable drive shaft rotatably connected to the drive sleeve, and a gear disposed around a distal end of the drive shaft. The loading unit includes a cartridge jaw including a mounting portion defining a receiving channel, a power screw disposed within the receiving channel, a gear member mounted on a proximal portion of the power screw and operably engagable with the gear of the adapter assembly, and a locking mechanism disposed within the mounting portion for locking the loading unit to the adapter assembly that is movable between an unlocked position when the cartridge jaw is free of a cartridge and a locked position when a cartridge is loaded therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Ernest Aranyi, Kenneth H. Whitfield, David Farascioni
  • Patent number: 10112290
    Abstract: A device for monitoring pressure within a gas space, which is filled with gas, preferably nitrogen, and/or is prestressed, of a pressure accumulator of a hydraulically driven percussive mechanism having a housing in which a piston is mounted, together with a display element which extends through the face surface of the housing, so as to be slidingly movable counter to the force of a spring, wherein the piston divides the housing into a pressure chamber and a spring chamber. The spring acts on a spring chamber-side working surface of the piston, and the pressure accumulator is at least indirectly operatively connected to the pressure chamber-side working surface of the piston, such that, in the event of a critical pressure within the pressure accumulator being undershot, the piston and the display element are displaced to such an extent that the display element protrudes out of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: CONSTRUCTION TOOLS GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Autschbach, Stefan Lohmann
  • Patent number: 10099351
    Abstract: A hand held power tool, for delivering a torque to a joint, includes a housing that houses a motor arranged to drive an input shaft; an output shaft arranged to provide a torque to the joint; and a planetary gear connecting the input shaft to the output shaft. A flywheel is arranged to rotate freely with respect to the housing. A cam block, loosely fitted inside the housing, is rotatively connected to a part of the planetary gear and connected to the housing via a cam profile, wherein an interaction between the cam block and the cam profile will force the cam block into contact with the flywheel when the cam block is rotated. Thus, any counterforces acting on the output shaft will be provided to the flywheel via the planetary gear, such that the operator will not need to provide any counterforces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Industrial Technique AB
    Inventor: Robin McGougan
  • Patent number: 10094754
    Abstract: A pressure indicator for a hydraulic hammer is provided. The pressure indicator includes a sleeve member configured to couple to an opening defined in a wall housing of an accumulator of the hydraulic hammer. The pressure indicator further includes a plunger slidably disposed within the sleeve member and movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the sleeve member. The plunger includes a first end disposed outside the wall housing of the accumulator. The plunger further includes a flange coupled to a second end. The pressure indicator further includes an elastic member inserted over the plunger and disposed between the wall housing of the accumulator and the flange. A position of the first end of the plunger with reference to an outer end of the sleeve member provides a visual indication of the pressure of the gas within the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Cody T. Moore, Lauritz P. Pillers
  • Patent number: 10085746
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying tacks to tissue. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongated portion, an outer tube, an end effector, a rotation assembly, and a rotation-limiting structure. The rotation assembly is configured to rotate at least a portion of the outer tube about a first longitudinal axis and with respect to the handle assembly. The rotation assembly includes a rotation knob rotationally fixed to a proximal portion of the outer tube. The rotation-limiting structure is disposed in mechanical cooperation with at least one of the rotation assembly and the handle assembly, and is configured to limit an amount of rotation of the outer tube with respect to the handle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Gregory Fischvogt
  • Patent number: 10085750
    Abstract: A receiving assembly for releasably coupling a loading unit to an adapter while preventing inadvertent actuation of the loading unit includes a load link, a tip housing, and a locking member. The load link includes a distal portion and the tip housing defines a longitudinal slot and a lock opening. The locking member includes a member body and a locking tab extending from a lower surface thereof. The member body is disposed within the longitudinal slot of the tip housing. The locking member is moveable between an unlocked position such that the locking tab is positioned within the lock opening and a locked position such that the locking tab extends from the lock opening. The distal portion of the load link engages the member body of the locking member to pivot the locking member from the unlocked position to the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Earl Zergiebel, Stanislaw Marczyk
  • Patent number: 10086507
    Abstract: A hand-held machine tool device, in particular, for a screwdriver (12a-h), having a locking device (14a-h) for locking a power take-off unit (16a-h), and having a rotational bearing device (18a-h) of the power take-off unit (16a-h). It is provided that at least part of the locking device (14a-h) and the rotational bearing device (18a-h) be formed in one piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Joachim Hecht, Heiko Roehm, Martin Kraus
  • Patent number: 10085756
    Abstract: An anvil assembly suitable for trans-oral delivery includes an anvil head configured to receive a guide suture that is separable from the anvil assembly during a stapling procedure. An anvil delivery assembly includes the anvil assembly and a suture guide assembly secured to the anvil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Justin Williams
  • Patent number: 10085744
    Abstract: A loading unit and retention band assembly including a shell and a retention band. The shell has a proximal end portion that defines an engagement window and that includes an annular surface. The retention band is disposed radially about the annular surface of the proximal end portion and includes a resilient body having first and second ends. The first end includes a resilient lock that is configured to extend through the engagement window of the proximal end portion of the shell. The resilient lock is dimensioned to releasably engage a surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Justin Williams, Paul D. Richard
  • Patent number: 10080565
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument (1) comprises a staple fastening assembly (4) in the distal region of said instrument, the staple fastening assembly (4) including a cartridge device (8) which comprises at least one closed row (17, 18) of staples and defines a wavy distal end surface (14), and an anvil (9) which defines a wavy proximal staple forming surface (20) substantially matching the distal end surface (14) and which is adapted to cooperate with the cartridge device (8) for forming the ends of the staples exiting from the cartridge device (8), wherein the distal end surface (14) and the staple forming surface (20) have a globally wavy shape including two opposite peaks (21) and two opposite valleys (22) angularly spaced at about 90° from the adjacent peaks (21) and in that said two-peaks-two-valleys wavy shape is formed by a stepped configuration of said surfaces (14, 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Alessandro Pastorelli, Michael A. Murray, William Bruce Weisenburgh, II, Federico Bilotti, Laszlo Csiky, Todd Phillip Omaits
  • Patent number: 10081447
    Abstract: A spreading unit for a container sleeving device, configured to spread open flattened tubular foil material to form a sleeve, to bring the sleeve in a target tubular shape and to discharge the sleeve towards the container, the spreading unit including a mandrel including: an upstream mandrel element for spreading open the flattened tubular foil material having a substantially constant cross-section in axial direction; a downstream mandrel element having a non-constant cross-section in axial direction; an intermediate mandrel element positioned between the upstream and downstream mandrel elements; wherein the downstream mandrel element comprises flaring sides and tapering sides and the intermediate mandrel element is recessed relative to the upstream mandrel element to allow the upstream part of a sleeve to move radially inward when the downstream part of the sleeve moves along the flaring sides of the downstream mandrel element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI SEAL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Lucas Van Rijsewijk
  • Patent number: 10080566
    Abstract: A circular stapling instrument including a stapling forming assembly that is actuated independently from actuation of the cutting assembly is provided. The instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongate body extending from the handle assembly, a cartridge assembly mounted on a distal end of the elongate body. The cartridge assembly includes a pusher assembly and a knife assembly. The knife assembly is selectively fixed relative to the pusher assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Keith L. Milliman
  • Patent number: 10076329
    Abstract: Adjunct material to promote tissue growth is provided. In general, an implantable adjunct can be configured to be applied to tissue by a surgical stapler in conjunction with staples. The adjunct can have one or more medicants releasably retained therein that are effective to provide a desired effect on tissue in-growth in a predetermined manner. One or more characteristics associated with the adjunct can be altered between various implementations to promote organized tissue remodeling in a desired manner during wound healing, such as by encouraging tissue growth to be in a certain direction and/or by discouraging tissue growth in a certain area and/or on a certain structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Michael J. Vendely, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 10076831
    Abstract: A buffer system for a hydraulic hammer is disclosed. The buffer system includes a wear member disposed between a first component and a second component. The wear member includes a first surface. The first surface is adapted to abut an inner surface of the first component. The wear member also includes a second surface distal to the first surface. The second surface is adapted to abut an outer surface of the second component. The buffer system also includes an insert member disposed in the wear member between the first surface and the second surface thereof. The insert member provides a visual indication when a predefined thickness of the wear member between the first surface and the second surface is worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Cody T. Moore
  • Patent number: 10071467
    Abstract: A hand-guided power tool, having a housing and a tool holder disposed on a drive shaft. The drive shaft is rotatably supported in the housing in at least one first bearing that is disposed in at least some portions in the vicinity of a face end of the housing oriented toward the tool holder. Between the first bearing and the tool holder, a detent mechanism for impact generation for the drive shaft is embodied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Heiko Roehm, Tobias Herr
  • Patent number: 10065279
    Abstract: A method and a system for dispensing bolts are provided. The system includes a dispensing cartridge including a dispensing tube and a dispensing section. The dispensing tube includes a first end, a second end, and a passage provided between the first end and the second end. The passage is configured to store a plurality of bolts to be supplied to the dispensing tube through the first end such that the bolts are moved through the passage. The dispensing section is located near the second end of the dispensing tube and is configured to dispense the bolts one at a time from the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Samuel J. Neumeier, Ryan M. Johnson, Joseph E. Dukehart, Kurt Ehemann, Chris Evers
  • Patent number: 10064688
    Abstract: Devices and systems are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device by means of a robotic system. In one embodiment, systems and devices are provided for moving an end effector on a distal end of a surgical fastening device. Movement can include rotational movement of the end effector about an axis of the shaft, articulation of the end effector relative to the shaft, and actuation of an end effector, e.g., closing, firing, and/or cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan