Patents Examined by Scott A. Smith
  • Patent number: 11896327
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector having first and second jaws that cooperate to clamp in vivo material of a patient, and a first electrode that delivers an electrical signal to the in vivo material. The instrument further includes a second electrode that receives the electrical signal from the first electrode, and an electrical circuit housed within the end effector. The electrical circuit includes a microcontroller that controls delivery of the electrical signal to the first electrode, where the electrical signal passes through the in vivo material to the second electrode. The electrical circuit also determines an electrical impedance of the in vivo material and determines at least one of a presence or absence of tissue in the in vivo material, or a characteristic of tissue in the in vivo material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Eyal Aklivanh, Sean C. Eves Knudsen, Darshini Balamurugan, Lewis T. Cronis, Zhijun Liu
  • Patent number: 11883052
    Abstract: Examples herein describes a powered surgical end-effector that may include a controllable jaw configured to operate on a tissue, an updatable memory having stored therein a default actuation algorithm, and and a processor. The processor may be configured to operate in a first mode at a first time, wherein in the first mode the processor may be configured to operate an aspect of the controllable jaw according to the default actuation algorithm. The processor may receive data at a second time, after the first time, that may cause the processor to operate in a second mode, wherein in the second mode the processor may be configured to operate an aspect of the controllable jaw according to an alternative actuation algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Shane R. Adams, Kevin M. Fiebig, Michael J. Vendely
  • Patent number: 11877739
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems, medical devices, and methods for closing an opening in a target tissue using hydraulics and/or pneumatics. In some embodiments, a medical device may include an endoscopic device operable to close an opening in a target tissue, and an actuator operable with the endoscopic device, wherein the actuator includes a piston within a chamber. The piston may include a piston head engaged with an interior surface of the chamber, and a piston rod coupled to a tissue engagement component of the endoscopic device, wherein pressure from a fluid within the chamber actuates the tissue engagement component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun D. Comee, Kathryn Venuto
  • Patent number: 11873654
    Abstract: A fence installation apparatus that is operably coupled to a vehicle wherein the vehicle is traversed along a desired fence line while the fence apparatus is utilized to provide installation of a fence. The fence installation apparatus includes a drive assembly support frame having a rear support member and front support member. The rear support member and the front support member having operably coupled thereto a first drive member and a second drive member. The first drive member and second drive member are configured to drive fence posts into the ground. The fence installation apparatus further includes a first wire dispenser that is rotatably mounted in order to provide distribution of a wire during fence installation. A second wire dispenser is further included to dispense a second wire and further has a pole mount and pole member coupled thereto for distribution of fence accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Travis Johnson
  • Patent number: 11871924
    Abstract: A surgical instrument module for powering a plurality of discrete surgical end effectors includes a motor, a planetary gear box, a high-torque/low-speed output operably coupled to the motor, and a high-speed/low-torque output operably coupled to the motor. The high-torque/low-speed is configured to be operably coupled to a driven member of a first type of surgical end effector, and the high-speed/low-torque output is configured to drive an operation of a second type of surgical end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: David A Nicholas, Russell V. Pribanic
  • Patent number: 11864954
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a tool driver, and a drive housing inductively coupled to the tool driver when mounted to the tool driver and generating a magnetic field, the drive housing including one or more component parts made of or including a magnetically responsive material. A computer system is programmed to process an intensity of the magnetic field and a field distortion caused by the one or more component parts, and further programmed to generate a notification when the field distortion changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventor: Mark D. Overmyer
  • Patent number: 11864758
    Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a first half having a first elongate member and a surface with staple forming pockets. The stapler also includes a second half for releasably coupling with the first half and including a second elongate member having a distal portion for deploying staples. The elongate members are pivotable relative to each other about a pivot axis when the halves are releasably coupled. The stapler further includes a latching member for selectively clamping the halves in a clamped state. The stapler also includes a detent member extending laterally from one of the halves toward the other. The stapler further includes a shoulder member positioned on the other of the halves and configured to selectively engage the detent member in response to rotation of the first elongate member away from the second elongate member to an open state in which the elongate members assume a maximum angular orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventor: Brian D. Schings
  • Patent number: 11857183
    Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly can include a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive. The surgical stapling assembly can further include a 3D-printed component. The 3D-printed component can include a plastic body and one or more metal substrates with interlocking features embedded in the plastic body. The surgical stapling assembly can include a firing member having a flexible portion configured to flex more readily that adjacent portions of the firing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventor: Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 11857194
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to adapter assemblies for use with and to electrically and mechanically interconnect electromechanical surgical devices and surgical reloads, and to surgical systems including handheld electromechanical surgical devices and adapter assemblies for connecting surgical reloads to the handheld electromechanical surgical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Patrick Mozdzierz, James Delbo, Scott Firth, John Hryb, Steven Joyce, Charles Kollar, Stephen Paul, Paul Richard, Anthony Sgroi, Jr., David Valentine
  • Patent number: 11862884
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a housing, an elongated portion, and a loading unit is disclosed. The elongated portion extends distally from the housing, defines a longitudinal axis, and includes an electrical contact. The loading unit is configured to releasably engage the elongated portion. The loading unit includes an electronic component, a proximal portion including an electrical contact in electrical communication with the electronic component, and an end effector coupled to the proximal portion and configured to manipulate tissue. Engagement between the elongated portion and the loading unit causes the electrical contact of the elongated portion to engage the electrical contact of the loading unit thereby electrically connecting the elongated portion and the loading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Andriy Buyda, David M. Chowaniec, Xingrui Chen, Brian J. Creston, Saumya Banerjee
  • Patent number: 11849941
    Abstract: A surgical stapler including an anvil, a staple cartridge, and a buttress material removably retained to the anvil and/or staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the staple cartridge can include at least one staple removably stored therein which can, when deployed, or fired, therefrom, contact the buttress material and remove the buttress material from the anvil and/or staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, the anvil can include at least one lip and/or groove configured to removably retain the buttress material to the anvil until deformable members extending from the surgical staple are bent by the anvil and are directed toward and contact the buttress material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Christopher J. Hess, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Carl J. Shurtleff
  • Patent number: 11849942
    Abstract: A stapling end effector includes an anvil assembly having a distal end and defining a plurality of staple forming pockets, and a cartridge assembly pivotal relative to the anvil assembly such that the end effector is movable between open and clamped positions. The anvil assembly supports a plurality of staples corresponding to the plurality of staple forming pockets. The surgical stapling instrument further includes a sensing tip disposed on a distal end of the end effector. The sensing tip is formed of a flexible material and includes at least one sensor for measuring at least one mechanical property. The mechanical property may include force, pressure or torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Olesea Diaz-Chiosa
  • Patent number: 11849946
    Abstract: A surgical stapler. The surgical stapler includes a drive system, an electric motor, a battery and a control system. The drive system includes an actuation member. The electric motor is mechanically coupled to the drive system. The battery is electrically couplable to the electric motor. The control system includes an H-bridge circuit electrically couplable to the electric motor. The control system is configured to control the electric motor based on a sensed parameter associated with the electric motor, a position of the actuation member and a velocity of the actuation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: David C. Yates, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 11839964
    Abstract: A reciprocating power tool may include a driving system including a motor and a transmission received in a housing to drive a reciprocating mechanism. A counterbalance mechanism may be coupled between the driving system and the reciprocating mechanism. The counterbalance mechanism may include a rotating counterbalance mechanism including a first rotating counterweight member and a second rotating counterweight member coupled to an output gear of the driving system. The counterbalance mechanism may include a rocking counterweight member coupled between the output gear and the housing. The output gear may include a recessed portion in which the first rotating counterweight member and a clutching system are received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventor: Yanchao Wang
  • Patent number: 11832815
    Abstract: A stapling device includes first and second jaws. The second jaw defines first and second threaded bores. A drive member has a distal end portion supporting a rack. An approximation drive assembly includes a first lead screw received within the first threaded bore. A second lead screw is received within the second threaded bore. A first pinion is supported on the first lead screw. A second pinion is supported on the second lead screw. Moving the drive member from the retracted position toward the advanced position advances the rack to rotate the first pinion and the second pinion, the first lead screw within the first threaded bore, and the second lead screw within the second threaded bore to move the second jaw in relation to the first jaw from an open position to a clamped position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Rajat Ravindra Rokde, Rajanikanth Mandula
  • Patent number: 11813032
    Abstract: A method of operating a surgical tool includes coupling a drive housing to a tool driver of a first robotic surgical system, driving rotation of a drive shaft mounted within the drive housing and thereby commencing a firing sequence of the end effector, and setting a bailout Boolean value as “true” in an internal computer of the drive housing upon commencing the firing sequence, and storing the bailout Boolean value in a memory of the internal computer. Manually bailing out the surgical tool before completing the firing sequence, installing the surgical tool on a tool driver of a second robotic surgical system, and querying the memory of the internal computer with the second robotic surgical system and recognizing the bailout Boolean value as “true”. Initiating one or more remedial actions to ensure safe operation of the surgical tool on the second robotic surgical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Benjamin Lawrence Bertram, Christopher A. Denzinger, Robert Louis Koch, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11812953
    Abstract: Implantable materials for use with end effectors like surgical stapling devices, and methods for using the same, are generally provided. In some embodiments, adjunct materials for use with surgical staplers are provided. For example, a kit for stapling tissue is provided that can include a surgical stapler having an end effector. The end effector can have first and second jaws. The kit can include an adjunct material having hydrophobic surface regions and hydrophilic surface regions and the adjunct material can be configured to mate to at least one of the jaws of the end effector. Other implants, devices, and methods for surgical stapling are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Tamara S. V. Widenhouse
  • Patent number: 11812957
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a signal interference detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Patrick L. Creamer
  • Patent number: 11813028
    Abstract: An active detection self-propelled artificial intelligence surgery navigation cart applied in medical institutes includes a cart body, a control unit, a signal transmission unit, a detection unit, a robotic arm and/or an optical navigation host. The cart can travel to a designated place or follow a counterpart (based on a stored map path) according to a predetermined schedule or an inputted instruction, or the cart can be controlled by an external remote control system or a counterpart to be followed, so as to achieve the effect of reducing the burden of medical staff while they are walking around, so that the medical staff can concentrate on the care of patients or improve the quality of surgical operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: EPED, Inc.
    Inventors: Ta-Ko Huang, Jerry T. Huang
  • Patent number: 11801059
    Abstract: A system for driving an ultrasonic device for bone cement removal and/or osteotomy operations comprises a control unit, a memory unit, and a connector for connecting together the control unit and a handset of the ultrasonic device. The control unit is configured to send a signal to the handset, receive from the handset a response to the signal sent, and check an operating condition of the ultrasonic device based on this response. Related device, method and computer program are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Orthofix S.R.L.
    Inventors: Daniele Venturini, Mario Donnici, Pieralbino Colombo, Alessandro Finezzo, Gianluca Zandona'