Patents by Inventor Donald R. Loeffler

Donald R. Loeffler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6179834
    Abstract: A clamping force mechanism and its method of use with electrosurgery allow a user to seal and/or join patient's particular vascular tissue; the mechanism is elongate with user and patient ends. An actuator is at the user end and the effectors are at the patient end. Each effector has a face of an area to contact the particular vascular tissue. A lost motion connection transfers user actuation to the effectors to hold a predetermined clamping force during electrosurgical tissue sealing. A yielding member in the loss motion connection clamps the particular tissue between the faces with a predetermined force. The yielding member is a spring, slip clutch or hydraulic coupling possibly near the actuator. An active electrode is carried on one end effector and a return electrode contacts the tissue so an electrosurgical energy supply connected thereacross delivers energy therebetween. A feedback circuit responds to parameters of energy delivered to tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
    Inventors: Steven P. Buysse, Jenifer S. Kennedy, Michael J. Lands, Donald R. Loeffler, S. Wade Lukianow, Thomas P. Ryan
  • Patent number: 6039733
    Abstract: A clamping force mechanism and its method of use with electrosurgery allow a user to seal and/or join patient's particular vascular tissue; the mechanism is elongate with user and patient ends. An actuator is at the user end and the effectors are at the patient end. Each effector has a face of an area to contact the particular vascular tissue. A lost motion connection transfers user actuation to the effectors to hold a predetermined clamping force during electrosurgical tissue sealing. A yielding member in the loss motion connection clamps the particular tissue between the faces with a predetermined force. The yielding member is a spring, slip clutch or hydraulic coupling possibly near the actuator. An active electrode is carried on one end effector and a return electrode contacts the tissue so an electrosurgical energy supply connected thereacross delivers energy therebetween. A feedback circuit responds to parameters of energy delivered to tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Valleylab, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Buysse, Jenifer S. Kennedy, Michael J. Lands, Donald R. Loeffler, S. Wade Lukianow, Thomas P. Ryan
  • Patent number: 5776130
    Abstract: A clamping force mechanism for use with electrosurgery allow a user to seal and/or join patient's particular vascular tissue; the mechanism is elongate with user and patient ends. An actuator is at the user end and the effectors are at the patient end. Each effector has a face of an area to contact the particular vascular tissue. A lost motion connection transfers user actuation to the effectors to hold a predetermined clamping force during electrosurgical tissue sealing. A yielding member in the loss motion connection clamps the particular tissue between the faces with a predetermined force. The yielding member is a spring, slip clutch or hydraulic coupling possibly near the actuator. An active electrode is carried on one end effector and a return electrode contacts the tissue so an electrosurgical energy supply connected thereacross delivers energy therebetween. A feedback circuit responds to parameters of energy delivered to tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Valleylab, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Buysse, Jenifer S. Kennedy, Michael J. Lands, Donald R. Loeffler, S. Wade Lukianow, Thomas P. Ryan