Patents by Inventor Frederick Estera
Frederick Estera 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).
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Patent number: 11925378Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical device is disclosed including a surgical tool including a proximal transducer mounting portion defining a surface, a distal end effector end, and a waveguide disposed therebetween, the waveguide extending along a longitudinal axis. The ultrasonic surgical device further includes a transducer is in mechanical communication with the surface of the transducer mounting portion. The transducer is configured to operate in a D31 mode with respect to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Upon activation by an electrical signal having a predetermined frequency component, the transducer is configured to induce a standing wave in the surgical tool to cause the end effector to vibrate, the standing wave having a wavelength proportional to the predetermined frequency component of the electrical signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2019Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Brian D. Black, William A. Olson, Foster B. Stulen, Frederick Estera, William E. Clem, Jerome R. Morgan, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Stephen M. Leuck, Kevin L. Houser
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Patent number: 11350959Abstract: A method of fabricating an ultrasonic medical device is presented. The method includes machining a surgical tool from a flat metal stock, contacting a face of a first transducer with a first face of the surgical tool, and contacting a face of a second transducer with an opposing face of the surgical tool opposite the first transducer. The first and second transducers are configured to operate in a D31 mode with respect to the longitudinal portion of the surgical tool. Upon activation, the first transducer and the second transducer are configured to induce a standing wave in the surgical tool and the induced standing wave comprises a node at a node location in the surgical tool and an antinode at an antinode location in the surgical tool.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Brian D. Black, William A. Olson, Frederick Estera, William E. Clem, Jerome R. Morgan, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Stephen M. Leuck
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Patent number: 10842522Abstract: Ultrasonic surgical instruments having angularly and/or linearly off-set blades are described. The angularly and/or linearly off-set blades may facilitate increased surgical site access, visibility, and manipulability.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2016Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Cory G Kimball, William E. Clem, Gregory W. Johnson, Frederick Estera, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Foster B. Stulen
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Patent number: 10828056Abstract: Various ultrasonic instruments are disclosed. The ultrasonic instruments include an ultrasonic waveguide acoustically coupled to an ultrasonic transducer. Several techniques for acoustically coupling the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic waveguide are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Benjamin D. Dickerson, Rafael J. Ruiz Ortiz, Ryan M. Asher, Joseph D. Dennis, Brian D. Black, Craig T. Davis, Mark E. Tebbe, Ion V. Nicolaescu, Frederick Estera, William A. Olson, Amelia Pierce, James Wilson, William D. Dannaher, Fajian Zhang, Foster B. Stulen
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Patent number: 10779847Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include various ultrasonic surgical instruments. At least one disclosed surgical instrument includes a waveguide including a blade and a transducer base plate. The transducer base plate may be coupled to the waveguide to define a tapered joint at an interface between the waveguide and the transducer base plate. The transducer base plate may include first and second sides defining corresponding first and second flat faces configured to receive first and second piezoelectric elements. The first and second piezoelectric elements are configured to operate in a D31 mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Brian D. Black, Frederick Estera, Jason R. Lesko, Benjamin M. Boyd, Kevin M. Fiebig, Chad P. Boudreaux, Grace E. Waters, Kristen G. Denzinger, Amy M. Krumm, Amelia A. Pierce, Chad E. Eckert, Joseph D. Dennis, Ion V. Nicolaescu, Monica L. Zeckel, William A. Olson, Patrick J. Scoggins, Larry A. Pummill, Jr., John S. Frazier, William A. Crawford, Brian J. Hemmelgarn, Eric Stout, Benjamin D. Dickerson
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Publication number: 20200078085Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a single surgical instrument configured to grasp, seal, and/or cut tissue through application of therapeutic energy, and also detect nerves through application of non-therapeutic electrical energy. A medical device may include two jaws at an end effector, used to apply therapeutic energy and to perform surgical procedures. The therapeutic energy may be in the form of ultrasonic vibrations or higher voltage electrosurgical energy. One of the jaws may be configured to cut tissue through application of the blade. In addition, one or both of the two jaws may be configured to apply nontherapeutic energy for nerve stimulation probing. The application of therapeutic energy may be disabled while the nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy is applied, and vice versa. The nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy may be applied to the use of one or more probes positioned near one or both of the jaws.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: David C. Yates, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Cameron D. McLain, Peter K. Shires, Frederick Estera, Cameron R. Nott, Foster B. Stulen, Christopher A. Papa
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Publication number: 20190350615Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical device is disclosed including a surgical tool including a proximal transducer mounting portion defining a surface, a distal end effector end, and a waveguide disposed therebetween, the waveguide extending along a longitudinal axis. The ultrasonic surgical device further includes a transducer is in mechanical communication with the surface of the transducer mounting portion. The transducer is configured to operate in a D31 mode with respect to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2019Publication date: November 21, 2019Inventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Brian D. Black, William A. Olson, Foster B. Stulen, Frederick Estera, William E. Clem, Jerome R. Morgan, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Stephen M. Leuck, Kevin L. Houser
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Patent number: 10456193Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a single surgical instrument configured to grasp, seal, and/or cut tissue through application of therapeutic energy, and also detect nerves through application of non-therapeutic electrical energy. A medical device may include two jaws at an end effector, used to apply therapeutic energy and to perform surgical procedures. The therapeutic energy may be in the form of ultrasonic vibrations or higher voltage electrosurgical energy. One of the jaws may be configured to cut tissue through application of the blade. In addition, one or both of the two jaws may be configured to apply nontherapeutic energy for nerve stimulation probing. The application of therapeutic energy may be disabled while the nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy is applied, and vice versa. The nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy may be applied to the use of one or more probes positioned near one or both of the jaws.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: David C. Yates, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Cameron D. McLain, Peter K. Shires, Frederick Estera, Cameron R. Nott, Foster B. Stulen, Christopher A. Papa
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Patent number: 10420580Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic medical device that may include a surgical tool having a proximal end, an end effector, and a waveguide between them, a first transducer in mechanical communication with a first face of the surgical tool, and a second transducer in mechanical communication with an opposing face of the surgical tool, opposite the first transducer. The first transducer and the second transducer are configured to operate in a D31 mode with respect to the waveguide of the surgical tool. Another aspect comprises a method of fabricating the ultrasonic medical device, in which the surgical tool is machined from a portion of a flat metal stock so that the surgical tool has a longitudinal axis oriented at an angle with respect to a grain direction of the flat metal stock thereby optimizing an operational characteristic of the surgical tool.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Brian D. Black, William A. Olson, Foster B. Stulen, Frederick Estera, William E. Clem, Jerome R. Morgan, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Stephen M. Leuck, Kevin L. Houser
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Publication number: 20180055530Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic medical device that may include a surgical tool having a proximal end, an end effector, and a waveguide between them, a first transducer in mechanical communication with a first face of the surgical tool, and a second transducer in mechanical communication with an opposing face of the surgical tool, opposite the first transducer. The first transducer and the second transducer are configured to operate in a D31 mode with respect to the waveguide of the surgical tool. Another aspect comprises a method of fabricating the ultrasonic medical device, in which the surgical tool is machined from a portion of a flat metal stock so that the surgical tool has a longitudinal axis oriented at an angle with respect to a grain direction of the flat metal stock thereby optimizing an operational characteristic of the surgical tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Brian D. Black, William A. Olson, Foster B. Stulen, Frederick Estera, William E. Clem, Jerome R. Morgan, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Stephen M. Leuck
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Publication number: 20180055532Abstract: Various ultrasonic surgical instruments are disclosed. At least one disclosed surgical instrument includes a waveguide including a blade and a transducer base plate. The transducer base plate coupled to the waveguide to define a joint at an interface between the waveguide and the transducer base plate. The transducer base plate including first and second sides defining corresponding first and second flat faces configured to receive first and second piezoelectric elements. The first and second piezoelectric elements are configured to operate in a D31 mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Brian D. Black, Frederick Estera, Jason R. Lesko, Benjamin M. Boyd, Kevin M. Fiebig, Chad P. Boudreaux, Grace E. Waters, Kristen G. Denzinger, Amy M. Krumm, Amelia Pierce, Chad E. Eckert, Joseph D. Dennis, Ion V. Nicolaescu, Monica L. Zeckel, William A. Olson, Patrick J. Scoggins, Larry A. Pummill, JR., John S. Frazier, William A. Crawford, Brian J. Hemmelgarn, Eric Stout, Benjamin D. Dickerson
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Publication number: 20180055529Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating an ultrasonic medical device. The method includes machining a surgical tool from a flat metal stock, contacting a face of a first transducer with a first face of the surgical tool, and contacting a face of a second transducer with an opposing face of the surgical tool opposite the first transducer. The first and second transducers are configured to operate in a D31 mode with respect to the longitudinal portion of the surgical tool. Upon activation, the first transducer and the second transducer are configured to induce a standing wave in the surgical tool and the induced standing wave comprises a node at a node location in the surgical tool and an antinode at an antinode location in the surgical tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Brian D. Black, William A. Olson, Foster B. Stulen, Frederick Estera, William E. Clem, Jerome R. Morgan, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Stephen M. Leuck
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Publication number: 20180056095Abstract: Various ultrasonic instruments are disclosed. The ultrasonic instruments include an ultrasonic waveguide acoustically coupled to an ultrasonic transducer. Several techniques for acoustically coupling the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic waveguide are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Benjamin D. Dickerson, Rafael J. Ruiz Ortiz, Ryan M. Asher, Joseph D. Dennis, Brian D. Black, Craig T. Davis, Mark E. Tebbe, Ion V. Nicolaescu, Frederick Estera, William A. Olson, Amelia Pierce, James Wilson, William D. Dannaher, Fajian Zhang, Foster B. Stulen
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Publication number: 20180014848Abstract: Ultrasonic surgical instruments having angularly and/or linearly off-set blades are described. The angularly and/or linearly off-set blades may facilitate increased surgical site access, visibility, and manipulability.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2016Publication date: January 18, 2018Inventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Cory G. Kimball, William E. Clem, Gregory W. Johnson, Frederick Estera, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Foster B. Stulen
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Publication number: 20170319265Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a single surgical instrument configured to grasp, seal, and/or cut tissue through application of therapeutic energy, and also detect nerves through application of non-therapeutic electrical energy. A medical device may include two jaws at an end effector, used to apply therapeutic energy and to perform surgical procedures. The therapeutic energy may be in the form of ultrasonic vibrations or higher voltage electrosurgical energy. One of the jaws may be configured to cut tissue through application of the blade. In addition, one or both of the two jaws may be configured to apply nontherapeutic energy for nerve stimulation probing. The application of therapeutic energy may be disabled while the nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy is applied, and vice versa. The nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy may be applied to the use of one or more probes positioned near one or both of the jaws.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2017Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: David C. Yates, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Cameron D. McLain, Peter K. Shires, Frederick Estera, Cameron R. Nott, Foster B. Stulen, Christopher A. Papa