Patents by Inventor J. Bruce Dunne
J. Bruce Dunne 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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SURGICAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADJUSTING SEALING PARAMETERS BASED ON SENSED TISSUE CHARACTERISTICS
Publication number: 20220313350Abstract: A surgical forceps includes a housing having one or more shafts attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another. At least one jaw member is moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members include at least one sensing component that determines an output of one or both of cross-sectional diameter and composition of tissue disposed between the jaw members. A processing component is configured to receive the output and determine a seal pressure for adequately sealing tissue disposed between the jaw members based upon the output. A regulating component regulates the movement of the jaw members between the first and second positions such that the determined seal pressure is applied to tissue disposed therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Jennifer S. Harper, J. Bruce Dunne -
Patent number: 11389229Abstract: A surgical forceps includes a housing having one or more shafts attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another. At least one jaw member is moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members include at least one sensing component that determines an output of one or both of cross-sectional diameter and composition of tissue disposed between the jaw members. A processing component is configured to receive the output and determine a seal pressure for adequately sealing tissue disposed between the jaw members based upon the output. A regulating component regulates the movement of the jaw members between the first and second positions such that the determined seal pressure is applied to tissue disposed therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Jennifer S. Harper, J. Bruce Dunne
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Publication number: 20190282296Abstract: A surgical forceps includes a housing having one or more shafts attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another. At least one jaw member is moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members include at least one sensing component that determines an output of one or both of cross-sectional diameter and composition of tissue disposed between the jaw members. A processing component is configured to receive the output and determine a seal pressure for adequately sealing tissue disposed between the jaw members based upon the output. A regulating component regulates the movement of the jaw members between the first and second positions such that the determined seal pressure is applied to tissue disposed therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: JENNIFER S. HARPER, J. BRUCE DUNNE
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Patent number: 10335226Abstract: A surgical forceps includes a housing having one or more shafts attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another. At least one jaw member is moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members include at least one sensing component that determines an output of one or both of cross-sectional diameter and composition of tissue disposed between the jaw members. A processing component is configured to receive the output and determine a seal pressure for adequately sealing tissue disposed between the jaw members based upon the output. A regulating component regulates the movement of the jaw members between the first and second positions such that the determined seal pressure is applied to tissue disposed therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2015Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Jennifer S. Harper, J. Bruce Dunne
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Patent number: 9839467Abstract: A surgical forceps includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members having opposed seal plates, each of the seal plates having a width. At least one of the jaw members is moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. A sensing component is configured to determine an output relating to a diameter of tissue or a composition of tissue disposed between the opposed seal plates of the first and second jaw members. An expanding component is configured to expand the width of at least one of the opposed seal plates according to the determined output.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2013Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Jennifer S. Harper, J. Bruce Dunne
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Publication number: 20170000555Abstract: A surgical instrument includes one or more electrically-conductive plates adapted to connect to a source of energy for supplying energy to tissue to treat tissue, a temperature sensing element, and a thermal spread control assembly coupled to the temperature sensing element. The thermal spread control assembly is configured to determine a flow rate of heat energy across the temperature sensing element and to control the energy applied to the electrically-conductive plate and/or control active cooling of the temperature sensing element in accordance with the determined flow rate of heat energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Inventors: JAMES H. ORSZULAK, J. BRUCE DUNNE
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Patent number: 9439717Abstract: A surgical instrument includes one or more electrically-conductive plates adapted to connect to a source of energy for supplying energy to tissue to treat tissue, a temperature sensing element, and a thermal spread control assembly coupled to the temperature sensing element. The thermal spread control assembly is configured to determine a flow rate of heat energy across the temperature sensing element and to control the energy applied to the electrically-conductive plate and/or control active cooling of the temperature sensing element in accordance with the determined flow rate of heat energy.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: James H. Orszulak, J. Bruce Dunne
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Publication number: 20150282875Abstract: A surgical forceps includes a housing having one or more shafts attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another. At least one jaw member is moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members include at least one sensing component that determines an output of one or both of cross-sectional diameter and composition of tissue disposed between the jaw members. A processing component is configured to receive the output and determine a seal pressure for adequately sealing tissue disposed between the jaw members based upon the output. A regulating component regulates the movement of the jaw members between the first and second positions such that the determined seal pressure is applied to tissue disposed therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2015Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventors: JENNIFER S. HARPER, J. BRUCE DUNNE
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Patent number: 9060798Abstract: A surgical forceps includes a housing having one or more shafts attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another. At least one jaw member is moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members include at least one sensing component that determines an output of one or both of cross-sectional diameter and composition of tissue disposed between the jaw members. A processing component is configured to receive the output and determine a seal pressure for adequately sealing tissue disposed between the jaw members based upon the output. A regulating component regulates the movement of the jaw members between the first and second positions such that the determined seal pressure is applied to tissue disposed therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2009Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Jennifer S. Harper, J. Bruce Dunne
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Publication number: 20150051598Abstract: A surgical instrument includes one or more electrically-conductive plates adapted to connect to a source of energy for supplying energy to tissue to treat tissue, a temperature sensing element, and a thermal spread control assembly coupled to the temperature sensing element. The thermal spread control assembly is configured to determine a flow rate of heat energy across the temperature sensing element and to control the energy applied to the electrically-conductive plate and/or control active cooling of the temperature sensing element in accordance with the determined flow rate of heat energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2014Publication date: February 19, 2015Applicant: COVIDIEN LPInventors: JAMES H. ORSZULAK, J. BRUCE DUNNE
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Publication number: 20140107648Abstract: A surgical forceps includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members having opposed seal plates, each of the seal plates having a width. At least one of the jaw members is moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. A sensing component is configured to determine an output relating to a diameter of tissue or a composition of tissue disposed between the opposed seal plates of the first and second jaw members. An expanding component is configured to expand the width of at least one of the opposed seal plates according to the determined output.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: COVIDIEN LPInventors: JENNIFER S. HARPER, J. BRUCE DUNNE
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Patent number: 8556929Abstract: A surgical forceps includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members having opposed seal plates, each of the seal plates having a width. At least one of the jaw members is moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. A sensing component is configured to determine an output relating to a diameter of tissue or a composition of tissue disposed between the opposed seal plates of the first and second jaw members. An expanding component is configured to expand the width of at least one of the opposed seal plates according to the determined output.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Jennifer S. Harper, J. Bruce Dunne
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Patent number: 8251994Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a selectively advanceable knife and a knife deployment alarm configured to emit a signal under predetermined conditions. An alarm is configured to emit a signal when the cutting blade moves relative to the blade channel. A series of resistances are arranged so that a shorting of each resistor is indicative of a predetermined operating condition triggering the alarm to emit a signal. Pressure sensors, optical measurement devices, and electrical contacts are envisioned for determining blade or trigger actuation or translation.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: TYCO Healthcare Group LPInventors: Nicole McKenna, Geneva Wilkesanders, J. Bruce Dunne
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Patent number: 8215182Abstract: Testing system for measuring closure pressure between jaw members of electrosurgical forceps. The testing system includes a testing platform, a pair of selectively adjustable instrument supports, a testing stand. The platform has an elongated bed that supports an instrument rest, which supports the electrosurgical forceps. The pair of instrument supports are associated with the elongated bed and secure the forceps atop the elongated bed. The testing stand is disposed at a distal end of the elongated bed and supports a piece of testing material. The testing stand includes a layer of visco-elastic material and a pressure sensitive film. The layer of visco-elastic material forms a pocket. The pressure sensitive film is disposed within the pocket of the visco-elastic layer. The pressure sensitive film is adapted to electromechanically communicate with a diagnostic system to measure the closure pressure between jaw members when they are in a clamped configuration.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2008Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: TYCO Healthcare Group LPInventors: Ryan C. Artale, J. Bruce Dunne, Blake Randolph, Brandon Risk, Colin P. Carr, Leif Cook, David M. Garrison, Jeffrey D. Ipsen
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Publication number: 20110190653Abstract: A surgical forceps includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members having opposed seal plates, each of the seal plates having a width. At least one of the jaw members is moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. A sensing component is configured to determine an output relating to a diameter of tissue or a composition of tissue disposed between the opposed seal plates of the first and second jaw members. An expanding component is configured to expand the width of at least one of the opposed seal plates according to the determined output.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2010Publication date: August 4, 2011Inventors: Jennifer S. Harper, J. Bruce Dunne
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Publication number: 20110118736Abstract: A surgical forceps includes a housing having one or more shafts attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another. At least one jaw member is moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members include at least one sensing component that determines an output of one or both of cross-sectional diameter and composition of tissue disposed between the jaw members. A processing component is configured to receive the output and determine a seal pressure for adequately sealing tissue disposed between the jaw members based upon the output. A regulating component regulates the movement of the jaw members between the first and second positions such that the determined seal pressure is applied to tissue disposed therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2009Publication date: May 19, 2011Inventors: Jennifer S. Harper, J. Bruce Dunne
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Publication number: 20100256635Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a selectively advanceable knife and a knife deployment alarm configured to emit a signal under predetermined conditions. An alarm is configured to emit a signal when the cutting blade moves relative to the blade channel. A series of resistances are arranged so that a shorting of each resistor is indicative of a predetermined operating condition triggering the alarm to emit a signal. Pressure sensors, optical measurement devices, and electrical contacts are envisioned for determining blade or trigger actuation or translation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2009Publication date: October 7, 2010Inventors: Nicole McKenna, Geneva Wilkesanders, J. Bruce Dunne
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Publication number: 20080091190Abstract: A system for excision of abnormal tissue includes a sealant material having an uncured configuration which allows the sealant material to be readily injected between target tissue and underlying tissue and a cured configuration wherein the sealant material acts as a substantially solid barrier between the target tissue and underlying tissue. The sealant material acts to initially separate or lift the target tissue relative to the underlying tissue to facilitate excision of the target tissue via a snare, wire loop, forceps, knife, scissors and/or combinations thereof. After excision of the target tissue, the sealant acts to seal the underlying tissue from the surrounding environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2006Publication date: April 17, 2008Inventors: John D. Carlton, J. Bruce Dunne