Patents by Inventor Jennifer Whiffen

Jennifer Whiffen 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: 11771430
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of rows of staple receiving slots and an anvil assembly having a plurality of rows of staple forming recesses. The staple cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly, or both have one or more attachment members overmolded thereon. A staple line reinforcement material is attached to the attachment members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Richard P. Stevenson, Jennifer (Whiffen) Diederich
  • Publication number: 20220110631
    Abstract: A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge body including a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of staple retaining slots, a staple disposed within each staple retaining slot of the cartridge body, and a substantially circular buttress. The buttress includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a middle portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion. At least one stiffened region joins the buttress to the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge body. The inner portion, the middle portion, the outer portion, and the at least one stiffened region are all formed from a common material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Sally Carter, Gerald Hodgkinson, Richard Stevenson, Arthur Hislop, Ernest Aranyi, Jennifer (Whiffen) Diederich
  • Patent number: 11229434
    Abstract: A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge body including a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of staple retaining slots, a staple disposed within each staple retaining slot of the cartridge body, and a substantially circular buttress. The buttress includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a middle portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion. At least one stiffened region joins the buttress to the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge body. The inner portion, the middle portion, the outer portion, and the at least one stiffened region are all formed from a common material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Sally Carter, Gerald Hodgkinson, Richard Stevenson, Arthur Hislop, Ernest Aranyi, Jennifer (Whiffen) Diederich
  • Patent number: 10687818
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of rows of staple receiving slots and an anvil assembly having a plurality of rows of staple forming recesses. The staple cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly, or both have one or more attachment members overmolded thereon. A staple line reinforcement material is attached to the attachment members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Richard Stevenson, Jennifer (Whiffen) Diederich
  • Publication number: 20200178965
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of rows of staple receiving slots and an anvil assembly having a plurality of rows of staple forming recesses. The staple cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly, or both have one or more attachment members overmolded thereon. A staple line reinforcement material is attached to the attachment members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Gerald N. HODGKINSON, Richard P. STEVENSON, Jennifer (WHIFFEN) DIEDERICH
  • Publication number: 20190290275
    Abstract: A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge body including a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of staple retaining slots, a staple disposed within each staple retaining slot of the cartridge body, and a substantially circular buttress. The buttress includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a middle portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion. At least one stiffened region joins the buttress to the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge body. The inner portion, the middle portion, the outer portion, and the at least one stiffened region are all formed from a common material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Sally Carter, Gerald Hodgkinson, Richard Stevenson, Arthur Hislop, Ernest Aranyi, Jennifer (Whiffen) Diederich
  • Patent number: 10357249
    Abstract: A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge body including a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of staple retaining slots, a staple disposed within each staple retaining slot of the cartridge body, and a substantially circular buttress. The buttress includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a middle portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion. At least one stiffened region joins the buttress to the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge body. The inner portion, the middle portion, the outer portion, and the at least one stiffened region are all formed from a common material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Sally Carter, Gerald Hodgkinson, Richard Stevenson, Arthur Hislop, Ernest Aranyi, Jennifer (Whiffen) Diederich
  • Publication number: 20180168654
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of rows of staple receiving slots and an anvil assembly having a plurality of rows of staple forming recesses. The staple cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly, or both have one or more attachment members overmolded thereon. A staple line reinforcement material is attached to the attachment members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Richard Stevenson, Jennifer (Whiffen) Diederich
  • Publication number: 20160270793
    Abstract: A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge body including a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of staple retaining slots, a staple disposed within each staple retaining slot of the cartridge body, and a substantially circular buttress. The buttress includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a middle portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion. At least one stiffened region joins the buttress to the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge body. The inner portion, the middle portion, the outer portion, and the at least one stiffened region are all formed from a common material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Sally Carter, Gerald Hodgkinson, Richard Stevenson, Arthur Hislop, Ernest Aranyi, Jennifer (Whiffen) Diederich
  • Patent number: 9351731
    Abstract: A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge body including a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of staple retaining slots, a staple disposed within each staple retaining slot of the cartridge body, and a substantially circular buttress. The buttress includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a middle portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion. At least one stiffened region joins the buttress to the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge body. The inner portion, the middle portion, the outer portion, and the at least one stiffened region are all formed from a common material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Sally Carter, Gerald Hodgkinson, Richard P. Stevenson, Arthur Hislop, Ernest Aranyi, Jennifer Whiffen
  • Publication number: 20150209045
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of rows of staple receiving slots and an anvil assembly having a plurality of rows of staple forming recesses. The staple cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly, or both have one or more attachment members overmolded thereon. A staple line reinforcement material is attached to the attachment members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Richard Stevenson, Jennifer (Whiffen) Diederich
  • Patent number: 9016544
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of rows of staple receiving slots and an anvil assembly having a plurality of rows of staple forming recesses. The staple cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly, or both have one or more attachment members overmolded thereon. A staple line reinforcement material is attached to the attachment members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Gerald Hodgkinson, Richard Stevenson, Jennifer Whiffen
  • Patent number: 9010608
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus including a releasable buttress material includes a cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly, and a buttress material. The cartridge assembly includes a plurality of staples, a tissue contacting surface defining staple retaining slots, and a swaged outer edge. The anvil assembly includes a tissue contacting surface defining staple pockets for forming staples expelled from the staple retaining slots of the cartridge assembly. The buttress material has an outer portion that is retaining within the swaged outer edge of the cartridge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Thomas Casasanta, Jr., Andrew Miesse, Jennifer Whiffen, Elizabeth M. Contini, Sally Carter
  • Publication number: 20140318684
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of rows of staple receiving slots and an anvil assembly having a plurality of rows of staple forming recesses. The staple cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly, or both have one or more attachment members overmolded thereon. A staple line reinforcement material is attached to the attachment members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: GERALD HODGKINSON, RICHARD STEVENSON, JENNIFER WHIFFEN
  • Patent number: 8789737
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprises a staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of rows of staple receiving slots, an anvil assembly having an anvil member defining a plurality of rows of staple forming recesses, the staple cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly, or both, having one or more attachment members; and a staple line reinforcement material attached to the attachment members by ultrasonic welding. The staple line reinforcement material can be attached to an anvil assembly utilizing a retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Richard Stevenson, Jennifer Whiffen
  • Publication number: 20130153638
    Abstract: A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge body including a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of staple retaining slots, a staple disposed within each staple retaining slot of the cartridge body, and a substantially circular buttress. The buttress includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a middle portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion. At least one stiffened region joins the buttress to the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge body. The inner portion, the middle portion, the outer portion, and the at least one stiffened region are all formed from a common material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Sally Carter, Gerald Hodgkinson, Richard P. Stevenson, Arthur Hislop, Ernest Aranyi, Jennifer Whiffen
  • Publication number: 20130153633
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus including a releasable buttress material includes a cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly, and a buttress material. The cartridge assembly includes a plurality of staples, a tissue contacting surface defining staple retaining slots, and a swaged outer edge. The anvil assembly includes a tissue contacting surface defining staple pockets for forming staples expelled from the staple retaining slots of the cartridge assembly. The buttress material has an outer portion that is retaining within the swaged outer edge of the cartridge assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas Casasanta, JR., Andrew Miesse, Jennifer Whiffen, Elizabeth M. Contini, Sally Carter
  • Publication number: 20120273547
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprises a staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of rows of staple receiving slots, an anvil assembly having an anvil member defining a plurality of rows of staple forming recesses, the staple cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly, or both, having one or more attachment members; and a staple line reinforcement material attached to the attachment members by ultrasonic welding. The staple line reinforcement material can be attached to an anvil assembly utilizing a retainer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Richard Stevenson, Jennifer Whiffen