Patents by Inventor Keith W. Malang

Keith W. Malang 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).

  • Publication number: 20240099556
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of object enhancement in endoscopy images includes capturing an image of an object within a surgical operative site via an imaging device, determining a size of the object based on the captured image of the object, displaying the captured image of the object, and displaying on the displayed captured image of the object a representation of the determined size of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Kenlyn S. Bonn, Dustin S. Slater, Justin Rogers, James R. Fagan, Anjali Dhiman, John W. Linebarger, Rayne Robertson, Keith W. Malang, Matthew Savary, Joshua R. Snow, Tyler J. Bagrosky, Luciano Mazzaro, Jason M. Mucilli, Dylan R. Kingsley, Christopher S. Rainieri, Amanda H. Lennartz, Alexandre Linhares Vieira, Kent L. Howe
  • Publication number: 20240032987
    Abstract: A method of treating tissue includes clamping tissue between an ultrasonic blade and a jaw member and simultaneously: transmitting ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade to vibrate the ultrasonic blade at a first blade velocity thereby heating the clamped tissue; and supplying electrosurgical energy, at a constant voltage, to the jaw member and the ultrasonic blade at different potentials such that the electrosurgical energy is conducted therebetween and through the clamped tissue to heat the clamped tissue. An impedance of the clamped tissue is monitored and the simultaneous transmission of ultrasonic energy and supply of electrosurgical energy is terminated and/or a notification is output once the clamped tissue is sealed, as indicated by the impedance of the clamped tissue being equal to or greater than a threshold impedance. Surgical instruments and end effectors thereof for treating tissue in this manner are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Michael B. Lyons, James E. Dunning, Kristen P. Bradley, David J. Van Tol, Christopher T. Tschudy, Keith W. Malang, Donald L. Tonn, Mark A. Johnston, James R. Fagan
  • Patent number: 11871954
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer and generator (TAG) assembly of a surgical instrument includes generator components and transducer components. The generator components are disposed within a first cavity cooperatively defined by a body portion and a cover. The generator components are covered in a thermally insulative material. The transducer components are disposed within a second cavity cooperatively defined by a proximal housing and a spinner housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Weng-Kai K. Lee, Michael Clifton, James R. Fagan, Titus Horton, Keith W. Malang, Kenneth E. Netzel, Daniel Simmons, Christopher T. Tschudy, David J. Van Tol
  • Patent number: 11844497
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of object enhancement in endoscopy images includes capturing an image of an object within a surgical operative site via an imaging device, determining a size of the object based on the captured image of the object, displaying the captured image of the object, and displaying on the displayed captured image of the object a representation of the determined size of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Kenlyn S. Bonn, Dustin O. Slater, Justin Rogers, James R. Fagan, Anjali Dhiman, John W. Linebarger, Rayne Robertson, Keith W. Malang, Matthew Savary, Joshua R. Snow, Tyler J. Bagrosky, Luciano Mazzaro, Jason M. Mucilli, Dylan R. Kingsley, Christopher V. Rainieri, Amanda H. Lennartz, Alexandre Linhares Vieira, Kent L. Howe
  • Publication number: 20230277210
    Abstract: A method for sealing a vessel includes supplying electrical energy to an ultrasonic surgical instrument having an end effector and a transducer coupled to the end effector, when the end effector is grasping a vessel, sensing parameters of the vessel when the end effector achieves a predetermined velocity, estimating a size of the vessel based on the sensed parameters, controlling the electrical energy based on maintaining a predetermined initial heating rate of heating the vessel until a predetermined amount of energy corresponding to the estimated size of the vessel has been delivered, and controlling the electrical energy based on a predetermined heating rate curve of heating the vessel after the predetermined amount of energy corresponding to the estimated size of the vessel has been delivered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: David J. Van Tol, Kelly E. Goodman, Keith W. Malang, Christopher T. Tschudy
  • Publication number: 20230248893
    Abstract: A fluid management cassette includes a cassette body configured for insertion into a cassette bay of a control console, the cassette body including a face plate having at least one fluid input port and at least first and second fluid output ports defined therethrough. A pump is disposed within the cassette body as is a valve manifold, first and second pinch valves, or at least one pressure sensitive valve. First and second fluid flow paths extending through the cassette body have shared connections to the pump and separate connections to the respective first and second fluid output ports. The valve manifold, first and second pinch valves, or at least one pressure sensitive valve is selectively actuatable to at least four different configurations to permit fluid flow along either, neither, or both of the first and second fluid flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Clint N.M. Lahey, Thoai D. Nguyen, Dale E. Slenker, Alexander J. Morley, Kathleen J. Bates, Ali Mowlai-Ashtiani, Keith W. Malang, Paul Hrenchir, Jonathan V. Hernandez, Manfred K. Luedi
  • Patent number: 11684387
    Abstract: A method for sealing a vessel includes supplying electrical energy to an ultrasonic surgical instrument having an end effector and a transducer coupled to the end effector, when the end effector is grasping a vessel, sensing parameters of the vessel when the end effector achieves a predetermined velocity, estimating a size of the vessel based on the sensed parameters, controlling the electrical energy based on maintaining a predetermined initial heating rate of heating the vessel until a predetermined amount of energy corresponding to the estimated size of the vessel has been delivered, and controlling the electrical energy based on a predetermined heating rate curve of heating the vessel after the predetermined amount of energy corresponding to the estimated size of the vessel has been delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David J. Van Tol, Kelly E. Goodman, Keith W. Malang, Christopher T. Tschudy
  • Publication number: 20230181809
    Abstract: A fluid management system includes a control console and a cassette. The control console includes a housing, a cassette bay defined within the housing, and an actuation mechanism disposed within the housing and including a plurality of actuators. The cassette is insertable into the cassette bay of the control console and includes a chassis supporting a plurality of fluid flow paths through the cassette, and an outer housing defining at least one access opening providing access to the plurality of fluid flow paths. With the cassette positioned within the cassette bay, each actuator of the plurality of actuators is aligned with an access opening of the at least one access opening to enable each actuator, upon actuation thereof, to close a corresponding fluid flow path of the plurality of fluid flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Clint N.M. Lahey, Thoai D. Nguyen, Dale E. Slenker, Alexander J. Morley, Kathleen J. Bates, Ali Mowlai-Ashtiani, Keith W. Malang, Paul Hrenchir
  • Publication number: 20230121477
    Abstract: A method for operating a surgical device, includes: determining whether a switch has transitioned from a first condition, corresponding to a first operating mode, to a second condition, corresponding to a second operating mode; when it is determined that the switch has transitioned from the first condition to the second condition: maintaining the first operating mode for a pre-determined time; in a case where the switch remains in the second condition throughout the pre-determined time, switching to the second operating mode after expiration of the pre-determined time; and when the switch returns to the first condition during the pre-determined time, maintaining the first operating mode after expiration of the pre-determined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher T. Tschudy, Graham J. Barrett, David J. Van Tol, Kristen P. Bradley, Keith W. Malang
  • Patent number: 11596978
    Abstract: An ultrasonic motion generator includes a non-resonant inverter, an ultrasonic transducer, and a comparator. The non-resonant inverter inverts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) having a first frequency. The ultrasonic transducer is electrically coupled with the non-resonant inverter and generates an ultrasonic motion based on the inverted AC. The comparator automatically detects a deviation of the first frequency from a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic transducer based on motion current passing through the ultrasonic transducer and generates an output signal based on the deviation to drive the non-resonant inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Xiaosen Liu, Adrian I. Colli-Menchi, James A. Gilbert, Daniel A. Friedrichs, Keith W. Malang, Edgar Sanchez-Sinencio
  • Publication number: 20220401121
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical system includes an ultrasonic generator configured to provide an ultrasonic drive signal, and an ultrasonic transducer electrically coupled to the ultrasonic generator to receive the ultrasonic drive signal therefrom and configured, in response to the received ultrasonic drive signal, to produce a mechanical motion. The ultrasonic surgical system further includes a sensor configured to sense a frequency and a magnitude of the mechanical motion, and a controller configured to receive a target mechanical motion to be produced by the ultrasonic transducer and control the ultrasonic drive signal so that a frequency of the ultrasonic drive signal falls within a frequency range around a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic transducer, the frequency range corresponding to the target mechanical motion produced by the ultrasonic transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Jing Zhao, David J. Van Tol, Keith W. Malang, Matthew S. Cowley
  • Patent number: 11490881
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a battery pack configured to supply energy to a load having a required energy, a housing enclosing the battery pack therein, a converter configured to convert an internal energy of the battery pack, and a controller configured to adjust a parameter of the converter based on information received from the load via a communication interface such that the converter converts the internal energy to the energy required by the load, wherein the converted internal energy is supplied to the load as the supplied energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Edward L. Brannan, Keith W. Malang, James R. Fagan, Clifford D. Owens
  • Publication number: 20220346826
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical system includes an ultrasonic generator configured to provide an electrical drive signal, an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive the electrical drive signal and to produce ultrasonic mechanical motion in response thereto, and a blade coupled to the ultrasonic transducer and configured to receive the ultrasonic mechanical motion from the ultrasonic transducer for treating tissue in contact therewith. The ultrasonic transducer defines a saturation point and the ultrasonic generator is configured to drive the ultrasonic transducer substantially at the saturation point such that the ultrasonic mechanical motion produced by the ultrasonic transducer is substantially equal to a maximum ultrasonic mechanical motion of the ultrasonic transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: David J. Van Tol, Matthew S. Cowley, Keith W. Malang, Anthony B. Ross, Christopher A. Valentine, Aaron G. Mattmiller, Michael B. Lyons
  • Publication number: 20220265305
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer and generator (TAG) assembly of a surgical instrument includes generator components and transducer components. The generator components are disposed within a first cavity cooperatively defined by a body portion and a cover. The generator components are covered in a thermally insulative material. The transducer components are disposed within a second cavity cooperatively defined by a proximal housing and a spinner housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Weng-Kai K. Lee, Michael Clifton, James R. Fagan, Titus Horton, Keith W. Malang, Kenneth E. Netzel, Daniel Simmons, Christopher T. Tschudy, David J. Van Tol
  • Patent number: 11331115
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer and generator (TAG) assembly of a surgical instrument includes generator components and transducer components. The generator components are disposed within a first cavity cooperatively defined by a body portion and a cover. The generator components are covered in a thermally insulative material. The transducer components are disposed within a second cavity cooperatively defined by a proximal housing and a spinner housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Weng-Kai K. Lee, Michael Clifton, James R. Fagan, Titus Horton, Keith W. Malang, Kenneth E. Netzel, Daniel Simmons, Christopher T. Tschudy, David J. Van Tol
  • Patent number: 11123096
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical device includes a power source configured to generate power, an ultrasonic transducer electrically coupled to the power source and generating ultrasonic motion in response to the generated power, a sensor sensing current of the generated power supplied to the ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic probe mechanically couplable to the ultrasonic transducer, and a controller that receive a sensed current from the sensor, performs a frequency response analysis based on the sensed current, calculates a first resonant frequency and a first anti-resonant frequency of the transducer prior to coupling the ultrasonic probe based on the frequency response analysis, calculates a second resonant and second anti-resonant frequencies of the transducer based on the frequency response analysis prior to determining coupling to the ultrasonic transducer, and determines whether the ultrasonic probe is mechanically coupled to the ultrasonic transducer based on the first and second resonant and anti-resonant f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David J. Van Tol, Keith W. Malang
  • Publication number: 20210267692
    Abstract: A method of performing robotic surgery includes determining a distance between a first surgical instrument and a second surgical instrument in a surgical operative site, comparing the determined distance between the first and second surgical instruments with a threshold distance, generating an alert based on the comparison between the determined distance and the threshold distance, displaying a visual representation of the surgical operative site on a display, and displaying the alert overlaid on the displayed visual representation of the surgical operative site and in proximity to a visual representation of the first and/or second surgical instruments on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Amanda H. Lennartz, Kenlyn S. Bonn, Tyler J. Bagrosky, Dustin O. Slater, Michael B. Lyons, Justin Rogers, James R. Fagan, Anjali Dhiman, Steven P. Buysse, Rayne Robertson, Keith W. Malang, Matthew Savary, Joshua R. Snow, Jason M. Mucilli, Dylan R. Kingsley, Christopher V. Rainieri, Alexandre Linhares Vieira, Kent L. Howe
  • Publication number: 20210267711
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of object enhancement in endoscopy images includes capturing an image of an object within a surgical operative site via an imaging device, determining a size of the object based on the captured image of the object, displaying the captured image of the object, and displaying on the displayed captured image of the object a representation of the determined size of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Kenlyn S. Bonn, Dustin O. Slater, Justin Rogers, James R. Fagan, Anjali Dhiman, John W. Linebarger, Rayne Robertson, Keith W. Malang, Matthew Savary, Joshua R. Snow, Tyler J. Bagrosky, Luciano Mazzaro, Jason M. Mucilli, Dylan R. Kingsley, Christopher V. Rainieri, Amanda H. Lennartz, Alexandre Linhares Vieira, Kent L. Howe
  • Publication number: 20210153888
    Abstract: A method for sealing a vessel includes supplying electrical energy to an ultrasonic surgical instrument having an end effector and a transducer coupled to the end effector, when the end effector is grasping a vessel, sensing parameters of the vessel when the end effector achieves a predetermined velocity, estimating a size of the vessel based on the sensed parameters, controlling the electrical energy based on maintaining a predetermined initial heating rate of heating the vessel until a predetermined amount of energy corresponding to the estimated size of the vessel has been delivered, and controlling the electrical energy based on a predetermined heating rate curve of heating the vessel after the predetermined amount of energy corresponding to the estimated size of the vessel has been delivered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: David J. Van Tol, Kelly E. Goodman, Keith W. Malang, Christopher T. Tschudy
  • Publication number: 20210145420
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a battery pack configured to supply energy to a load having a required energy, a housing enclosing the battery pack therein, a converter configured to convert an internal energy of the battery pack, and a controller configured to adjust a parameter of the converter based on information received from the load via a communication interface such that the converter converts the internal energy to the energy required by the load, wherein the converted internal energy is supplied to the load as the supplied energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Edward L. Brannan, Keith W. Malang, James R. Fagan, Clifford D. Owens