Patents by Inventor Kristen L. Pirozzi

Kristen L. Pirozzi 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).

  • Method of operating an articulating ultrasonic surgical instrument
    Patent number: 10258363
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The acoustic waveguide comprises a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section comprises a plurality of body portions aligned along the longitudinal axis and a flexible locking member. The flexible locking member is operable to secure the body portions in relation to each other and in relation to the shaft. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Barry C. Worrell, Benjamin J. Danziger, Benjamin D. Dickerson, Brian D. Black, Cara L. Shapiro, Charles J. Scheib, Craig N. Faller, Daniel J. Mumaw, David J. Cagle, David T. Martin, David A. Monroe, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Foster B. Stulen, Frederick L. Estera, Geoffrey S. Strobl, Gregory W. Johnson, Jacob S. Gee, Jason R. Sullivan, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Jeffrey S. Swayze, John A. Hibner, John B. Schulte, Joseph E. Hollo, Kristen G. Denzinger, Kristen L. Pirozzi, Matthew C. Miller, Michael R. Lamping, Richard W. Timm, Rudolph H. Nobis, Ryan M. Asher, Stephen M. Leuck, Tylor C. Muhlenkamp, William B. Weisenburgh, II, William A. Olson
  • Ultrasonic surgical instrument with rigidizing articulation drive members
    Patent number: 10034683
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation lock assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The acoustic waveguide is coupled with the transducer and includes a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft and encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section comprises a first member and a second member. The second member is longitudinally translatable relative to the first member. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The articulation lock comprises a tensioning feature, which is configured to selectively apply tension to at least one of the first member and the second member of the articulation section to thereby increase rigidity in the articulation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: David A. Monroe, Richard W. Timm, Craig N. Faller, Kristen L. Pirozzi, Jacob S. Gee, Jeffrey D. Messerly, John B. Schulte, Benjamin D. Dickerson, Ryan M. Asher, Cara L. Shapiro
  • ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MOVABLE RIGIDIZING MEMBER
    Publication number: 20160302818
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus includes a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and a rigidizing member. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The acoustic waveguide includes a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section includes a first member and a second member. The second member is longitudinally translatable relative to the first member. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The rigidizing member is configured to selectively engage at least a portion of the articulation section to thereby selectively provide rigidity to the articulation section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: William B. Weisenburgh, II, Barry C. Worrell, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Kristen L. Pirozzi, II, Craig N. Faller, John B. Schulte, Kristen Denzinger, Joseph Hollo, Jason Sullivan, Brian Black, Frederick L. Estera, David A. Monroe, Stephen Leuck, Tylor C. Muhlenkamp, Gregory A. Trees
  • ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH RIGIDIZING ARTICULATION DRIVE MEMBERS
    Publication number: 20160302812
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation lock assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The acoustic waveguide is coupled with the transducer and includes a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft and encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section comprises a first member and a second member. The second member is longitudinally translatable relative to the first member. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The articulation lock comprises a tensioning feature, which is configured to selectively apply tension to at least one of the first member and the second member of the articulation section to thereby increase rigidity in the articulation section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: David A. Monroe, Richard W. Timm, Craig N. Faller, Kristen L. Pirozzi, Jacob S. Gee, Jeffrey D. Messerly, John B. Schulte, Benjamin D. Dickerson, Ryan M. Asher, Cara L. Shapiro
  • METHOD OF OPERATING AN ARTICULATING ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT
    Publication number: 20150320437
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The acoustic waveguide comprises a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section comprises a plurality of body portions aligned along the longitudinal axis and a flexible locking member. The flexible locking member is operable to secure the body portions in relation to each other and in relation to the shaft. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Barry C. Worrell, Benjamin J. Danziger, Benjamin D. Dickerson, Brian D. Black, Cara L. Shapiro, Charles J. Scheib, Craig N. Faller, Daniel J. Mumaw, David J. Cagle, David T. Martin, David A. Monroe, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Foster B. Stulen, Frederick L. Estera, Geoffrey S. Strobl, Gregory W. Johnson, Jacob S. Gee, Jason R. Sullivan, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Jeffrey S. Swayze, John A. Hibner, John B. Schulte, Joseph E. Hollo, Kristen G. Denzinger, Kristen L. Pirozzi, Matthew C. Miller, Michael R. Lamping, Richard W. Timm, Rudolph H. Nobis, Ryan M. Asher, Stephen M. Leuck, Tylor C. Muhlenkamp, William B. Weisenburgh, II, William A. Olson