Patents by Inventor Larry Dale Estes

Larry Dale Estes 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: 11571191
    Abstract: A powered surgical handpiece including a housing, a printed circuit board, a sensor, and an actuator assembly. The housing has a longitudinal axis extending from a first end to a second end of the housing. The printed circuit board has a first face and a second opposing face. The first and second faces extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The sensor is coupled to the first face of the printed circuit board. The sensor is centered along the longitudinal axis of the housing. The actuator assembly includes a lever and an actuator. The lever is pivotally coupled to the housing. The lever maintains a magnet slidably positionable along the lever. The magnet is positionable to be proximal to the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC XOMED, INC.
    Inventors: Vikram Garadi, Manfred K. Luedi, Larry Dale Estes
  • Publication number: 20200046331
    Abstract: A powered surgical handpiece including a housing, a printed circuit board, a sensor, and an actuator assembly. The housing has a longitudinal axis extending from a first end to a second end of the housing. The printed circuit board has a first face and a second opposing face. The first and second faces extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The sensor is coupled to the first face of the printed circuit board. The sensor is centered along the longitudinal axis of the housing. The actuator assembly includes a lever and an actuator. The lever is pivotally coupled to the housing. The lever maintains a magnet slidably positionable along the lever. The magnet is positionable to be proximal to the sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC XOMED, INC.
    Inventors: Vikram Garadi, Manfred K. Luedi, Larry Dale Estes
  • Patent number: 10548576
    Abstract: A powered surgical handpiece including a housing, a printed circuit board, a sensor, and an actuator assembly. The housing has a longitudinal axis extending from a first end to a second end of the housing. The printed circuit board has a first face and a second opposing face. The first and second faces extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The sensor is coupled to the first face of the printed circuit board. The sensor is centered along the longitudinal axis of the housing. The actuator assembly includes a lever and an actuator. The lever is pivotally coupled to the housing. The lever maintains a magnet slidably positionable along the lever. The magnet is positionable to be proximal to the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Garadi, Manfred K. Luedi, Larry Dale Estes
  • Patent number: 8281898
    Abstract: A lubrication cartridge includes a cartridge body. A cartridge coupling is located on the cartridge body and defines a first passage and a second passage. A lubricant reservoir is housed in the cartridge body and comprises a pressurized fluid inlet coupled to the first passage and a lubricant outlet coupled to the second passage. A metering insert is located between the lubricant outlet and the second passage and comprises a density that controls lubricant flow between the lubricant reservoir and the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
    Inventors: S. Shane Dexter, Larry Dale Estes, Gabriel Johnston, Durrell Tidwell, Bret R. Hauser, Lauren DeVita
  • Publication number: 20100314200
    Abstract: A lubrication cartridge includes a cartridge body. A cartridge coupling is located on the cartridge body and defines a first passage and a second passage. A lubricant reservoir is housed in the cartridge body and comprises a pressurized fluid inlet coupled to the first passage and a lubricant outlet coupled to the second passage. A metering insert is located between the lubricant outlet and the second passage and comprises a density that controls lubricant flow between the lubricant reservoir and the second passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC XOMED, INC.
    Inventors: S. Shane Dexter, Larry Dale Estes, Gabriel Johnston, Durrell Tidwell, Bret Hauser
  • Patent number: 7066940
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for the dissection of bone and other tissue includes a spindle, a dissection tool and a male member carried by the spindle. The spindle includes a cavity. The dissection tool is releasably received in the cavity. The dissection tool extends along an axis and includes a first end and a second end with the first end having a cutting element and a second end having a generally cylindrical cross-section and a centrally located aperture partially extending along the axis. The male member is carried by the spindle and extends into the aperture of the dissection tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny C. Riedel, Durrell G. Tidwell, Bryan David Simmons, Larry Dale Estes, Allen P. Hilton, Rex Wesley Shores, John K. Henderson, James Q. Spitler, Michelle L. Walker, Dana A. Eskridge, Dennis L. Foster, Douglas W Haight, Laura A. Kriese, Stephen G Savage
  • Patent number: 7011661
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for the dissection of bone and other tissue includes a spindle, a dissection tool and a male member carried by the spindle. The spindle includes a cavity. The dissection tool is releasably received in the cavity. The dissection tool extends along an axis and includes a first end and a second end with the first end having a cutting element and a second end having a generally cylindrical cross-section and a centrally located aperture partially extending along the axis. The male member is carried by the spindle and extends into the aperture of the dissection tool. The cavity may define a drive portion and a tool receiving aperture. One or more alignment projections may extend from the drive portion into the tool receiving aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny C. Riedel, Durrell G. Tidwell, Bryan David Simmons, Larry Dale Estes, Allen P. Hilton, Rex Wesley Shores, John K. Henderson, James Q. Spitler, Michelle L. Walker
  • Patent number: 7001391
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for the dissection of bone and other tissue includes a spindle, a dissection tool and an adaptor disposed between the spindle and the dissection tool. The spindle includes a cavity and a male member projecting into the cavity. The adaptor includes a drive shaft that extends along an axis and includes a first end having a generally cylindrical cross-section and a centrally located aperture partially extending along the axis. The male member is carried by the spindle and extends into the aperture of the dissection tool. The cavity may define a drive portion and a tool receiving aperture. One or more alignment projections may extend from the drive portion into the tool receiving aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Dale Estes, Danny C. Riedel, Allen P. Hilton, James Q. Spitler, Rex Wesley Shores
  • Patent number: 6824087
    Abstract: A bone mill for use in a surgical or otherwise sterile environment includes a particle reducer such as a pulverizing blade, a motor such as an electrical motor, and a coupling such as a rotary shaft for connecting the particle reducer to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Cameron McPherson, Larry Dale Estes, Scott A. Singer, Kevin T. Foley
  • Publication number: 20040000605
    Abstract: A bone mill for use in a surgical or otherwise sterile environment includes a particle reducer such as a pulverizing blade, a motor such as an electrical motor, and a coupling such as a rotary shaft for connecting the particle reducer to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc. d/b/a Medtronic Midas Rex
    Inventors: Cameron McPherson, Larry Dale Estes, Scott A. Singer, Kevin T. Foley
  • Publication number: 20030163134
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for the dissection of bone and other tissue includes a spindle, a dissection tool and a male member carried by the spindle. The spindle includes a cavity. The dissection tool is releasably received in the cavity. The dissection tool extends along an axis and includes a first end and a second end with the first end having a cutting element and a second end having a generally cylindrical cross-section and a centrally located aperture partially extending along the axis. The male member is carried by the spindle and extends into the aperture of the dissection tool. The cavity may define a drive portion and a tool receiving aperture. One or more alignment projections may extend from the drive portion into the tool receiving aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc. d/b/a Medtronic Midas Rex
    Inventors: Danny C. Riedel, Durrell G. Tidwell, Bryan David Simmons, Larry Dale Estes, Allen P. Hilton, Rex Wesley Shores, John K. Henderson, James Q. Spitler, Michelle L. Walker
  • Publication number: 20030023256
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for the dissection of bone and other tissue includes a spindle, a dissection tool and an adaptor disposed between the spindle and the dissection tool. The spindle includes a cavity and a male member projecting into the cavity. The adaptor includes a drive shaft that extends along an axis and includes a first end having a generally cylindrical cross-section and a centrally located aperture partially extending along the axis. The male member is carried by the spindle and extends into the aperture of the dissection tool. The cavity may define a drive portion and a tool receiving aperture. One or more alignment projections may extend from the drive portion into the tool receiving aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc. d/b/a Medtronic Midas Rex
    Inventors: Larry Dale Estes, Danny C. Riedel, Allen P. Hilton, James Q. Spitler, Rex Wesley Shores
  • Publication number: 20020151902
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for the dissection of bone and other tissue includes a spindle, a dissection tool and a male member carried by the spindle. The spindle includes a cavity. The dissection tool is releasably received in the cavity. The dissection tool extends along an axis and includes a first end and a second end with the first end having a cutting element and a second end having a generally cylindrical cross-section and a centrally located aperture partially extending along the axis. The male member is carried by the spindle and extends into the aperture of the dissection tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny C. Riedel, Durrell G. Tidwell, Bryan David Simmons, Larry Dale Estes, Allen P. Hilton, Rex Wesley Shores, John K. Henderson, James Q. Spitler, Michelle L. Walker, Dana A. Eskridge, Dennis L. Foster, Douglas W. Haight, Laura A. Kriese, Stephen G. Savage
  • Patent number: 6209886
    Abstract: A resecting tool contains a rotatable chuck inside a base for engaging the drive shaft of a motor. The chuck extends into a tubular casing that has an outer actuator sleeve. The sleeve is limited to rotation relative to the casing and is used to move a pair of locking elements or balls in separate helical slots in the casing. Each ball is seated in a collar that abuts a collet receiver inside the casing. During implement changeover, the collar abuts the collet receiver and acts as a brake to prevent accidental actuation of the chuck of the tool. The collet receiver is spring-biased into contact with a first collet which closely receives a tool implement within the resecting tool. The sleeve is used to manipulate the collet to clamp onto and unclamp the tool implement. A collet coupling is located on the front end of the casing and has a collet nut on its forward end. The collet nut houses a second collet with a serpentine cut for engaging and retaining a guide sleeve for supporting the tool implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Dale Estes, Ray E. Umber, Gary B. Gage
  • Patent number: 5893851
    Abstract: A coupling device attaches to a surgical resecting instrument with a motorized shaft for rotating surgical implements. The device houses a primary shaft which can be directly attached to the motorized shaft, and a secondary shaft which can be attached to the primary shaft through a hexagonally-shaped drive attachment with a bore. The primary shaft has several apertures with balls that engage an annular recess in the shank of a first implement to restrict its axial movement. The primary shaft also has a torque shoulder for engaging a torque shoulder on the first implement. If the first implement is removed, the secondary shaft can be installed to receive a second implement with a diameter smaller than that of the first implement. The secondary shaft also has several apertures with balls that engage an annular recess in a second implement shaft to restrict axial movement. The secondary shaft has axially spaced apart torque shoulders for engaging a torque shoulder on the second implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Midas Rex Pneumatic Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray E. Umber, Larry Dale Estes, Townesend R. Scantlebury
  • Patent number: 5782836
    Abstract: A pneumatic surgical tool for cutting bone during surgical procedures includes a pneumatic motor having a rotary shaft, a resecting tool having a cutting element rotated by the motor, a sleeve to surround and support the resecting tool, anti-friction bearings for further rotatably supporting the resecting tool, and a chuck for connecting the resecting tool to a spindle of the rotary shaft. The motor housing, rotor, spindle, and chuck are created from titanium. The bore of the housing and the cutting tip of the resecting tool have thin hard metal cases, such as titanium nitride, titanium aluminum nitride, or titanium carbon nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Midas Rex Pneumatic Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray Umber, Durrell G. Tidwell, Larry Dale Estes, Townesend R. Scantlebury
  • Patent number: 5741263
    Abstract: A coupling device attaches to a surgical resecting instrument with a motorized shaft for rotating a surgical implement with at least one torque shoulder. The device houses a tubular shaft with a central bore which attaches to the motorized shaft through a hexagonally-shaped drive attachment with a bore. The tubular shaft has several apertures with balls that engage an annular recess in the implement shaft to restrict axial movement. The tubular shaft has axially spaced apart torque shoulders capable of engaging torque shoulders on implements of different size diameters or multiple diameters. The tubular shaft is also capable of driving an implement with axially spaced apart torque shoulders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Midas Rex Pneumatic Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray E. Umber, Larry Dale Estes, Townesend R. Scantlebury