Patents by Inventor LUKE A. HARDY

LUKE A. HARDY 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).

  • REFLECTORS FOR OPTICAL-BASED VESSEL SEALING
    Publication number: 20240041523
    Abstract: An end effector assembly for an optical surgical instrument includes a jaw member and a plurality of optical elements positioned within a cavity of the jaw member. The jaw member has a tissue contacting surface. The jaw member has a proximal portion that is configured to secure a fiber optic cable thereto such that a distal end of the fiber optical cable extends into the cavity. The plurality of optical elements are arranged in a staircase-like manner that rises towards the tissue contacting surface as the plurality of optical elements extends distally within the cavity. The plurality of optical elements is configured to direct a beam of light exiting the fiber optic cable towards the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: William H. Nau, JR., Eric R. Larson, Duane E. Kerr, Nathaniel M. Fried, Thomas C. Hutchens, Thomas W. Meiser, Luke A. Hardy
  • Reflectors for optical-based vessel sealing
    Patent number: 11596476
    Abstract: An end effector assembly for an optical surgical instrument includes a jaw member and a plurality of optical elements positioned within a cavity of the jaw member. The jaw member has a tissue contacting surface. The jaw member has a proximal portion that is configured to secure a fiber optic cable thereto such that a distal end of the fiber optical cable extends into the cavity. The plurality of optical elements are arranged in a staircase-like manner that rises towards the tissue contacting surface as the plurality of optical elements extends distally within the cavity. The plurality of optical elements is configured to direct a beam of light exiting the fiber optic cable towards the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: Covidien LP, THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CARLOINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: William H. Nau, Jr., Eric R. Larson, Duane E. Kerr, Nathaniel M. Fried, Thomas C. Hutchens, Thomas W. Meiser, Luke A. Hardy
  • REFLECTORS FOR OPTICAL-BASED VESSEL SEALING
    Publication number: 20210038308
    Abstract: An end effector assembly for an optical surgical instrument includes a jaw member and a plurality of optical elements positioned within a cavity of the jaw member. The jaw member has a tissue contacting surface. The jaw member has a proximal portion that is configured to secure a fiber optic cable thereto such that a distal end of the fiber optical cable extends into the cavity. The plurality of optical elements are arranged in a staircase-like manner that rises towards the tissue contacting surface as the plurality of optical elements extends distally within the cavity. The plurality of optical elements is configured to direct a beam of light exiting the fiber optic cable towards the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: William H. Nau, JR., Eric R. Larson, Duane E. Kerr, Nathaniel M. Fried, Thomas C. Hutchens, Thomas W. Meiser, Luke A. Hardy
  • Reflectors for optical-based vessel sealing
    Patent number: 10813695
    Abstract: An end effector assembly for an optical surgical instrument includes a jaw member and a plurality of optical elements positioned within a cavity of the jaw member. The jaw member has a tissue contacting surface. The jaw member has a proximal portion that is configured to secure a fiber optic cable thereto such that a distal end of the fiber optical cable extends into the cavity. The plurality of optical elements are arranged in a staircase-like manner that rises towards the tissue contacting surface as the plurality of optical elements extends distally within the cavity. The plurality of optical elements is configured to direct a beam of light exiting the fiber optic cable towards the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: William H. Nau, Jr., Eric R. Larson, Duane E. Kerr, Nathaniel M. Fried, Thomas C. Hutchens, Thomas W. Meiser, Luke A. Hardy
  • REFLECTORS FOR OPTICAL-BASED VESSEL SEALING
    Publication number: 20180214209
    Abstract: An end effector assembly for an optical surgical instrument includes a jaw member and a plurality of optical elements positioned within a cavity of the jaw member. The jaw member has a tissue contacting surface. The jaw member has a proximal portion that is configured to secure a fiber optic cable thereto such that a distal end of the fiber optical cable extends into the cavity. The plurality of optical elements are arranged in a staircase-like manner that rises towards the tissue contacting surface as the plurality of optical elements extends distally within the cavity. The plurality of optical elements is configured to direct a beam of light exiting the fiber optic cable towards the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: WILLIAM H. NAU, JR., ERIC R. LARSON, DUANE E. KERR, NATHANIEL M. FRIED, THOMAS C. HUTCHENS, THOMAS W. MEISER, LUKE A. HARDY