Patents by Inventor Matthew Chowaniec

Matthew Chowaniec 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: 9615824
    Abstract: A handle assembly for operating an articulatable surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing; an actuation shaft translatably and rotatably supported in the housing; a first trigger supported on the housing and connected to the actuation shaft, the first trigger being configured to translate the actuation shaft to operate a first function of the surgical instrument; a second trigger supported on the housing and connected to the actuation shaft, the second trigger being configured to rotate the actuation shaft to operate a second function of the surgical instrument; and a second-trigger release supported in the housing, the second-trigger release having a first position blocking actuation of the second trigger and a second position permitting actuation of the second trigger, where the second-trigger release is actuated from the first position to the second position upon and complete actuation of the first trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Greg Furnish, Eric Bielefeld, Edwin Bon, Eric Taylor, Peter Hathaway, Matthew Chowaniec
  • Publication number: 20170079740
    Abstract: A jaw assembly including first and second jaw members configured to clamp tissue therebetween. The first jaw member includes a surface opposing a surface of the second jaw member, a light source, and a light detector. The light source is configured to emit light from an opening defined in the surface of the first jaw member. The light detector is disposed within the opening and is configured to sense properties of light reflected off tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members and to generate signals indicative of the sensed properties of light. A processor is operatively associated with the light detector and is configured to receive the signals from the light detector. The processor is also configured to analyze the signals to determine an attribute of tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members and to provide feedback to a user of the attribute of the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Elizabeth Hufnagel, Xingrui Chen, Matthew Chowaniec, Peter T. Collings, Paul D. Richard, Michael A. Zemlok
  • Publication number: 20170020632
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an outer housing shell defining a cavity. The outer housing shell defines an upper outer housing half and a lower outer housing half. The upper outer housing half defines a longitudinal axis. An instrument module is selectively insertable into the cavity of the outer housing shell. The instrument module includes an inner housing shell, at least one motor disposed within the inner housing shell, a control board being in electrical communication with the at least one motor, and an energy source being in electrical communication with the at least one motor and the control board. The instrument module is inserted into the cavity of the outer housing shell in such a manner that the operative axis of the at least one motor is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the upper outer housing half.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: John Beardsley, Matthew Chowaniec, Russell Pribanic
  • Publication number: 20160310134
    Abstract: A handheld electromechanical surgical device includes a non-sterile power-pack having a drive component(s) including a rotatable drive shaft extending therefrom, a main processor configured to control each drive component, a battery configured to power each drive component, an electrical receptacle, and a control interface(s) configured to control a functionality of the drive component. A sterile outer shell housing is configured to removably encase the power-pack to define a sterile barrier thus enabling use in a surgical environment without breaking sterility. The outer shell housing includes a coupler configured to transmit a rotation from the rotatable drive shaft through the outer shell housing, a control button(s) operatively positioned such that actuation of the control button actuates the control interface, and a pass-through connector configured to transmit electrical communications from the electrical receptacle through the outer shell housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Elizabeth Contini, Kelly Valentine, Thomas Wingardner, David McCuen, Matthew Chowaniec, John Beardsley, Russell Pribanic, Xingrui Chen
  • Publication number: 20160296227
    Abstract: An end effector includes first and second members that each have a tissue contacting surface and are moveable relative to one another. The first and second members are configured to clamp tissue therebetween when in an approximated configuration. The tissue contacting surface of the first member defines a first groove. The end effector also includes a bladder that is defined within the first groove and is configured to receive and retain fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Seth Gleiman, Anthony Ceniccola, Matthew Chowaniec, David Racenet, Gerald Hodgkinson, Joshua Snow, Jeffrey Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9456873
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an outer housing shell defining a cavity. The outer housing shell defines an upper outer housing half and a lower outer housing half. The upper outer housing half defines a longitudinal axis. An instrument module is selectively insertable into the cavity of the outer housing shell. The instrument module includes an inner housing shell, at least one motor disposed within the inner housing shell, a control board being in electrical communication with the at least one motor, and an energy source being in electrical communication with the at least one motor and the control board. The instrument module is inserted into the cavity of the outer housing shell in such a manner that the operative axis of the at least one motor is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the upper outer housing half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: John Beardsley, Matthew Chowaniec, Russell Pribanic
  • Publication number: 20160235402
    Abstract: An electromechanical handheld surgical device includes a housing, and a non-planar display screen. The housing encloses a processor, a memory storing instructions, and an orientation detector configured to detect orientation of the electromechanical handheld surgical device with respect to a reference direction. The non-planar display screen is fixedly attached around a portion of the housing and configured to display information. Then instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the non-planar display screen to display the information on a portion of the non-planar display screen. The portion of the non-planar display screen is determined by the processor based on the detected orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: MATTHEW CHOWANIEC, MICHAEL INGMANSON, XINGRUI CHEN, STEVEN PLACHTYNA
  • Publication number: 20160228145
    Abstract: An end effector includes first and second jaws, first and second buttresses, and an ultrasonic blade. The first jaw includes a fastener cartridge having a first tissue contacting surface and a plurality of fasteners arranged in rows parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first jaw. The first buttress is attached to the first tissue contacting surface and the second buttress is attached to a second tissue contracting surface of the second jaw. The first and second jaws are movable relative to one another and are configured to grasp tissue therebetween. The ultrasonic is activatable to weld the first buttress to the second buttress and to subsequently cut the welded first and second buttresses and tissue grasped between the first and second jaws.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: SETH GLEIMAN, ANTHONY CENICCOLA, ANNE NELSON, MATTHEW CHOWANIEC, DAVID RACENET, JEFFREY SCHMITT, GERALD HODGKINSON, JOSHUA SNOW
  • Publication number: 20160206209
    Abstract: A jaw assembly including first and second jaw members configured to clamp tissue therebetween. The first jaw member includes a surface opposing a surface of the second jaw member, a light source, and a light detector. The light source is configured to emit light from an opening defined in the surface of the first jaw member. The light detector is disposed within the opening and is configured to sense properties of light reflected off tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members and to generate signals indicative of the sensed properties of light. A processor is operatively associated with the light detector and is configured to receive the signals from the light detector. The processor is also configured to analyze the signals to determine an attribute of tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members and to provide feedback to a user of the attribute of the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Elizabeth Hufnagel, Xingrui Chen, Matthew Chowaniec, Peter T. Collings, Paul D. Richard, Michael A. Zemlok
  • Publication number: 20160174967
    Abstract: A handle assembly for operating a surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing; a trigger operatively supported on the housing; and an articulation assembly supported on the housing for effectuating an articulation of an end effector operatively connected to the housing, the articulation assembly being operable to effect articulation of the end effector in a first pair of opposed directions and a second pair of opposed direction which is substantially transverse to the first pair of opposed directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Eric J. Taylor, Peter Hathaway, Matthew Chowaniec
  • Publication number: 20160113635
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an outer housing shell defining a cavity, the outer housing shell defining an upper outer housing half and a lower outer housing half, wherein the upper outer housing half defines a longitudinal axis and an instrument module selectively insertable into the cavity of the outer housing shell. The instrument module includes an inner housing shell, at least one motor disposed within the inner housing shell, a control board being in electrical communication with the at least one motor and an energy source being in electrical communication with the at least one motor and the control board. The instrument module is inserted into the cavity of the outer housing shell in such a manner that the operative axis of the at least one motor is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the upper outer housing half.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: John Beardsley, Matthew Chowaniec, Russell Pribanic
  • Publication number: 20160106401
    Abstract: A hand-held electromechanical surgical device is configured to selectively connect with a surgical accessory. The surgical device includes a power-pack, an outer shell housing, and a gasket. The power-pack is configured to selectively control a surgical accessory. The outer shell housing includes a distal half-section and a proximal half-section, the distal half-section and the proximal half-section together defining a cavity configured to selectively encase substantially the entire power-pack therein. The gasket is located between the distal half-section and the proximal half-section of the outer shell housing. The gasket is configured to create a seal between the distal half-section and the proximal half-section and to provide a sterile barrier between the power-pack and an outside environment outside the outer shell housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: John Beardsley, Matthew Chowaniec, Russell Pribanic, Paul Rinaldi
  • Publication number: 20160095585
    Abstract: A hand-held electromechanical surgical device configured to selectively connect with a surgical accessory, is provided and includes a handle assembly having a power pack with a core assembly. The core assembly includes a plurality of motors, with each motor having a rotatable drive shaft extending therefrom, wherein each drive shaft is parallel to one another; a processor connected to and configured to control each motor; and a battery electrically connected to the processor and each motor. The power pack includes an inner housing encasing at least the plurality of motors, the processor, and the battery. The handle assembly includes an outer shell housing configured to selectively encase substantially the entire power pack therein, wherein a rotation from each rotatable drive shaft of each motor is transmitted through the inner housing and the outer shell housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Earl M. Zergiebel, Matthew Chowaniec
  • Patent number: 9301691
    Abstract: A jaw assembly including first and second jaw members configured to clamp tissue therebetween. The first jaw member includes a surface opposing a surface of the second jaw member, a light source, and a light detector. The light source is configured to emit light from an opening defined in the surface of the first jaw member. The light detector is disposed within the opening and is configured to sense properties of light reflected off tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members and to generate signals indicative of the sensed properties of light. A processor is operatively associated with the light detector and is configured to receive the signals from the light detector. The processor is also configured to analyze the signals to determine an attribute of tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members and to provide feedback to a user of the attribute of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Elizabeth Hufnagel, Xingrui Chen, Matthew Chowaniec, Peter T. Collings, Paul D. Richard, Michael A. Zemlok
  • Patent number: 9271723
    Abstract: A handle assembly for operating a surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing; a trigger operatively supported on the housing; and an articulation assembly supported on the housing for effectuating an articulation of an end effector operatively connected to the housing, the articulation assembly being operable to effect articulation of the end effector in a first pair of opposed directions and a second pair of opposed direction which is substantially transverse to the first pair of opposed directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Eric J. Taylor, Peter Hathaway, Matthew Chowaniec
  • Patent number: 9241757
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided including an outer housing shell defining a cavity, the outer housing shell defining an upper outer housing half and a lower outer housing half, wherein the upper outer housing half defines a longitudinal axis and an instrument module selectively insertable into the cavity of the outer housing shell. The instrument module includes an inner housing shell, at least one motor disposed within the inner housing shell, a control board being in electrical communication with the at least one motor and an energy source being in electrical communication with the at least one motor and the control board. The instrument module is inserted into the cavity of the outer housing shell in such a manner that the operative axis of the at least one motor is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the upper outer housing half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: John Beardsley, Matthew Chowaniec, Russell Pribanic
  • Publication number: 20160008080
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an outer housing shell defining a cavity. The outer housing shell defines an upper outer housing half and a lower outer housing half. The upper outer housing half defines a longitudinal axis. An instrument module is selectively insertable into the cavity of the outer housing shell. The instrument module includes an inner housing shell, at least one motor disposed within the inner housing shell, a control board being in electrical communication with the at least one motor, and an energy source being in electrical communication with the at least one motor and the control board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: John Beardsley, Matthew Chowaniec, Russell Pribanic
  • Publication number: 20150366560
    Abstract: A disposable housing includes a housing portion and a memory. The housing portion defines a cavity therein configured to receive a motor operable, inner core handle assembly. At least a portion of the housing portion has a color that corresponds to a color of one type of end effector or adapter assembly. The memory has stored therein at least one operating parameter for the inner core handle assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Xingrui Chen, Matthew Chowaniec
  • Patent number: 9155529
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an outer housing shell defining a cavity. The outer housing shell defines an upper outer housing half and a lower outer housing half. The upper outer housing half defines a longitudinal axis. An instrument module is selectively insertable into the cavity of the outer housing shell. The instrument module includes an inner housing shell, at least one motor disposed within the inner housing shell, a control board being in electrical communication with the at least one motor, and an energy source being in electrical communication with the at least one motor and the control board. The instrument module is inserted into the cavity of the outer housing shell in such a manner that the operative axis of the at least one motor is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the upper outer housing half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: John Beardsley, Matthew Chowaniec, Russell Pribanic
  • Publication number: 20150272604
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument includes: a test end effector including a test jaw assembly having a pair of jaws configured to clamp about tissue and at least one sensor configured to measure at least one tissue property; and a handle assembly configured to couple to the treatment end effector. The handle assembly includes: a drive assembly; a motor operatively coupled to the drive assembly; and a controller operatively coupled to the motor, the controller configured to control operation of the motor to actuate the test end effector to measure the at least one tissue property and to determine, based on the at least one tissue property, at least one suitable treatment end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: David Chowaniec, Matthew Chowaniec