Patents by Inventor Matthew J. Winkler
Matthew J. Winkler 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).
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Patent number: 11925355Abstract: An occlusion clip comprising: (a) a spring; (b) a first runner including a first open top and a first open end adjacent the first open top, the first runner including a first interior camming surface partially delineating a first interior cavity that is open by way of the first open top and the first open end; (c) a second runner including a second open top and a second open end adjacent the second open top, the second runner including a second interior camming surface partially delineating a second interior cavity that is open by way of the second open top and the second open end, where the spring is configured to be coupled to the first runner and the second runner, where the first interior cavity is configured to receive a first portion of the spring, where the second interior cavity is configured to receive a second portion of the spring, where the first camming surface is configured to engage a first cam of the spring, and where the second camming surface is configured to engage a second cam of the sprinType: GrantFiled: February 21, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller, Matthew Monti, Todd Frangolis, Nicholas Bailey, Robert M. Trusty
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Patent number: 11911042Abstract: A method of using an occlusion clamp, the method comprising: (a) repositioning a tongs so that tissue interposes the tongs, the tongs comprising a first longitudinal segment operatively coupled proximally to a second longitudinal segment, the tongs including a first spring exerting a proximal bias tending to direct a proximal portion of each of the first and second longitudinal segments toward one another, where each of the first and second longitudinal segments includes a distal free end; (b) repositioning a second spring distally along each of the first and second longitudinal segments to exert a bias tending to direct a distal portion of each of the first and second longitudinal segments toward one another, where repositioning of the tongs so that tissue interposes the tongs precedes repositioning the second spring distally along each of the first and second longitudinal segments.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller
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Publication number: 20230338041Abstract: A method of using an occlusion clamp, the method comprising: (a) repositioning a tongs so that tissue interposes the tongs, the tongs comprising a first longitudinal segment operatively coupled proximally to a second longitudinal segment, the tongs including a first spring exerting a proximal bias tending to direct a proximal portion of each of the first and second longitudinal segments toward one another, where each of the first and second longitudinal segments includes a distal free end; (b) repositioning a second spring distally along each of the first and second longitudinal segments to exert a bias tending to direct a distal portion of each of the first and second longitudinal segments toward one another, where repositioning of the tongs so that tissue interposes the tongs precedes repositioning the second spring distally along each of the first and second longitudinal segments.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller
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Publication number: 20230338032Abstract: An occlusion clip comprising: (a) a spring; (b) a first runner including a first open top and a first open end adjacent the first open top, the first runner including a first interior camming surface partially delineating a first interior cavity that is open by way of the first open top and the first open end; (c) a second runner including a second open top and a second open end adjacent the second open top, the second runner including a second interior camming surface partially delineating a second interior cavity that is open by way of the second open top and the second open end, where the spring is configured to be coupled to the first runner and the second runner, where the first interior cavity is configured to receive a first portion of the spring, where the second interior cavity is configured to receive a second portion of the spring, where the first camming surface is configured to engage a first cam of the spring, and where the second camming surface is configured to engage a second cam of the sprinType: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller, Matthew Monti, Todd Frangolis, Nicholas Bailey, Robert M. Trusty
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Publication number: 20230338033Abstract: An occlusion clip comprising: (a) a spring; (b) a first runner including a first open top and a first open end adjacent the first open top, the first runner including a first interior camming surface partially delineating a first interior cavity that is open by way of the first open top and the first open end; (c) a second runner including a second open top and a second open end adjacent the second open top, the second runner including a second interior camming surface partially delineating a second interior cavity that is open by way of the second open top and the second open end, where the spring is configured to be coupled to the first runner and the second runner, where the first interior cavity is configured to receive a first portion of the spring, where the second interior cavity is configured to receive a second portion of the spring, where the first camming surface is configured to engage a first cam of the spring, and where the second camming surface is configured to engage a second cam of the sprinType: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller, Matthew Monti, Todd Frangolis, Nicholas Bailey, Robert M. Trusty
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Publication number: 20230338040Abstract: A method of using an occlusion clamp, the method comprising: (a) repositioning a tongs so that tissue interposes the tongs, the tongs comprising a first longitudinal segment operatively coupled proximally to a second longitudinal segment, the tongs including a first spring exerting a proximal bias tending to direct a proximal portion of each of the first and second longitudinal segments toward one another, where each of the first and second longitudinal segments includes a distal free end; (b) repositioning a second spring distally along each of the first and second longitudinal segments to exert a bias tending to direct a distal portion of each of the first and second longitudinal segments toward one another, where repositioning of the tongs so that tissue interposes the tongs precedes repositioning the second spring distally along each of the first and second longitudinal segments.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller
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Publication number: 20230338031Abstract: An occlusion clip comprising: (a) a spring; (b) a first runner including a first open top and a first open end adjacent the first open top, the first runner including a first interior camming surface partially delineating a first interior cavity that is open by way of the first open top and the first open end; (c) a second runner including a second open top and a second open end adjacent the second open top, the second runner including a second interior camming surface partially delineating a second interior cavity that is open by way of the second open top and the second open end, where the spring is configured to be coupled to the first runner and the second runner, where the first interior cavity is configured to receive a first portion of the spring, where the second interior cavity is configured to receive a second portion of the spring, where the first camming surface is configured to engage a first cam of the spring, and where the second camming surface is configured to engage a second cam of the sprinType: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller, Matthew Monti, Todd Frangolis, Nicholas Bailey, Robert M. Trusty
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Publication number: 20230009892Abstract: An occlusion clip comprising: (a) a spring; (b) a first runner including a first open top and a first open end adjacent the first open top, the first runner including a first interior camming surface partially delineating a first interior cavity that is open by way of the first open top and the first open end; (c) a second runner including a second open top and a second open end adjacent the second open top, the second runner including a second interior camming surface partially delineating a second interior cavity that is open by way of the second open top and the second open end, where the spring is configured to be coupled to the first runner and the second runner, where the first interior cavity is configured to receive a first portion of the spring, where the second interior cavity is configured to receive a second portion of the spring, where the first camming surface is configured to engage a first cam of the spring, and where the second camming surface is configured to engage a second cam of the sprinType: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2022Publication date: January 12, 2023Applicant: AtriCure, Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller, Matthew Monti, Todd Frangolis, Nicholas Bailey, Robert M. Trusty
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Patent number: 11266413Abstract: An occlusion clip comprising: (a) a spring; (b) a first runner including a first open top and a first open end adjacent the first open top, the first runner including a first interior camming surface partially delineating a first interior cavity that is open by way of the first open top and the first open end; (c) a second runner including a second open top and a second open end adjacent the second open top, the second runner including a second interior camming surface partially delineating a second interior cavity that is open by way of the second open top and the second open end, where the spring is configured to be coupled to the first runner and the second runner, where the first interior cavity is configured to receive a first portion of the spring, where the second interior cavity is configured to receive a second portion of the spring, where the first camming surface is configured to engage a first cam of the spring, and where the second camming surface is configured to engage a second cam of the sprinType: GrantFiled: November 21, 2014Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller, Matthew Monti, Todd Frangolis, Nicholas Bailey, Robert M. Trusty
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Publication number: 20210106336Abstract: A method of using an occlusion clamp, the method comprising: (a) repositioning a tongs so that tissue interposes the tongs, the tongs comprising a first longitudinal segment operatively coupled proximally to a second longitudinal segment, the tongs including a first spring exerting a proximal bias tending to direct a proximal portion of each of the first and second longitudinal segments toward one another, where each of the first and second longitudinal segments includes a distal free end; (b) repositioning a second spring distally along each of the first and second longitudinal segments to exert a bias tending to direct a distal portion of each of the first and second longitudinal segments toward one another, where repositioning of the tongs so that tissue interposes the tongs precedes repositioning the second spring distally along each of the first and second longitudinal segments.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: AtriCure, Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller
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Patent number: 10898204Abstract: An occlusion clamp including: (a) an occlusion tongs including a primary spring coupling a first longitudinal arm to a second longitudinal arm, the first longitudinal arm including a first linear occlusion surface configured to be parallel to and overlap a second linear occlusion surface of the second longitudinal arm, each of the first and second longitudinal arms having a free distal end; and, (b) a secondary spring removably coupled to the occlusion tongs.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2018Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller
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Publication number: 20180317922Abstract: An occlusion clamp including: (a) an occlusion tongs including a primary spring coupling a first longitudinal arm to a second longitudinal arm, the first longitudinal arm including a first linear occlusion surface configured to be parallel to and overlap a second linear occlusion surface of the second longitudinal arm, each of the first and second longitudinal arms having a free distal end; and, (b) a secondary spring removably coupled to the occlusion tongs.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Applicant: AtriCure, Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller
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Patent number: 10085812Abstract: Surgical instruments are disclosed in which an elongated shaft is used in conjunction with a separate, remotely actuable tool head for performing a procedure on a target tissue. The shaft has a tool engagement member carried at its distal end that is remotely actuable through the shaft to engage and release the tool head.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.Inventors: Salvatore Privitera, Matthew J. Winkler
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Patent number: 9901351Abstract: An occlusion clamp including: (a) an occlusion tongs including a primary spring coupling a first longitudinal arm to a second longitudinal arm, the first longitudinal arm including a first linear occlusion surface configured to be parallel to and overlap a second linear occlusion surface of the second longitudinal arm, each of the first and second longitudinal arms having a free distal end; and, (b) a secondary spring removably coupled to the occlusion tongs.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2013Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller
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Publication number: 20160317235Abstract: Surgical instruments are disclosed in which an elongated shaft is used in conjunction with a separate, remotely actuable tool head for performing a procedure on a target tissue. The shaft has a tool engagement member carried at its distal end that is remotely actuable through the shaft to engage and release the tool head.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Applicant: AtriCure, Inc.Inventors: Salvatore Privitera, Matthew J. Winkler
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Patent number: 9408659Abstract: Surgical instruments are disclosed in which an elongated shaft is used in conjunction with a separate, remotely actuable tool head for performing a procedure on a target tissue. The shaft has a tool engagement member carried at its distal end that is remotely actuable through the shaft to engage and release the tool head.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2012Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.Inventors: Salvatore Privitera, Matthew J. Winkler
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Publication number: 20160008001Abstract: An occlusion clip comprising: (a) a spring; (b) a first runner including a first open top and a first open end adjacent the first open top, the first runner including a first interior camming surface partially delineating a first interior cavity that is open by way of the first open top and the first open end; (c) a second runner including a second open top and a second open end adjacent the second open top, the second runner including a second interior camming surface partially delineating a second interior cavity that is open by way of the second open top and the second open end, where the spring is configured to be coupled to the first runner and the second runner, where the first interior cavity is configured to receive a first portion of the spring, where the second interior cavity is configured to receive a second portion of the spring, where the first camming surface is configured to engage a first cam of the spring, and where the second camming surface is configured to engage a second cam of the sprinType: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2014Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller, Matthew Monti, Todd Frangolis, Nicholas Bailey, Robert M. Trusty
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Patent number: 8998892Abstract: An electrosurgical end effector for ablating tissue is provided that comprises at least one electrically-conductive ablation member adapted to be connected to a source of RF energy, with the ablation member having a tissue engaging surface and an internal fluid passageway. Preferably, the end effector includes two electrically conductive ablation members that are electrically isolated from one another.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2010Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Peter F Staats, Warren P Williamson, IV, Jason Iain Gilthero, Michael D. Hooven, David J. Drachman
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Patent number: 8915878Abstract: An electrosurgical end effector for ablating tissue is provided that comprises at least one electrically-conductive ablation member adapted to be connected to a source of RF energy, with the ablation member having a tissue engaging surface and defining an internal fluid passageway. Preferably, the end effector includes two electrically conductive ablation members that are electrically isolated from one another and have their fluid passageways in fluid communication. Alternatively, the end effector may comprise four electrically conductive ablation members arranged as two pairs of ablation members, all of the ablation members having internal fluid passageways that are electrically isolated from each other, with the fluid passageways of each of the four ablation members being in fluid communication with each other.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2013Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Peter F. Staats, Warren P. Williamson, IV, Jason I. Glithero
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Publication number: 20140142597Abstract: An occlusion clamp comprising: (a) an occlusion tongs including a primary spring coupling a first longitudinal arm to a second longitudinal arm, the first longitudinal arm including a first linear occlusion surface configured to be parallel to and overlap a second linear occlusion surface of the second longitudinal arm, each of the first and second longitudinal arms having a free distal end; and, (b) a secondary spring removably coupled to the occlusion tongs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2013Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: AtriCure, Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller