Patents by Inventor Michael P. Whitman

Michael P. Whitman 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: 9241716
    Abstract: A medical tool comprising an electromechanical driver and a surgical instrument attachment for use in invasive surgery, including a handle coupled to a flexible sheath which is in turn coupled to a surgical attachment. The handle of the driver includes the electromechanical driver and at least one processor element which controls the actions of the electromechanical driver, and therefore the application elements of the surgical attachment, based on information relayed between the processor element and remotely activateable sensor assemblies in the surgical instrument attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Michael P. Whitman
  • Publication number: 20150359627
    Abstract: A system and method for percutaneous heart valve replacement includes implanting a heart valve replacement prosthetic into tissue and driving anchors into the heart valve replacement to affix the prosthetic to the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventor: Michael P. Whitman
  • Patent number: 9204877
    Abstract: A surgical device is provided that includes a jaw portion, having a first jaw in opposed correspondence with a second jaw, the second jaw including a surgical member. The surgical device may include a shaft portion coupled to a proximal end of the jaw portion and at least one motor configured to rotate the jaw portion relative to the shaft portion, to move the jaw portion relative to the shaft portion, move the first jaw relative to the second jaw and move the surgical member within the second jaw. The surgical member may be prevented from moving within the second jaw unless the first jaw is in a closed position relative to the second jaw. Advantageously, the surgical member may include one or both a cutting element or a stapling element, disposed within one of the jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, Donald Malinouskas, Peter Datcuk, David Nicholas
  • Patent number: 9192410
    Abstract: A surgical device is described. The surgical device may comprise a rotatable cutter configured to cut tissue for insertion of a cannula, and a first driver configured to be driven by a motor arrangement and to rotate the cutter. The surgical device may further include, for example, the cannula, at least one of the rotatable cutter and the first driver being disposed in a bore of the cannula. In one embodiment, the rotatable cutter may include an auger having a cutting thread. In another embodiment, the rotatable cutter may include a disk-shaped blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, John E. Burbank, Jeremy Hill, Thomas Guy
  • Publication number: 20150327845
    Abstract: An electromechanical surgical device includes a motor system configured to drive drive-shafts and a steering cable arrangement. A control system may be provided for controlling the motor system. A remote control unit may also be provided for controlling the motor system via the control system. Optical or Hall-effect devices, may be provided for determining the position of the elements of the surgical instrument based on the detected rotation of the drive-shafts. A memory unit stores a plurality of operating programs or algorithms, each corresponding to a type of surgical instrument attachable to the electro-mechanical surgical device. The control system reads or selects from the plurality of operating programs or algorithms, the operating program or algorithm corresponding to the type of surgical instrument attached to the electromechanical surgical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, John Burbank, David A. Zeichner
  • Publication number: 20150327854
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling the compression of tissue include clamping tissue between a first clamping member and a second clamping member by driving at least one of the clamping members with an electric motor toward a predetermined tissue gap between the clamping members and, during the clamping, monitoring a parameter of the electric motor indicative of a clamping force exerted to the tissue by the clamping members. The method and device include, during the clamping, controlling the electric motor, based on the monitored parameter, to limit the clamping force to a predetermined maximum limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, Donald Malinouskas, David Zeichner
  • Patent number: 9186177
    Abstract: A surgical device is described. The surgical device may comprise a rotatable cutter configured to cut tissue for insertion of a cannula, and a first driver configured to be driven by a motor arrangement and to rotate the cutter. The surgical device may further include, for example, the cannula, at least one of the rotatable cutter and the first driver being disposed in a bore of the cannula. In one embodiment, the rotatable cutter may include an auger having a cutting thread. In another embodiment, the rotatable cutter may include a disk-shaped blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, John E. Burbank, Jeremy Hill, Thomas Guy
  • Patent number: 9186139
    Abstract: A surgical device includes a first jaw and a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw between a first position, in which the first and second jaws are aligned within a plane, and a second position, in which the second jaw is in non-parallel correspondence to the plane. The surgical device may include a surgical member, e.g., a cutting and/or stapling element, disposed within the first law, and a second driver configured to cause relative movement of the surgical member in a direction parallel to the plane. The first and second jaws may include a camming arrangement that is configured to move the second jaw between the first and second positions. The camming arrangement may include a channel disposed along at least a portion of one or both of the first and second jaws, and a ball bearing disposed within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, Peter Datcuk
  • Publication number: 20150297220
    Abstract: The present invention, in accordance with various embodiments thereof, relates to a surgical device for at least one of cutting and stapling a section of tissue. The surgical device includes a housing including at least two drivers. The surgical device also includes an anvil mechanically attachable to the housing and moveable relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position. The first driver operates to move the anvil relative to the housing to an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position. The second driver operates to move at least a portion of the housing relative to the anvil between the intermediate position and the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, David A. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 9138211
    Abstract: A device having a temporary frame configured to carry an implant, the temporary frame being selectably movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the implant being in a relaxed state when carried by the frame in the retracted position, the implant being in a taut state when carried by the frame in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: MICRO INTERVENTIONAL DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Michael P. Whitman
  • Patent number: 9125554
    Abstract: A surgical device includes a jaw portion and a shaft portion that is pivotably coupled to the jaw portion. The shaft portion defines an interior space having first and second openings on respective radially-opposite sides of the shaft portion. A camera assembly is coupled to the shaft portion and is moveable between a first position, in which the camera assembly is positioned within the interior space of the shaft portion, and, for example, second and third positions, in which the camera assembly extends through a respective one of the first and second radially-opposite openings of the shaft portion. In this manner, the camera assembly may be positionable on, and may provide imaging data of, either side of the surgical device, irrespective of which lateral side the jaw portion is articulated relative to the shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, Donald Malinouskas
  • Patent number: 9113847
    Abstract: An electromechanical surgical device includes a motor system configured to drive drive-shafts and a steering cable arrangement. A control system may be provided for controlling the motor system. A remote control unit may also be provided for controlling the motor system via the control system. Optical or Hall-effect devices, may be provided for determining the position of the elements of the surgical instrument based on the detected rotation of the drive-shafts. A memory unit stores a plurality of operating programs or algorithms, each corresponding to a type of surgical instrument attachable to the electro-mechanical surgical device. The control system reads or selects from the plurality of operating programs or algorithms, the operating program or algorithm corresponding to the type of surgical instrument attached to the electromechanical surgical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, John E. Burbank, David A. Zeichner
  • Patent number: 9113878
    Abstract: Coupling assemblies are provided for maintaining a secure connection between surgical devices utilizing a shaft-and-pinion configuration and powered drive shafts. The coupling assemblies include a clip to be disposed without or within a pinion for receiving and securing a drive shaft member. The coupling assemblies are designed to maximize restriction of movement between the drive shaft and clip, but avoid impeding the rotational motion of a pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, John E. Burbank
  • Patent number: 9113877
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling the compression of tissue include clamping tissue between a first clamping member and a second clamping member by driving at least one of the clamping members with an electric motor toward a predetermined tissue gap between the clamping members and, during the clamping, monitoring a parameter of the electric motor indicative of a clamping force exerted to the tissue by the clamping members. The method and device include, during the clamping, controlling the electric motor, based on the monitored parameter, to limit the clamping force to a predetermined maximum limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, Donald Malinouskas, David Zeichner
  • Publication number: 20150223812
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling the compression of tissue include clamping tissue between a first clamping member and a second clamping member by driving at least one of the clamping members with an electric motor toward a predetermined tissue gap between the clamping members and, during the clamping, monitoring a parameter of the electric motor indicative of a clamping force exerted to the tissue by the clamping members. The method and device include, during the clamping, controlling the electric motor, based on the monitored parameter, to limit the clamping force to a predetermined maximum limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, Donald Malinouskas, David Zeichner
  • Publication number: 20150223805
    Abstract: A surgical device is provided, the surgical device including a first driver for performing a first movement function; a second driver for performing a second movement function; a first rotatable drive shaft configured, upon actuation, to cause selective engagement of one of the first and second drivers with a second rotatable drive shaft, wherein the second rotatable drive shaft is configured to drive the selectively engaged one of the first and second drivers. Third and fourth drivers may also be included. The drivers may function to rotate a shaft portion of the surgical device relative to, and about the longitudinal axis of, a handle; move a jaw portion relative to the shaft portion; move a first jaw relative to a second jaw; and/or move a surgical member within the second jaw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, Donald Malinouskas, Peter Datcuk, David Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20150209040
    Abstract: A surgical device comprises a base unit having a hydraulic controller and at least one control piston, a surgical end effector including at least one actuator piston, and a flexible shaft having at least one tube containing hydraulic fluid in hydraulic communication with the base unit and the surgical end effector. The hydraulic controller includes an electric motor configured to drive the control piston to generate hydraulic force. The hydraulic force is transferable from the base unit to the actuator piston of the surgical end effector through the hydraulic fluid in the at least one tube in the flexible shaft, such that the driving of the control piston by the electric motor under the control of the hydraulic controller transfers the hydraulic force from the control piston of the base unit to the actuator piston of the end effector in proportion to the ratio of the area of the control piston and the area of the actuator piston by metering the hydraulic fluid transferred by the control piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, David Johnston, Peter Datcuk
  • Publication number: 20150209047
    Abstract: A medical tool comprising an electromechanical driver and a surgical instrument attachment for use in invasive surgery, including a handle coupled to a flexible sheath which is in turn coupled to a surgical attachment. The handle of the driver includes the electromechanical driver and at least one processor element which controls the actions of the electromechanical driver, and therefore the application elements of the surgical attachment, based on information relayed between the processor element and remotely activateable sensor assemblies in the surgical instrument attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventor: Michael P. Whitman
  • Patent number: 9078654
    Abstract: A surgical device includes a first jaw and a second jaw disposed in opposed correspondence with the first jaw. The second jaw is mechanically coupled to the first jaw at a proximal end opposite a distal end. A cutting element is disposed within the second jaw, and a first driver is configured to move the cutting element proximally from the distal end toward the proximal end of the second jaw to cut a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, John E. Burbank
  • Patent number: 9055971
    Abstract: A surgical device is described. The surgical device may comprise a rotatable cutter configured to cut tissue for insertion of a cannula, and a first driver configured to be driven by a motor arrangement and to rotate the cutter. The surgical device may further include, for example, the cannula, at least one of the rotatable cutter and the first driver being disposed in a bore of the cannula. In one embodiment, the rotatable cutter may include an auger having a cutting thread. In another embodiment, the rotatable cutter may include a disk-shaped blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, John P. Burbank, Jeremy Hill, Thomas Guy