Patents by Inventor Russell Heinrich

Russell Heinrich 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).

  • Publication number: 20130292451
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus has a clamp and a stapling mechanism. The clamp has a first jaw and a second jaw to clamp on a body tissue at a desired location for a stapling operation. The stapling mechanism is controlled by a trigger handle or a switch assembly. The surgical apparatus has a controller for providing a delay between clamping and actuating of the firing mechanism of the stapling mechanism. The delay provides for a desired amount of time for tissue compression producing a more uniform staple formation. The surgical apparatus also has an indicator. The indicator provides feedback about the status of the stapling mechanism and also displays a time of tissue compression by the clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Frank J. Viola, Gregg Krehel, Michael A. Soltz, Robert J. DeSantis, Henry E. Holsten, Russell Heinrich
  • Patent number: 8505802
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus has a clamp and a stapling mechanism. The clamp has a first jaw and a second jaw to clamp on a body tissue at a desired location for a stapling operation. The stapling mechanism is controlled by a trigger handle or a switch assembly. The surgical apparatus has a controller for providing a delay between clamping and actuating of the firing mechanism of the stapling mechanism. The delay provides for a desired amount of time for tissue compression producing a more uniform staple formation. The surgical apparatus also has an indicator. The indicator provides feedback about the status of the stapling mechanism and also displays a time of tissue compression by the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Frank J. Viola, Gregg Krehel, Michael A. Soltz, Robert J. DeSantis, Henry E. Holsten, Russell Heinrich
  • Patent number: 8480694
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates a device for joining a first body vessel to a second body vessel, including an inner member having a distal end portion and defining a longitudinal axis, an outer member defining a lumen dimensioned to receive the inner member therein, and a radially expandable anchor disposed at the distal end of the inner member, the expandable anchor having an initial condition wherein the expandable anchor is disposed between the outer member and the inner member and an expanded condition wherein the expandable anchor is radially larger than the expandable anchor in the initial condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Russell Heinrich, Scott E. Manzo
  • Patent number: 8430291
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to surgical instruments, structures and methods for enhancing the properties of tissue to be repaired or joined. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical stapling apparatus is provided including a wound treatment material dispersion system for delivering wound treatment material to a target surgical site. The dispersion system includes an aperture formed in the anvil assembly oriented to dispense wound treatment material in an outward direction; and a source of wound treatment material in fluid communication with the aperture of the anvil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Russell Heinrich, Michael J. Bettuchi, David Fowler, Robert Capella, John Hauschild
  • Patent number: 8413869
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to surgical instruments including a staple anvil formed in a distal end of the surgical stapler and a staple cartridge selectively receivable in a distal end of the surgical stapler and in juxtaposition relative to the staple anvil, the staple cartridge including one or more laterally spaced apart rows of staple slots formed in an upper surface thereof, a plurality of surgical staples disposed, one each, within the staple slots, and a staple line reinforcing system configured and adapted to augment the strength of the staple line formed by the firing of the surgical staples into body tissue, wherein the surgical stapler concomitantly drives the plurality of surgical staples through the adjacent layers of body tissue to mechanically secure the body tissue and activates the reinforcing system to non-mechanically secure the adjacent layers of body tissue to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Russell Heinrich
  • Patent number: 8353930
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to surgical instruments, structures and methods for enhancing the properties of tissue to be repaired or joined. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical stapling apparatus is provided including a wound treatment material dispersion system for delivering wound treatment material to a target surgical site. The dispersion system includes an aperture formed in the anvil assembly oriented to dispense wound treatment material in an outward direction; and a source of wound treatment material in fluid communication with the aperture of the anvil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Russell Heinrich, Michael J. Bettuchi, David Fowler, Robert Capella, John Hauschild
  • Publication number: 20130006185
    Abstract: An access assembly includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening therethrough, a cannula extending distally from the housing and in fluid communication with the longitudinal opening and a seal member mounted within the longitudinal opening of the housing. The seal member is configured to receive an instrument therethrough in substantial sealed relation therewith. The housing is adapted to move in at least a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis whereby the seal member maintains the substantial sealed relation relative to the instrument as the instrument in manipulated. The housing may be flexible and capable of deflection relative to the longitudinal axis. The housing may comprise an elastomeric material in whole or in part. The seal member may be integrally formed with the housing. The housing may include at least one flexible ring portion and possibly a plurality of ring portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Russell Heinrich, Michael Bettuchi
  • Patent number: 8292855
    Abstract: A surgical access assembly for receiving instruments of various diameters is disclosed. The access assembly includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening for passage of a surgical instrument. The access assembly may also include a mechanism disposed within the housing and having a passageway for reception and passage of the surgical instrument in substantial sealed relation therewith. The mechanism may be adapted for reciprocal longitudinal movement within the housing between a first position corresponding to a first dimension of the passageway and a second position corresponding to a second dimension of the passageway. The mechanism may include a single seal element or first and second seal elements. The seal elements may be adapted for lateral movement during longitudinal movement of the seal. The first and second seal elements may be in at least partial overlapping relation when in the first position of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventor: Russell Heinrich
  • Patent number: 8287497
    Abstract: An access assembly includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening therethrough, a cannula extending distally from the housing and in fluid communication with the longitudinal opening and a seal member mounted within the longitudinal opening of the housing. The seal member is configured to receive an instrument therethrough in substantial sealed relation therewith. The housing is adapted to move in at least a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis whereby the seal member maintains the substantial sealed relation relative to the instrument as the instrument in manipulated. The housing may be flexible and capable of deflection relative to the longitudinal axis. The housing may comprise an elastomeric material in whole or in part. The seal member may be integrally formed with the housing. The housing may include at least one flexible ring portion and possibly a plurality of ring portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Russell Heinrich, Michael Bettuchi
  • Publication number: 20120241188
    Abstract: A wire guide system is provided for use during a endoscopic surgical procedures. The wire guide system includes a cylindrical shaft having a hollow chamber along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical shaft, a flange fit disposed around the cylindrical shaft and a seal disposed around the cylindrical shaft and abutting the flange. The system may also include an anchor affixed to the cylindrical shaft and having an aperture from which at least one of a sensor, a light, a camera, tissue and/or organs may be suspended therefrom and at least one cable extending from one end of the cylindrical shaft to another end of the cylindrical shaft through the hollow chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: James M. Power, Frank Viola, Russell Heinrich
  • Publication number: 20120238827
    Abstract: A surgical access apparatus includes an access member defining a longitudinal axis and proximal and distal ends, and having a longitudinal opening. A central seal member is mounted to the access member at an approximate rotational center thereof. The central seal member has inner seal portions defining a seal passage dimensioned for sealed reception of a surgical object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Danny Berry, Richard D. Gresham, Russell Heinrich, Patrick Helfrich
  • Publication number: 20120223121
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus has a clamp and a stapling mechanism. The clamp has a first jaw and a second jaw to clamp on a body tissue at a desired location for a stapling operation. The stapling mechanism is controlled by a trigger handle or a switch assembly. The surgical apparatus has a controller for providing a delay between clamping and actuating of the firing mechanism of the stapling mechanism. The delay provides for a desired amount of time for tissue compression producing a more uniform staple formation. The surgical apparatus also has an indicator. The indicator provides feedback about the status of the stapling mechanism and also displays a time of tissue compression by the clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Frank J. Viola, Gregg Krehel, Guido Pedros, Michael A. Soltz, Robert DeSantis, Henry E. Holsten, Russell Heinrich
  • Publication number: 20120203274
    Abstract: A staple is provided having a backspan and a first and second legs extending distally from the backspan. Each of the first and second legs includes a bend dividing each leg into a traversing leg portion and a substantially linear clenching leg portion. A staple plate is positionable over the first and second legs between the backspan and the first and second clenching leg portions. An anvil assembly has first and second movable members which move toward to one another to engage outer surfaces of the first and second clenching leg portions. There is further disclosed a method of forming the staple through tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Russell Heinrich, Robert J. DeSantis, Richard D. Gresham, Kenneth M. Blier
  • Publication number: 20120175400
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus has a clamp and a stapling mechanism. The clamp has a first jaw and a second jaw to clamp on a body tissue at a desired location for a stapling operation. The stapling mechanism is controlled by a trigger handle or a switch assembly. The surgical apparatus has a controller for providing a delay between clamping and actuating of the firing mechanism of the stapling mechanism. The delay provides for a desired amount of time for tissue compression producing a more uniform staple formation. The surgical apparatus also has an indicator. The indicator provides feedback about the status of the stapling mechanism and also displays a time of tissue compression by the clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Frank J. Viola, Gragg Krehel, Michael A. Soltz, Robert J. DeSantis, Henry E. Holsten, Russell Heinrich
  • Patent number: 8216236
    Abstract: An electrosurgical stapling apparatus is provided which uses thermogenic energy as well as surgical fasteners or staples for strengthening tissue, providing hemostasis, tissue joining or welding. The thermogenic energy also strengthens tissue in proximity to a staple line and knife cut line and provides hemostasis along the staple and cut lines formed by the staples and a knife blade during surgical stapling. The use of thermogenic energy provides short-term hemostasis and sealing, and reduces or prevents staple line and cut line bleeding, while the stapling features provide short and long-term tissue strength and hemostasis. The stapling apparatus further substantially reduces or prevents knife cut line bleeding by energizing a knife blade for cauterizing tissue while it is being cut. In one embodiment, energy is applied to the anvil to energize the staples as they make contact with the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Russell Heinrich, Frank J. Viola
  • Publication number: 20120168487
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Henry E. Holsten, Frank J. Viola, Clifford L. Emmons, John W. Beardsley, Russell Heinrich, Nicola Cullinan
  • Patent number: 8211135
    Abstract: An obturator assembly for penetrating tissue and being at least partially positionable within a cannula assembly includes an obturator housing, an obturator shaft connected to the obturator housing and defining a longitudinal axis, a bladeless penetrating member adjacent the distal end of the obturator shaft and an obturator shield mounted about the obturator shaft and having a distal shield nose. The obturator shield is adapted for longitudinal movement between an extended position where the bladeless penetration member is substantially enclosed within the shield nose and a retracted position where the bladeless penetrating member is at least partially exposed from the shield nose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Russell Heinrich, David C. Racenet, Robert C. Smith, Gregory G. Okoniewski
  • Publication number: 20120149987
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus for positioning within a tissue tract accessing an underlying body cavity includes a seal anchor member comprising a compressible material and being adapted to transition between a first expanded condition to facilitate securing of the seal anchor member within the tissue tract and in substantial sealed relation with tissue surfaces defining the tissue tract and a second compressed condition to facilitate at least partial insertion of the seal anchor member within the tissue tract. The seal anchor member defines a longitudinal axis, and has leading and trailing ends with at least one longitudinal port extending therebetween adapted for reception of an object whereby compressible material defining the at least one port is adapted to deform to establish a substantial sealed relation with the object. The seal anchor member may comprise a memory foam material and may include a plurality of longitudinal ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Paul D. Richard, Russell Heinrich
  • Patent number: 8177755
    Abstract: An access apparatus for use during a surgical procedure to provide access to the interior of the body includes an access member defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end for being disposed at an exterior side of the body and a distal end for extending into the interior of the body. The access member has a bore therethrough dimensioned to permit passage of an object. A seal is disposed within the longitudinal bore substantially at the rotational center of the access member. The seal has inner seal portions adapted to establish a substantial seal about a surgical instrument introduced within the longitudinal bore of the access member. An access housing may be mounted to the proximal end of the access member. A zero closure valve may be mounted to the access housing. The zero-closure valve may be adapted to close in the absence of the instrument. The seal may be generally disc shaped. The seal may define an aperture for reception of the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Danny Berry, Richard D. Gresham, Russell Heinrich, Patrick Helfrich
  • Patent number: 8157152
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Henry E. Holsten, Frank J. Viola, Clifford L. Emmons, John W. Beardsley, Russell Heinrich, Nicola Cullinan