Patents Assigned to Ethicon, LLC
  • Patent number: 10898219
    Abstract: Surgical systems and methods are provided for controlling actuation and movement of various surgical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Cortney E. Henderson, Jason L. Harris, David C. Yates, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Cara Shapiro, Kevin D. Felder, Joshua Dean Young
  • Patent number: 10898183
    Abstract: A control system for a robotic surgical system is disclosed. The control system includes a control circuit configured to determine a closure force applied to a closure member, determine a position of a firing member, and set a new closure force based on the closure force applied to the closure member and the position of the firing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Gregory J. Bakos, Jason L. Harris, Chester O. Baxter, III, David C. Yates
  • Patent number: 10898187
    Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a first elongate member, a second elongate member, and a clamp member operable to releasably clamp the first elongate member against the second elongate member. A distal portion of the first elongate member supports an anvil surface having a plurality of staple forming pockets. A distal portion of the second elongate member is configured to receive a staple cartridge. A firing assembly of the surgical stapler is translatable from a first longitudinal position to a second longitudinal position to fire the staple cartridge when the first elongate member is clamped against the second elongate member. A retaining assembly of the surgical stapler includes a first retaining member configured to releasably couple a proximal end of the first elongate member with a proximal end of the second elongate member, and a second retaining member configured to releasably retain the firing assembly in the first longitudinal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Andrew C. Deck, Jason Jones, Gregory J. Bakos, Brian D. Schings
  • Patent number: 10898622
    Abstract: A surgical evacuation system for communication between a smoke evacuation device and a filter device through a communication circuit is provided. The surgical evacuation system can include a smoke evacuation device, which can include a pump and a motor operably coupled to the pump. The surgical evacuation system also can include a communication circuit and a filter device in communication with the smoke evacuation device through the communication circuit. The filter device can include a plurality of filter components including filter elements and filter sensors. The filter elements can include a fluid filter, particulate filter, and/or a charcoal filter. The communication circuit is configured to authenticate the filter components, verify a remaining life of at least one of the filter components, update parameters output from the filter components, and record errors output from the filter components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, David C. Yates, Benjamin J. Danziger, Jason L. Harris, Jeffrey L. Aldridge
  • Patent number: 10893914
    Abstract: A first subassembly includes a body and an ultrasonic blade. A second subassembly is configured to removably couple with the first subassembly and includes a first clamp arm and a first clamp arm actuator. The first clamp arm is configured to be located on a first side of the longitudinal axis of the body, and the first clamp arm actuator is configured to be located on a second side of the longitudinal axis, when the second subassembly is coupled with the first subassembly. The third subassembly is similar to the second subassembly except that the second clamp arm of the third subassembly is configured to be located on the second side of the longitudinal axis of the body when the third subassembly is coupled with the first subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventor: Chad P. Boudreaux
  • Patent number: 10893867
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises an end effector, a shaft, and a housing extending proximally from the shaft. The surgical instrument includes an articulation assembly configured to articulate the end effector relative to the shaft, a firing assembly configured to fire a plurality of staples, for example, and a locking member movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The housing is removably couplable to the shaft when the locking member is in the unlocked configuration and the housing includes a motor configured to drive at least one of the firing assembly and the articulation assembly. The housing also includes a controller in communication with the motor, wherein the controller is configured to activate the motor to reset at least one of the firing assembly and the articulation assembly to a home state when the locking member is moved between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Leimbach, Thomas W. Lytle, IV, Kevin D. Sackett, Mark D. Overmyer
  • Patent number: 10893883
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising a coupling portion laterally movable at an ultrasonic frequency. In addition, the surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic transmission waveguide extending from the coupling portion and an ultrasonic treatment element defining a cutting surface, wherein the ultrasonic treatment element extends from the ultrasonic transmission waveguide, and wherein the lateral movement of the coupling portion is in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the cutting surface of the ultrasonic treatment element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventor: William D. Dannaher
  • Patent number: 10893853
    Abstract: A stapling assembly comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a first jaw, a second jaw, a staple cartridge, a first motor-driven system, and a second motor-driven system is disclosed. The first jaw comprises a first bottom surface. The second iaw is rotatably coupled to the first iaw about a pivot and is movable between an unclamped position and a fully-clamped position. The second jaw comprises a second bottom surface. The staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples removably stored therein. The first motor-driven system is configured to engage the second bottom surface of the second iaw to move the second iaw toward the fully-clamped position. The second motor-driven system is configured to engage the second jaw and the first bottom surface of the first jaw and hold the second jaw in the fully-clamped position. The second motor-driven system is actuatable after the first motor-driven system has been actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Stephen J. Balek, Eugene L. Timperman
  • Patent number: 10893863
    Abstract: A staple cartridge assembly is disclosed which comprises offset staple rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Gregory J. Bakos, Jason L. Harris
  • Publication number: 20210007813
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a robotic manipulator that includes a mounting fixture defining a longitudinal channel, and a surgical tool removably coupleable to the mounting fixture. The surgical tool including a tool housing matable with the mounting fixture, an elongate shaft extending from the tool housing and receivable within the channel, and a latching mechanism provided on the elongate shaft and comprising one or more retention tabs biased radially outward with one or more biasing members. The one or more retention tabs are movable between a deployed state, where the one or more retention tabs protrude radially outward through a corresponding one or more slots to engage the mounting fixture, and a retracted state, where the one or more retention tabs are urged radially inward through the one or more slots to disengage the mounting fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: David C. Yates, Thomas William Lytle, IV, Kharyl Evenson George Stephens, John Scott Kimsey, Lauren S. Weaner, Joshua Dean Young
  • Publication number: 20210007818
    Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing having an input shaft arranged therein for rotation, a shaft extending from the drive housing and having an end effector arranged at a distal end thereof, and a drive cable extending within the shaft and operatively coupled to the end effector. A cable band is coupled to the input shaft and operatively couples the input shaft to the drive cable, and an idler pulley is rotatably mounted within the drive housing, the cable band being routed at least partially around the idler pulley. Rotation of the input shaft moves the cable band and thereby controls longitudinal movement of the drive cable to articulate the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Eric Adams, John Evans
  • Publication number: 20210007828
    Abstract: An adapter for a robotic surgical tool autowasher system includes a frame matable with a drive housing of the robotic surgical tool, a shoulder defined on the frame and at least partially circumscribing a basin defined in the frame, and one or more fluid apertures defined in the basin and extending through the frame from a top surface to a bottom surface. One or more alignment features protrude from the frame and are arranged to align with and extend into a corresponding one or more apertures defined in a bottom of the drive housing. At least one of the one or more alignment features only partially plugs an associated aperture of the corresponding one or more apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Ryne Derrick Radermacher, Mark Ronningen Burchnall, Bradley Jacob Sabo, Nicholas Martin Kloppenborg
  • Patent number: 10888324
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a body and a shaft assembly. The body includes a rotary drive output, a linear drive output, and a control module. The shaft assembly includes a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end includes a type of end effector configured to operate on tissue. The proximal end is configured to removably couple with the body assembly. The proximal end includes one or both of a rotary drive input configured to couple with the rotary drive output or a linear drive input configured to couple with the linear drive input. The shaft assembly is configured to actuate the end effector in response to movement of one or both of the rotary drive input or the linear drive input. The control module is configured to selectively actuate the rotary drive output or the linear drive output based on the type of end effector of the shaft assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Michael J. Vendely
  • Patent number: 10892995
    Abstract: A surgical hub within a surgical hub network may include a controller having a processor, in which the controller may determine a priority of a communication, an interaction, or a processing of information based on a requirement of a system or a device communicating with the hub. The controller may prioritize an order of transmission of communication packets, including packets to a device outside of the network. The packets may include data to update routines, processes, or execute a critical procedural step. The controller may prioritize a communication traffic flow within the hub network. A network of surgical hubs may include a first hub having a first controller and a second hub having a second controller. The first controller may control interactions between the first hub and the second hub based on the capabilities of the first hub and a location of modules within the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 10888369
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a surgical instrument that includes an end effector having a first jaw, a second jaw that is movable relative to the first jaw, and at least one electrode in the first jaw. The surgical instrument also includes a control circuit configured to provide electrosurgical energy to the at least one electrode and a electrical conductor electrically connected between the end effector and the control circuit. The control circuit includes a shaft control segment and an electrosurgical energy control segment. The shaft control segment is configured to provide a control signal for operating the end effector to the end effector through the electrical conductor. The electrosurgical energy control segment is configured to provide the electrosurgical energy to the at least one electrode through the electrical conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, David C. Yates, Jason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Mark A. Davison
  • Patent number: 10888321
    Abstract: A motorized surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a displacement member, a motor coupled to the displacement member, the motor operable to translate the displacement member, a control circuit coupled to the motor, and a position sensor coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive a position output of the position sensor indicative of at least one position of the displacement member and control velocity of the motor to translate the displacement member at a plurality of velocities corresponding to the position output. Each of the plurality of velocities is maintained in a predetermined zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, David C. Yates, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 10888347
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical blade includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface. The distal end is movable relative to a longitudinal axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end. At least a portion of the outer surface of the body comprises a lubricious coating adhered thereto. The lubricious coating has a coefficient of friction that is less than the coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: David A. Witt, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Kevin L. Houser
  • Patent number: 10888328
    Abstract: A surgical end effector comprising a first jaw and a second jaw is disclosed. The first jaw comprises a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples. The second jaw comprises an anvil comprising an anvil surface and a plurality of staple-forming pockets defined in the anvil surface. The second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw. The second jaw comprises an unclamped position, a first clamped position, and a second clamped position. The first clamped position is different than the second clamped position. The anvil surface is in contact with the staple cartridge when the second jaw is in the first clamped position. The staples are configured to be formed against the staple-forming pockets when the second jaw is in the second clamped position. The anvil surface and the staple cartridge are not in contact with each other when the second jaw is in the second clamped position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan
  • Patent number: 10888325
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a surgical cartridge assembly including a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a base and at least one opening within the base. The surgical cartridge assembly further includes a cartridge body configured to be removably received within the elongate channel and a slot configured to receive a cutting member. In addition, the surgical cartridge assembly includes at least one lockout tab extending from the proximal end of the cartridge body, wherein the at least one lockout tab is configured to cover the at least one opening when the cartridge body is received within the elongate channel, and wherein the at least one lockout tab disables a lockout mechanism to allow the cutting member to advance distally through the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Jason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: D908216
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, David C. Yates, Jason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Mark A. Davison