Patents Examined by Cathy Premraj
  • Patent number: 10456193
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a single surgical instrument configured to grasp, seal, and/or cut tissue through application of therapeutic energy, and also detect nerves through application of non-therapeutic electrical energy. A medical device may include two jaws at an end effector, used to apply therapeutic energy and to perform surgical procedures. The therapeutic energy may be in the form of ultrasonic vibrations or higher voltage electrosurgical energy. One of the jaws may be configured to cut tissue through application of the blade. In addition, one or both of the two jaws may be configured to apply nontherapeutic energy for nerve stimulation probing. The application of therapeutic energy may be disabled while the nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy is applied, and vice versa. The nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy may be applied to the use of one or more probes positioned near one or both of the jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: David C. Yates, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Cameron D. McLain, Peter K. Shires, Frederick Estera, Cameron R. Nott, Foster B. Stulen, Christopher A. Papa