Patents Examined by Gloria R. Week
  • Patent number: 12384585
    Abstract: A method for producing sterile solution-filled containers includes positioning a cartridge onto a filling machine. The cartridge includes a plurality of containers, a filter assembly, and a connection line in fluid communication with the filter assembly. Each of the plurality of containers includes a volume and a stem in fluid communication with the volume and in fluid communication with the connection line. The method includes coupling the cartridge to a feed line in fluid communication with a mix tank, activating a pump coupled to the feed line, and at least partially filling one or more of the volumes associated with the plurality of containers by pumping fluid through the feed line, the filter assembly, and the connection line to create one or more at least partially filled containers. Further, the method includes sealing and separating each of the filled and sealed containers from the connection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignees: BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC., BAXTER HEALTHCARE SA
    Inventors: Atul Malhotra, Gianni Di Stefani
  • Patent number: 12378031
    Abstract: A system for removing a packing material of an article array including a staging area for receiving the article array packaged with the packing material, a transport device configured to transport the article array in a length direction extending from a first end to a second end of the system, a first cutter configured to cut the packing material in a direction perpendicular with respect to the length direction of the system, a debagging area configured to sequentially receive from the transport device the article array and to remove the packing material from the article array, the debagging area includes a first gripper and a second gripper configured to engage and remove the packing material, and a packing material collection area configured to receive the packing material from the first and second grippers and collect the packing material to be discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: DYCO, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter D. Yohe, Ronald H. Cordingly
  • Patent number: 12377644
    Abstract: At least one example embodiment relates to a composite material. In at least one example embodiment, the composite material includes an elastic layer and a support layer. The support layer is adhered to at least a portion of the elastic layer. The support layer extends across at least apportion of a surface of the clastic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Evans, Shannon Maxwell Black, Thien Hoang Nguyen
  • Patent number: 12378028
    Abstract: A bagmaking and packaging apparatus includes a film supply unit that conveys a film, a printing unit, a speed detector, and a control unit. The printing unit applies laser light to the film to print the film. The speed detector acquires data relating to the conveyance speed of the film. The control unit links the operation of the printing unit when printing the film to the conveyance speed of the film based on the data from the speed detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke Sei
  • Patent number: 12369913
    Abstract: An assembly includes an applicator, which includes a housing defining a gap configured to receive an end effector jaw of a surgical stapler. The applicator also includes a platform positioned within the gap. The assembly also includes a buttress assembly having a first length and positioned on the platform. The assembly further includes a trimming feature presented by the applicator or the buttress assembly, and configured to facilitate trimming of the buttress assembly from the first length to a predetermined second length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Heather Strang, Jordan B. Wong, Michael J. Vendely, Christopher J. Hess
  • Patent number: 12358253
    Abstract: A device for forming a container by folding a cardboard sheet having a lid and notably a tab. The forming device comprising a conveyor driving said cardboard sheet in a direction of travel and a device for folding over said lid. The folding-over device comprises a pressing surface for pressing on said lid, and the pressing surface is configured to move from an initial position toward a deployed position of folding said lid, and vice versa. The said pressing surface is mobile in said direction of travel, and comprises an endless belt motorized in said direction of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS S.A.S.
    Inventors: Damien Cirette, Arnaud Prieur
  • Patent number: 12358665
    Abstract: An orbital stretch wrapping apparatus is provided and includes a base frame, a circular ring mounted on the base frame and rotatable with respect to the base frame about an axis of rotation, a stretch film dispenser mounted on the circular ring and rotatable with the circular ring about the axis of rotation, the stretch film dispenser having a subframe fixed to the circular ring, a roll of stretch film mounted to the subframe and rotatable with respect to the subframe, a first feed roller mounted to the subframe and rotatable with respect to the subframe, a second feed roller mounted to the subframe and rotatable with respect to the subframe, and a brake member connected to the first feed roller and the second feed roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: TAB Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Brizek, Andrew G. Brizek
  • Patent number: 12357313
    Abstract: A method of operating a surgical stapler includes advancing a knife assembly at a first velocity until a predetermined force is detected, advancing the knife assembly at a second velocity when the predetermined force is detected, the second velocity being less than the first velocity, and continuing to advance the knife assembly at the second velocity until the knife assembly travels a cutting stroke distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Steven H. Joyce, David E. Valentine, Patrick Mozdzierz, Charles R. Kollar, Haley Strassner
  • Patent number: 12357302
    Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, and a staple cartridge assembly positioned in the first jaw is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a plurality of staples, a plurality of staple drivers, and a cartridge body. The cartridge body comprises a deck surface configured to support patient tissue, a longitudinal slot defined in the cartridge body, a plurality of staple cavities, and a longitudinal wall extending vertically below the deck surface. The longitudinal wall comprises a first zone comprising a first wall height and a second zone comprising a second wall height. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises a sled movable longitudinally through the cartridge body, wherein the sled is sized and configured resist deflection of the cartridge body during the firing stroke within the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Seth D. Holdmeyer, Adam D. Hensel, Nicholas Fanelli, Kevin M. Fiebig, Gregory J. Bakos
  • Patent number: 12358113
    Abstract: A hydraulic hammer includes: a cylinder having a first cylinder end and a second cylinder end opposite the first cylinder end; a piston disposed within the cylinder, the piston having a first piston end, the piston being reciprocatingly movable with respect to the cylinder along an axial direction; a valve body disposed on the first cylinder end so as to define a valve body cavity; and a seal carrier sealingly arranged between the first piston end and the first cylinder end and being reciprocatingly movable with respect to the cylinder along the axial direction. The piston is reciprocatingly movable with respect to the seal carrier along the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Cody T. Moore, John K. Clemons
  • Patent number: 12349901
    Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body including staple formation features is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Jordan B. Wong, Shane R. Adams, Mark S. Zeiner
  • Patent number: 12343016
    Abstract: A surgical device includes a handle assembly having a power source, a motor coupled to the power source, and a controller configured to control the motor. The device also includes an adapter assembly configured to selectively couple to the handle assembly, the adapter assembly including a stapling transmission assembly movable by the motor. The device also includes a reload configured to selectively couple to a distal portion of the adapter assembly, the reload including a plurality of staples ejectable from the reload by the stapling transmission assembly. The device also includes an anvil assembly selectively couplable to the distal portion of the adapter assembly, the anvil assembly being movable relative to the reload, where the controller may be further configured to control the motor to move the stapling transmission assembly to eject the staples while compensating for mechanical losses of the stapling transmission assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David E. Valentine, Jr., Charles R. Kollar, Alexander J. Hart, James P. Delbo, Haley E. Strassner
  • Patent number: 12337444
    Abstract: An impact powered torque wrench has a force-applying rod. The force-applying rod is connected to a transmission rod. A transmission shaft is disposed in the transmission rod. Two ends of the transmission shaft are connected to a head unit and a drive unit, respectively. A trip unit and an adjustment unit are provided between the force-applying rod and the transmission rod. An impact unit is provided between the transmission shaft and the drive unit. The drive unit drives the transmission shaft by means of intermittent impact, which increases the output torque and has a higher level of operational safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: JU HE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ting-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 12336968
    Abstract: A filling apparatus (10) for filling capsules with powdered substances for pharmaceutical or parapharmaceutical use or the like, includes a body-machine (12) inside which the mechanical and electrical and/or electronic components are housed which are adapted to operate an operating unit (14) comprising a body (18) supporting a rotating table (19) adapted to receive capsules to be filled with a powdered product from a capsule feeding station (22), move them in the direction of a filling station (24) functional for filling said capsules with the powdered product and eject them once filled at an ejection station (26), the apparatus in which the filling station (24) includes a tamping filling unit (40) or a dosing filling unit (42) which are interchangeable with respect to the body-machine for a variation of the filling configuration of the capsules with the powdered product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: DOTT. BONAPACE & C. S.R.L.
    Inventor: Simone David Berto
  • Patent number: 12319024
    Abstract: The technology described herein generally relates to an automated packaging apparatus, system and method that packages loose particles into a conical container as well as the final folded packages. More specifically, loose plant matter, such as crumbled dried leaves, are supplied to successive paper cones. The apparatus uses a packing method to accurately fill the cones, pack the crumbled leaves into the cones, and close the wide top portion of the cone into a precise shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Inventors: Mark W. Holderman, Gregory A. Russell
  • Patent number: 12310585
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed including an end effector configurable between an open state and a clamped state, a firing member movable from an unfired position toward a fired position during a firing stroke, a manually-driveable closure system, a motor-powered firing system, and a control system. The motor-powered firing system is configured to drive the firing member through the firing stroke. The control system is configured to detect, at a first time point, the end effector reaching the clamped state with the manually-driveable closure system, detect, at a second time point, the actuation of the motor-powered firing system, set a firing motion parameter of the motor-powered firing system based on an elapsed time from the first time point to the second time point, and drive the firing member through the firing stroke with the motor-powered firing system using the firing motion parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait
  • Patent number: 12311568
    Abstract: In order to prevent a slice from being separated from each log during the last cut in the case of multiple portions produced in parallel, that is to say there is no unproductive cut in the last cut, as is required, for example, in EP 2942165 B1, the basic idea is to already provide an unproductive cut for at least one log during the first cut for the simultaneously produced portions, wherein a distinction must be made in the following procedure whether or not separately controllable portioning belts are present per lane and whether the portion lengths should be the same or not despite different numbers of slices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Tobias Enderle, Albert Hartmann
  • Patent number: 12311632
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in producing a corrugated board product includes a flotation column for emitting pressurized air to support a traveling corrugated board product on a cushion of air void of contact with other surfaces at a point of warp detection. A warp detection apparatus is used in combination with the flotation column to analyze the supported traveling corrugated board product to permit adjustment of variables in a corrugated manufacturing system for corrected detected warp in the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: INTPRO, LLC
    Inventor: Herbert B. Kohler
  • Patent number: 12295575
    Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprising a motor system and a control circuit is disclosed. The motor system comprises a motor and a drive train movable by the motor to actuate a firing member through a staple firing stroke. The control circuit is coupled to the motor, wherein, during the staple firing stroke, the control circuit is configured to perform a first sensory action to determine if a speed of the motor can be increased to a first target speed, monitor a result of the first sensory action, adjust a parameter of a subsequent sensory action based on the monitored result of the first sensory action, and perform the subsequent sensory action with the adjusted parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Kevin M. Fiebig, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams
  • Patent number: 12285167
    Abstract: Surgical stapler systems can include a jaw assembly with one jaw defining a reload support capable of receiving and firing multiple disposable reload cartridges in a single surgical procedure. The reload cartridge can be protected by a reload cover engageable therewith. The reload cover can include snap features configured to prevent manual removal of the reload cover from the reload cartridge before proper positioning and installation in the reload support. The reload cover can desirably maintain a plurality of staples within staple pockets in the reload cartridge and can maintain a staple deployment mechanism in an unfired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Weidner, Nicholas Humphreys, Timothy M. Hopkins