Patents Examined by Gloria R. Week
  • Hand-held electromechanical surgical instruments
    Patent number: 11540827
    Abstract: A handle assembly of a hand-held surgical instrument includes a motor and an actuation trigger. Clamping and/or stapling tissue may be carried out by actuation of the trigger. The motor may be activated to assist the manual actuation of the trigger. The handle assembly may include distinct gears for effecting discrete functions of an attached end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Justin Williams
  • Creasing machine, creasing cylinder for the creasing machine and method for creasing sheets
    Patent number: 11541622
    Abstract: A creasing machine includes a creasing tool, a counter element cooperating with the creasing tool, and a transportation system for advancing sheets through a creasing area between the creasing tool and the counter element, wherein the creasing tool has a creasing plate provided with at least one creasing projection, and wherein the creasing projection on the creasing plate is constituted by a plurality of small, plastically deformed areas which merge into each other so as to form the creasing projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: BOBST MEX SA
    Inventors: Roberto Valterio, Yannick Roulin
  • Motor driven surgical instrument
    Patent number: 11529139
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising motor-driven drive systems is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a control system configured to shift the surgical instrument between an end effector articulation mode and a staple firing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris
  • Tensioning device for a chain driven jaw system
    Patent number: 11530063
    Abstract: A tensioning device for a chain driven jaw system in a package filling machine is disclosed. The chain driven jaw system has a fixed cam and a chain as a follower. The tensioning device comprises a chain tensioning element shaped and angled so to receive the chain on an outer surface thereof configured to be directed away from a center of the chain driven jaw system, wherein the chain tensioning element comprises a pivot connection, and wherein the chain tensioning element is configured to be integrated with the fixed cam at the pivot connection such that the chain tensioning element abuts the fixed cam at the pivot connection and can move to tension the chain. A chain driven jaw system and a related method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Fredrik Nilsson, Jonas Nilsson, Mattias Darmell, Staffan Lindèn
  • Sealed reload assembly for stapling device
    Patent number: 11523828
    Abstract: A stapling device includes a handle assembly, an adaptor assembly extending from the handle assembly, and a reload assembly supported on a distal end portion of the adaptor assembly. The reload assembly includes a shell housing, a staple cartridge, a first seal, a staple actuator, and a knife carrier. The first seal is disposed within a cavity of the shell housing and defines a staple actuator opening and a knife carrier opening. The staple actuator includes a proximal leg extending proximally therefrom and through the staple actuator opening of the first seal to provide a fluid seal therebetween. The knife carrier includes a proximal body portion extending proximally therefrom and through the knife carrier opening of the first seal to provide a fluid seal therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Joseph Eisinger
  • Filling station and method for filling a transport tray
    Patent number: 11524804
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for filling a transport tray having a reduced risk of incorrect fillings. In accordance with the disclosure, a target filling of a plurality of receptacles in the transport tray is transmitted to the control device and at least one filling template is produced based on the target filling and on a filling regime and is displayed by means of a display device. Then drug portions corresponding to the filling template are transferred to the receptacles, and an image of at least the receptacles to be filled in accordance with the target filling is produced by means of an optical detection device and the actual filling is determined using the image and is compared to the target filling. If no target deviation is found, the transport tray is released for transferring the drug portions to the machine tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: CareFusion Germany 326 GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Surgical instrument comprising a nested firing member
    Patent number: 11504122
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw, a second jaw rotatable relative to the first jaw about a pivot, and a firing system comprising a firing member is disclosed. The firing member is movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position. When the firing member is in its proximal unfired position, the pivot is nested within a recess defined in the firing member. In at least one instance, the firing member comprises a tissue cutting knife. In various instances, the firing member comprises a first cam slideably positioned within the first jaw and a second cam slideably positioned within the second jaw. In at least one such instance, the second cam is contained within a chamber defined in the second jaw when the firing member is in its proximal unfired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Seth D. Holdmeyer
  • Surgical stapler cartridge retainer with ejector feature
    Patent number: 11497494
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an elongate body, at least one latch member, and a cartridge removal feature. The elongate body is sized and shaped to correspond with a deck of a surgical staple cartridge such that the elongate body is configured to cover a plurality of staple apertures of the surgical staple cartridge. The at least one latch member is configured to removably secure the elongate body to the surgical staple cartridge. The cartridge removal feature is integral with the elongate body. The cartridge removal feature defines a gap that is configured to receive a portion of the surgical staple cartridge. The cartridge removal feature is further operable to remove the surgical staple cartridge from a surgical stapler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Scott T. Freidel, Michael E. Setser, Lauren M. Valente
  • Surgical instrument having interlocking mechanism
    Patent number: 11497496
    Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical instrument having an interlock mechanism, and the surgical instrument includes a handle portion having a handle housing; an elongated body, defining a longitudinal axis of the instrument; an end effector, arranged on distal portion of the elongated body for operating tissues; a rotatable sleeve, circumferentially fixed with proximal portion of the elongated body and provided with a plurality of teeth; a rotatable knob, operatively to be reciprocated along the longitudinal axis; and an articulation gear assembly including an annular gear and a planet gear assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: REACH SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaoqiang Chen, Zhenzhen Xu
  • Adjustable tables for use in package forming systems and related methods
    Patent number: 11492156
    Abstract: Adjustable tables for use in packaging forming systems and related methods are provided. An adjustable table for use in a packaging forming system can include outer side panels and moveable inner side panels moveably connected to the outer side panels with the outer side panels held stationary relative to the moveable inner side panels. The adjustable table can also include a table top secured to the moveable inner side panels. The table top and the inner side panels are configured to move upwardly or downwardly relative to the outer side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Automated Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Robert L. Campbell
  • Power tools with user-selectable operational modes
    Patent number: 11491616
    Abstract: A hand-held power tool is provided that includes a housing assembly, an output spindle, and a motor endbell. The housing assembly supports an electric motor having a rotor configured to rotate when the electric motor is supplied with power. The output spindle protrudes from an output end of the housing assembly, and is functionally coupled to the rotor such that the output spindle rotates in response to a rotation of the rotor. The motor endbell is located on the housing assembly adjacent the electric motor and opposite the output spindle. An illustrative controller is operable to determine phases of a fastening operation in which the hand-held power tool is operating. The phases of the fastening operation of the hand-held power tool include two phases including: (1) a continuous run phase and (2) an impacting phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc.
    Inventors: Sean C. Ely, Pinhua Xie, Jason Christopher Bartoszek, Joshua Odell Johnson, Warren A. Seith, Vikram Madineni, Timothy Richard Cooper
  • Methods of using applicator instruments having insertable, changeable cartridges for dispensing surgical fasteners
    Patent number: 11490888
    Abstract: A method of dispensing surgical fasteners includes providing an applicator instrument having a housing with a cartridge opening, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a firing system disposed within the housing for dispensing surgical fasteners, and an actuator for activating the firing system. The method includes forming a surgical opening in tissue, inserting a distal end of the elongated shaft into the surgical opening, inserting a cartridge containing a plurality of first surgical fasteners into the cartridge opening, and engaging the actuator for dispensing one of the first surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug Souls, Simon Cohn, Michael Cardinale, Jianxin Guo, Mark D. Kenyon, Jared Schneider, Danial Paul Ferreira, Xuelin Guo, Lindsay Epstein, Michael Nordmeyer
  • Compressible non-fibrous adjuncts
    Patent number: 11490890
    Abstract: Stapling assemblies for use with a surgical stapler are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the stapling assembly includes a cartridge having a plurality of staples disposed therein and a non-fibrous adjunct formed of at least one fused bioabsorbable polymer and configured to be releasably retained on the cartridge. Adjunct systems for use with a surgical stapler are also provided. Surgical end effectors using the stapling assemblies are also provided. Methods for manufacturing stapling assemblies and using the same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Jason L. Harris, Michael J. Vendely, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Austin Bridges, Peyton Hopson, Jackie Donners, Hardik Kabaria, Farhad Javid, David Arthur Kelly, Elliott Baker, Stephen J. Peter, Xinyu Gu, Gina Michelle Policastro, Sharon Chen
  • Oscillating electric power tool with balanced armature shaft
    Patent number: 11471995
    Abstract: An oscillating power tool with an electric motor is provided, including an armature shaft with an armature and a fan wheel, including an eccentric arranged on the armature shaft at one end thereof, a first balancing mass for balancing an unbalance of the eccentric and possibly an eccentric bearing, being arranged in the proximity of the eccentric or the eccentric bearing, respectively, however, at an axial distance, further including a second balancing mass for balancing a couple unbalance caused by the axial distance between the eccentric and the eccentric bearing, respectively, and the first balancing weight, wherein the second balancing mass is arranged on the armature shaft at the side facing away from the eccentric or the eccentric bearing. Also a method for balancing such an electric motor is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: C. & E. Fein
    Inventors: Juergen Blickle, Achim Hess, Olaf Klabunde
  • Retaining mechanisms for trocar assembly
    Patent number: 11464541
    Abstract: A retaining mechanism for releasably securing a trocar assembly within an outer sleeve of an adapter assembly includes a retaining block, a cam wire moveably positioned relative to the retaining block between a lock position and a release position, a retaining block extension maintaining the cam wire relative to the retaining block, a button member in operable engagement with the cam wire, and a pair of retaining members moveable from a first position received within first and second openings of the trocar assembly when the cam wire is in the lock position and a second position spaced from the trocar assembly when the cam wire is in the release position. The retaining members each define a cutout having first and second stepped cutout portions and a smooth transition between the first and second stepped cutouts for receiving the cam wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Anthony Sgroi, Jr., Justin Williams, Joseph Eisinger
  • Reload assembly with knife carrier lockout
    Patent number: 11464510
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a reload assembly that includes a locking member to retain a knife carrier of the reload assembly in a retracted position after the stapling device is fired. The locking member may be supported on an inner housing portion of the shell housing or on a staple pusher assembly of the reload assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David Valentine, Joseph Eisinger, Ramiro Cabrera, Patrick Mozdzierz, Christopher Penna, Justin Williams
  • Applicator plate, apparatus and method
    Patent number: 11453516
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to an applicator plate (10) for use in an apparatus (80) for attaching a set of frangibly adjoined top engaging clips (110) to a group of articles ‘C’. The applicator plate (10) having a generally planar body; and a plurality of apertures (16a-26f) within the body. Each aperture (16a-26f) has a series of internal walls (16i-16x) arranged such that each aperture (16a-26f) has a polygonal shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: WESTROCK PACKAGING SYSTEM, LLC
    Inventors: Linh L. Kooc, Casey P. Grey, Matthew E. Zacherle
  • Bagging assembly
    Patent number: 11439071
    Abstract: A bagging assembly for bagging bales of fibrous material is disclosed. The bagging assembly incorporates a chute defining a channel for receiving a bale, which is pushed there between by a stuffing assembly. Aspects of the bagging assembly include raising a bale using a bale elevator to a higher elevation position so that the bale could be stuffed by the stuffing assembly and using a bag retrieving mechanism for retrieving a bag from a bag location for use in bagging the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: H.W.J. Designs for Agribusiness, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley P. Actis
  • Vibration reducing extension system
    Patent number: 11433524
    Abstract: A system for attaching a handle such as an extension pole to a power tool such as a hand sander includes a collar, a pressure plate, front and back pairs of vibration absorbing spacers, and a handle holder. The collar has a contact area and two projections extending from the contact area, and the a plate fits onto the projections so that the plate and the contact area of the collar define a space for mounting of a tool. The handle holder extends between the projections and is between the first and second pair of vibration absorbing spacers. A tightening structure may press the plate toward the contact area and compress the first and second pairs of vibration absorbing spacers toward the handle holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventor: George E. Westinghouse
  • Knife for circular surgical stapler
    Patent number: 11426171
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, and a stapling head assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body. The stapling head assembly is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The stapling head assembly includes a staple driver member and a knife member. The staple driver member is configured to drive a plurality of staples into tissue. The knife member is configured to cut through the tissue. The knife member includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a cylindrical body extending between the proximal and distal ends. The cylindrical body includes at least one coupling feature that operatively couples the knife member with the staple driver member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: John S. Kimsey, Vijay K. Sakhare