Patents Examined by Michelle Lopez
  • Patent number: 11918225
    Abstract: A laparoscopic stapler for stapling tissue is provided for better anastomosis with less leakage. The laparoscopic stapler comprises a staple housing assembly operable to drive staples toward an anvil assembly to perform tissue stapling, wherein the staple housing assembly comprises a pocket for containing bio-glue so that upon tissue stapling, the bio-glue is released and delivered into tissue clamped between the staple housing assembly and the anvil assembly for tissue gluing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventor: Mingyang Qin
  • Patent number: 11911028
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including an end effector that has a selectively reciprocatable implement movably supported therein. The implement is selectively advanceable in a distal direction upon application of a rotary actuation motion thereto and retractable in a proximal direction upon application of a rotary retraction motion thereto. An elongate shaft assembly is coupled to the end effector and is configured to transmit the rotary actuation motion and rotary retraction motion to the reciprocatable implement from a robotic system that is configured to generate the rotary actuation motion and said rotary retraction motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Richard W. Timm, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 11896225
    Abstract: A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. The E-beam firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples, especially when an amount of tissue is clamped that is inadequate to space the end effector. In particular, an upper pin of the firing bar longitudinally moves through an anvil slot and a channel slot is captured between a lower cap and a middle pin of the firing bar to assure a minimum spacing. Forming the E-beam from a thickened distal portion and a thinned proximal strip enhances manufacturability and facilitates use in such articulating surgical instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Michael E. Setser, William B. Weisenburgh, II
  • Patent number: 11890012
    Abstract: A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. The E-beam firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples, especially when an amount of tissue is clamped that is inadequate to space the end effector. In particular, an upper pin of the firing bar longitudinally moves through an anvil slot and a channel slot is captured between a lower cap and a middle pin of the firing bar to assure a minimum spacing. Forming the E-beam from a thickened distal portion and a thinned proximal strip enhances manufacturability and facilitates use in such articulating surgical instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Michael E. Setser, William B. Weisenburgh, II
  • Patent number: 11882987
    Abstract: A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. The E-beam firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples, especially when an amount of tissue is clamped that is inadequate to space the end effector. In particular, an upper pin of the firing bar longitudinally moves through an anvil slot and a channel slot is captured between a lower cap and a middle pin of the firing bar to assure a minimum spacing. Forming the E-beam from a thickened distal portion and a thinned proximal strip enhances manufacturability and facilitates use in such articulating surgical instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Michael E. Setser, William B. Weisenburgh, II
  • Patent number: 11877748
    Abstract: A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. Various embodiments are configured to be operably attached to a robotic system to receive actuation/control motions therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan
  • Patent number: 11857181
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including an end effector that has a selectively reciprocatable implement movably supported therein. The implement is selectively advanceable in a distal direction upon application of a rotary actuation motion thereto and retractable in a proximal direction upon application of a rotary retraction motion thereto. An elongate shaft assembly is coupled to the end effector and is configured to transmit the rotary actuation motion and rotary retraction motion to the reciprocatable implement from a robotic system that is configured to generate the rotary actuation motion and said rotary retraction motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Richard W. Timm, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 11845167
    Abstract: A portable linear fastener driving tool is provided that drive staples, nails, or other linearly driven fasteners. The tool uses a gas spring principle, in which a cylinder filled with compressed gas is used to quickly force a piston through a driving stroke movement, while a driver also drives a fastener into a workpiece. The piston/driver is then moved back to its starting position by use of a rotary-to-linear lifter, and the piston again compresses the gas above the piston, thereby preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions along its edges that contact the lifter, which lifts the driver during a return stroke. A pivotable latch is controlled to move into either an interfering position or a non-interfering position with respect to the driver protrusions, and acts as a safety device, by preventing the driver from making a full driving stroke at an improper time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L Leimbach, Thomas A. McCardle, Danny L. Bolender, Steve Dickinson, Joseph R. Knueven, Robert L. Lance, Jr., Dan Stoltz, Michael V. Petrocelli
  • Patent number: 11812962
    Abstract: An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw has a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis, and an anvil, which has an anvil face positionable on a first side of the anatomical structure. The second jaw has a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis, and a cartridge, which has a cartridge face positionable on a second side of the anatomical structure. The end effector includes a first coupling that couples the first end of the first jaw to the first end of the second jaw; and a second coupling that movably couples the second end of the first jaw to the second end of the second jaw and includes a rigid link connected to the first jaw and the second jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventors: Jonathan Thompson, Bennie Thompson, Richard P. Nuchols
  • Patent number: 11812960
    Abstract: A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. The E-beam firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples, especially when an amount of tissue is clamped that is inadequate to space the end effector. In particular, an upper pin of the firing bar longitudinally moves through an anvil slot and a channel slot is captured between a lower cap and a middle pin of the firing bar to assure a minimum spacing. Forming the E-beam from a thickened distal portion and a thinned proximal strip enhances manufacturability and facilitates use in such articulating surgical instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jeffrey S. Swayze
  • Patent number: 11806012
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a cartridge assembly including a cartridge body, a staple pusher, a knife assembly, and a locking device. The locking device is configured to prevent readvancement of the knife assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Sridharan Varadhan, Ping Ren
  • Patent number: 11806011
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising an end effector including a jaw closure actuator which is actuated by an initial stroke of a staple firing drive is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Gregory J. Bakos, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 11806855
    Abstract: An electric power tool in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a motor, an impact mechanism, an impact detector, and a control circuit. The control circuit controls a motor current based on a drive duty ratio in a first driving term. The first driving term corresponds to a time period from when the motor is started until impact is detect. The drive duty ratio corresponds to a sum of a basic duty ratio and a proportional duty ratio. The control circuit controls the motor current so that an actual rotational speed of the motor is consistent with a target rotational speed after elapse of the first driving term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Itsuku Kato
  • Patent number: 11779331
    Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a first elongate member having a distal portion that supports a plurality of staple-forming pockets, a second elongate member having a distal portion that supports a staple cartridge, and a clamp member movable from an open position to a closed position to releasably clamp the first and second elongate members together. A clamp lockout feature is supported by the first elongate member and is moveable between a lockout position in which the clamp lockout feature prevents closure of the clamp member, and a release position in which the clamp lockout feature permits closure of the clamp member. An actuating feature is supported by the second elongate member and is configured to actuate the clamp lockout feature from the lockout position to the release position in response to approximation of the distal portions of the first and second elongate members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Brian D. Schings, Jason Jones, Gregory J. Bakos
  • Patent number: 11744586
    Abstract: A loading unit configured for engagement with a surgical instrument, and including a proximal body portion, an end effector, and an imaging device. The end effector is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the proximal body portion, and includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. At least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member is movable with respect to the other of the first jaw member and the second jaw member between an open position and an approximated position. The first jaw member includes a first tissue contacting surface, and the second jaw member includes a second tissue contacting surface. A distal portion of the first jaw member is disposed at a first angle with respect to the first tissue contacting surface. The imaging device is disposed on the distal portion of the first jaw member, and is configured to capture visual data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Peter T. Collings, Japhet Colon-Rosario, Michael S. Gallie, Jean Camille Lu Ersando
  • Patent number: 11744582
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly including an anvil and a cartridge assembly that are movable in relation to each other between open and clamped positions. The cartridge assembly includes a staple cartridge that can be replaced after each firing of the stapling device to facilitate reuse of the stapling device. The anvil includes a lockout mechanism that prevents operation of the stapling device when the staple cartridge has been previously fired. The lockout mechanism is adapted to move from a locked position to an unlocked position when the staple cartridge is replaced and the tool assembly is moved from the open position to the clamped position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Suresh Kumar Prema Mohanasundaram, David M. Farascioni
  • Patent number: 11717289
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an end effector and an articulation drive system operable to articulate the end effector about an articulation joint is disclosed. The articulation drive system comprises an actuator which indicates whether the articulation drive system is in an operable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventor: Richard L. Leimbach
  • Patent number: 11712741
    Abstract: A drill system including a drill and a secondary computing device. The drill includes a housing, a controller, a wireless transceiver, a motor, and a chuck. The motor, the controller and the wireless transceiver are housed in the housing. The chuck is selectively driven by the motor. The secondary computing device includes a wireless transceiver which allows wireless communication between the drill and the secondary computing device. The secondary computing device further includes a user interface configured to allow an operator to change operating parameters of the drill. The operating parameters are configured to be automatically reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Phillips, Oleksiy P. Sergyeyenko, Christopher W. Shook, Wong Kun Ng, Kevin Wenger
  • Patent number: 11696756
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus having an electrical conductor with a strain relief is provided. A tool assembly is supported on a body portion and is articulable relative to the body portion. The tool assembly includes an identification assembly in electrical communication with a powered handle assembly. An electrical conductor extends from a connection assembly in the body portion to the identification assembly. The electrical conductor includes a strain relief portion for accommodating the articulation of the tool assembly relative to the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Kenneth Cappola, Ernie Aranyi
  • Patent number: 11684365
    Abstract: A replaceable staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body, staples, and a staple cartridge tray secured to the staple cartridge body is disclosed. The cartridge body comprises a first longitudinal slot, a deck, and first sides extending downwardly from the deck, wherein an edge is defined between each first side and the deck. The cartridge body further comprises staple cavities defined in said deck and recesses defined in the deck proximal to the staple cavities. The staple cartridge tray comprises a bottom comprising a second longitudinal slot defined therein and second sides extending upwardly from the bottom, wherein each second side comprises a proximal end including a projection, wherein each second side is adjacent to a first side, and wherein each projection wraps around an edge and extends downwardly into a recess defined in the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Michael E. Setser