Patents Examined by Robert F Long
  • Patent number: 12207835
    Abstract: A motor-driven surgical instrument that may comprise (i) a moveable drive member that is driven in a first direction when the electric motor operates in a first direction and that is driven in a second direction when the electric motor operates in a second direction. Movement of the drive member causes movement of the moveable component of the end effector, and (ii) a motor control circuit connected to the motor for controlling the motor. The motor control circuit may comprise a switching circuit that, upon actuation, reverses the direction of the motor from the first direction to the second direction. The switching circuit may be actuatable separately through each of: (i) actuation of a moveable actuator of the switching circuit through movement of the drive member at least in the first direction; and (ii) manual actuation by a user of the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Ryan J. Laurent, Brett E. Swensgard, Bret W. Smith
  • Patent number: 12208591
    Abstract: A method and system for edge-forming cellulose products from an air-formed cellulose blank structure. The system comprises a first mould part having an edge-forming device with a protruding element configured for compacting and separating fibres of the cellulose blank structure and a second mould part arranged for cooperating with each other. The edge-forming device is movably arranged in relation to a base structure of the first mould part, and is adapted for interacting with a pressure member arranged in the base structure. The method includes the steps: providing the air-formed cellulose blank structure, and forming a compacted edge structure of the cellulose products by separating fibres of the cellulose blank structure with the protruding element, applying an edge-forming temperature, and compacting the cellulose blank structure by applying an edge-forming pressure onto the cellulose blank structure between the protruding element and the second mould part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: PULPAC AB
    Inventors: Martin Ljungberg, Mathias Bergfjord
  • Patent number: 12208935
    Abstract: A wrap replacing apparatus according to the embodiments includes: an insertion port into which a medical device wrapped in a first bag is inserted; a peeler configured to peel off the first bag from the medical device inserted into the insertion port; a wrapper configured to wrap in a second bag the medical device from which the first bag is peeled off; and a take-out port from which the medical device wrapped in the second bag is taken out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Sugawara, Seiichi Nishizuka, Takehiro Fukuzaki, Daisuke Sato, Tatsuaki Kodaka, Akitoshi Sato, Tomio Maehama
  • Patent number: 12201301
    Abstract: A surgical stapler for creating an anastomosis includes a stapling head assembly having a deck member that incorporates an alignment feature. The alignment feature aligns with a transection staple line prior to creating the anastomosis. In some versions the alignment feature is a groove formed in a surface of the deck member. The surgical stapler may include an anvil with a complementary stepped feature to the alignment feature of the deck member. Various surgical staplers with an alignment feature can be oval shaped, circular shaped, or dog-bone shaped. In some versions different staple geometries are used along the deck member incorporating the alignment feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 12201297
    Abstract: A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus is provided and includes a tool assembly having a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly that are movable in relation to one another; a surgical buttress releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly, wherein each surgical buttress is secured to the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly by at least one anchor; a release assembly associated with the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly; and a drive assembly slidably translatable through the tool assembly between proximal and distal positions, wherein the drive assembly actuates the release assembly to thereby release the anchor to free the surgical buttress from the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Lee Ann Olson, Ernest Aranyi, Patrick Mozdzierz
  • Patent number: 12193669
    Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing having opposing first and second ends and a drive input rotatably mounted to the drive housing at the first end, a carriage mounted entirely within the drive housing and movable between the first and second ends via actuation of the drive input, an instrument driver matable with the drive housing at the first end, a drive output matable with the drive input such that rotation of the drive output rotates the drive input and translates the carriage within the drive housing, a shaft coupled to and extending distally from the carriage and penetrating the first end and the instrument driver, and a fin connected to the carriage and accessible by a user at an exterior of the drive housing, the fin being manually translatable along the exterior of the drive housing between the first and second ends to thereby translate the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Andrew T. Beckman, Charles J. Scheib, Jason A. Hill
  • Patent number: 12194606
    Abstract: Provided is a working machine with improved durability. A nail driver (working machine) includes a hitting portion that is formed in a rod shape extending about an axis line, an injection portion that abuts on an outer peripheral surface of the hitting portion, thereby guiding a movement of the hitting portion toward one side in the axial direction, and a supply portion that energizes a fastener toward one side in a direction intersecting with the axial direction, thereby supplying the fastener to the injection portion. The hitting portion has a tip part, and a center part provided at a position different from that of the tip part in the axial direction. At least a part of an outer peripheral surface of the tip part (tip part outer peripheral surface) on an anti-feeder side with respect to the axis line protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the center part (center par outer peripheral surface) on a supply portion side with respect to the axis line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: KOKI HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kawamata, Masahiro Miura, Kazuhiro Ootsuka
  • Patent number: 12194608
    Abstract: A hand-held work tool (100) comprising a first part (110) and a second part (120) arranged vibrationally isolated from each other, the first part (110) comprising an interface for holding a circular cutting tool (130) and an electric motor (140) arranged to drive the circular cutting tool, wherein the electric motor (140) is arranged to drive a fan (145) configured to generate a flow of cooling air for cooling the electric motor (140), the second part (120) comprising a battery compartment (150) for holding an electrical storage device arranged to power the electric motor (140), wherein a cooling air conduit is arranged to guide a portion of the flow of cooling air (160) from the first part (110) and into the second part (120) for cooling the electrical storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Torbjörn Almqvist, Paul Johansson, Hanna Olsson, Robert Lerbro, Pär Carlsson
  • Patent number: 12194707
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure there is provided a method of forming a first structure (150), comprising the steps of: providing one or more slots (124) in a material, thereby to define a plurality of strips (122) of the material, the slots (124) defining a series of connecting elements (128) connecting adjacent strips (122) of the material, the connecting elements (128) being spaced apart along a first direction (130), forming the material to provide: an array of oppositely oriented channels (152), each channel (152) extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the array itself extending in the first direction, each channel comprising a base, and sides extending from the base; and a first, non-continuous, outer plane; and a second, non-continuous, outer plane, such that the first structure is foldable along each of the series of connecting elements about the first direction to bring the first outer plane of a first strip toward, and optionally into contact with, the first ou
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: CORRIDOOR LIMITED
    Inventor: Patricia MacGillivray
  • Patent number: 12193918
    Abstract: A carrier unit for a transfer system having a transfer path includes a first carrier and a second carrier, the first and the second carriers being engageable to the transfer path and configured for negotiating the transfer path, wherein the first carrier is coupled to a first gripper configured for cooperating with a second gripper coupled to the second carrier to define a socket for holding one or more products, the socket having a socket geometry determined by a relative position of the first gripper with respect to the second gripper. Each carrier unit includes an angle control device configured to maintain the socket geometry upon negotiation of the transfer path by the carrier unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Fameccanica.Data S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gabriele Sablone, Massimiliano Rossetti, Carlo Di Sabatino, Marco Delli Rocioli
  • Patent number: 12195218
    Abstract: An apparatus for packaging of loose product includes a loading station, a box forming station and an uploading station. The loading station includes moveable chutes in spaced apart relation. Each chute has an open top, an open upstream end, and an open downstream end. The open top is configured to receive loose product while moving along a first feed path. The box forming station is operable to partially erect boxes in spaced apart relation with first and second open sides and align the first open side of each box with the downstream end of a corresponding chute while moving along a second feed path. The unloading station includes a stationary vacuum head in communication with the second open side of each box. The vacuum head provides a continuous vacuum source along the second feed path operable to move loose product from the chute into the boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. Smith, Steven R. Rinehart, Danielle R. Crawford
  • Patent number: 12187006
    Abstract: A bag forming apparatus for forming a flat bottom of a bag includes a base, opposing sidewalls that extend upright relative to the base, and a top that is operably coupled to an upper portion of each of the sidewalls. The top has an intermediate pivot axis between the sidewalls that enables the top to pivot about the pivot axis between a collapsed state and an expanded state. In the collapsed state, the upper portions of the respective sidewalls are closer together and the top extends upright relative to the base to form a tip for insertion into an opening of the bag. In the expanded state, the upper portions of the respective sidewalls are spaced further apart and the top extends horizontally relative to the base to form a platform for forming the flat bottom of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: Brian J. Stinard, Robert C. Cheich, Dennis J. Wagner
  • Patent number: 12185897
    Abstract: A system includes a power tool and a suction device that is connected to the power tool via a suction hose. The power tool is drivable into a wall or into a substrate by a negative pressure produced by the suction device. A method includes driving the power tool into the wall or into the substrate by using the negative pressure produced by the suction device that is connected to the power tool via the suction hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marco Balter, Hans-Joerg Rieger
  • Patent number: 12186865
    Abstract: An electric tool system includes: a motor; an output shaft to be coupled to a tip tool; a transmission mechanism that transmits motive power of the motor to the output shaft; an acquirer that acquires, based on a current flowing through the motor, a torque value related to output torque provided by the tip tool; and a controller that has a torque management mode in which the controller controls the motor in accordance with an operating command entered by a user through a trigger switch and prevents the torque value from exceeding an upper limit value. The controller controls, when finding a predetermined condition satisfied in the torque management mode, a velocity of the motor into a predetermined restriction value irrespective of a manipulative variable of the trigger switch. The predetermined condition includes a condition that the torque value reach a threshold value smaller than the upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Itaru Murui, Shota Fujii, Kotaro Momoeda
  • Patent number: 12186879
    Abstract: A power tool is provided. The power tool includes a rotatable tool holder adapted to receive a work instrument, a motor adapted to drive the rotation of the tool holder, a housing containing at least the motor and a handle extending therefrom that is configured to be gripped to manipulate the tool, a power source detachably coupled to the handle and adapted to deliver power to the motor, and an actuator adapted to select powered operation of the tool. The power tool may further include a user-interface module detachably coupled to the housing and configured to receive operational input, wherein the user-interface module communicates the operational input to the tool to govern the operational characteristics of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc.
    Inventors: Suresh G. Mahalingappa, Shivamurthi Gouda Kotagi
  • Patent number: 12178431
    Abstract: A medical instrument includes an elongate shaft defining a roll axis and a handle coupled to the elongate shaft. The handle includes a robotic drive input operable to rotate the elongate shaft with respect to the handle about the roll axis and a lockout mechanism movable between an engaged position in which the lockout mechanism impedes rotation of the elongate shaft with respect to the handle about the roll axis, and a disengaged position in which the lockout mechanism permits rotation of the elongate shaft with respect to the handle about the roll axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Bryan Ueda, Adrian Tyler Hairrell, Andre J. Castillo
  • Patent number: 12179332
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing vibration in power tool. One system includes a power tool that includes a housing and a motor. The power tool further includes a magnetically susceptible fluid located within the housing. The power tool further includes an inductor configured to introduce a magnetic field to the magnetically susceptible fluid. The power tool further includes a sensor configured to indicate an amount of vibration experienced by the power tool. The power tool further includes an electronic processor coupled to the sensor and to the inductor. The electronic processor is configured to receive a user-selected sensitivity level for vibration control, to receive an input signal from the sensor indicating the amount of vibration, to generate a control signal based on the input signal, and to provide the control signal to the inductor to control the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Dey, IV, Jacob P. Schneider, Matthew J. Mergener
  • Patent number: 12172785
    Abstract: A shielding bag gripping apparatus includes a first suction part extending in a first direction, a second suction part extending in the first direction and spaced apart from the first suction part in a second direction crossing the first direction, a first compression part below the first suction part, and a second compression part below the second suction part. The first suction part may include a first suction surface having a normal line parallel to the second direction, a first suction hole exposed by the first suction surface and a first placement hole vertically penetrating the first suction part, and the second suction part may include a second suction surface facing the first suction surface and a second suction hole exposed by the second suction surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiwook Lee, Youngmyo Hwang
  • Patent number: 12172284
    Abstract: A power tool having a hammer mechanism includes a tool body defining the driving axis, a motor housed in the tool body, an elongate handle connected to the tool body in a cantilever manner and extending in a direction intersecting the driving axis, and at least one biasing member disposed between the tool body and the handle. The motor has a motor shaft that is rotatable around an axis parallel to the driving axis. The handle includes a first end portion connected to the tool body to be pivotable around a pivot axis relative to the tool body, a free end, and a grip part disposed between the first end portion and a free end of the handle. The at least one biasing member is configured to pivotally bias the tool body and the handle such that the grip part and the tool body move away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Machida
  • Patent number: 12171507
    Abstract: A surgical tool of a robotic surgical device is provided that is configured to be removably and replaceably attached to an electromechanical arm of a surgical robotic system that is capable of supplying electrical power to the surgical tool when the tool is attached to the arm. The tool has an elongate shaft with an end effector having opposed jaws movable between open and closed positions. The tool also has a member configured to move distally and proximally within at least a portion of the end effector to open and close the jaws. An actuator disposed on the shaft is configured to be manually moved from a first position to a second position to cause the member to move proximally to thereby open the jaws when the surgical tool is in a mode in which it is not deriving electrical power from the surgical robotic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Swayze, Jason L Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV