Patents Examined by Robert F Long
  • Patent number: 12383260
    Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a tool assembly that has a cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly, and a dissector tip. The dissector tip is moveable between a first configuration aligned with a longitudinal axis of the tool assembly and a second configuration defining an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the tool assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Pawel Abramek, Kenneth M. Cappola, Matthew J. Chowaniec, Zalika Walcott
  • Patent number: 12384581
    Abstract: A carousel-type packaging machine comprising a plurality of workstations adapted to carry out a sequence of packaging operations and a rotating carousel arranged to move the containers through said workstations, wherein the carousel is arranged with a horizontal rotation axis and includes counter-rotating gripping members adapted to maintain containers in a constant trim during the rotation of the carousel through the various steps of the packaging process; the gripping members are further equipped with movable grippers controlled by motors associated with the workstations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: DOLCEPACK SAGL
    Inventor: Andrea Ferrari
  • Patent number: 12378045
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device (100) and method for handling a sealing device (1) in order to position the discharge pipe (10) of a valve (4) of the sealing device into a storage position. The handling device comprises a cap support (150) to be arranged at the downstream side of the protective cap (61) and configured to support the protective cap, and a pushing device (120) arranged at the upstream side of the base and configured to apply a first pushing force on the base (3) and/or valve housing (25) so to urge the base, valve and protective cap against the cap support and to apply a second pushing force on the discharge pipe of the valve to urge the discharge pipe to its storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: SMARTSEAL AS
    Inventors: Rune Kristian Knutsen, Jeroen Gerrit Anton Gebbink
  • Patent number: 12376854
    Abstract: A buttress attachment assembly includes a buttress and a buttress loader. The buttress includes a buttress body and buttress wings secured to the buttress body. The buttress body defines first openings. The buttress wings define second openings. The buttress loader includes first tabs that are receivable through the first openings of the buttress body and second tabs that are receivable through the second openings defined in the buttress wings. The first and second tabs support the buttress on the buttress loader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Justin Williams
  • Patent number: 12370658
    Abstract: A tag dispenser may be used for holding and distributing tags near the barrel of a nail gun so that, in use, a nail is deployed through a tag onto a nailing surface. The tag dispense may include a tag housing for holding a plurality of tags and a wiper for pushing the tags towards a tag opening, where a tag may be positioned for a nail to be struck therethrough. The tag housing may be attached to a lower housing where the wiper is housed. The lower housing may be connected to an adapter for attachment to the nail gun. Upon compression of the nail gun, the tag dispenser may compress mechanically pivoting the wiper arm resulting in the tag being placed into the tag opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Inventors: Nicholas Soverns, Raymond Catania, Shaun Kapples
  • Patent number: 12364479
    Abstract: A method of applying a buttress to a surgical stapler end effector comprises positioning a buttress assembly between an anvil and a staple cartridge of the end effector. The buttress assembly comprises a buttress body and an adhesive material. The adhesive material faces either an underside of the anvil or a deck of the staple cartridge. The anvil is in an open position relative to the staple cartridge during the act of positioning the buttress assembly between the anvil and the staple cartridge. The method further comprises moving the anvil toward the staple cartridge then moving the anvil back to the open position. The buttress assembly is adhered to the underside of the anvil or the deck of the staple cartridge via the adhesive material with the anvil moved back to the open position. The adhesive material comprises a bioabsorbable polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Rao S. Bezwada, Jason L Harris, Prudence A. Turner, Mark S. Zeiner, Charles J. Scheib
  • Patent number: 12365503
    Abstract: A cotton stuffing machine includes a roller conveyance device, a rotation device, an upward pushing device, and a downward pressing device. The roller conveyance device inputs cotton and presses and pulls the cotton to deliver a cotton section. The rotation device includes a plurality of rotation arms. Each rotation arm has a holding barrel on two ends thereof, and undergoes a 180-degree rotation displacement between a feeding position and an outputting position. The upward pushing device is disposed beneath the feeding position for pushing the cotton section upward into the holding barrel. The downward pressing device is disposed above the outputting position for pushing out the cotton section and inserting it into the bottle. Thus, the present invention improves the efficiency of stuffing operation for stuffing the cotton into the bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: CVC TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Chi-Huan Shih, Chang-Cheng Chen, Yung-Sheng Liu
  • Patent number: 12364477
    Abstract: A loading unit removably loadable into a surgical instrument positioned within a body of a patient having an elongated member, first and second jaws at a distal portion and a firing mechanism movable within the elongated member to effect firing of fasteners into the tissue clamped between the first and second jaws. The loading unit is insertable into a proximal opening of the instrument and through a lumen in the shaft of the instrument while the instrument is positioned in the body of the patient. The first and second jaws extend distally of the shaft of the instrument and the loading unit is actuable by the instrument. A surgical instrument to receive the loading unit and a method for reloading the instrument are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: REVMEDICA, INC.
    Inventors: C. Robert Satti, III, Thomas G. Wenchell, Jr., Jeffrey M. Ott
  • Patent number: 12364478
    Abstract: Stapler cartridges and surgical apparatus that include a stapler cartridge can include a knife that retracts into the stapler cartridge after cutting stapled tissue to prevent an operator being cut by the knife during replacement of the used stapler cartridge with a new stapler cartridge. A stapler cartridge includes a staple pushing shuttle, a knife member slidably coupled with the staple pushing shuttle, and a cartridge body. The staple pushing shuttle is slidably coupled to the cartridge body. The cartridge body includes a guide track engaged by the knife member and configured so that a cutting blade of the knife member protrudes from the cartridge body during a first portion of a distal movement of the staple pushing shuttle and the cutting blade is retracted into the cartridge body during a second portion of the distal movement of the staple pushing shuttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: William A. Burbank, Matthew A. Wixey, Nicholas Ragosta
  • Patent number: 12359389
    Abstract: In a machine for driving screw anchors and other foundation components, a desired embedment depth is calculated based on a minimum required embedment depth, work point height and length of available upper leg sections. Once calculated, the machine automatically drives the screw anchor to the depth so that one of the available upper leg lengths will fit between the driven screw anchor and apex truss hardware. If a secondary condition is satisfied that guarantees sufficient pull-out strength, a new upper leg length may be selected and the driving operation terminated prior to reaching the desired embedment depth, reducing the amount of material necessary to construct the truss foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: OJJO, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Kraft, Charles Almy, Ian Capsuto, Jesse Pavlick
  • Patent number: 12350804
    Abstract: A power tool having a hammer mechanism includes a motor, a driving mechanism operably connected to the motor and configured to at least linearly drive a tool accessory along a driving axis, a tool body that houses the motor and the driving mechanism, an outer housing elastically connected to the tool body such that the outer housing at least partially covers the tool body and being slidable relative to the tool body in a first direction substantially parallel to the driving axis, a guide part configured to guide sliding movement of the outer housing relative to the tool body, and a handle including a grip part extending in a second direction, the handle being elastically connected at least to the outer housing and being movable relative to the outer housing in the first direction and in at least one direction that intersects the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime Takeuchi, Masanori Furusawa
  • Patent number: 12349904
    Abstract: A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The staple cartridge comprises a deck comprising a first staple cavity adjacent a longitudinal slot, a second staple cavity laterally and longitudinally offset relative to the first cavity, and a third staple cavity laterally and longitudinally offset relative to the second cavity. A first projection surrounds the first staple cavity, a second projection surrounds the second staple cavity, and a pair of third projections surrounds first and second portions of the third staple cavity, respectively. The first projection and the second projection are coupled together, and the second projection and one third projection are coupled together. The projections define a localized tissue-facing surface area. A localized valley is defined on the deck between the projections. The area of the localized valley area is greater than the localized tissue-facing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross
  • Patent number: 12349902
    Abstract: A surgical device includes a powered handle assembly, an adapter assembly extending from the handle assembly, and a tool assembly that is mounted to the adapter assembly about a pivot member. The handle assembly includes a clutch that is movable between an articulation position and a clamp/fire position. In the articulation position, the handle assembly is configured to provide powered articulation of the tool assembly about the pivot member. In the clamp/fire position, the handle assembly is configured to provide actuation of the surgical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Zhihua zhang, Shouwei Li
  • Patent number: 12343014
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a surgical end effector and a threaded rotary input shaft. An actuator member is in operable engagement with the surgical end effector and is in selective threaded engagement with the threaded rotary input shaft such that when the actuator member is in an engaged configuration, rotation of said threaded rotary input shaft causes the actuator member to move axially to impart an actuation motion to the surgical end effector and when the actuator member is in a disengaged configuration, rotation of the threaded rotary input shaft will not be imparted to the actuator member. A switch may be employed for selectively moving the actuator between the engaged and disengaged configurations. A locking system may be employed for preventing axial movement of the actuator member when the actuator member is in the disengaged configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Chester O. Baxter, III, Jerome R. Morgan, David C. Yates, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 12343013
    Abstract: Surgical end effectors and fastener cartridges having firing lockout arrangements for preventing or limit a firing stroke when a cartridge has not been operably installed in the end effector or a spent cartridge has not been replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Jerome R. Morgan, Chester O. Baxter, III, John L. Stammen
  • Patent number: 12345020
    Abstract: A hydraulic percussion device and method of controlling a working cycle of a percussion piston is provided. A rock breaking machine includes a percussion device provided with a reciprocating piston executing a working cycle. The operation is controlled by means of a control unit generating control signals for independently operable feed and discharge valves of a hydraulic system. The position of the piston is detected by a sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Sandvik Mining and Construction Oy
    Inventors: Mika Oksman, Jyrki Nissinen, Juhani Laine, Ossi Grohn
  • Patent number: 12345013
    Abstract: The present invention is in the field of piles used for supporting buildings and the like. Piles can be used as support, for onshore or offshore structures such as tall buildings and wind turbines. The present invention is in particular suited for driving small- and mid-scale piles, which are often used in softer, non-cohesive, soils, such as sandy soils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT
    Inventors: Sergio Sanchez Gomez, Andrey Vladimirovich Metrikine
  • Patent number: 12337456
    Abstract: A power working machine comprises a working portion, a driving portion, a main body portion, and a blowing portion. The working portion is configured to act on a work object. The driving portion is configured to drive the working portion. The main body portion includes a bottom surface portion, an intake port, and an exhaust port, and is configured to form a storage space for storing the driving portion and an airflow path leading from the intake port to the exhaust port through the storage space. The blowing portion is configured to generate an airflow in the airflow path toward the exhaust port. The intake port is configured to open in a direction having a vertical downward component in a first state in which the power working machine is placed with the bottom surface portion facing a horizontal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: YAMABIKO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisato Osawa
  • Patent number: 12337455
    Abstract: A hydraulically activatable working device includes a hydraulic cylinder and at least one first and one second partial piston provided therein. The partial pistons can be moved under pressurization by a hydraulic medium to perform a working operation. Each partial piston has an impact surface at its lower end against which the hydraulic medium may act. A piston rod is coupled to the hydraulic cylinder and has an impact surface at its lower end against which the partial pistons may act. The impact surface forms a first partial impact surface against which the first partial piston acts, and forms a second partial impact surface against which the second partial piston acts. The first and second partial impact surfaces do not overlap each other in direction across to the traversing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: GUSTAV KLAUKE GMBH
    Inventors: Roman Bobowicz, Egbert Frenken
  • Patent number: 12330826
    Abstract: A pushing apparatus (100) for pushing and transferring products, comprising: a pusher element (A), conformed so as to abut a side of a product (P), or a group (P) of products, arranged on a conveyor (C) and which is to be pushed and transferred along a transfer direction (Z) transversal to the conveyor (C); a counter-pusher element (B), conformed and dimensioned so as to be positionable above and facing the product (P), or the group (P) of products, arranged on the conveyor (C) and follow the product (P), or the group of products, during at least a part of the transfer thereof along the transfer direction (Z) that is transversal to the conveyor (C) by means of the pusher element (A). The pushing apparatus (100) comprises a linear driving unit (U) for movement of the pusher element (A) and the counter-pusher element (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Marchesini Group S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Monti