Patents Examined by Robert F Long
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Patent number: 11712243Abstract: Systems include an end effector having a first jaw and a second jaw, a motor system configured to actuate the end effector, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a maximum tip deflection for the end effector, determine a torque limit based on the maximum tip deflection, and operate, subject to the torque limit, the end effector using the motor system. In some embodiments, the maximum tip deflection is determined based a type of staple cartridge being used by the end effector. In some embodiments, the type of staple cartridge identifies a length of staples fired by the end effector. In some embodiments, the firing of the staples is stalled when an applied torque exceeds the torque limit. In some embodiments, the processor is further configured to fire staples subject to the torque limit.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2019Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: David W. Weir, Melody Wu, Kevin Durant, Grant Duque
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Patent number: 11707904Abstract: In accordance with a broad embodiment of the invention, a novel paper product is comprised of two or more slit sheet packing material layers, each layer having its own slit pattern design to create interlocking layers of expansion sheet packaging materials. Each layer expands to create a three dimensional open netting of cells of hexagons, and the like, and is designed to have limited nesting with its opposing layer, thereby maximizing the thickness of the combined layers as compared to nested layers. Adjacent layers have differing slit patterns and can be expanded through expander type machinery such that the expansion rates of the differing slit pattern layers can be varied to deliver the same width of exiting expanded material from each layer. Preferably the differing slit pattern produce when expanded, inclined land areas that have the same number of rows per inch, but different angles of inclination of the land areas, such that adjacent layers can interlock, that is, have a restricted amount of nesting.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2019Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Inventor: David Paul Goodrich
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Patent number: 11707827Abstract: A powered nailer includes a power source including a driving element reciprocating within a cylinder between a prefiring position and a fastener driving position, the latter occurring when the driving element engages a bumper disposed at the bottom of the cylinder. A reciprocating valve element defines a combustion chamber in fluid communication with the cylinder, and is configured for receiving a dose of fuel and air prior to a user-generated ignition. A return chamber at least partially surrounds the cylinder and is in fluid communication with the cylinder, being configured for receiving a supply of pressurized air generated by the driving element as it moves from the prefiring position to the fastener driving position, the pressurized air acting on an underside of the driving element for returning it to the pre-firing position.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventor: Hanxin Zhao
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Patent number: 11701120Abstract: An apparatus is provided for stapling tissue. The apparatus includes an anvil and a trocar selectively coupled with the anvil. The anvil may have an inner opening and a plurality of staple pockets aligned around a surface of the anvil. The anvil may be inserted trans-orally through an esophagus prior to being coupled with the trocar. The trocar may include a shaft and a locking assembly. The locking assembly may secure the anvil in position relative to the trocar when the locking assembly is in the expanded position. The apparatus may also include an alignment assembly to align the staple pockets of the anvil relative to the apparatus. The apparatus may also include an introduction assembly to guide the anvil through the esophagus.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Charles J. Scheib, Cortney E. Henderson, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
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Patent number: 11701109Abstract: A cartridge for use with a surgical instrument includes a curved body and a deck defined by the curved body and configured to clamp tissue against an anvil. A plurality of staple openings is formed in the deck and is configured to house a plurality of staples. An arcuate slot is formed in the deck and is configured to slidably receive a cutting member therethrough. The deck includes a sloped deck portion that slopes away from the arcuate slot in a direction transverse to a length of the arcuate slot. The sloped deck portion is configured to provide varied compression of tissue across a width of the deck.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2018Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Ryan P. Posey, Nicholas D. Courtwright, Stephen D. Geresy, Kevin D. Sackett, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
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Patent number: 11701117Abstract: A surgical tool comprising a drive housing having first and second ends, a lead screw extending between the first and second ends and rotatably coupled to the first end at a drive input, a carriage mounted to the lead screw at a carriage nut and movable within the drive housing between the first and second ends, and an instrument driver arranged at an end of a robotic arm and matable with the first end. A drive output is matable with the drive input such that rotation of the drive output correspondingly rotates the drive input and the lead screw to thereby translate the carriage nut along the lead screw. A fin may be connected to the carriage and accessible by a user from an exterior of the drive housing to manually translate the carriage along the lead screw and thereby backdrive the drive output.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Andrew T. Beckman, Charles J. Scheib, Jason A. Hill
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Patent number: 11696759Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. An end effector for the surgical stapling instrument comprises a staple cartridge assembly and an anvil. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a cartridge body comprising a shortened nose at the distal end. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises staples removably stored in the cartridge body, a driver configured to support at least one of the staples, and a sled movable toward the distal end. The sled comprises a ramp configured to lift the driver and at least one of the staples and a base, wherein the shortened nose of the cartridge body is shorter than the base of the sled. The anvil comprises a staple forming surface comprising a plurality of staple forming pockets and a blunt distal nose extending downward toward the staple cartridge assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2017Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Morgan R. Hunter
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Patent number: 11697198Abstract: A hand-held power tool includes a tool holder for holding a chiseling tool, a machine housing (16), and a striking mechanism (12) including a striking body (22) moved on a longitudinal axis (5) for exerting strikes on the tool in an impacting direction. A damper (23) is used for stopping the striking body (22). The damper (23) includes a ring made up of multiple elastic beads situated along a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis (5).Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2017Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Hilti AktiengeselleschaftInventors: Florian Mayr, Adrian Steingruber, Katharina Marsiglia, Vera NĂ¼bel
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Patent number: 11696761Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The end effector assembly comprises a staple cartridge jaw, a threaded rod, and a replaceable staple cartridge configured to be seated in the staple cartridge jaw. The replaceable staple cartridge comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal slot extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a driver configured to support a staple, wherein the driver comprises a surface facing the threaded rod, wherein the surface comprises a clearance, and wherein at least a portion of the threaded rod is configured to be received in the clearance when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated in the staple cartridge jaw.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2019Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventor: Frederick E. Shelton, IV
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Patent number: 11696762Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a tubular body portion and a cartridge assembly disposed at a distal end of the body portion for expelling an annular array of staples. Each of the staples of the annular array of staples has a generally bent backspan. An anvil member disposed at the distal end of the tubular body portion is positioned opposite the cartridge assembly to clinch the staples in tissue upon expulsion of the staples from the cartridge assembly. The anvil member has a corresponding annular array of staple forming buckets. Each of the buckets is configured to accommodate the generally bent configuration of the staples to facilitate formation thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Christopher P. Penna, Justin Williams, Paul A. Scirica, David Racenet
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Patent number: 11691772Abstract: A plurality of camming surfaces (116) are actuated to move against the top portion of the side walls (38) of a container (36) to turn such top portion in an outward direction relative to the interior of the container sufficiently to enable the seal profile (90) of the top tool assembly (30) of a sealing apparatus (22) to press the outwardly disposed side wall top portions downwardly against an abutment formed by a bottom tool assembly (32) so as to create a horizontal, outwardly disposed sealing flange (40) to which a top film (34) is applied for closure of the container.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2019Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Proseal UK LimitedInventor: Robert Julian Hargreaves
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Patent number: 11691256Abstract: A power tool with an impact mechanism and that is controlled based on a drive angle from impacting. The power tool includes a housing, a brushless direct current (DC) motor within the housing, an impact mechanism, and an output drive device. The brushless DC motor includes a rotor coupled to a motor shaft to produce a rotational output. The impact mechanism includes a hammer coupled to the motor shaft, and an anvil that receives impacts from the hammer and drives an output device. The power tool further includes a position sensor that senses a position of the rotor and a controller coupled to the position sensor. The controller detects an impact of the impact mechanism, calculates a drive angle of the anvil caused by the impact based on output from the position sensor, and controls the brushless DC motor based on the drive angle.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool CorporationInventors: John S. Dey, IV, Jeffrey M. Wackwitz
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Patent number: 11691204Abstract: A drill bit for chiseling stone includes an impact face at an insertion end of the drill bit, a hollow shank, where a delivery passage is defined within the hollow shank, and a drill head, where the drill head has, at a front end of the drill head, a cutting edge, an intake opening, and an intake passage. The intake passage connects the intake opening to the delivery passage. A cross section of the intake passage increases from the intake opening to the delivery passage.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Hilti AktlengesellschaftInventors: Klaus-Peter Bohn, Roland Foser, Markus Hartmann, Bastian Pluemacher
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Patent number: 11690624Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a reload assembly that includes a shell housing, a staple cartridge, a plurality of staples received within the staple cartridge, a staple pushing member for ejecting the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge, and a knife for cutting tissue. The shell housing supports a strain gauge which can be molded into the shell housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2019Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Joseph Eisinger
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Patent number: 11684368Abstract: A buttress assembly for use with a surgical stapling device includes a buttress material and a loading assembly. The buttress material includes proximal and distal portions. The proximal portion defines proximal bores and a proximal slot. The distal portion defines distal bores and a distal slot. The loading assembly includes proximal and distal wings and proximal and distal cups. Each of the proximal wings includes a proximal peg configured to be received in a corresponding one of the proximal bores of the buttress material. Each of the distal wings includes a distal peg configured to be received in a corresponding one of the distal bores of the buttress material. When the proximal pegs are received in the proximal bores, the proximal cup is in registration with the proximal slot, and when the distal pegs are received in the distal bores, the distal cup is in registration with the distal slot.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Jacob C. Baril
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Patent number: 11678883Abstract: Stapling assemblies for use with a surgical stapler are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a stapling assembly can include a cartridge and a knitted adjunct that is configured to be releasably retained on the cartridge. The adjunct can include at least one knitted layer formed of first fibers and at least one core layer formed of second fibers that are interconnected with the first fibers to form a plurality of interconnections, in which one of the plurality of interconnections differs from at least another one of the plurality of interconnections to provide a variable compression strength.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2020Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Jason L. Harris, Michael J. Vendely, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
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Patent number: 11678885Abstract: A circular stapling device is described that is particularly suited for creating stomas. The circular stapling device includes two tool assemblies. The first tool assembly is adapted to create a reinforced incision in tissue, e.g., the rectus sheath, through which a vessel portion, e.g., colon, small intestine, etc. can be pulled through during a surgical procedure. The second tool assembly is adapted to attach a stomal sleeve within the vessel portion such that the stomal sleeve extends from the stoma.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2017Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Inventor: AVVLN Srinivasa Murthy Aravalli
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Patent number: 11673241Abstract: A magazine is configured to be removably coupled to a power tool housing of a power tool. The magazine has a housing configured to be rotatably attachable to the power tool housing. An advancing mechanism is received in the magazine housing, and is configured to advance a strip of collated fasteners into position to be driven by the power tool. An indexing ring has a plurality of recesses and is configured to be non-rotatably attached to the power tool housing. A detent is biased to removably engage one of the plurality of recesses, and is configured to be non-rotatably attached to the magazine housing. The detent removably engages the recesses to allow for indexed tool-free rotation of the magazine housing relative to the power tool housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2019Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.Inventors: James Dunlap Hays, John P. Zellinger, Rex A. Marshall, Jr., Wesson Charles, Joseph P. Kelleher, John K. Horky
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Patent number: 11673247Abstract: An impact drill includes an output shaft capable of rotating around a first axis and moving along the first axis, a housing, a first impact block fixedly connected to the output shaft, a second impact block, a stopping element for stopping the output shaft from moving backward, and a movable element mounted on the housing. The housing is formed with a through hole for accommodating the movable element. The through hole passes through the housing in a first line and the movable element is capable of moving to a first position and a second position along the first line. When the movable element moves to the first position, the movable element prevents the output shaft from moving backward. When the movable element moves to the second position, the movable element allows the output shaft to move backward.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Wei Lu, Fukinuki Masatoshi, Yasheng Chen
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Patent number: 11666334Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 12, 2019Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Lee Ann Olson, Ernest Aranyi, Patrick Mozdzierz