Patents Examined by Robert F Long
  • Patent number: 11667023
    Abstract: A construction tool and method for use for administering a fastener and an associated cap to secure fabrics, paper, sheets, and/or panels to a substrate is provided. The tool can be a hybrid tool that utilizes a) energy stored in a spring, the energy harvested upon engagement of the tool with a surface, to move a cap and/or a fastener to an advancement station, and b) energy stored in a power source, such as a battery, to advance the fastener through the cap and apply the fastener/cap combination to a substrate. The hybrid tool can utilize both energy harvested from mechanical motion and energy stored in an onboard power source to function. A related method of using the tool is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: National Nail Corp.
    Inventor: Roger A. Vandenberg
  • Patent number: 11666338
    Abstract: A circular stapling instrument including a stapling forming assembly that is actuated independently from actuation of the cutting assembly is provided. The instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongate body extending from the handle assembly, a cartridge assembly mounted on a distal end of the elongate body. The cartridge assembly includes a pusher assembly and a knife assembly. The knife assembly is selectively fixed relative to the pusher assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Keith L. Milliman
  • Patent number: 11660093
    Abstract: A method is provided for applying an adjunct element to a surgical stapler end effector having first and second stapling surfaces using an applicator. The method includes providing the end effector in an open state in which the first and second stapling surfaces are spaced apart. With the end effector in the open state, at least a portion of the applicator is positioned between the first and second stapling surfaces. Without engaging a closure system input feature of the surgical stapler, a portion of the end effector is compressively engaged by the applicator to thereby secure the adjunct element to one of the first or second stapling surfaces. The applicator and the end effector are withdrawn relatively away from one another so that the adjunct element remains attached to the one of the first or second stapling surfaces of the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Gregory J. Bakos, Michael J. Vendely, Mark S. Zeiner, Heather Strang, Pamela M. Ridgley, Christopher A. Denzinger, Christopher Q. Seow
  • Patent number: 11654493
    Abstract: A high frequency vibration spindle system with non-contact power transmission and a method for manufacturing a restraining member used therein are disclosed. The high frequency vibration spindle system comprises: an electric power transmission device including a first induction module and a second induction module, wherein the second induction module is disposed at either a spindle or a toolholder and is adapted to receive an electric power from the first induction module in a non-contact electromagnetic induction manner; a transducer adapted to vibrate the tool and disposed at the toolholder and electrically connected with the second induction module to receive the electric power; and-a restraining member located between the first induction module and the second induction module. With the restraining member, the structural strength and stability of the second induction module can be improved, thereby increasing the maximum rotational speed of the high frequency vibration spindle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHUNG HSING UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jenq-Shyong Chen, Chuan-Wu Ko, Hao-Tang Wang
  • Patent number: 11654085
    Abstract: A multiple chamber container forming and filling method includes (i) forming at least one strong seal around a periphery of first and second sheets so as to leave an opening between the first and second sheets; (ii) forming a temporary peel seal across the opening; (iii) forming a mixing peel seal between the first and second sheets so as to separate a diluent chamber from a powdered drug chamber; (iv) adding diluent to the diluent chamber; (v) sterilizing the multiple chamber container including the diluent; (vi) opening the temporary peel seal in an aseptic environment; (vii) adding powdered drug to the powdered drug chamber through the opening; and (viii) strong sealing the opening so as to be closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventors: Atul Malhotra, Gianni Di Stefani, John Doherty, Mark Timothy Foote, Eric J. Henaut, Stephane Spataro, Johanny Stanus, Joost M. Vancaillie
  • Patent number: 11649081
    Abstract: A wrapping machine for wrapping a load with a plastic film includes a main frame with two supporting columns having upper portions interconnected by a beam, a supporting carriage slidingly supported by the main frame and moved along a working direction by first actuating device, a moving ring rotatably supported by the supporting carriage and rotatably driven by second actuating device around a wrapping axis parallel to the working direction, and an unwinding unit fixed to the moving ring and provided with a reel of film and rollers. The first actuating device includes a first actuator arranged to operate a driving shaft rotatably supported by the beam and provided with a driving pulley engaged to a flexible element connected to the supporting carriage. The driving pulley rotates with the driving shaft for moving the flexible element and therefore the supporting carriage along the working direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: AETNA GROUP S.P.A.
    Inventor: Mauro Cereā€²
  • Patent number: 11642130
    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: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Jason L. Harris, Michael J. Vendely, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hardik Kabaria, Farhad Javid
  • Patent number: 11642769
    Abstract: A movable support at least partially supports a final output shaft and a driving mechanism, and is integrally movable relative to a housing in an axial direction of a driving axis. A biasing member biases the movable support toward a front side in the axial direction. A first guide shaft extends in the axial direction and slidably guides the movement of the movable support in the axial direction. At least one intermediate shaft rotates in response to rotation of a motor shaft and transmit power of the motor to the driving mechanism. At least one bearing supports an end portion of the at least one intermediate shaft is located in the front side in the axial direction. A single metal support is immovable relative to the housing and supports the at least one bearing. The single metal support has a first hole for partially receiving the first guide shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyonobu Yoshikane, Yoshitaka Machida, Taro Hisano, Kazuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11642125
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system for deploying staples from a staple cartridge into tissue is disclosed. The surgical robotic system comprises an end effector, a drive system, a user interface, and a control circuit. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw from an open configuration toward a closed configuration. The drive system is configured to effect a motion at the end effector. The drive system comprises a motor and a drive member. The control circuit is configured to activate the drive system to effect the motion at the end effector, monitor a current draw of the motor, pause the drive system intermediate the effected motion at the end effector based on the current draw of the motor, restart the drive system to continue the effected motion at the end effector, and cause the user interface to provide feedback to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Jason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Mark D. Overmyer
  • Patent number: 11643229
    Abstract: A wrap machine assembly including a pallet having a top surface having goods thereon and a side surface. The top surface is located above a floor. The wrap machine assembly also includes a wrapping machine having a base and a wrapping arm including a roll of wrap film. The base of the wrapping machine has at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel. A portion of the wrapping machine is positioned adjacent the side surface of the pallet. The wrapping arm encircles the goods on the pallet, with a circle of rotation of the wrapping arm forming a periphery of a wrap circle area. The at least front wheel of the base of the wrapping machine is located within the wrap circle area when the pallet is viewed from above. No part of the wrapping machine is located under the pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: COUSINS PACKAGING INC.
    Inventors: Neil G. Cousins, Srbislav Z. Davidovic
  • Patent number: 11638621
    Abstract: Described herein is a holding basket (100) for containing an inner basket (200) for holding at least one medical item for processing having a top end (102) and a base end (104) comprising: an essentially rectangular base (110) and side walls (120, 122, 124) extending from the base (110), two rims (130, 132) each disposed on a first pair (120, 122) of opposing side walls, two windows 140) each disposed on a second pair opposing side walls (124) configured for manual access for slidable removal of the inner basket (200), wherein the holding basket (100) is configured for stackability or nestability with an adjacent holding basket (100?, 100?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: BELINTRA NV
    Inventors: Charlotte Vanliefde, Peter Van Der Vennet
  • Patent number: 11633184
    Abstract: An end effector for use to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a surgical procedure includes an anvil and a cartridge. The anvil has an anvil face and a first staple pocket defined by the anvil face, where the first staple pocket comprises a first cup and a second cup for staple formation. The cartridge has a first staple and a first driver. The first staple, once deployed by the first driver and deformed by the first staple pocket, has a formed configuration in which a first portion of a first staple leg and a second portion of a second staple leg are bent relative to a crown and cross the midpoint of the crown and one of the first portion and the second portion overlaps the other of the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Standard Bariatrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Thompson, Bennie Thompson, Richard P. Nuchols, Russell L. Holscher
  • Patent number: 11633842
    Abstract: A gas spring-powered fastener driver includes a cylinder, a moveable piston, a driver blade attached to the piston, the driver blade movable with the piston, a lifter including a rotary component operably coupled to the driver blade to move the driver blade from a driven position to a ready position, and a multi-stage planetary transmission. The transmission includes an output shaft operatively coupled to the lifter to provide torque thereto, a first bearing supporting a first portion of the output shaft for rotation, a second bearing supporting a second portion of the output shaft for rotation. The fastener driver also includes a housing having a cylinder support portion in which the cylinder is received and a transmission housing portion in which the first and second bearings are received to rotatably support the output shaft. The cylinder support portion and the transmission housing portion are integrally formed as a single piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew R. Wyler, Nathan T. Armstrong, Jason D. Thurner, Troy C. Thorson, John S. Scott, Jeremy R. Ebner, Daniel R. Garces, Ryan A. Dedrickson, Luke J. Skinner, Benjamin R. Suhr
  • Patent number: 11627959
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an end effector, an articulation system, a firing system, a closure system, a lock system, and a control unit is disclosed. The end effector comprises a pair of movable jaws. The articulation system articulates the end effector when the articulation system is in an active state. The closure system is actuatable to move the pair of jaws. The lock system prevents the closure system from actuating when the lock system is in a locked state. The control unit controls the supply of power from a power source to the articulation system, the firing system, and the lock system. The control unit transitions the lock system to the locked state and prevents the supply of power from the power source to the firing system when the articulation system is in the active state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 11617581
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a handle assembly, an elongate body extending distally from the handle assembly, and a tool assembly. The tool assembly includes an actuation sled that is movable through a staple cartridge to eject staples from the staple cartridge and a clamp member that is movable through the tool assembly to move the tool assembly from an open position to an approximated position. In order to minimize dead space in a proximal portion of the tool assembly, the actuation sled and clamp member are supported in a nested relationship in a pre-actuated state of the surgical stapling device. The clamp member is subsequently moved to a position proximal of the actuation sled during a firing stroke of the stapling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: David Nicholas
  • Patent number: 11617584
    Abstract: A surgical buttress for use in a surgical stapling apparatus is provided and includes an elongate rectangular body portion defining a width; a neck portion integrally formed with and extending from a distal end of the body portion, the neck portion defining a width; a head portion integrally formed with and connected to a distal end of the neck portion, the head portion defining a width; and a tail portion integrally formed with and extending from a proximal end of the body portion, the tail portion defining a width. The width of the tail portion is less than the width of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael D. Ingmanson, Sachin Shah, Joseph F. McNellis, Thomas Casasanta, Jr., Kevin J. Golebieski
  • Patent number: 11613390
    Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for generating re-closable packages. According to one embodiment the machine includes a forming tube configured to impart a tubular shape to a continuous film, a driving module that moves the film tube in a forward movement direction at a first forward movement speed, a longitudinal sealing tool for sealing the longitudinal ends of the film with a tubular shape, a film tube being generated. The machine includes a first driving assembly for moving the film tube in the forward movement direction at a second forward movement speed, and a transverse sealing and cutting tool for transversely sealing and cutting the film tube, a package being obtained as a result. The machine also includes a second driving assembly located upstream the longitudinal sealing tool and configured for moving the re-closable strip at a third forward movement speed, the first, second and third forward movement speeds being equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: ULMA PACKAGING, S. COOP.
    Inventor: Alberto Otxoa-Aizpurua Calvo
  • Patent number: 11597552
    Abstract: An actuator system for fabricating a cavity within thermoplastic material includes a plurality of actuators arranged in an array. When dimensions of an item are determined, the actuator system may be programmed with data regarding such dimensions to fabricate a cavity for the item. A subset of the actuators, and distances by which each of the actuators is to be extended, may be selected based on dimensions of the item, in order to fabricate a cavity within the thermoplastic material that may accommodate the item therein. Additionally, the actuators and the distances may be selected based on intrinsic or extrinsic data regarding the item, and a cavity fabricated within the thermoplastic material may include one or more buffer zones or protective regions that are specifically formed with respect to aspects of the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Stuart Hoffman, Cory Richard Boudreau, Todd Ethan Brunner, David C. Franchino, Alexandra Kay Hartford, Vivian Lin, Mohan Mahadevan, John Gaetano Matrecano, Alexandra Surasky-Ysasi, Timothy Alan Talda
  • Patent number: 11597046
    Abstract: A vacuum dust extraction system includes a snorkel coupled to the implement end of an air tool, a dust bellows surrounding the air tool's implement and fastened to the outboard end of the snorkel, a pneumatically powered water filtration industrial vacuum, and a suction hose coupling the snorkel to the vacuum. The apparatus features an improved coupling arrangement for attaching the snorkel to the barrel of the tool driver that permits the apparatus to work with a wide assortment of air tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: G.A.W. Inc
    Inventors: Robert Arthur, Kenan Wollborg, Nicholas Russell
  • Patent number: 11596577
    Abstract: A package has a plurality of seamless compartments coupled together. A different one of the plurality compartments each includes a different respective one of a plurality of respective void spaces and a different respective one of a plurality of respective void space delimiting surfaces. A different one of a plurality of fill entries each forms a fluent entry into a different respective compartment's void space. At least one fill entry of said plurality is in an elastomeric portion of said package, and the at least one fill entry has a largest cross sectional area which is equal to or less than 25% of a largest cross sectional area of the compartment having the respective void space for which the fill entry forms the fluent entry. Each void space delimiting surface follows an outline of a separate 3D pill shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventor: Craig Robertson