Patents Examined by Scott A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10357251
    Abstract: A surgical staple cartridge is disclosed comprising a plurality of staples removably stored within the surgical staple cartridge. The staples comprise staple legs which extend from a staple base portion. The staple legs comprise staple tips configured to pierce tissue and contact a corresponding forming pocket of an anvil of surgical stapling instrument. The staples further comprise zones having different hardnesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Chester O. Baxter, III
  • Patent number: 10271841
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil, a staple applying assembly, an adjustment member, a user input feature, and a bailout assembly. The staple applying assembly includes a distal surface defining openings and a driver that is operable to drive an annular array of staples through the openings of the distal surface and into tissue. The adjustment member is operable to adjust the position of the anvil to thereby vary a gap distance defined between the anvil and the distal surface. The adjustment member includes a first section and a second section. The user input feature is operable to actuate the driver to thereby drive the staples. The bailout assembly is operable to selectively separate the first section of the adjustment member from the second section of the adjustment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Jason E. Zerkle, Craig S. Smith, Kevin D. Sackett, Emily A. Schellin, Kevin L. Houser, Charles J. Scheib, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 10265067
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a first iaw, a second iaw, a staple cartridge, a firing system, an electric motor, a power source, a regulator, and a control system is disclosed. The first iaw is movable relative to the second iaw to capture tissue between the first iaw and the second iaw. The staple cartridge is supported by the second iaw and comprises staples removably stored therein. The firing system is configured to drive the staples toward the first jaw. The electric motor is mechanically coupled to the firing system. The power source is electrically couplable to the electric motor. The regulator is electrically connected to the power source and the electric motor. The control system is electrically connected to the regulator. The control system is configured to control a speed of the electric motor based on a voltage set point of the regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: David C. Yates, Thomas W. Huitema, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 10258331
    Abstract: An apparatus for affecting tissue includes an end effector configured to interact with a tissue. The apparatus further includes a surgical instrument that includes one or more drivetrains configured to drive a plurality of gear components in order to perform operations of the surgical instrument, and one or more vibration sensors positioned relative to the one or more drivetrains of the surgical instrument to sense and record vibration information from the one or more drivetrains of the surgical instrument, wherein the one or more vibration sensors are configured to generate an output signal based on the vibration information for comparison to predetermined threshold values to determine a status of the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Mark D. Overmyer, David C. Yates, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 10238387
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, a staple cartridge, a firing system, an electric motor, a power source, and a control system. The first jaw is movable relative to the second jaw to capture tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw. The staple cartridge is supported by the second jaw and comprises staples removably stored therein. The firing system is configured to drive the staples toward the first jaw. The electric motor is mechanically coupled to the firing system. The power source is electrically couplable to the electric motor. The control system is electrically connected to the power source. The control system is configured to determine a first level of power supplied by the power source and apply a second level of power to the electric motor if the first level of power exceeds a predetermined threshold. The second level of power is lower than the first level of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: David C. Yates, Thomas W. Huitema, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 10238385
    Abstract: A surgical instrument system is disclosed. The surgical instrument system comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a first jaw, and a second jaw. The first jaw is movable relative to the second jaw to capture tissue. The surgical instrument system further comprises a sensor system configured to sense the impedance of the tissue at a plurality of discrete locations, a staple cartridge comprising staple cavities, staples removably stored in the staple cavities, an anvil, a firing system configured to move the staples toward the anvil, an electric motor configured to move the firing system toward the distal end during a firing stroke, and a control system. The control system is configured to evaluate the impedance of the tissue at the discrete locations and control the power applied to the electric motor during the firing stroke as the firing system moves relative to the discrete locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: ETHICON LLC
    Inventors: David C. Yates, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, James R. Giordano
  • Patent number: 10226255
    Abstract: A medical anastomosis device (100), having a firing assembly (50), a staple anvil (30), a staple anvil assembly (34), and a staple cartridge assembly (32); the firing assembly (50) includes a staple cartridge push rod (54) provided with a stop pin (542) thereon; the staple anvil (30) is provided with a safety block (38) therein capable of coordinating with the stop pin (542); the safety block (38) is provided with a clamping groove (384) thereon; when the anastomosis device (100) is in an initial status, the safety block (38) and the stop pin (542) do not contact each other; when the anastomosis device (100) is in a firing status, the movement of the safety block (38) is restricted, and the clamping groove (384) is located on a movement route from the distal end of the medical anastomosis device (100) to the proximal end; and when the anastomosis device (100) returns to the initial status after being fired, the stop pin (542) is clamped in the clamping groove (384), and the safety block (38) limits the stop p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: TOUCHSTONE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL SCIENCE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wangdong Chen, Shuicheng Ding, Yanbo Shi
  • Patent number: 10226246
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a handle assembly having a trigger operable to fire a staple driver to staple tissue. The instrument includes a pointed rod to which an anvil may be coupled. An anvil detection feature is included to determine when the anvil is coupled to the rod. In some versions, the anvil detection feature comprises a translatable rod that inhibits a lockout feature from disengaging. In other versions, an anvil sensing tube is disposed about the pointed rod and interferes with actuation of the trigger in a first position. A recess in the tube permits trigger to actuate when the anvil sensing tube is in the second position. Alternatively, a resilient tab is coupled to the pointed rod and resists actuation of the staple driver. A trigger lockout assembly may include a spring-loaded button that “pops” out when a push rod is actuated, thereby freeing a pivotable lockout feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Kevin D. Felder, John F. Cummings, Joseph P. Schowalter, Patrick J. Swindon, Johnny H. Alexander, III, Patrick A. Weizman, Cory G. Kimball, Edward G. Chekan, Joseph E. Young, Christopher C. Miller, Barry T. Jamison, John V. Hunt, Kent P. Baker, Cortney E. Henderson, Chester O. Baxter, III, Jerome R. Morgan, Adam R. Dunki-Jacobs, Venkataramanan Mandakolathur Vasudevan, Carl J. Shurtleff, Julia F. Serber
  • Patent number: 10213852
    Abstract: Disclosed is an oscillating power tool comprising: a housing; a motor; a drive shaft; an output shaft driven by the drive shaft to oscillate around its own axis at a certain angle of oscillation; an eccentric transmission mechanism converting the rotational movement of the drive shaft to the oscillation of the output shaft, wherein the eccentric transmission mechanism comprises an eccentric apparatus mounted on the drive shaft and a shift fork assembly respectively connected to the eccentric apparatus and the output shaft; and the eccentric apparatus comprises at least two drive members, the shift fork assembly comprises a first shift fork member and a second shift fork member, the first shift fork member has a first cooperating part cooperating with the drive member and a second cooperating part cooperating with the second shift fork member, and the second shift fork member is connected to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Positec Power Tools (Suzhou) Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Fu Qian, Hongfeng Zhong, Shisong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10213907
    Abstract: An impact driver or impact tool includes a motor, a motor housing that houses the motor, a grip housing integrally provided with the motor housing, a hammer case is disposed frontward of the motor housing, a spindle rotated by the motor, a hammer housed inside the hammer case and configured to be rotated by the spindle, and an anvil housed inside the hammer case which anvil is configured to be impacted by the hammer. In this impact driver, a length from a rear end of the motor housing to a front end of the anvil (i.e., the front-rear length of a main body) is less than 128 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryunosuke Kumagai, Tokuo Hirabayashi, Hidenori Nagasaka, Manabu Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 10213202
    Abstract: A method of controlling a surgical stapler system includes transmitting an actuation force to a staple cartridge to actuate a staple firing procedure, the staple cartridge being removably received by a portion of an end effector of a surgical instrument, measuring the transmitted actuation force, and controlling continued transmission of the actuation force based on a comparison of the measured actuation force to a range defined from a minimum threshold actuation force to a maximum threshold actuation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Flanagan, David Weir
  • Patent number: 10206679
    Abstract: A surgical staple includes a backspan and a pair of deformable legs extending from the backspan and terminating in a penetrating end. The backspan and deformable legs are formed from a wire having a curvilinear cross-section defining a major axis and a minor axis with a portion of the wire above the major axis defining a first curved surface and a portion of the wire below the major axis defining a second curved surface, and a portion of the wire to the left of the minor axis defining a third curved surface and a portion to the right of the minor axis defining a fourth curved surface being different than the first, second, and third curved surfaces. One or more of the curved surfaces is different than the remaining curved surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Anthony Sgroi
  • Patent number: 10206676
    Abstract: A surgical stapling system comprising an end effector, an elongate shaft, a closure system, a motor configured to generate rotary motion, and a rotatable drive screw drivable by the motor is disclosed. The end effector comprises a frame, an anvil movable from an open position to a clamped position, and a staple cartridge. The anvil comprises staple deforming features and a channel comprising a blade receiving portion and a lateral portion. The staple cartridge comprises a deck, a slot, staple cavities, staples, staple drivers, and a firing member movable in response to a firing stroke. The firing member comprises an inclined surface, a cutting member, and a lateral member. The closure system is configured to place the anvil in the clamped position in response to a closure motion. The rotatable drive screw is operably coupled to the firing member such that the rotary motion is converted to the firing stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventor: Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 10201892
    Abstract: A driving-in apparatus comprises a hand-held housing having an energy transmission element accommodated therein for transmitting energy to a fastening element to be driven in, and a drive device for driving the energy transmission element, wherein the drive device comprises an energy accumulator having a gas chamber which is fillable with a driving gas at a defined overpressure, wherein the overpressure is present in the gas chamber as stored driving energy prior to initiation of a driving-in operation, and wherein a piston of the energy transmission element forms a variable wall section of the gas chamber. The apparatus also includes a heating member providing thermal energy that is transferable into the driving gas enclosed in the gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Bruggmueller, Nikolaus Hannoschoeck, Christoph Boehm
  • Patent number: 10195731
    Abstract: A tool having a housing assembly, which defines a handle, a motor assembly, a trigger assembly, a spindle and a transmission assembly. The motor assembly is received in the housing assembly and has an output shaft. The trigger assembly is coupled to the housing assembly and is configured for use in actuating the motor assembly. The transmission assembly transmits rotary power between the output shaft of the motor assembly and the spindle. The transmission assembly includes a planetary stage with an input sun gear, an output planet carrier and a compound planet gear having a first planet gear and a second planet gear coupled together for common rotation on the output planet carrier. The planetary stage is selectively operable in a first gear reduction and a second, relatively lower gear reduction in which the compound planet gear cooperates to produce at least one intermediate gear reduction within the planetary stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventor: David C. Tomayko
  • Patent number: 10195729
    Abstract: A driving device is adapted for use in an electric nail gun. The electric nail gun includes a supporting frame. The driving device includes a swing arm unit, a control unit and a driving unit. The swing arm unit is swingable between a standby position and a shooting position. The control unit includes a control member having a driven end portion, and an abutting end portion opposite to the driven end portion. The driving unit is for driving the driven end portion of the control member to rotate between a driving position and a non-driving position, and includes a control-member biasing resilient member disposed between the driven end portion of the control member and the supporting frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Basso Industry Corp.
    Inventors: Chia-Yu Chien, Jian-Rung Wu
  • Patent number: 10194936
    Abstract: Adjunct materials for delivery to stomach tissue are provided. In general, the adjunct materials can be configured to be delivered to tissue by deployment of staples from a cartridge body of a surgical stapler. The adjunct material can have a structure effective to cause a desired reaction in the stomach tissue. The adjunct material can include an effective amount of one or more medicants disposed within and releasable from the adjunct material for delivery to the stomach tissue to encourage the desired reaction. The adjunct material can be in the form of at least one of a film and a foam that is releasably retained on the cartridge body. Methods of using a staple cartridge assembly or an end effector to apply such adjunct materials to stomach tissue are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Vendely, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 10195755
    Abstract: A hand-held knockout driver includes a main housing having a handle portion, a motor positioned within the main housing, a hydraulic assembly driven by the motor and including a reservoir containing hydraulic fluid, a secondary housing coupled to the main housing and defining a bore therein, a working piston moveable within the bore between a rest position and an actuated position, and a work zone defined between the secondary housing and the working piston into which pressurized hydraulic fluid discharged from the hydraulic assembly is received. One unit of fluid is added to the work zone to move the working piston from the rest position to the actuated position. The reservoir has a fill capacity no greater than about 1.5 units of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: James O. Myrhum, Jr., Troy C. Thorson, Jeremy R. Ebner, Sean T. Kehoe, Joseph H. Ellice, Jeffrey S. Holly
  • Patent number: 10188389
    Abstract: Adjunct materials for delivery to colon tissue are provided. In general, the adjunct materials can be configured to be delivered to colon tissue by deployment of staples from a cartridge body of a surgical stapler to form at least one line of deployed staples. The adjunct material can be formed of a fiber matrix and include an effective amount of one or more medicants for delivery to the colon tissue. The medicant is disposed within and releasable from the adjunct material, and effective to encourage a desired effect on blood vessels, such as angiogenesis and/or vasodilation, along the at least one line of deployed staples. Methods of using a staple cartridge assembly or an end effector to apply such adjunct materials to colon tissue are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Vendely, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 10190888
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an elongate body, a cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly, and a linear position assembly including a pair of opposing magnets, and a plurality of sensors. The elongate body has a central shaft longitudinally translatable therethrough. The cartridge assembly is coupled to a distal end of the elongate body. The anvil assembly is selectively connectable to the central shaft of the elongate body. The magnets are mounted to the central shaft. The sensors are fixed within the cartridge assembly and configured to sense a change in a magnetic field of the magnets upon a longitudinal movement of the magnets in response to an actuation of the central shaft to determine a linear position of the anvil assembly relative to the staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: John Hryb, Ethan Collins, Luis Dussan, Joseph Decker, Anthony Calderoni