Patents Examined by Stephen F. Gerrity
  • Surgical stapling device with lockout
    Patent number: 11452524
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly having an anvil assembly, a cartridge assembly, and a lockout member supported on the anvil assembly. The lockout member is supported on the tool assembly to prevent firing of the stapling device when an actuation sled is not present in the cartridge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Varad V. Chavan, Roanit A. Fernandes
  • Modular stand-alone ultrasonic sealing system
    Patent number: 11447281
    Abstract: A modular stand-alone ultrasonic bag sealing system has an ultrasonic sealer assembly that utilizes a sonotrode and an anvil that are actuated together to form a bag seal in a bag configured therebetween. The system also has an integral control system that is physically configured on the housing of the system and runs a control software. The control software is configured to control the ultrasonic sealer assembly to close and open to seal bags. The controller may have a plurality of signal inputs for receiving input signals from a bag feeder assembly or from an auxiliary machine. The system may also have an integral bag feeder assembly that has an index roller for feeding a bag to the ultrasonic sealer assembly. The system is configured for quick integration into a process line and has versatility of communication through the control software and signal inputs and outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: LAKO TOOL & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Louis Montano, Daniel Bomia, Ahmed Abdulateef, William Witzler
  • Assembly for manufacturing fillable containers and a packaging line comprising such manufacturing assembly and a corresponding method
    Patent number: 11446856
    Abstract: An assembly for manufacturing containers by thermoforming, which includes a magazine of thermoplastic sheet-like blanks, a feeding station for feeding the blanks, a heating station for heating the blanks, and a station for thermoforming containers starting from the blanks. The feeding station includes a closed-loop path and at least two conveyor elements, which move, following each other, along the path between a loading position, in which the conveyor element faces the blank magazine, and an unloading position, in which the conveyor element faces the heating station. The heating station includes a heating carousel, wherein, in the active condition, the conveyor element in the unloading position moves with a substantially linear motion with a speed that is substantially equal to a peripheral speed of the heating carousel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A IN SIGLA IMA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Filippo Furlotti
  • Compressible non-fibrous adjuncts
    Patent number: 11446032
    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: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Jason L. Harris, Michael J. Vendely, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Compressible knitted adjuncts with surface features
    Patent number: 11446027
    Abstract: Adjuncts for use with a surgical stapler are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, an adjunct can include a first knitted layer, a second knitted layer, and a plurality of recesses that extend into and defined within the second knitted layer. The plurality of recesses can be arranged in a predefined pattern that coincides with a plurality of attachment features extending outward from a top surface of a cartridge such that each recess of the plurality of recesses is configured to engage with at least a portion of at least one attachment feature to form a friction fit therebetween to thereby retain the adjunct on the cartridge prior to staple deployment. Stapling assemblies for use with a surgical stapler are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Jason L. Harris, Michael J. Vendely, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Surgical instrument with lockout mechanism
    Patent number: 11439390
    Abstract: Locking assemblies for surgical clamping and cutting instruments include a locking member and a switch. A drive member may be configured to releasably engage a knife and/or a shuttle of the surgical instrument for translating the knife and/or shuttle in a distal direction through a firing stroke. The locking member is movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke, and a second position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke. A switch, when proximally positioned, releasably engages the locking member to maintain the locking member in the first position. The switch disengages from the locking member when the switch is moved to a distal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Atal C Patel, Matthew Aaron Wixey
  • Surgical stapler with toggling distal tip
    Patent number: 11439391
    Abstract: A surgical instrument end effector includes a first jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge and a second jaw that includes an anvil having a plurality of staple forming pockets. The first and second jaws are operable to clamp and staple tissue positioned therebetween. A tip member is movably disposed at a distal end of the anvil and is configured to toggle relative to the anvil between a first discrete position and a second discrete position. The tip member in the first discrete position is oriented angularly toward the first jaw, and the tip member in the second discrete position is oriented angularly away from the first discrete position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Jeffery D. Bruns, Nicholas Fanelli, Robert J. Simms, Scott A. Jenkins
  • Patterned cut pouch forming machine, and method
    Patent number: 11440692
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming product containing pouches from a travelling web of adhered films includes a film support surface, including a plurality of mold configurations, and a film retention chamber in the film support surface preceding and trailing each of the mold configurations. A vacuum system applies vacuum to the mold configurations and film retention chambers to form product containing pockets and to secure the film in the film retention chambers. Separation blades in synchronous register with the mold configurations separate the pouches from the travelling web. In one form the film support surface comprises a rotary forming drum and a rotary blade drum includes the separation blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Mespack Cloud, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Crivolio, Alexander Waterman, Donn D. Hartman, Argenis Almodovar
  • Surgical stapling device and fastener for pathological exam
    Patent number: 11439392
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly that includes a staple cartridge having a cartridge body that defines a central knife slot, rows of first staple receiving pockets on one side of the central knife slot, and a row of second staple receiving pockets on a second side of the knife slot. The first staple receiving pockets receive staples having a substantially U-shaped configuration that can be formed into a B-shape. The second staple receiving slots receive substantially Y-shaped staples which minimize damage to tissue and can be removed from the tissue more easily to allow for pathological examination of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Olesea Diaz-Chiosa, Robert H. Knapp
  • Method for packaging articles for transportation
    Patent number: 11434047
    Abstract: A method for packaging articles for transportation including: a) preparing at least one pallet, wherein the pallet includes a base plate; b) placing at least one article to be transported onto the base plate; c) providing a transport box that is open toward the base plate over the at least one article to be transported, wherein the transport box is placed on the base plate in such a manner that the transport box together with the base plate forms an interior of a transport packaging unit which receives the at least one article to be transported; d) a closure step, wherein the transport box comprises a closable opening on a side opposite the base plate, wherein the closable opening is closed in the closure step; and e) at least one fixing step including fixing the transport box on the base plate with at least one fastening element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Holger Burkardt, Gerd Fink, Norbert Frisch, Karl-Heinz Goebel
  • Features to enhance staple height consistency in curved surgical stapler
    Patent number: 11432815
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, an anvil, a backing member, and a concave surface. The housing has a plurality of staples and the anvil is opposed from the housing such that the anvil and the housing are configured to cooperate to clamp tissue. The anvil is configured to form staples ejected from the housing into the clamped tissue. The backing member is coupled with the anvil and the concave surface defines a gap between the backing member and an adjacent component of the apparatus. The anvil is configured to deflect in a direction towards the gap in response to actuation of the apparatus to at least one of clamp tissue or staple tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Courtwright, Jason E. Zerkle
  • Apparatus and method to close end effector of surgical stapler onto buttress
    Patent number: 11419605
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for applying an adjunct element to at least one of opposing first and second jaws of an end effector of a surgical stapler, wherein each of the first and second jaws includes a stapling surface and an external surface opposed from the respective stapling surface. The apparatus comprises: (a) a platform configured to be positioned between the first and second jaws of the end effector; (b) an adjunct element positioned on the platform; and (c) at least one closure surface opposed from the platform, wherein the at least one closure surface is configured to mechanically engage the external surface of at least one of the first or second jaws to thereby transition the end effector from an open state toward a closed state for placing the respective stapling surface of the at least one of the first or second jaws in contact with the adjunct element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Christopher A. Denzinger, Heather Strang, Michael J. Vendely
  • Surgical stapling device with replaceable staple cartridge
    Patent number: 11406387
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly having an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The anvil assembly includes a staple deforming surface and defines an elongate channel that supports a roller. The staple deforming surface defines a transverse slot. The roller supports a buttress material that can be pulled through the transverse slot to position the buttress material atop the staple forming surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Rajanikanth Mandula, Ravi Sekhar Gutti
  • Apparatus and method for vacuum skin packaging of a product and a skin packaged product
    Patent number: 11407537
    Abstract: A product can be packaged by arranging the product on a support, providing a plastic film above the support with the product arranged between the support and the film sheet, and air tightly fixing the film to the support. The process can be implemented using an apparatus that includes a film supply assembly and a base equipment having an upper side defining one or more receiving areas, each being configured for receiving a respective product loaded support; an upper tool is configured for holding a film portion above the product loaded support and then heat sealing the film portion to the product loaded support. Each receiving area has a flat portion and elongated features protruding above the plane of flat portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Cryovac, LLC
    Inventors: Christophe Chevalier, Antonio Liperoti, Iacopo Tibe'
  • Stapling device with a gap locking member
    Patent number: 11406385
    Abstract: A tool assembly includes an anvil and a cartridge assembly pivotally coupled to one another. A locking member is rotatably supported on a distal portion of the cartridge assembly and positioned for receipt in a bore defined in a distal portion of the anvil. The locking member is operably coupled to a sled for advancing staples from the cartridge assembly. Advancement of the sled rotates the locking member relative to the bore to approximate the distal portions of the anvil and cartridge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Roanit Fernandes, Jeevan Shankar Setty Maddur
  • Method for ease in identifying particular bundles of printed cards while packing and unpacking the bundles
    Patent number: 11401065
    Abstract: A workflow process for packing and unpacking variable sized bundles of printed card signs includes providing identifiable codes that make the card signs highly visible and recognizable. Included on selected card signs is a color coded border with indexing added to each bundle in groupings to help in packing and unpacking the bundles into and from boxes. When the bundles are packed in a box on edge, both the person packing and unpacking the box can easily identify the beginning and end of each bundle and thereby limiting the time required to organize and process the bundles and reduce labor cost and errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Franklin Case, Douglas K Herrmann, Kevin St Martin
  • Anvil buttress attachment for surgical stapling apparatus
    Patent number: 11399833
    Abstract: An anvil buttress loading system includes an anvil assembly, an anvil buttress loading tool, and an anvil buttress. The anvil buttress is retainable on each of the anvil buttress loading tool and the anvil buttress, and is transferrable from the anvil buttress loading tool to the anvil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Pawel Abramek, Kenneth M. Cappola, Matthew J. Chowaniec, Roanit Fernandes
  • Method and device for capping containers with container caps
    Patent number: 11401058
    Abstract: A device for capping a container with a container cap, for example in a beverage filling plant, includes an isolator for providing a defined atmosphere in the interior thereof; a capper for capping a container with a container cap, which capper is arranged in the isolator; and a cap production device for producing container caps from a hot melt, for example a plastics melt. The cap production device is arranged outside the isolator, and is interconnected with the isolator or is connected to the isolator via a cap transport tunnel in order to feed produced container caps to the capper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Juergen Soellner
  • Methods for packaging a packaged product and one or more unpackaged products for shipment
    Patent number: 11401057
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for preparing a packaged product and one or more unpackaged products for shipping. The methods may include providing a shipping container generally sized to accommodate the unpackaged product(s). The shipping container has a plurality of walls and a bottom that define an interior of the shipping container, and each of the walls has an edge that cooperate to define an open side of the shipping container. The methods may also include inserting the unpackaged product(s) into the shipping container, and attaching the shipping container to the packaged product such that a wall of the packaged product covers the open side of the shipping container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: PACKSIZE LLC
    Inventor: Hanko Kiessner
  • Surgical stapling device with impedance sensor
    Patent number: 11395653
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly including a jaw assembly and an impedance assembly. The jaw assembly includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The tool assembly supports an impedance assembly for measuring the impedance of tissue grasped within the jaw assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Robert Knapp, Matthew Eschbach, Johana Marinelli