Patents Examined by Thanh K Truong
  • Patent number: 11957336
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, a firing system, and a firing lockout assembly. The end effector is operatively coupled with the shaft assembly. The end effector includes first and second jaws. The first jaw includes an anvil. The second jaw is configured to removably receive an unspent staple cartridge. The firing system extends through at least a portion of the shaft assembly and the end effector. The firing lockout assembly is selectively coupled with the firing system. The firing lockout assembly is disposed proximal to the end effector. The firing lockout assembly is configured to allow actuation of the firing system in an unlocked configuration in response to the unspent staple cartridge being coupled with the second jaw; and inhibit actuation of the firing system in a locked configuration in response to the unspent staple cartridge being absent from the second jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Adam D. Hensel
  • Patent number: 11944297
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an end effector, a motor, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to activate the motor to distally advance a firing member within a body of the end effector. The processing unit is further configured to detect an initiation condition. In response to detecting the initiation condition, the processing unit is configured to activate an algorithmic bumping mode. The bumping mode includes activating the motor to advance the firing member distally with a first plurality starting and stopping motions at a first rate and a first power level. The bumping mode further includes activating the motor to retract the firing member proximally with a second plurality of starting and stopping motions at a second rate and a second power level. The first rate is different than the second rate. The first power level is different than the second power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams
  • Patent number: 11931039
    Abstract: A surgical stapling system includes a surgical stapling apparatus and a staple cartridge surgical buttress assembly. The surgical stapling apparatus includes a handle assembly, an elongate tubular body extending distally from the handle assembly, and an end effector extending distally from the elongate tubular body. The end effector includes an anvil assembly and a staple cartridge assembly. The staple cartridge surgical buttress assembly includes a surgical buttress and a leash. The surgical buttress includes a body having an annular configuration and legs extending from the body. The body is positioned against a tissue facing surface of the staple cartridge assembly and the legs are positioned against a housing of the staple cartridge assembly. The leash is threaded through at least one of the legs and extends proximally from the surgical buttress towards the handle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Justin Williams, Stanislaw Marczyk, Russell Pribanic, Suresh Kumar Prema Mohanasundaram, Rajesh Palakunnath
  • Patent number: 11931840
    Abstract: A dust collection cup includes a cylindrical attachment to cause a bit to extend through the attachment, a cylindrical dust collector located in front of the attachment to cause the bit to extend through the dust collector, a seal between the attachment and the dust collector and having a through-hole to receive the bit, and a connection port connectable to a dust collection hose and located on an outer circumferential surface of the attachment outward in a radial direction of the bit from the seal and rearward from the seal. The connection port has a distance in the radial direction of the bit from an axis of the attachment to an outermost position longer than a distance in the radial direction of the bit from the axis to a position on the outer circumferential surface of the attachment that is opposite to the outermost position from the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Machida
  • Patent number: 11918209
    Abstract: A surgical system including a surgical instrument, a surgical visualization system, a display, and a feedback controller are presented. The feedback controller is in signal communication with the surgical instrument and the surgical visualization system. The feedback controller is configured to display, on the display, during an operation, live images derived from the surgical visualization system in a first layer and a status of the surgical instrument in a second layer. The status is configured to locate itself in said second layer in relation to a depiction of a feature of the surgical instrument and/or a feature of tissue in the first layer. The surgical instrument can include a surgical stapler, a knife, a robotic surgical instrument, combination thereof, or variation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Emily A. Schellin, Jerome R. Morgan
  • Patent number: 11905046
    Abstract: Systems and method of wrapping an object are disclosed. An object wrapping system includes a contractible loop, a positioning system, and a wrapping material system. The contractible loop is configured to be deployed in an expanded position and a contracted position. The positioning system is configured to position an object in alignment with an aperture defined by the contractible loop. The wrapping material system is configured to position a wrapping material between the object and the aperture. The positioning system is configured to move the object into the wrapping material and through the aperture when the contractible loop is deployed in the expanded position. The contractible loop is configured to deploy into the contracted position to at least partially close the wrapping material around the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Mt. Adams Orchards Corporation
    Inventors: Don M. Gibson, Doug G. Gibson, Shane C. Dittrich, Kristopher R. Okelberry, Michael P. Baker, Peter O. Ashworth, Mark E. De Kleine, Tyler Dale
  • Patent number: 11908264
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a cashbag sealing system. The system comprises a banknote transport mechanism operable to transport a banknote to a storing unit. The storing unit includes a banknote storing bag detachably coupled to the storing unit, and an escrow plate operable to escrow the banknote before the banknote transported to the storing unit is stored in the banknote storing bag, wherein the escrow plate is operable to move from a horizontally extending hold position to a downwardly or obliquely downwardly extending release position, and wherein the banknote transported to the storing unit is escrowed on the escrow plate when the escrow plate is located at the hold position. The system further comprises a sensor configured to detect a presence of the banknote on the escrow plate, and measure a level of banknotes in the banknote storing bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmytro Baydin, Pavlo Tsushko, Yurii Rudenko, Vitaliy Kochubey, David Charles Deaville, Vjatseslav Balovnev
  • Patent number: 11890734
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool that includes a lift mechanism for moving the driver from a driven position to a ready position. In one embodiment, the lift mechanism is mounted to a movable pivot arm, and the pivot arm is slightly rotated to allow the driver to drive a fastener; when the driver is to be lifted in a return stroke, the lifter subassembly is moved back into engagement with the driver, and multiple lifter pins contact protrusions in the driver to lift the driver from the driven position to the ready position. In another embodiment, the pivotable lifter floats along the driver, and “releases” from contact only to prevent a jam or otherwise undesirable operating condition involving the driver; otherwise, the lifter remains nested in the tool's guide body during all operating states. A solenoid-operated latch also is provided to prevent the driver from moving downward (for driving a fastener).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. McCardle, Christopher D. Klein, Anthony D. Kabbes, Donald C. Ries, John T. Burke, Kory A. Gunnerson, Jerome J. Schafer
  • Patent number: 11891206
    Abstract: A system for assembling and filling two groups of electronic cigarettes, includes first and second working stations for assembly/inspection operations on a first group of electronic cigarettes and disposed upstream and downstream of a first conveying path, respectively. Third and fourth working stations perform assembly/inspection operations on a second group of electronic cigarettes and are disposed upstream and downstream of a second conveying path, respectively. A single filling station receives the first group at a first loading zone and the second group at a second loading zone to fill the first group and the second group with a filling product; and releases the first group of filled electronic cigarettes at a first unloading zone and the second group of filled electronic cigarettes at a second unloading zone towards the second working station and towards the fourth working station, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: G.D S.P.A.
    Inventors: Luca Testoni, Massimo Sartoni, Luca Federici
  • Patent number: 11864756
    Abstract: Surgical instruments that comprise an axially movable firing member that is configured to be driven between a starting position and an ending position within a surgical end effector of the surgical instrument by an upper an upper chain-drive assembly and a lower chain-drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Spencer J. Witte, Benjamin D. Dickerson, Darryl A. Parks
  • Patent number: 11857182
    Abstract: Surgical instruments that have articulation joints that include a distal joint member and a central joint member that is selectively articulatable relative to the central joint member about a distal articulation axis that is transverse to a shaft axis. The articulation joints may further include a proximal joint member that operably interfaces with the central joint member such that the central joint member is selectively articulatable relative to the proximal joint member about a proximal articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and the distal articulation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventor: Spencer J. Witte
  • Patent number: 11827010
    Abstract: Monitoring device (50, 52) for monitoring a plurality of containers (10) which have been printed with at least one first image element (B1-B8) by a direct printing machine (20), having a transport device (40) which supplies and/or discharges the printed containers (10) to be monitored along a predefined transport path, in particular individually and successively, to the monitoring device (50, 52), wherein the monitoring device (50, 52) monitors the printed containers (10) at least with respect to the first image element (B1-B8) applied by the direct printing machine (20), and has a memory device (53) which stores the at least one set of first image elements (B1-B8) to be monitored. According to the invention, for each container (10) to be monitored, the monitoring device (50, 52) carries out monitoring taking into account at least one image element (B1-B8) uniquely assigned to this container (10) to be monitored from the set of first image elements (B1-B8) to be monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Anton Niedermeier
  • Patent number: 11826013
    Abstract: Surgical end effectors with first and second jaws that are opened and closed with an axially movable firing member. The firing member is configured to apply a first closure motion to the second jaw to move the second jaw from an open position to a closed position as the firing member is moved in a distal direction from a home position to an ending position. The firing member is further configured to move the second jaw towards the first jaw when the firing member is moved in a proximal direction from the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventor: Darryl A. Parks
  • Patent number: 11794324
    Abstract: A dust collecting system includes a power tool and a dust collector. The power tool includes at least one battery-mounting part, a first motor, a driving mechanism and a body housing. The at least one battery-mounting part is each configured to removably receive a battery. The first motor is configured to operate with electric power supplied from the battery. The driving mechanism is configured to drive the tool accessory by power of the first motor. The body housing houses the first motor and the driving mechanism. The dust collecting system includes a control device configured to control operation of at least one of the power tool and the dust collector according to a state of the whole dust collecting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyonobu Yoshikane, Yoshitaka Machida, Hitoshi Iida
  • Patent number: 11786245
    Abstract: A surgical system is usable in a surgical procedure. The surgical system includes a surgical hub; a powered surgical instrument; and a communication module configured to: receive first data regarding a first surgical activity of the surgical procedure; receive second data regarding a second surgical activity of the surgical procedure; select transmission rates for transmission of the first data and the second data between the powered surgical instrument and the surgical hub based on at least one characteristic of at least one of the first surgical activity and the second surgical activity; and transmit the first data and the second data between the powered surgical instrument and the surgical hub at the selected transmission rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventor: Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 11759211
    Abstract: A stapling apparatus includes a body portion, a staple cartridge disposed within the body portion, and a buttress removably attached to the staple cartridge. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of staple receiving slots defined in a tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge, with each staple receiving slot of the plurality of staple receiving slots including a staple disposed therein. The buttress includes a plurality of tabs at an outer edge of the buttress. The buttress is releasably retained on the staple cartridge by at least one tab of the plurality of tabs extending into a staple receiving slot of the plurality of staple receiving slots defined in the staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Scott J. Prior
  • Patent number: 11752724
    Abstract: A box forming machine includes a converter assembly, a fold assembly, and an attachment assembly. The converter assembly converts sheet material into a box template. The fold assembly engages a first end of the box template and moves the first end of the box template to a predetermined position. The attachment assembly engages a second end of the box template and moves the second end of the box template toward and into engagement with the first end of the box template to attach the first and second ends of the box template together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: PACKSIZE LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Osterhout
  • Patent number: 11737747
    Abstract: A hand-held surgical instrument includes a handle housing, a shaft portion extending distally from the handle housing, and an articulation shaft. The articulation shaft may be configured to axially move within the shaft portion to articulate an end effector via a manual activation or a motor activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: David A. Nicholas, Russell Pribanic, David A. Zeichner, Robert H. Knapp
  • Patent number: 11738894
    Abstract: A cyclic packaging process, such as VFFS or HFFS, packages a product with a viscosity of ?100,000 centipoise without leaving substantial air pockets in the package, by utilizing a means (38) for restricting upstream flow of viscous product in the strand of tubing (24). The result is that packages of uniform weight of the viscous product can be made without substantial air pockets therein, and without having to use metal clips. An apparatus (10) for carrying out the process is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Cryovac, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Gray Caudle, Matthew F. Ellis, Csaba F. Kiss, Joseph E. Moon, Dwight H. Smith, Michael P. Daly
  • Patent number: 11731792
    Abstract: A kitting machine is disclosed. In various embodiments, the machine includes an actuator configured to move a surface or receptacle to a position associated with item retrieval; and a controller configured to control operation of the actuator to position an item in the position associated with item retrieval, in a manner that is synchronized at least in part with operation of a robotic retrieval device configured to retrieve the item from the position associated with item retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Dexterity, Inc.
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Gerald Brantner, Zhouwen Sun, Robert Hegdahl, Kevin Jose Chavez