Patents by Inventor Augustus Felix

Augustus Felix has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11419603
    Abstract: Articulating surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument may include an elongated shaft assembly including an articulable portion moveable between a non-articulated configuration and an articulated configuration. First and second articulating shafts of the elongated shaft assembly may be coaxially arranged and axially fixed at an attachment point located distally from the articulable portion. Proximal portions of the first and second articulating shafts may be displaceable in opposing directions to articulate the articulable portion from the non-articulated configuration to the articulated configuration. In another embodiment, an articulation control may be movable from a first position to a second position to move an articulation lock from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration to selectively permit articulation of a surgical instrument. The articulation lock also may be movable from the second position to a third position to articulate the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Derek J. Leatzow, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Derek Affonce, Kevin J. Ranucci, Tomas Matusaitis, Alan Bachman
  • Patent number: 11413129
    Abstract: An implantable prosthesis for repairing a defect in a muscle or tissue wall. The prosthesis comprises a body of biologically compatible prosthetic material having a preformed three-dimensional contoured shape that independently assumes a three-dimensional curved shape configured to conform to the muscle or tissue wall. The body may be formed of a mesh fabric employing a knit construction. The body may be configured with one or more mechanical characteristics, individually or in any combination, having defined properties which may enhance the ability of the prosthesis to be handled in a surgical, robotic environment while meeting the performance and physical characteristics for soft tissue repair and reconstruction. One or more visual indicia may be provided to facilitate positioning and/or placement of the prosthesis at the muscle or tissue wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Davol Inc.
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Talia D'Ambruoso, Cuixiang Qu Spinney, Korel Cudmore
  • Publication number: 20220160351
    Abstract: Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft towards a distal fastener deployment position. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a magnetic preload lock-out to place the follower in a zero-load state in which the follower does not apply a preload to the fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: Davol Inc.
    Inventor: Augustus Felix
  • Publication number: 20220142645
    Abstract: Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft assembly including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft assembly. The driveshaft may include an internal channel and at least one guide surface shaped and arranged to maintain an orientation of at least one fastener in the channel of the driveshaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft assembly for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft assembly towards a distal fastener deployment position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ranucci, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix
  • Patent number: 11246597
    Abstract: Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft assembly including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft assembly. The driveshaft may include an internal channel and at least one guide surface shaped and arranged to maintain an orientation of at least one fastener in the channel of the driveshaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft assembly for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft assembly towards a distal fastener deployment position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ranucci, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix
  • Patent number: 11234693
    Abstract: Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft assembly including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft assembly. The driveshaft may include an internal channel and at least one guide surface shaped and arranged to maintain an orientation of at least one fastener in the channel of the driveshaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft assembly for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft assembly towards a distal fastener deployment position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ranucci, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix
  • Publication number: 20210393389
    Abstract: An implantable prosthesis for repairing a defect in a muscle or tissue wall. The prosthesis comprises a body of biologically compatible prosthetic material having a preformed three-dimensional contoured shape that independently assumes a three-dimensional curved shape configured to conform to the muscle or tissue wall. The body may be formed of a mesh fabric employing a knit construction. The body may be configured with one or more mechanical characteristics, individually or in any combination, having defined properties which may enhance the ability of the prosthesis to be handled in a surgical, robotic environment while meeting the performance and physical characteristics for soft tissue repair and reconstruction. One or more visual indicia may be provided to facilitate positioning and/or placement of the prosthesis at the muscle or tissue wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Talia D'Ambruoso, Cuixiang Qu Spinney, Korel Cudmore
  • Publication number: 20210393390
    Abstract: The repair fabric includes a dual bar warp knit mesh for use in repairing soft tissue and muscle wall defects, including hernia repair and chest wall reconstruction. The repair fabric may be produced according to a first bar pattern chain of 4/2 4/6 4/2 6/8 6/4 6/8 of first filaments and a second bar pattern chain of 6/8 2/0 6/8 4/2 8/10 4/2 of second filaments. The diameter of the first filaments being different from the diameter of the second filaments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Michael Ligeikis
  • Publication number: 20210393388
    Abstract: An implantable prosthesis for repairing a defect in a muscle or tissue wall. The prosthesis comprises a body of biologically compatible prosthetic material having a preformed three-dimensional contoured shape that independently assumes a three-dimensional curved shape configured to conform to the muscle or tissue wall. The body may be formed of a mesh fabric employing a knit construction. The body may be configured with one or more mechanical characteristics, individually or in any combination, having defined properties which may enhance the ability of the prosthesis to be handled in a surgical, robotic environment while meeting the performance and physical characteristics for soft tissue repair and reconstruction. One or more visual indicia may be provided to facilitate positioning and/or placement of the prosthesis at the muscle or tissue wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Michael Ligeikis
  • Patent number: 11191604
    Abstract: A surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft. The fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft towards a distal fastener deployment position. The surgical instrument may include a removable preload lock-out attached to the elongated shaft to prevent the follower from applying a preload to the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Davol Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Donald E. Ziniti, Derek Affonce, Justin Lewis, Augustus Felix, Talia D'Ambruoso
  • Publication number: 20210369265
    Abstract: Articulating surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument may include an elongated shaft assembly including an articulable portion moveable between a non-articulated configuration and an articulated configuration. First and second articulating shafts of the elongated shaft assembly may be coaxially arranged and axially fixed at an attachment point located distally from the articulable portion. Proximal portions of the first and second articulating shafts may be displaceable in opposing directions to articulate the articulable portion from the non-articulated configuration to the articulated configuration. In another embodiment, an articulation control may be movable from a first position to a second position to move an articulation lock from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration to selectively permit articulation of a surgical instrument. The articulation lock also may be movable from the second position to a third position to articulate the surgical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Derek J. Leatzow, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Derek Affonce, Kevin J. Ranucci, Tomas Matusaitis, Alan Bachman
  • Patent number: 11147660
    Abstract: A prosthesis for repairing a hernia defect includes a patch body, a hoisting frame releasably attachable to the patch body, and a tether attached to the hoisting frame and having a free end extendable through the thickness of the patch body and accessible from the side of the patch body opposite to the side where the hoisting frame is releasably attached. The patch body and/or the hoisting frame includes a self-expanding support member. The hoisting frame includes a frame body and a translation component for directing pulling forces on the tether to the frame body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Hamilton, Augustus Felix, Elizabeth Blackburn, Kerri MacDonald
  • Patent number: 11141256
    Abstract: A prosthesis for repairing a hernia defect includes a patch body, a hoisting frame releasably attachable to the patch body, and a tether attached to the hoisting frame with a free end extendable through the thickness of the patch body and accessible from the side of the patch body opposite to where the hoisting frame is releasably attached. The patch body and/or the hoisting frame includes a self-expanding support member. The hoisting frame includes a frame body with an outer frame component and a force translation component for directing pulling forces on the tether across the frame body. The outer frame component has a loop configuration to generally follow the patch periphery with overlapping end portions or a gap between free ends thereof. The force translation component is separable into multiple segments to facilitate withdrawal of the hoisting frame through an opening when released from the patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Jason Hamilton, John Conidi, Matthew Rothberg, Aaron Abroff, Amy Loomis, Donald E. Ziniti
  • Patent number: 11134928
    Abstract: Articulating surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument may include an elongated shaft assembly including an articulable portion moveable between a non-articulated configuration and an articulated configuration. First and second articulating shafts of the elongated shaft assembly may be coaxially arranged and axially fixed at an attachment point located distally from the articulable portion. Proximal portions of the first and second articulating shafts may be displaceable in opposing directions to articulate the articulable portion from the non-articulated configuration to the articulated configuration. In another embodiment, an articulation control may be movable from a first position to a second position to move an articulation lock from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration to selectively permit articulation of a surgical instrument. The articulation lock also may be movable from the second position to a third position to articulate the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Derek J. Leatzow, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Derek Affonce, Kevin J. Ranucci, Tomas Matusaitis, Alan Bachman
  • Patent number: 11103234
    Abstract: Articulating surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument may include an elongated shaft assembly including an articulable portion moveable between a non-articulated configuration and an articulated configuration. First and second articulating shafts of the elongated shaft assembly may be coaxially arranged and axially fixed at an attachment point located distally from the articulable portion. Proximal portions of the first and second articulating shafts may be displaceable in opposing directions to articulate the articulable portion from the non-articulated configuration to the articulated configuration. In another embodiment, an articulation control may be movable from a first position to a second position to move an articulation lock from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration to selectively permit articulation of a surgical instrument. The articulation lock also may be movable from the second position to a third position to articulate the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Derek J. Leatzow, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Derek Affonce, Kevin J. Ranucci, Tomas Matusaitis, Alan Bachman
  • Publication number: 20210236128
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a power assist device, and its method of use for deploying surgical fasteners, is disclosed. The surgical instrument may include a handle, an elongated shaft extending from the handle, and a surgical fastener deployment system including a driveshaft. The driveshaft is actuatable between at least a first proximal position and a second distal position. A striker is movable relative to the driveshaft and an impact surface is associated with the driveshaft. The impact surface is constructed and arranged to be struck by the striker member to displace the driveshaft to the second distal position and deploy the surgical fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ranucci, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix
  • Publication number: 20210236106
    Abstract: A surgical instrument and its method of use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The elongated shaft assembly may include an articulable portion with an articulation direction. The elongated shaft assembly may also include a tubular member with a flexible portion with a preferential bending direction and a direction of bending resistance. The tubular member may permit articulation of the elongated shaft assembly when the preferential bending direction is aligned with the articulation direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ranucci, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix
  • Publication number: 20210228304
    Abstract: Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft towards a distal fastener deployment position. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a removable preload lock-out attached to the elongated shaft to prevent the follower from applying a preload to the fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Davol Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Donald E. Ziniti, Derek Affonce, Justin Lewis, Augustus Felix, Talia D'Ambruoso
  • Patent number: 11045175
    Abstract: Surgical devices for use with robotic surgical systems and their methods of use are described. In some embodiments, the surgical device may include an actuator that interfaces with an end effector of an arm of a robotic surgical system. An output from the end effector may actuate the actuator to perform an operation of the surgical device. In some embodiments, the surgical device may include a retainer that retains at least a portion of the surgical device on a distal portion of the arm of the robotic surgical system during actuation. In other embodiments, the surgical device may include a portion that is engaged by a second robotic surgical arm to hold at least a portion of the surgical device stationary relative to the robotic surgical arm engaged with the actuator of the surgical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald A. Coelho, Jr., John Conidi, Peter Maughan Crapo, Augustus Felix, Ian K. Parker, Devang Vijay Shah
  • Publication number: 20210169629
    Abstract: A hernia repair device is provided which may include a soft tissue repair prosthesis and an expandable device configured to be removably connected with the soft tissue repair prosthesis. Attachment components may be used to removably connect the soft tissue repair prosthesis with the expandable device. The hernia repair device may be manipulated into a reduced configuration for insertion into the body. When expanded, the expandable device may be configured to position the soft tissue repair prosthesis adjacent a hernia defect. The expandable device and/or the attachment components may be shaped and/or configured to minimize the maximum dimension of the hernia repair device in its reduced configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Michael F. Jacene