Patents by Inventor Austin E. Wise

Austin E. Wise 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).

  • Publication number: 20250057530
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a firing member movable distally to effect a firing motion at the end effector, wherein the firing member comprises a cam slot, and a lockout pawl. The lockout pawl has a cam feature receivable in the cam slot, wherein the cam slot is configured to guide the cam feature to cause a rotation of the lockout pawl between a first position where the lockout pawl permits the distal movement of the firing member, and a second position where the lockout pawl prevents the distal movement of the firing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Austin E. Wise, Morgan R. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20250025245
    Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing, an indicator assembly arranged within the drive housing and actuatable to provide visual indication that the surgical tool has exhausted its useful life. The indicator assembly includes a drive input rotatably coupled to the bottom of the drive housing. The drive input further including a riser and a rim where the riser contains a passage therethrough. The indicator assembly further includes an indicator shaft extending through the passage along a longitudinal axis coaxially aligned with the drive input. The drive input is rotated to actuate the indicator assembly between a non-activated state, where the indicator shaft is recessed into the drive housing, and an activated state, where the indicator shaft extends out of the drive housing to provide the visual indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: John A. Hibner, Andrew O. Crews, Austin E. Wise, Emily M. Ross, Madison R. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20240374258
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, a stapling assembly, and a sequential logic device. The body includes a safety switch, a firing actuator, and a motor. The stapling assembly is disposed at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the stapling assembly is configured to selectively move from an open position to a closed position to clamp tissue. The sequential logic device is operatively coupled with the motor and configured to detect an actuation of the safety switch and of the firing actuator. The sequential logic device is further operable to detect an order in which the safety switch and the firing actuator are actuated, compare the detected order to a predetermined order, and in response to determining that the detected order is equivalent to the predetermined order, transmit a motor activation signal to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Joseph D. Paulowski, William R. Stager, Timothy E. Goode, Austin E. Wise
  • Patent number: 12082817
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, a stapling assembly, and a sequential logic device. The body includes a safety switch, a firing actuator, and a motor. The stapling assembly is disposed at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the stapling assembly is configured to selectively move from an open position to a closed position to clamp tissue. The sequential logic device is operatively coupled with the motor and configured to detect an actuation of the safety switch and of the firing actuator. The sequential logic device is further operable to detect an order in which the safety switch and the firing actuator are actuated, compare the detected order to a predetermined order, and in response to determining that the detected order is equivalent to the predetermined order, transmit a motor activation signal to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Joseph D. Paulowski, William R. Stager, Timothy E. Goode, Austin E. Wise
  • Patent number: 12076011
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a firing member movable distally from a home position to effect a first firing motion in the end effector, wherein the firing member is movable proximally toward the home position in a return motion, and a lockout pawl. The firing member has a cam slot, a protrusion, and a retaining pocket. The lockout pawl has a cam feature receivable in the cam slot during the return motion, wherein the cam slot is configured to guide the cam feature and move the lockout pawl toward a locking engagement with the protrusion to prevent a second firing motion of the firing member, and wherein the retaining pocket is configured to receive the cam feature to releasably secure the firing member to the lockout pawl when the firing member is in the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Austin E. Wise, Morgan R. Hunter
  • Patent number: 12064116
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil defining a plurality of staple forming pockets, and a stapling head assembly, and a retracting assembly. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member capable of actuating the anvil, a deck surface, a staple driver assembly, and a knife member. The staple driver assembly actuates through a first firing stroke and a second firing stroke. In the first firing stroke, the staple driver assembly drives a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets. In the second firing stroke, the staple driver actuates distally past the deck surface. The knife member includes a cutting edge that can sever tissue during the first firing stroke while remaining in a retracted position that is proximal relative to the staple deck surface during the second firing stroke. The retracting assembly can drive the knife member into the retracted position during the first firing stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Austin E. Wise, Shane R. Adams
  • Patent number: 12059155
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil defining a plurality of staple forming pockets and a stapling head assembly. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member capable of actuating the anvil relative to the body, a staple deck defining a plurality of staple openings, and a firing assembly capable of driving a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The firing assembly includes a proximal driving body and an array of discrete staple driving segments positioned distal to the proximal driving body. The proximal driving body is slidably housed within the body. The staple driving segments each have a free proximal end. The proximal driving body is capable of simultaneously actuating the array of staple driving segments to drive the plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Austin E. Wise, Shane R. Adams, John S. Kimsey
  • Publication number: 20240245405
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil defining a plurality of staple forming pockets and a stapling head assembly. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member capable of actuating the anvil relative to the body, a staple deck defining a plurality of staple openings, and a firing assembly capable of driving a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The firing assembly includes a proximal driving body and an array of discrete staple driving segments positioned distal to the proximal driving body. The proximal driving body is slidably housed within the body. The staple driving segments each have a free proximal end. The proximal driving body is capable of simultaneously actuating the array of staple driving segments to drive the plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Austin E. Wise, Shane R. Adams, John S. Kimsey
  • Publication number: 20240108397
    Abstract: Surgical tools that are capable of a higher mechanical advantage without increasing the overall width of the tool. The surgical tool includes a wrist that may comprise a first pulley adjacent to a second pulley, the first pulley may have a first lip and a second lip, and the second pulley may have a first lip and second lip. The first lip of the second pulley overlaps the second lip of the first pulley and at least a portion of the first lip of the second pulley is recessed within a body of the first pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Austin E. Wise, Konstantin G. Zabotkin
  • Patent number: 11931026
    Abstract: A surgical end effector comprising a cartridge jaw is disclosed. The cartridge jaw comprises a proximal channel portion extending along a longitudinal axis, and a distal portion movable relative to the proximal channel portion between an open position and a closed position. The surgical end effector further comprising a staple cartridge removably seated in the cartridge jaw, wherein the staple cartridge is configured to slide along the longitudinal axis into the proximal channel portion of the cartridge jaw when the distal portion is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Austin E. Wise, Jeffery D. Bruns
  • Publication number: 20230113766
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil defining a plurality of staple forming pockets and a stapling head assembly. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member capable of actuating the anvil relative to the body, a staple deck defining a plurality of staple openings, and a firing assembly capable of driving a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The firing assembly includes a proximal driving body and an array of discrete staple driving segments positioned distal to the proximal driving body. The proximal driving body is slidably housed within the body. The staple driving segments each have a free proximal end. The proximal driving body is capable of simultaneously actuating the array of staple driving segments to drive the plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Austin E. Wise, Shane R. Adams, John S. Kimsey
  • Publication number: 20230102965
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil defining a plurality of staple forming pockets, and a stapling head assembly, and a retracting assembly. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member capable of actuating the anvil, a deck surface, a staple driver assembly, and a knife member. The staple driver assembly actuates through a first firing stroke and a second firing stroke. In the first firing stroke, the staple driver assembly drives a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets. In the second firing stroke, the staple driver actuates distally past the deck surface. The knife member includes a cutting edge that can sever tissue during the first firing stroke while remaining in a retracted position that is proximal relative to the staple deck surface during the second firing stroke. The retracting assembly can drive the knife member into the retracted position during the first firing stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Austin E. Wise, Shane R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20230000491
    Abstract: A surgical end effector comprising a cartridge jaw is disclosed. The cartridge jaw comprises a proximal channel portion extending along a longitudinal axis, and a distal portion movable relative to the proximal channel portion between an open position and a closed position. The surgical end effector further comprising a staple cartridge removably seated in the cartridge jaw, wherein the staple cartridge is configured to slide along the longitudinal axis into the proximal channel portion of the cartridge jaw when the distal portion is in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Austin E. Wise, Jeffery D. Bruns
  • Patent number: 11523823
    Abstract: A surgical instrument that comprises an elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis. A surgical end effector is pivotally coupled to the elongate shaft assembly for selective pivotal travel relative thereto about an articulation axis that is laterally offset from the shaft axis and extends transversely relative thereto. An end effector driver link is operably coupled to the surgical end effector and an articulation driver that is supported for longitudinal travel in distal and proximal directions upon application of articulation motions thereto. A flexible de-articulation member is coupled to the elongate shaft assembly and the surgical end effector to apply de-articulation motions to the surgical end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Morgan R. Hunter, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Sarah A. Worthington, Austin E. Wise, Lauren S. Weaner
  • Publication number: 20220336078
    Abstract: A tracking system of operating room (OR) personnel and is configured to extrapolate the movement, position, orientation, and context of one or more of the active OR participants to determine the specific operation procedure in progress, the surgical instrument being used by the OR participant, and/or anticipated movement of the OR personnel. The system may further be configured to render a virtual element that includes an anticipated position of a surgical instrument, recommendations, guidance, warning, and surgical location information, as augmented reality (AR) content. The AR content is integrated in real-time with the live-feed of the surgical site, and aids the OR personnel in perioperative surgical procedures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Austin E. Wise, Christopher Q. Seow, Melissa Schweizer, Sarah A. Worthington, Shane R. Adams, Scott A. Jenkins, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Chad E. Eckert, Cory G. Kimball, Monica L.Z. Rivard, Leonardo N. Rossoni, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Risto Kojcev, Felix J. Bork
  • Publication number: 20220336097
    Abstract: A surgical system is for use in a surgical procedure. The surgical system includes a surgical instrument configured to treat tissue in the surgical procedure; an imaging device; a display configured to show a livestream of a surgical field of the surgical procedure, wherein the livestream is captured by the imaging device; and a control module. The control module is configured to detect a surgical risk; assign a display priority to the surgical risk; and determine a display arrangement of the surgical risk based on the display priority, wherein the display arrangement comprises overlaying an alert feature on the livestream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Sarah A. Worthington, Christopher Q. Seow, Austin E. Wise, Shane R. Adams, Scott A. Jenkins, Melissa Schweizer, Jason L. Harris, Cory G. Kimball, Monica L. Z. Rivard, Leonardo N. Rossoni, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Risto Kojcev, Felix J. Bork
  • Patent number: 11331095
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis and includes a surgical end effector that is operably coupled thereto by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument includes a longitudinally movable flexible firing beam that is configured to flexibly traverse the articulation joint and be selectively axially movable from a starting position to an ending position. A middle support member is movably coupled to the elongate shaft assembly and a portion of the surgical end effector. A proximal support link is located proximal to the middle support member and is configured to provide lateral support to a proximal portion of the flexible firing beam traversing the articulation joint. A distal support link is located distal to the middle support member and is configured to provide lateral support to a distal portion of the flexible support beam traversing the articulation joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Austin E. Wise, Adam D. Hensel, Lauren S. Weaner, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Publication number: 20220117602
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a firing member movable distally to effect a firing motion at the end effector, wherein the firing member comprises a cam slot, and a lockout pawl. The lockout pawl has a cam feature receivable in the cam slot, wherein the cam slot is configured to guide the cam feature to cause a rotation of the lockout pawl between a first position where the lockout pawl permits the distal movement of the firing member, and a second position where the lockout pawl prevents the distal movement of the firing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Austin E. Wise, Morgan R. Hunter
  • Patent number: 11224432
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft extending distally from the body, a motor, a stapling assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, and a timer circuit operatively coupled to the motor and the firing actuator. The body includes a firing actuator and the motor is configured to activate in response to a firing actuation of the firing actuator. The motor is further configured to deactivate after a first predetermined time period subsequent to the firing actuation. The stapling assembly is configured to selectively move from an open position to a closed position to clamp tissue and is operable to drive a plurality of staples into the clamped tissue in response to activation of the motor. The timer circuit is configured to activate a timer in response to the firing actuation. The timer is configured to run for a second predetermined time period. The timer circuit is configured to ensure deactivation of the motor upon expiration of the second predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Joseph D. Paulowski, William R. Stager, Timothy E. Goode, Austin E. Wise
  • Patent number: 11191540
    Abstract: A surgical tool assembly that includes an axially movable closure member and an axially movable firing member that is movable between an unfired position and a fired position. The tool assembly includes a second jaw that has a mounting portion and mounting walls that are movably mounted to a first jaw. The mounting portion defines a cam area that is configured for engagement by the movable closure member to move the second jaw from an open position to a closed position. The mounting walls define an open-topped parking area for accommodating the firing member therein when in the unfired position. A protective cap member is attached to the mounting walls such that it covers at least a portion of the open topped parking area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Taylor W. Aronhalt, Douglas B. Hoffman, Austin E. Wise, Morgan R. Hunter, Lauren S. Weaner, Adam D. Hensel, Frederick E. Shelton, IV