Patents by Inventor Austin J. Bridges

Austin J. Bridges 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: 11950781
    Abstract: An adjunct configured for use with an end effector of a surgical stapler includes a tissue-effecting portion comprising a first material, and at least one movable attachment feature coupled to the tissue-effecting portion and comprising a second material different from the first material. The at least one movable attachment feature is configured to releasably attach the tissue-effecting portion to a stapling surface of the end effector. The tissue-effecting portion is configured to contact tissue clamped by the end effector during closure thereof. The tissue-effecting portion is further configured to be pierced and captured by staples ejected from the end effector into the clamped tissue and thereby reinforce the engagement between the ejected staples and the clamped tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Christopher Q. Seow, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Tyler N. Brehm, Zhifan F. Huang, Austin J. Bridges, Pierre R. Mesnil, Diana M. Darpel, Morgan R. Hunter, Chad P. Boudreaux
  • Publication number: 20230293171
    Abstract: A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The loading unit comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from the shaft. The end effector comprises a first jaw that comprising an anvil, and a second jaw. At least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other to grasp tissue. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprising retaining features, and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel for assembly therewith. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge pan, and a sled translatable relative to the cartridge pan from a first position toward a second position. The retaining features are configured to resist a movement by the sled beyond the first position up to a predetermined force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Nina Mastroianni, Timothy P.O. Moses, JR., Diana M. Harbach, Nicholas M. Morgan, Austin J. Bridges, Ravi C. Patel, Gregory G. Scott, Jeffrey D. Bruns
  • Patent number: 11653926
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil and a stapling head assembly. The anvil defines staple forming pockets. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member, a firing assembly, and a staple deck. The coupling member is configured to actuate relative to the body to thereby acuate the anvil relative to the body. The firing assembly is configured to drive staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The staple deck is defined by an outer arched perimeter and an inner arched perimeter fixed to the body. The staple deck defines staple openings. At least one non-tangential staple opening in the of staple openings extends along a longitudinal axis in a non-tangential relationship with a closest tangent line of the inner arched perimeter or the outer arched perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Shannon L. Jones, Gregory J. Bakos, Jeffery Bruns, Ryan W. McGhee, Scott A. Jenkins, Laura S. Downing, John E. Feds, Maxwell T. Rockman, John E. Brady, Ravi Patel, Aaron C. Voegele, Austin J. Bridges
  • Patent number: 11653915
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument for use with a staple cartridge including a sled and staples is disclosed. The surgical stapling instrument comprises a firing system. The firing system comprising a motor and a driving member operably coupled to the motor. The motor is configured to cause the driving member to advance the sled to deploy the staples into tissue grasped by the surgical stapling instrument. The driving member is movable by the motor along a predefined firing path. The surgical stapling instrument further comprises a control circuit that is configured to detect a location of the sled along the firing path, and adjust a motor control program based on the location of the sled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Nina Mastroianni, Timothy P. O. Moses, Jr., Diana M. Harbach, Nicholas M. Morgan, Austin J. Bridges, Ravi C. Patel, Gregory G. Scott, Jeffery D. Bruns
  • Publication number: 20230139613
    Abstract: An adjunct configured for use with an end effector of a surgical stapler includes a tissue-effecting portion comprising a first material, and at least one movable attachment feature coupled to the tissue-effecting portion and comprising a second material different from the first material. The at least one movable attachment feature is configured to releasably attach the tissue-effecting portion to a stapling surface of the end effector. The tissue-effecting portion is configured to contact tissue clamped by the end effector during closure thereof. The tissue-effecting portion is further configured to be pierced and captured by staples ejected from the end effector into the clamped tissue and thereby reinforce the engagement between the ejected staples and the clamped tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Q. Seow, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Tyler N. Brehm, Zhifan F. Huang, Austin J. Bridges, Pierre R. Mesnil, Diana M. Darpel, Morgan R. Hunter, Chad P. Boudreaux
  • Publication number: 20230139479
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an adjunct body and a plurality of movable members. The adjunct body defines an adjunct surface for contacting a tissue, and the adjunct body is configured to overlie and directly contact a deck of a surgical stapler. The plurality of movable members are coupled with the adjunct body, and each movable member of the plurality of movable members is individually operable to move from a first configuration to a second configuration in response to a firing operation of a surgical stapler. The movable members in the first configuration are configured to couple the adjunct body with the deck, and the movable members in the second configuration are configured to enable the adjunct body to separate from the deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Q. Seow, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Austin J. Bridges, Zhifan Huang
  • Publication number: 20230053080
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil and a stapling head assembly. The anvil defines staple forming pockets. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member, a firing assembly, and a staple deck. The coupling member is configured to actuate relative to the body to thereby acuate the anvil relative to the body. The firing assembly is configured to drive staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The staple deck is defined by an outer arched perimeter and an inner arched perimeter fixed to the body. The staple deck defines staple openings. At least one non-tangential staple opening in the of staple openings extends along a longitudinal axis in a non-tangential relationship with a closest tangent line of the inner arched perimeter or the outer arched perimeter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Shannon L. Jones, Gregory J. Bakos, Jeffery D. Bruns, Ryan W. McGhee, Scott A. Jenkins, Laura A. Downing, John E. Feds, Maxwell T. Rockman, John E. Brady, Ravi C. Patel, Aaron C. Voegele, Austin J. Bridges
  • Publication number: 20220167971
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument for use with a staple cartridge including a sled and staples is disclosed. The surgical stapling instrument comprises a firing system. The firing system comprising a motor and a driving member operably coupled to the motor. The motor is configured to cause the driving member to advance the sled to deploy the staples into tissue grasped by the surgical stapling instrument. The driving member is movable by the motor along a predefined firing path. The surgical stapling instrument further comprises a control circuit that is configured to detect a location of the sled along the firing path, and adjust a motor control program based on the location of the sled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Nina Mastroianni, Timothy P. O. Moses, JR., Diana M. Harbach, Nicholas M. Morgan, Austin J. Bridges, Ravi C. Patel, Gregory G. Scott, Jeffery D. Bruns