Patents by Inventor Brian A. Rockrohr

Brian A. Rockrohr 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: 20190192139
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier is provided including a channel assembly and overlying a clip carrier having a clip counter plate slidably supported in the channel assembly, wherein the clip counter plate is configured and adapted to display a change in status of the clip applier upon actuation of the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Brian Rockrohr, Jaroslaw T. Malkowski
  • Publication number: 20190143535
    Abstract: An end effector for use and connection to a robot arm of a robotic surgical system, wherein the end effector is controlled and/or articulated by at least one cable extending from a respective motor of a control device of the robot surgical system, is provided. The end effector includes a wrist assembly, and a jaw assembly. The jaw assembly includes a cam pulley rotatably supported on at least one support plate of the jaw assembly, wherein the cam pulley is operatively connected to a proximal end of each of the jaws of the jaw assembly such that rotation of the cam pulley results in one of an opening and closing of the jaw assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventor: Brian Rockrohr
  • Publication number: 20190099227
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for use with and for selective connection to an instrument drive unit includes an end effector, an instrument drive connector including a plurality of drive assemblies, and a plurality of drive members in mechanical cooperation with the instrument drive connector and the end effector. Each drive assembly of the plurality of drive assemblies includes a drive screw including an elongated threaded body and a drive nut threadedly engaged with the elongated threaded body of the drive screw such that rotation of the drive screw results in longitudinal movement of the drive nut. Each drive member of the plurality of drive members includes a proximal end portion secured to a respective drive nut of one of the plurality of drive assemblies such that longitudinal translation of the respective drive nut causes longitudinal translation of the drive member to drive a function of the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventor: Brian Rockrohr
  • Patent number: 10220522
    Abstract: An end effector for use and connection to a robot arm of a robotic surgical system, wherein the end effector is controlled and/or articulated by at least one cable extending from a respective motor of a control device of the robot surgical system, is provided. The end effector includes at least one gear train that transmits forces from the at least one motor of the control device to at least one of the proximal bracket of the wrist assembly, the distal bracket of the wrist assembly and the jaw assembly. The gear train enables at least one of a pivoting of the distal hub assembly relative to the proximal hub; a rotation of the distal bracket relative to the proximal bracket; and an opening/closing of the jaw assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Brian Rockrohr
  • Publication number: 20190059975
    Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator. The generator includes an energy source having an active terminal and a return terminal that outputs electrosurgical energy and a controller that controls the energy source. A cable is coupled between the electrosurgical instrument and the electrosurgical generator where the cable includes a first conductor and a second conductor. The controller is configured to electrically couple the active terminal and/or the return terminal to the electrosurgical instrument using the first conductor and/or the second conductor based on whether the electrosurgical instrument is a monopolar instrument or a bipolar instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventor: Brian Rockrohr
  • Patent number: 10179413
    Abstract: An end effector for use and connection to a robot arm of a robotic surgical system, wherein the end effector is controlled and/or articulated by at least one cable extending from a respective motor of a control device of the robot surgical system, is provided. The end effector includes a wrist assembly, and a jaw assembly. The jaw assembly includes a cam pulley rotatably supported on at least one support plate of the jaw assembly, wherein the cam pulley is operatively connected to a proximal end of each of the jaws of the jaw assembly such that rotation of the cam pulley results in one of an opening and closing of the jaw assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Brian Rockrohr
  • Publication number: 20190008600
    Abstract: An instrument drive assembly includes a housing assembly and a coupling assembly. The housing assembly includes a drive assembly. The coupling assembly releasably couples an instrument drive shaft to a drive member of the drive assembly and an instrument sleeve of the surgical instrument to the housing assembly. Actuation of a retention mechanism of the coupling assembly between a locked and unlocked configuration couples and decouples the instrument sleeve of the surgical instrument therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Pedros, Brian Rockrohr, Michael Zemlok
  • Publication number: 20180325616
    Abstract: A sterile barrier assembly includes a tab sliding along a sliding path in a cavity of the sterile barrier assembly and a barrier membrane partitioning the cavity into a sterile side and a non-sterile side. The barrier membrane moves with the tab as the tab slides along the sliding path. A first portion of the tab interfaces with an output of a surgical tool driving unit on the non-sterile side. A second portion of the tab interfaces with a tool driver of a surgical tool on the sterile side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Jaimeen Kapadia, Brian Rockrohr
  • Publication number: 20180200894
    Abstract: An end effector for use and connection to a robot arm of a robotic surgical system, wherein the end effector is controlled and/or articulated by at least one cable extending from a respective motor of a control device of the robot surgical system, is provided. The end effector includes a wrist assembly, and a jaw assembly. The jaw assembly includes a cam pulley rotatably supported on at least one support plate of the jaw assembly, wherein the cam pulley is operatively connected to a proximal end of each of the jaws of the jaw assembly such that rotation of the cam pulley results in one of an opening and closing of the jaw assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventor: Brian Rockrohr
  • Patent number: 9968362
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier is provided and includes a ratchet mechanism having a rack member connected to a drive channel such that axial translation of the drive channel results in axial translation of the rack member, the rack member defining a first set of teeth along a first side thereof and a second set of teeth along a second side thereof. The ratchet mechanism including a first pawl and a second pawl each tiltably supported in the housing and disposed on respective opposed sides of the rack member; and a buckling spring interposed between the first pawl and the second pawl and constrained in a slot formed in the rack member, wherein the buckling spring is dimensioned so as to bow in one of a proximal direction and a distal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Jaroslaw T. Malkowski, Brian Rockrohr, Brian Creston, Ernest Addi, Christopher M. Meehan, Thomas Zammataro
  • Patent number: 9937626
    Abstract: An end effector for use and connection to a robot arm of a robotic surgical system, wherein the end effector is controlled and/or articulated by at least one cable extending from a respective motor of a control device of the robot surgical system, is provided. The end effector includes a wrist assembly, and a jaw assembly. The jaw assembly includes a cam pulley rotatably supported on at least one support plate of the jaw assembly, wherein the cam pulley is operatively connected to a proximal end of each of the jaws of the jaw assembly such that rotation of the cam pulley results in one of an opening and closing of the jaw assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Brian Rockrohr
  • Publication number: 20180070952
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier is provided and includes a ratchet mechanism having a rack member connected to a drive channel such that axial translation of the drive channel results in axial translation of the rack member, the rack member defining a first set of teeth along a first side thereof and a second set of teeth along a second side thereof. The ratchet mechanism including a first pawl and a second pawl each tiltably supported in the housing and disposed on respective opposed sides of the rack member; and a buckling spring interposed between the first pawl and the second pawl and constrained in a slot formed in the rack member, wherein the buckling spring is dimensioned so as to bow in one of a proximal direction and a distal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Jaroslaw T. Malkowski, Brian Rockrohr
  • Publication number: 20180064498
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a controller, a surgical instrument supporting an end effector, and one or more connector members coupled to the end effector and movable to operate the end effector. Memory is operably coupled to the controller and is configured to maintain reference data of the one or more connector members. A sensor is secured to the one or more connector members and is disposed in electrical communication with the controller. The sensor is configured to register real-time data of the one or more connector members and communicate the real-time data to the controller. The controller is configured to compare the real-time data to the reference data and provide an output signal in response to a comparison of the real-time data to the reference data. A pair of connector members may be coupled to the end effector to impart three outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Jaimeen Kapadia, Brian Rockrohr
  • Publication number: 20180028271
    Abstract: A drive assembly of an instrument drive unit, is provided. The drive assembly includes a drive screw, a drive nut, a follower, a biasing element, and a drive element. The drive nut is threadedly engaged with a threaded portion of the drive screw such that rotation of the drive screw results in longitudinal movement of the drive nut. The follower is longitudinally slidable with respect to the drive screw. The biasing element is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive nut and the follower. The drive element is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the follower. Longitudinal translation of the drive element is configured to drive a function of the surgical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Brian Rockrohr
  • Patent number: 9848886
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier is provided and includes a ratchet mechanism having a rack member connected to a drive channel such that axial translation of the drive channel results in axial translation of the rack member, the rack member defining a first set of teeth along a first side thereof and a second set of teeth along a second side thereof. The ratchet mechanism including a first pawl and a second pawl each tiltably supported in the housing and disposed on respective opposed sides of the rack member; and a buckling spring interposed between the first pawl and the second pawl and constrained in a slot formed in the rack member, wherein the buckling spring is dimensioned so as to bow in one of a proximal direction and a distal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Jaroslaw T. Malkowski, Brian Rockrohr
  • Publication number: 20170360449
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier is provided including a clip pusher bar having a flexible tab and a camming plate configured to effectuate closure of the pair of jaws. The camming plate includes a lost motion portion and the flexible tab is configured to engage the lost motion portion during an initial movement of the clip pusher bar to cause the camming plate to move with the clip pusher bar. The flexible tab is configured to disengage from the lost motion portion during a subsequent movement of the clip pusher bar to allow the clip pusher bar to move relative to the camming plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Brian Rockrohr, Jaroslaw T. Malkowski
  • Patent number: 9788857
    Abstract: A surgical system comprising a cannula assembly and an obturator assembly for penetrating tissue is disclosed. A cover of the cannula assembly is mounted to a cannula housing and has a cover aperture therethrough. The cover has a trailing end face defining a predetermined geometrical configuration, at least a portion of the trailing end face is obliquely arranged relative to a longitudinal axis and terminates in, and leads toward the cover aperture to facilitate guiding of the surgical object through the cover aperture. The obturator assembly includes an obturator housing and an obturator member. The obturator housing has a housing base defining a leading end face, which defines a predetermined geometrical configuration corresponding to the predetermined geometrical configuration of the trailing end face of the cover to mate therewith upon assembly of the obturator assembly with the cannula assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael Bettuchi, Robert C. Smith, Michael Davis, Brian Rockrohr, Gregory Fischvogt
  • Patent number: 9775624
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier is provided including a clip pusher bar having a flexible tab and a camming plate configured to effectuate closure of the pair of jaws. The camming plate includes a lost motion portion and the flexible tab is configured to engage the lost motion portion during an initial movement of the clip pusher bar to cause the camming plate to move with the clip pusher bar. The flexible tab is configured to disengage from the lost motion portion during a subsequent movement of the clip pusher bar to allow the clip pusher bar to move relative to the camming plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Brian Rockrohr, Jaroslaw T. Malkowski
  • Patent number: 9549759
    Abstract: A surgical access apparatus includes an access member defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passageway for reception and passage of a surgical object and an access housing mountable to the access member. The access housing includes a diaphragm mounted thereto. The diaphragm is adapted for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis relative to the access housing. The diaphragm defines at least one internal pocket and has a seal assembly disposed within the internal pocket. The seal assembly has an interface seal member adapted for establishing a fluid tight seal about the surgical object. The seal assembly is adapted for selective movement within the pocket about multiple axes in response to manipulation of the surgical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Paul D. Richard, Gene A. Stellon, Sally Carter, Brian Rockrohr, Elias Hartoumbekis
  • Publication number: 20160303745
    Abstract: An end effector for use and connection to a robot arm of a robotic surgical system, wherein the end effector is controlled and/or articulated by at least one cable extending from a respective motor of a control device of the robot surgical system, is provided. The end effector includes at least one gear train that transmits forces from the at least one motor of the control device to at least one of the proximal bracket of the wrist assembly, the distal bracket of the wrist assembly and the jaw assembly. The gear train enables at least one of a pivoting of the distal hub assembly relative to the proximal hub; a rotation of the distal bracket relative to the proximal bracket; and an opening/closing of the jaw assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Brian Rockrohr