Patents by Inventor Chad C. Carroll

Chad C. Carroll 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: 5342315
    Abstract: Trocar assembly embodiments are disclosed that include a trocar tube and a housing defining a chamber adjoining a proximal end portion of the trocar tube. An elastomeric seal member is positioned within the chamber for sealing the chamber as an elongate instrument passes through an opening formed in the seal member. A seal/protector assembly is positioned in the chamber proximally of the seal member in facing relationship to the seal member. The protector assembly includes at least two axially aligned protector members, each of which has an annular collar portion and at least one leaf portion formed integrally with the collar portion so as to form a living hinge portion. The leaf portions define an opening therethrough in axial alignment with the opening in the seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: C. Daniel Rowe, Leslie R. Ashmore, Chad C. Carroll, Richard F. Schwemberger, Norman F. Schuler, John M. Collins