Patents by Inventor Charles D. Allen
Charles D. Allen 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).
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Patent number: 9168086Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument. The single-use surgical instrument includes a housing, an electrical connector and a treatment component. Indicia may be printed on the housing, the electrical connector and/or the treatment component. A removable ink is applied to any portion of the surgical instrument in the form of indicia that is readable by a scanning device. The removable ink includes a protein-based composition that is reactivateable with a sterilization solution having an enzyme-based composition such that upon sterilization, the removable ink reacts with the sterilizing solution and becomes unreadable by the scanning device.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2014Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Charles D. Allen
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Publication number: 20140350544Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument. The single-use surgical instrument includes a housing, an electrical connector and a treatment component. Indicia may be printed on the housing, the electrical connector and/or the treatment component. A removable ink is applied to any portion of the surgical instrument in the form of indicia that is readable by a scanning device. The removable ink includes a protein-based composition that is reactivateable with a sterilization solution having an enzyme-based composition such that upon sterilization, the removable ink reacts with the sterilizing solution and becomes unreadable by the scanning device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2014Publication date: November 27, 2014Inventor: CHARLES D. ALLEN
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Patent number: 8821490Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument. The single-use surgical instrument includes a housing, an electrical connector and a treatment component. Indicia may be printed on the housing, the electrical connector and/or the treatment component. A removable ink is applied to any portion of the surgical instrument in the form of indicia that is readable by a scanning device. The removable ink includes a protein-based composition that is reactivateable with a sterilization solution having an enzyme-based composition such that upon sterilization, the removable ink reacts with the sterilizing solution and becomes unreadable by the scanning device.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2013Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Charles D. Allen
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Patent number: 8808285Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument. The single-use surgical instrument includes a housing, an electrical connector and a treatment component. Indicia may be printed on the housing, the electrical connector and/or the treatment component. A removable ink is applied to any portion of the surgical instrument in the form of indicia that is readable by a scanning device. The removable ink includes a protein-based composition that is reactivateable with a sterilization solution having an enzyme-based composition such that upon sterilization, the removable ink reacts with the sterilizing solution and becomes unreadable by the scanning device.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2013Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Charles D. Allen
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Publication number: 20140018796Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument. The single-use surgical instrument includes a housing, an electrical connector and a treatment component. Indicia may be printed on the housing, the electrical connector and/or the treatment component. A removable ink is applied to any portion of the surgical instrument in the form of indicia that is readable by a scanning device. The removable ink includes a protein-based composition that is reactivateable with a sterilization solution having an enzyme-based composition such that upon sterilization, the removable ink reacts with the sterilizing solution and becomes unreadable by the scanning device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: COVIDIEN LPInventor: CHARLES D. ALLEN
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Publication number: 20130261619Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument. The single-use surgical instrument includes a housing, an electrical connector and a treatment component. Indicia may be printed on the housing, the electrical connector and/or the treatment component. A removable ink is applied to any portion of the surgical instrument in the form of indicia that is readable by a scanning device. The removable ink includes a protein-based composition that is reactivateable with a sterilization solution having an enzyme-based composition such that upon sterilization, the removable ink reacts with the sterilizing solution and becomes unreadable by the scanning device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: COVIDIEN LPInventor: CHARLES D. ALLEN
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Patent number: 8540709Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument. The single-use surgical instrument includes a housing, an electrical connector and a treatment component. Indicia may be printed on the housing, the electrical connector and/or the treatment component. A removable ink is applied to any portion of the surgical instrument in the form of indicia that is readable by a scanning device. The removable ink includes a protein-based composition that is reactivateable with a sterilization solution having an enzyme-based composition such that upon sterilization, the removable ink reacts with the sterilizing solution and becomes unreadable by the scanning device.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2009Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Charles D. Allen
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Patent number: 8535340Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument is presented including an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a handle member located at the proximal end of the transmission member. The ultrasonic surgical instrument also includes an end effector assembly located at the distal end of the transmission member. The end effector assembly includes a sensing mechanism for sensing load variations on tissue based on mechanical vibrations detected on one or more portions of the surgical instrument, the mechanical vibrations sensed by a laser interferometer.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Charles D. Allen
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Patent number: 8535341Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument is presented including an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a handle member located at the proximal end of the transmission member. The ultrasonic surgical instrument also includes an end effector assembly located at the distal end of the transmission member. The end effector assembly includes a sensing mechanism for sensing load variations on tissue based on mechanical vibrations detected on one or more portions of the surgical instrument, the mechanical vibrations sensed by a laser interferometer.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Charles D. Allen
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Publication number: 20120191091Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument including a housing assembly having a first disposable treatment portion selectively attached thereto. The disposable treatment portion is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical generator that supplies energy to the electrosurgical instrument. A control circuit is included and disposed in electrical communication between the electrosurgical generator and the first disposable treatment portion. The control circuit is selectively actuatable to enable the flow of electrosurgical energy from the electrosurgical generator to the first disposable treatment portion. An indicator, coupled to the housing assembly or the first disposable treatment portion, is configured to indicate a parameter related to the use of the electrosurgical instrument. The control circuit is configured to prevent activation of the electrosurgical instrument when the parameter of the indicator indicates the useful life of the disposable treatment portion has expired.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2011Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: TYCO Healthcare Group LPInventor: Charles D. Allen
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Publication number: 20120010604Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument is presented including an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a handle member located at the proximal end of the transmission member. The ultrasonic surgical instrument also includes an end effector assembly located at the distal end of the transmission member. The end effector assembly includes a sensing mechanism for sensing load variations on tissue based on mechanical vibrations detected on one or more portions of the surgical instrument, the mechanical vibrations sensed by a laser interferometer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: TYCO Healthcare Group LPInventor: Charles D. Allen
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Publication number: 20120010505Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument is presented including an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a handle member located at the proximal end of the transmission member. The ultrasonic surgical instrument also includes an end effector assembly located at the distal end of the transmission member. The end effector assembly includes a sensing mechanism for sensing load variations on tissue based on mechanical vibrations detected on one or more portions of the surgical instrument, the mechanical vibrations sensed by a laser interferometer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: TYCO Healthcare Group LPInventor: Charles D. Allen
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Patent number: 8038693Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument including an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end is provided. The instrument also includes an ultrasonically-actuated cutting element having a tissue contacting surface and a clamp member supported adjacent to the cutting element for clamping tissue. The clamp member includes a sensing mechanism that senses load variations. A handle member located at the proximal end of the transmission member moves the clamp member relative to the cutting element. Also, a feedback mechanism is operatively coupled to the sensing mechanism that supplies information related to the load variations where the output of the tissue cutting element is adjusted based on the sensed load variations.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2009Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: TYCO Healthcare Group IPInventor: Charles D. Allen
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Publication number: 20110137306Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument. The single-use surgical instrument includes a housing, an electrical connector and a treatment component. Indicia may be printed on the housing, the electrical connector and/or the treatment component. A removable ink is applied to any portion of the surgical instrument in the form of indicia that is readable by a scanning device. The removable ink includes a protein-based composition that is reactivateable with a sterilization solution having an enzyme-based composition such that upon sterilization, the removable ink reacts with the sterilizing solution and becomes unreadable by the scanning device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventor: Charles D. Allen
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Publication number: 20110092972Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument including an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end is provided. The instrument also includes an ultrasonically-actuated cutting element having a tissue contacting surface and a clamp member supported adjacent to the cutting element for clamping tissue. The clamp member includes a sensing mechanism that senses load variations. A handle member located at the proximal end of the transmission member moves the clamp member relative to the cutting element. Also, a feedback mechanism is operatively coupled to the sensing mechanism that supplies information related to the load variations where the output of the tissue cutting element is adjusted based on the sensed load variations.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2009Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventor: Charles D. Allen