Patents by Inventor Christopher C. Miller
Christopher C. Miller 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: 11071545Abstract: An electronic system for a surgical instrument is disclosed. The electronic system comprises a main power supply circuit configured to supply electrical power to a primary circuit. A supplementary power supply circuit configured to supply electrical power to a secondary circuit. A short circuit protection circuit coupled between the main power supply circuit and the supplementary power supply circuit. The supplementary power supply circuit is configured to isolate itself from the main power supply circuit when the supplementary power supply circuit detects a short circuit condition at the secondary circuit. The supplementary power supply circuit is configured to rejoin the main power supply circuit and supply power to the secondary circuit, when the short circuit condition is remedied.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Daniel L. Baber, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Andrew T. Beckman, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Christopher C. Miller, Charles J. Scheib
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Publication number: 20210137519Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, a stapling head assembly, an anvil, an anvil adjustment assembly, a trigger, and a lockout assembly. The stapling head assembly is operable to drive an annular array of staples. The anvil is configured to couple with the stapling head assembly. The anvil adjustment assembly includes a translating member, which translates relative to the body to thereby adjust the longitudinal position of the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly. The trigger is operable to actuate the stapling head assembly to thereby drive the annular array of staples through a distal surface of the stapling head assembly toward the anvil. The lockout assembly includes an electrically powered braking feature. In a first state, the lockout assembly is configured to permit translation of the translating member. In a second state, the lockout assembly is configured to prevent translation of the translating member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2020Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventors: Brian F. DiNardo, Christopher C. Miller, Richard F. Schwemberger, Charles J. Scheib, Kevin L. Houser, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
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Patent number: 10987377Abstract: Methods and devices for treating excess mucus accumulation in mammals by administering gaseous inhaled nitric oxide or nitric oxide releasing compounds as a mucolytic agent or expectorant are provided. Delivery of gaseous nitric oxide can be made nasally or orally and is preferably substantially coincident with inhalation of the mammal or based on a synchronous parameter of the mammal's respiratory cycle. Varying therapeutic profiles may be used for the delivery of gaseous nitric oxide depending on the severity of the excess mucus accumulation. Parameters for the therapeutic profiles may include flow rate of nitric oxide containing gas, duration of administration of nitric oxide containing gas, number of breaths for which nitric oxide containing gas is to be administered, and concentrations of therapeutic NO delivered to the airways.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2018Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Advanced Inhalation Therapies (AIT), Ltd.Inventors: Bruce R. Murray, Christopher C. Miller, Douglas R. Hole, Bryan Perry
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Patent number: 10980542Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, a stapling head assembly, and an anvil. The stapling head assembly includes a deck member, a plurality of staples, and a driver. The deck member includes a deck surface, an outer annular array of staple openings formed through the deck surface, an inner annular array of staple openings formed through the deck surface, and a plurality of recesses formed in the deck surface. At least a portion of the recesses are positioned between at least some of the staple openings. The driver is operable to drive the staples through the staple openings. The anvil is operable to compress tissue against the deck surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2016Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Christopher C. Miller, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
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Patent number: 10959724Abstract: A surgical circular stapler has a body, shaft, a stapling assembly, a motor, a cam assembly, and a firing assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body. The stapling assembly is secured to a distal end of the shaft. Longitudinal translation of the firing assembly causes the stapling assembly to drive a plurality of staples in a circular array to secure two lumens of tissue together. The stapling assembly may further drive a blade to sever any excess tissue interior of the circular array of staples. The motor is operable to rotate the cam assembly. Rotation of the cam assembly causes longitudinal translation of the firing assembly. A single rotation of the cam assembly is operable to drive the firing assembly from a proximal position to a distal position and back to a proximal position.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Christopher C. Miller, John P. Measamer, Brian F. DiNardo, Richard F. Schwemberger, Johnny H. Alexander, III
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Publication number: 20210085317Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a surgical instrument having one or more sensors at or a near an end effector and configured to aide in the detection of tissues and other materials and structures at a surgical site. The detections may then be used to aide in the placement of the end effector and to confirm which objects to operate on, or alternatively, to avoid. Examples of sensors include laser sensors used to employ Doppler shift principles to detect movement of objects at the surgical site, such as blood cells; resistance sensors to detect the presence of metal; monochromatic light sources that allow for different levels of absorption from different types of substances present at the surgical site, and near infrared spectrometers with small form factors.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Christopher C. Miller, John F. Cummings, David C. Yates, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris
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Publication number: 20210068829Abstract: An anvil for a circular surgical stapler includes an anvil surface and an anvil shaft. The anvil surface defines an inner annular array of staple forming pockets and an outer annular array of staple forming pockets. The inner annular array of staple forming pockets includes a plurality of staple forming pocket pairs. The outer annular array of staple forming pockets also includes a plurality of staple forming pocket pairs. The outer annular array of staple forming pockets is arranged in a mirrored symmetry with the inner annular array of staple forming pockets. The anvil shaft is configured to couple with a stapling head assembly of a surgical stapler.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Christopher C. Miller, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
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Patent number: 10905415Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, a stapling head assembly, an anvil, an anvil adjustment assembly, a trigger, and a lockout assembly. The stapling head assembly is operable to drive an annular array of staples. The anvil is configured to couple with the stapling head assembly. The anvil adjustment assembly includes a translating member, which translates relative to the body to thereby adjust the longitudinal position of the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly. The trigger is operable to actuate the stapling head assembly to thereby drive the annular array of staples through a distal surface of the stapling head assembly toward the anvil. The lockout assembly includes an electrically powered braking feature. In a first state, the lockout assembly is configured to permit translation of the translating member. In a second state, the lockout assembly is configured to prevent translation of the translating member.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Brian F. DiNardo, Christopher C. Miller, Richard F. Schwemberger, Charles J. Scheib, Kevin L. Houser, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
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Patent number: 10905712Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid nitric oxide releasing solution (NORS) comprised of at least one nitric oxide releasing compound and at least one acidifying agent, wherein the NORS provides an extended release of a therapeutically effective amount of nitric oxide gas (gNO). The present invention also relates to a liquid NORS comprised of at least one nitrite compound having a concentration of no greater than about 0.5% w/v and at least one acidifying agent, wherein the NORS releases a therapeutically effective amount of gNO. The present invention also relates to a method for the treatment of a wound in a human, the method comprising administering to the human a liquid NORS comprised of at least one nitric oxide releasing compound and at least one acidifying agent, wherein the NORS provides an extended release of a therapeutically effective amount of gNO.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2017Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: SaNOtize Research and Development Corp.Inventors: Alex Stenzler, Christopher C. Miller, Gilly Regev-Shoshani
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Patent number: 10856867Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a closure drive, a firing drive, and a lockout is disclosed. The lockout prevents the firing drive from being actuated until the closure drive has been sufficiently actuated.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2016Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Jerome R. Morgan, Christopher C. Miller, Brian Dinardo
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Publication number: 20200345345Abstract: A surgical circular stapler has a handle assembly, a shaft, a stapling assembly, a motor, a drive assembly, and a firing assembly. The shaft extends distally from the handle assembly. The stapling assembly is secured to a distal end of the shaft. Longitudinal translation of the firing assembly causes the stapling assembly to drive a plurality of staples in a circular array to secure two lumens of tissue together. The stapling assembly may further drive a blade to sever any excess tissue interior of the circular array of staples. The motor is operable to rotate the drive assembly to thereby translate the firing assembly. A resilient member biases the firing assembly proximally. Through cooperation between the firing assembly and the resilient member, the firing assembly is driven distally and proximally to complete a firing stroke in response to rotation of the drive assembly through a single revolution.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Richard L. Leimbach, Richard F. Schwemberger, John P. Measamer, Johnny H. Alexander, III, Christopher C. Miller, Brian F. DiNardo, Jason M. Rector
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Publication number: 20200305881Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, a stapling head assembly, and an anvil. The body includes a motor, a first user input feature, and a second user input feature. The first user input feature is operable to activate the motor. The shaft extends distally from the body. The stapling head assembly is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The stapling head assembly includes an anvil coupling feature, at least one annular array of staples, and a staple driver. The second user input feature is operable to drive the anvil coupling feature longitudinally. The staple driver is operable to drive the at least one annular array of staples. The motor is operable to drive the staple driver. The anvil is configured to couple with the anvil coupling feature. The anvil is further configured to deform the staples driven by the staple driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Brian F. DiNardo, Brian W. Bear, Charles J. Scheib, Christopher C. Miller, Craig S. Smith, Emily A. Schellin, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason E. Zerkle, Jeffrey C. Gagel, John P. Measamer, Johnny H. Alexander, III, Joseph T. Kluener, Kevin D. Sackett, Kevin L. Houser, Mark D. Overmyer, Matthew H. Bolton, Omar J. Vakharia, Richard F. Schwemberger, Richard L. Leimbach, Rodney V. Clingaman, Timothy E. Goode, William D. Fox, William R. Stager
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Patent number: 10786249Abstract: A surgical circular stapler has a handle assembly, a shaft, a stapling assembly, a motor, a drive assembly, and a firing assembly. The shaft extends distally from the handle assembly. The stapling assembly is secured to a distal end of the shaft. Longitudinal translation of the firing assembly causes the stapling assembly to drive a plurality of staples in a circular array to secure two lumens of tissue together. The stapling assembly may further drive a blade to sever any excess tissue interior of the circular array of staples. The motor is operable to rotate the drive assembly to thereby translate the firing assembly. A resilient member biases the firing assembly proximally. Through cooperation between the firing assembly and the resilient member, the firing assembly is driven distally and proximally to complete a firing stroke in response to rotation of the drive assembly through a single revolution.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Richard L. Leimbach, Richard F. Schwemberger, John P. Measamer, Johnny H. Alexander, III, Christopher C. Miller, Brian F. DiNardo, Jason M. Rector
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Publication number: 20200297468Abstract: A veterinary subject intranasal administration device, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed. The veterinary subject intranasal administration device can include a first support member portion including a septum interface portion sized for insertion into a nasal passage of the veterinary subject; an actuation mechanism connected to the first support member portion; and a fluid conduit having a distal end opposite a supported end, the distal end sized for insertion into the nasal passage of the veterinary subject, the fluid conduit being flexible and configured to receive fluid from a fluid source and discharge the fluid through the distal end into the nasal passage, the distal end of the fluid conduit being unsupported and movable relative to the septum interface portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2017Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Amy L. Marr, Jane Granville Owens, Jeffrey Kyle Hill, Casey J. Strange, Randall Lee Waln, Christopher C. Miller, Gilly Regev-Shoshani, Alex Stenzler, Steve Han
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Publication number: 20200276229Abstract: A method of treating a human subject which is effected by intermittent inhalation of gaseous nitric oxide at a concentration of at least 160 ppm is disclosed. The method can be utilized for treating a human subject suffering from, or prone to suffer from, a disease or disorder that is manifested in the respiratory tract, or from a disease or disorder that can be treated via the respiratory tract. The disclosed method can be effected while monitoring one or more of on-site and off-site parameters such as vital signs, methemoglobin levels, pulmonary function parameters, blood chemistry and hematological parameters, blood coagulation parameters, inflammatory marker levels, liver and kidney function parameters and vascular endothelial activation parameters, such that no substantial deviation from a baseline in seen in one or more of the monitored parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: Yossef Av-Gay, Christopher C. Miller, David Greenberg
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Patent number: 10709452Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, a stapling head assembly, and an anvil. The body includes a motor, a first user input feature, and a second user input feature. The first user input feature is operable to activate the motor. The shaft extends distally from the body. The stapling head assembly is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The stapling head assembly includes an anvil coupling feature, at least one annular array of staples, and a staple driver. The second user input feature is operable to drive the anvil coupling feature longitudinally. The staple driver is operable to drive the at least one annular array of staples. The motor is operable to drive the staple driver. The anvil is configured to couple with the anvil coupling feature. The anvil is further configured to deform the staples driven by the staple driver.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Brian F. DiNardo, Brian W. Bear, Charles J. Scheib, Christopher C. Miller, Craig S. Smith, Emily A. Schellin, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason E. Zerkle, Jeffrey C. Gagel, John P. Measamer, Johnny H. Alexander, III, Joseph T. Kluener, Kevin D. Sackett, Kevin L. Houser, Mark D. Overmyer, Matthew H. Bolton, Omar J. Vakharia, Richard F. Schwemberger, Richard L. Leimbach, Rodney V. Clingaman, Timothy E. Goode, William D. Fox, William R. Stager
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Publication number: 20200215102Abstract: A method of treating a human subject which is effected by intermittent inhalation of gaseous nitric oxide at a concentration of at least 160 ppm is disclosed. The method can be utilized for treating a human subject suffering from, or prone to suffer from, a disease or disorder that is manifested in the respiratory tract, or from a disease or disorder that can be treated via the respiratory tract. The disclosed method can be effected while monitoring one or more of on-site and off-site parameters such as vital signs, methemoglobin levels, pulmonary function parameters, blood chemistry and hematological parameters, blood coagulation parameters, inflammatory marker levels, liver and kidney function parameters and vascular endothelial activation parameters, such that no substantial deviation from a baseline in seen in one or more of the monitored parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Yossef Av-Gay, Christopher C. Miller, David Greenberg
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Publication number: 20200138434Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a surgical instrument having one or more sensors at or a near an end effector and configured to aide in the detection of tissues and other materials and structures at a surgical site. The detections may then be used to aide in the placement of the end effector and to confirm which objects to operate on, or alternatively, to avoid. Examples of sensors include laser sensors used to employ Doppler shift principles to detect movement of objects at the surgical site, such as blood cells; resistance sensors to detect the presence of metal; monochromatic light sources that allow for different levels of absorption from different types of substances present at the surgical site, and near infrared spectrometers with small form factors.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: Christopher C. Miller, John F. Cummings, David C. Yates, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris
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Patent number: D894390Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Christopher C. Miller, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
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Patent number: D920511Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Christopher C. Miller, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Omar J. Vakharia, Matthew S. Corbin, Veronica J. Schlegel, Joshua Uth, Nadja K. Briscoe Heller