Patents by Inventor Christopher DENZINGER

Christopher DENZINGER 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: 12279840
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a shaft assembly, a drive, and an activating mechanism. The end effector includes first and second jaws. At least one of the first and second jaws is pivotable relative to the other of the first and second jaws between open and closed positions. The shaft assembly extends proximally from the end effector. The drive is operatively connected to a portion of at least one of the end effector or the shaft assembly. The activating mechanism includes an actuation body operatively connected to the drive. The portion is configured to perform a first actuation profile in response to the actuation body moving along a first predetermined path or perform a second actuation profile in response to the actuation body moving along a second predetermined path. Selection of the first predetermined path is configured to prevent the actuation body from accessing the second predetermined path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Christopher A. Denzinger, Mark D. Overmyer, Charles J. Scheib, Neil T. Markwardt, Brian D. Black
  • Patent number: 12274519
    Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing, a closure tube extending from the drive housing, and an end effector arranged at an end of the closure tube and having opposing jaws. A method of operating the surgical tool includes operating one or more motors in a first direction at a constant velocity and thereby urging the closure tube to move and actuate the opposing jaws to engage and clamp onto tissue, stopping operation of the motor(s) in the first direction when a torque on the motor(s) exceeds a predetermined torque, storing an angular position of the motor(s) when the torque exceeds the predetermined torque, operating the motor(s) in a second direction opposite the first direction over a preset angular magnitude, and upon reaching the preset angular magnitude, operating the motor(s) in the first direction at the constant velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Mark Overmyer, Raffaele Definis, Christopher Denzinger
  • Patent number: 12274447
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a stapling apparatus. The apparatus includes a trocar, a stapling head assembly, and an anvil. The stapling head assembly includes one or more lights positioned on a surface of a tubular casing of the stapling head assembly, the lights extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stapling head assembly. The row of lights provide an illumination system to provide indicators of device orientation or location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Christopher Denzinger, Shane R. Adams, Eric Lafay
  • Publication number: 20250099194
    Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing removably coupled to a tool driver of a robotic surgical system, a shaft extending from the drive housing, an end effector arranged at an end of the shaft, and a computer system. The computer system is programmed to send a command signal to a motor of the tool driver to drive rotation of a drive shaft mounted within the drive housing, monitor torque and rotational motion of the motor with a torque sensor and a rotary encoder, respectively, in communication with the computer system, measure an unexpected change in the torque or the rotational motion of the motor with the torque sensor or the rotary encoder when the surgical tool is manually bailed out by manually rotating the drive shaft and backdriving the motor, report the unexpected change as a bailout signal, and disable the surgical tool once the bailout signal is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Mark D. OVERMYER, Benjamin Lawrence BERTRAM, Christopher A. DENZINGER, Robert Louis KOCH, JR.
  • Publication number: 20250025155
    Abstract: Systems and subsystems for closing an end effector of a stapler are disclosed. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems, devices, and subsystems for attachments for robotic surgeries. The surgical instrument is a robotic attachment. The surgical instrument includes a closure subsystem that moves independently of other subsystems that are operable independently of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER BATTY, RAFFAELE DEFINIS, JONATHAN VON STEIN, CHRISTOPHER DENZINGER, DAVID KEILHOLZ
  • Publication number: 20250025164
    Abstract: Systems and subsystems for using a robotic instrument are disclosed. The method includes engaging a first closure input puck with a first closure robotic output. The method includes rotating the first closure robotic output to cause the first closure input puck to rotate. The method includes rotating a cam gear via the rotation of the first closure input puck. Rotation of the cam gear causes a yoke pin to track through a cam track in the cam gear, and the yoke pin is coupled to a closure tube. Tracking of the yoke pin through the cam track causes the yoke pin to translate from a first position to a second position, thereby translating the closure tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER BATTY, RAFFAELE DEFINIS, JONATHAN VON STEIN, CHRISTOPHER DENZINGER, DAVID KEILHOLZ
  • Publication number: 20250025160
    Abstract: Systems and subsystems for cutting and stapling tissue are disclosed. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems, devices, and subsystems for attachments for robotic surgeries. The surgical instrument is a robotic attachment that includes a closure subsystem for a surgical instrument comprising a first closure input puck engageable with a first closure robotic output, a cam gear rotatably engaged with the first closure input puck, and a yoke pin coupled to a closure tube and movable from a first position to a second position in response to a rotation of the cam gear. Movement of the yoke pin from the first position to the second position translates the closure tube distally onto an anvil ramp of an anvil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER BATTY, RAFFAELE DEFINIS, JONATHAN VON STEIN, CHRISTOPHER DENZINGER, DAVID KEILHOLZ
  • Publication number: 20250025161
    Abstract: Systems and subsystems for cutting and stapling tissue are disclosed. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems, devices, and subsystems for attachments for robotic surgeries. The surgical instrument is a robotic attachment including a roll subsystem. The roll subsystem comprises a rotatable shaft having a longitudinal axis, a roll input puck engageable with a roll robotic output, a worm gear coupled to and rotatable by the roll input puck, and a worm follower coupled to the rotatable shaft. Rotation of the roll input puck causes the worm gear to rotate the worm follower and thereby roll the rotatable shaft about its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER BATTY, BENJAMIN BERTRAM, RAFFAELE DEFINIS, CHRISTOPHER DENZINGER, MARTIN DOLGIEJ, Disha Estera, Rockford A. Linville
  • Patent number: 12178536
    Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing removably coupled to a tool driver of a robotic surgical system, a shaft extending from the drive housing, an end effector arranged at an end of the shaft, and a computer system. The computer system is programmed to send a command signal to a motor of the tool driver to drive rotation of a drive shaft mounted within the drive housing, monitor torque and rotational motion of the motor with a torque sensor and a rotary encoder, respectively, in communication with the computer system, measure an unexpected change in the torque or the rotational motion of the motor with the torque sensor or the rotary encoder when the surgical tool is manually bailed out by manually rotating the drive shaft and backdriving the motor, report the unexpected change as a bailout signal, and disable the surgical tool once the bailout signal is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Benjamin Lawrence Bertram, Christopher A. Denzinger, Robert Louis Koch, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12102402
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a handle having a drive input and a spline, a bailout ring arranged at the handle, and a slipper clutch mechanism received within the bailout ring. The slipper clutch mechanism including a slip carrier rotationally fixed to the bailout ring and defining a vertical slot that slidably receives a pin, a first ring arranged within the slip carrier and defining a first interface, a second ring arranged within the slip carrier atop the first ring and defining a second interface, and a pinion gear operatively coupled to the spline and arranged to intermesh with radial gear teeth defined on the second ring. Manual rotation of the bailout ring rotates the slip carrier and the pin and thereby rotates the first and second ring in succession to rotate the spline and manually bail out a function of the robotic surgical tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Raffaele Definis, Benjamin L. Bertram, Christopher Denzinger, Heather E. Knox, Mark D. Overmyer, Neil Markwardt
  • Patent number: 12023116
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a robotic arm, a surgical device coupled with the robotic arm and configured to extend through a body wall of a patient, and a controller in communication with the robotic arm. The controller is configured to determine a position of the surgical device relative to the patient. The controller is also configured to acknowledge a maximum allowable metric associated with the body wall at the determined position, and determine a metric associated with the body wall at the determined position. The controller is furthermore configured to drive the robotic arm to manipulate the surgical device such that the determined metric does not exceed the maximum allowable metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Christopher A. Denzinger
  • Patent number: 11937892
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a drive housing, a spline, a carriage, an elongate shaft assembly, an end effector, and an activating mechanism. The at least one spline includes a drive gear rotatable with the spline. The elongate shaft assembly extends from the carriage. The activating mechanism includes a barrel cam extending along a rotational axis and having a first cam profile radially extending about the rotational axis. The barrel cam is operatively coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the drive gear is configured to actuate the activating mechanism to move at least a portion of the end effector. The first cam profile defines a plurality of slopes relative to the rotational axis such that the first cam profile is configured to drive movement of the end effector or the elongate shaft assembly at different rates according to the plurality of slopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Brian D. Black, Charles J. Scheib, Matthew T. Stone, Mark D. Overmyer, Christopher A. Denzinger, Andrew T. Beckman, Neil T. Markwardt
  • Publication number: 20240065789
    Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing removably coupled to a tool driver of a robotic surgical system, a shaft extending from the drive housing, an end effector arranged at an end of the shaft, and a computer system. The computer system is programmed to send a command signal to a motor of the tool driver to drive rotation of a drive shaft mounted within the drive housing, monitor torque and rotational motion of the motor with a torque sensor and a rotary encoder, respectively, in communication with the computer system, measure an unexpected change in the torque or the rotational motion of the motor with the torque sensor or the rotary encoder when the surgical tool is manually bailed out by manually rotating the drive shaft and backdriving the motor, report the unexpected change as a bailout signal, and disable the surgical tool once the bailout signal is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Mark D. OVERMYER, Benjamin Lawrence BERTRAM, Christopher A. DENZINGER, Robert Louis KOCH, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230404572
    Abstract: A surgical stapler is disclosed comprising an end effector configured to receive a staple cartridge, a trocar movable relative to the end effector, an anvil removably coupleable to the trocar, a sensor, a housing comprising a display, and a control circuit operably coupled to the sensor and the display. The anvil is movable relative to the end effector based on movement of the trocar. The sensor is configured to sense a position of the anvil relative to the end effector. The control circuit is configured to interrogate the sensor to determine the position of the anvil and display a representation of the determined position on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Monica L. Z. Rivard, Christopher A. Denzinger, Leonardo N. Rossoni, Nohemi C. Wells
  • Publication number: 20230395250
    Abstract: Systems for customizing and troubleshooting the display of surgical data and wireless pairing techniques for surgical instruments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher A. Denzinger, Monica L. Z. Rivard, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Felix J. Bork, Risto Kojcev, Leonardo N. Rossoni, Chunhui Xie
  • Patent number: 11813032
    Abstract: A method of operating a surgical tool includes coupling a drive housing to a tool driver of a first robotic surgical system, driving rotation of a drive shaft mounted within the drive housing and thereby commencing a firing sequence of the end effector, and setting a bailout Boolean value as “true” in an internal computer of the drive housing upon commencing the firing sequence, and storing the bailout Boolean value in a memory of the internal computer. Manually bailing out the surgical tool before completing the firing sequence, installing the surgical tool on a tool driver of a second robotic surgical system, and querying the memory of the internal computer with the second robotic surgical system and recognizing the bailout Boolean value as “true”. Initiating one or more remedial actions to ensure safe operation of the surgical tool on the second robotic surgical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Benjamin Lawrence Bertram, Christopher A. Denzinger, Robert Louis Koch, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11813746
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system that comprises a closure system. The closure system comprises a first pinion drivingly coupled to a first motor, a second pinion drivingly coupled to a second motor, and a closure gear selectively driven by the first pinion and the second pinion. The robotic surgical system further comprises a control circuit configured to implement a motor crosscheck operation. The control circuit is configured to receive a first parameter indicative of a first torque generated by the first motor, receive a second parameter indicative of a second torque generated by the second motor, compare the first parameter to the second parameter, and transmit a signal to a communication device, wherein the signal is based on the comparison and indicative of a status of the closure system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Christopher A. Denzinger
  • Publication number: 20230338051
    Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing, a shaft extending from the drive housing and including an inner grounding shaft, an end effector coupled to the shaft and having opposing jaws, a firing rod extending within the inner grounding shaft and terminating at a cutting element, and an unclamp lockout mechanism provided within the drive housing and including a pawl rotatably mounted to the inner grounding shaft and pivotable between a stowed position, where the pawl is received within an aperture defined in the inner grounding shaft, and a deployed position, where the pawl protrudes out of the aperture, and a biasing device that biases the pawl toward the stowed position. When the pawl is in the stowed position, the pawl is received within a cutout defined by the firing rod, and moving the firing rod distally overcomes the biasing device and urges the pawl to the deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Robert Louis KOCH, JR., Mark D. OVERMYER, Christopher A. DENZINGER, Kris Eren KALLENBERGER
  • Patent number: 11766261
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a body with a first body portion, a second body portion opposed from the first body portion, and a connecting portion that couples a proximal end of the first body portion with a proximal end of the second body portion. The connecting portion is configured to permit the first and second body portions to move toward and away from one another between a plurality of angular orientations. The first and second body portions define a distally opening angle. A first adjunct element and a second adjunct element are disposed on outwardly facing surfaces of the first and second body portions. The first and second body portions may be fixed in each of the angular orientations and may simultaneously apply the first and second adjunct elements to first and second jaws, respectively, of a surgical stapler end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Gregory J. Bakos, Michael J. Vendely, Mark S. Zeiner, Heather Strang, Pamela M. Ridgley, Christopher A. Denzinger, Christopher Q. Seow
  • Publication number: 20230248362
    Abstract: A method is provided for applying an adjunct element to a surgical stapler end effector having first and second stapling surfaces using an applicator. The method includes providing the end effector in an open state in which the first and second stapling surfaces are spaced apart. With the end effector in the open state, at least a portion of the applicator is positioned between the first and second stapling surfaces. Without engaging a closure system input feature of the surgical stapler, a portion of the end effector is compressively engaged by the applicator to thereby secure the adjunct element to one of the first or second stapling surfaces. The applicator and the end effector are withdrawn relatively away from one another so that the adjunct element remains attached to the one of the first or second stapling surfaces of the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Gregory J. Bakos, Michael J. Vendely, Mark S. Zeiner, Heather Strang, Pamela M. Ridgley, Christopher A. Denzinger, Christopher Q. Seow