Patents by Inventor Christopher K. Evans

Christopher K. Evans 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: 12599378
    Abstract: A surgical device includes an end effector having a pair of opposing jaw members and a drive beam movable longitudinally through the pair of opposing jaw members thereby approximating the pair of opposing jaw members relative to each other. The device also includes an adapter assembly configured to selectively couple to the end effector. The adapter assembly includes an actuation assembly configured to mechanically engage the drive beam and to move the drive beam longitudinally. The device also includes a handle assembly configured to selectively couple to the adapter assembly. The handle assembly includes: a power source, a motor coupled to the power source, a sensor configured to measure a force imparted on the drive beam, and a motor controller configured to control the motor to maintain constant force on the drive beam based on the force measured by the sensor during longitudinal movement of the drive beam approximating the pair of opposing jaw members closer relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Christopher K. Evans, Robert H. Knapp
  • Publication number: 20250322952
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for control of a surgical device includes accessing raw data captured by a sensor of the surgical device during a procedure, filtering the raw data with a filter, generating a difference data based on a difference between the raw data and the filtered data, generating zero-crossing data based on determining a point in time where an amplitude of the difference data last crossed from a non-zero amplitude value through a zero amplitude value to a non-zero amplitude value of the opposite sign, providing the zero-crossing data as an input to a machine learning classifier, and predicting a probability of an end stop point based on the machine learning classifier. The end stop point includes a point in time where a knife of the surgical device ceases to cut tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: October 16, 2025
    Applicant: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Andrew M. MIESSE, Binesh Kumar SADANANDAN, Christopher K. EVANS, Robert H. KNAPP, Neethu Lekshmi VASUDEVAN JALAJA
  • Publication number: 20250143807
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes a memory device and one or more processors coupled with the memory device. The one or more processors are configured to determine, autonomously, one or more phases in a surgical procedure based on a video stream of the surgical procedure. The one or more processors are further configured to identify one or more usages of a surgical instrument used during the surgical procedure. The one or more processors are configured to display a chart of the one or more usages. The chart divides the one or more usages according to the one or more phases respectively, and a representation of each of the one or more usages indicates a duration of each usage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2023
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Robert M. Nostrant, Susan L. Roweton, Petros Giataganas, Danail V. Stoyanov, Carole RJ Addis, Tom K. Matthews, Anthony L. Ceniccola, Christopher K. Evans, Kasey A. Grim, Drew Robert Seils, Christopher Switalski, Benjamin J. Noe, Patrick Dale Mozdzierz, Michael S. Gallie, Scott J. Prior, Heather I. Tuccolo, Sheldon K. Hall, James G. Pappas, Scott M. Kilcoyne
  • Publication number: 20240341758
    Abstract: A surgical device includes an end effector having a pair of opposing jaw members and a drive beam movable longitudinally through the pair of opposing jaw members thereby approximating the pair of opposing jaw members relative to each other. The device also includes an adapter assembly configured to selectively couple to the end effector. The adapter assembly includes an actuation assembly configured to mechanically engage the drive beam and to move the drive beam longitudinally. The device also includes a handle assembly configured to selectively couple to the adapter assembly. The handle assembly includes: a power source, a motor coupled to the power source, a sensor configured to measure a force imparted on the drive beam, and a motor controller configured to control the motor to maintain constant force on the drive beam based on the force measured by the sensor during longitudinal movement of the drive beam approximating the pair of opposing jaw members closer relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher K. Evans, Robert H. Knapp
  • Patent number: 12016556
    Abstract: A surgical device includes an end effector having a pair of opposing jaw members and a drive beam movable longitudinally through the pair of opposing jaw members thereby approximating the pair of opposing jaw members relative to each other. The device also includes an adapter assembly configured to selectively couple to the end effector. The adapter assembly includes an actuation assembly configured to mechanically engage the drive beam and to move the drive beam longitudinally. The device also includes a handle assembly configured to selectively couple to the adapter assembly. The handle assembly includes: a power source, a motor coupled to the power source, a sensor configured to measure a force imparted on the drive beam, and a motor controller configured to control the motor to maintain constant force on the drive beam based on the force measured by the sensor during longitudinal movement of the drive beam approximating the pair of opposing jaw members closer relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Christopher K. Evans, Robert H. Knapp
  • Patent number: 11832849
    Abstract: A valve assembly for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The valve assembly includes a housing and a seal assembly disposed within the housing, the seal assembly including a septum seal including an orifice configured to sealingly engage a surgical instrument inserted therethrough, at least a portion of the septum seal defining a seal curvature, a first guard member including a plurality of curved first guard portions defining slits therebetween, and a second guard member including a plurality of curved second guard portions defining slits therebetween. The first and second guard members may be positioned in an overlapping relationship with the plurality of first guard portions rotationally offset with respect to the second guard portions. The wide, triangular shaped slits of the guard members may improve flexibility of the guard portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Gregory Okoniewski, Nizamudheen Kalakkudi Chalil, Jay Breindel, Christopher K. Evans, Brandon Lee Calavan
  • Patent number: 11529169
    Abstract: A seal assembly including a septum seal, a lower seal support, an upper seal support and a return spring is disclosed. The septum seal includes an orifice and a plurality of apertures. The lower seal support includes an engagement surface configured to engage a portion of the septum seal. The upper seal support includes a plurality of fingers, wherein each of the plurality of fingers is configured to extend through a corresponding aperture of the septum seal. The return spring includes a collar portion and a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from the collar portion. At least a portion of the return spring may be sandwiched between the lower seal support and the upper seal support. The plurality of spokes is configured to bias the seal assembly toward a radial center of a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Henry E. Holsten, Christopher K. Evans, Robert C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220346777
    Abstract: A surgical device includes an end effector having a pair of opposing jaw members and a drive beam movable longitudinally through the pair of opposing jaw members thereby approximating the pair of opposing jaw members relative to each other. The device also includes an adapter assembly configured to selectively couple to the end effector. The adapter assembly includes an actuation assembly configured to mechanically engage the drive beam and to move the drive beam longitudinally. The device also includes a handle assembly configured to selectively couple to the adapter assembly. The handle assembly includes: a power source, a motor coupled to the power source, a sensor configured to measure a force imparted on the drive beam, and a motor controller configured to control the motor to maintain constant force on the drive beam based on the force measured by the sensor during longitudinal movement of the drive beam approximating the pair of opposing jaw members closer relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher K. Evans, Robert H. Knapp
  • Patent number: 11253257
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a handle portion, a shaft coupled to the handle portion, a pair of jaw members operably coupled to the shaft, an inflatable member, and a sensor. The inflatable member is associated with one of the jaw members and is configured to apply pressure to tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members. The sensor is associated with one of the jaw members and is configured to measure local perfusion pressure in the tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Christopher K. Evans, Matthew Eschbach
  • Publication number: 20200289118
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a handle portion, a shaft coupled to the handle portion, a pair of jaw members operably coupled to the shaft, an inflatable member, and a sensor. The inflatable member is associated with one of the jaw members and is configured to apply pressure to tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members. The sensor is associated with one of the jaw members and is configured to measure local perfusion pressure in the tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher K. EVANS, Matthew ESCHBACH
  • Publication number: 20200246043
    Abstract: A seal assembly including a septum seal, a lower seal support, an upper seal support and a return spring is disclosed. The septum seal includes an orifice and a plurality of apertures. The lower seal support includes an engagement surface configured to engage a portion of the septum seal. The upper seal support includes a plurality of fingers, wherein each of the plurality of fingers is configured to extend through a corresponding aperture of the septum seal. The return spring includes a collar portion and a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from the collar portion. At least a portion of the return spring may be sandwiched between the lower seal support and the upper seal support. The plurality of spokes is configured to bias the seal assembly toward a radial center of a housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Henry E. Holsten, Christopher K. Evans, Robert C. Smith
  • Patent number: 10687811
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a handle portion, a shaft coupled to the handle portion, a pair of jaw members operably coupled to the shaft, an inflatable member, and a sensor. The inflatable member is associated with one of the jaw members and is configured to apply pressure to tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members. The sensor is associated with one of the jaw members and is configured to measure local perfusion pressure in the tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Christopher K. Evans, Matthew Eschbach
  • Publication number: 20200113601
    Abstract: A valve assembly for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The valve assembly includes a housing and a seal assembly disposed within the housing, the seal assembly including a septum seal including an orifice configured to sealingly engage a surgical instrument inserted therethrough, at least a portion of the septum seal defining a seal curvature, a first guard member including a plurality of curved first guard portions defining slits therebetween, and a second guard member including a plurality of curved second guard portions defining slits therebetween. The first and second guard members may be positioned in an overlapping relationship with the plurality of first guard portions rotationally offset with respect to the second guard portions. The wide, triangular shaped slits of the guard members may improve flexibility of the guard portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory Okoniewski, Nizamudheen Kalakkudi Chalil, Jay Breindel, Christopher K. Evans
  • Publication number: 20180256163
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a handle portion, a shaft coupled to the handle portion, a pair of jaw members operably coupled to the shaft, an inflatable member, and a sensor. The inflatable member is associated with one of the jaw members and is configured to apply pressure to tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members. The sensor is associated with one of the jaw members and is configured to measure local perfusion pressure in the tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher K. Evans, Matthew Eschbach