Patents by Inventor Christopher T. Tschudy

Christopher T. Tschudy 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: 11331115
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer and generator (TAG) assembly of a surgical instrument includes generator components and transducer components. The generator components are disposed within a first cavity cooperatively defined by a body portion and a cover. The generator components are covered in a thermally insulative material. The transducer components are disposed within a second cavity cooperatively defined by a proximal housing and a spinner housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Weng-Kai K. Lee, Michael Clifton, James R. Fagan, Titus Horton, Keith W. Malang, Kenneth E. Netzel, Daniel Simmons, Christopher T. Tschudy, David J. Van Tol
  • Publication number: 20220117623
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a housing, a waveguide extending from the housing to a blade, a clamp jaw pivotable relative to the blade to clamp tissue, a drive member extending from the housing to the end effector and operably coupled to the clamp jaw such that translation of the drive member pivots the clamp jaw to exert a jaw force on the clamped tissue, a rigid slider operably coupled to the drive member such that translation of the rigid slider results in corresponding translation of the drive member, and a clamp lever. The clamp lever is actuatably coupled to the housing and operably coupled to the rigid slider such that a full actuation of the clamp lever translates the rigid slider and the drive member to thereby pivot the clamp jaw from the open position towards the clamping position with substantially no dampening of the jaw force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Jason L. Craig, Kenneth E. Netzel, Michael J. Brown, Christopher T. Tschudy, Weng-Kai Lee
  • Publication number: 20220117679
    Abstract: A surgical system includes at least one input coupler configured to receive an input, an end effector assembly, and an actuation assembly operably coupled between the at least one input coupler and the end effector assembly such that, in response receipt of the input by the at least one input coupler, the end effector assembly is manipulated. The system further includes a storage device storing setting information and adjustment information. The setting information enables determination of a first input to the at least one input coupler to achieve a desired manipulation of the end effector assembly. The adjustment information enables adjustment of the setting information for determination of a second input, different from the first input, to the at least one input coupler to achieve the desired manipulation of the end effector assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher T. Tschudy, Samuel W. Tobey
  • Publication number: 20220117622
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, an end effector including a clamp jaw, a drive member extending distally from the housing, and a clamp lever pivotably coupled to the housing. The drive member is operably coupled to the clamp jaw such that translation of the drive member pivots the clamp jaw from an open position towards a clamping position. The clamp lever is operably coupled to the drive member via a rigid slider. The clamp jaw is configured to provide a jaw force to clamped tissue, measured at about 0.192 inches from a distal end of the clamp jaw, of from about 1 lbf to about 8 lbf in response to a full actuation of the clamp lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Jason L. Craig, Kenneth E. Netzel, Michael J. Brown, Christopher T. Tschudy, Weng-Kai Lee
  • Patent number: 11229449
    Abstract: An ultrasonic horn, an ultrasonic transducer assembly including the same, and an ultrasonic surgical instrument including the same. The ultrasonic horn includes a body and a nose. The body defines a length and a maximum diameter of the ultrasonic horn. The body includes at least one depression arranged annularly thereabout that is configured to receive at least one protrusion for mounting the body within a support structure. The nose extends distally from the body. The body defines a proximal connector configured to enable the body to be secured to a piezoelectric stack and the nose defines a distal connector configured to enable the nose to be engaged with a waveguide for transmission of ultrasonic energy produced by the piezoelectric stack to the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Christopher T. Tschudy, Matthew S. Cowley
  • Publication number: 20210267623
    Abstract: A ultrasonic transducer assembly of an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a horn, a piezoelectric stack positioned proximally of the horn, a proximal end mass positioned proximally of the piezoelectric stack, and a rod extending through the piezoelectric stack. The rod includes a proximal end portion directly secured to the proximal end mass and a distal end portion directly secured to the horn to thereby maintain the piezoelectric stack in compression against the horn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew S. Cowley, Titus Horton, David J. Van Tol, James Ryan Fagan, Weng-Kai Lee, Christopher T. Tschudy
  • Publication number: 20210153888
    Abstract: A method for sealing a vessel includes supplying electrical energy to an ultrasonic surgical instrument having an end effector and a transducer coupled to the end effector, when the end effector is grasping a vessel, sensing parameters of the vessel when the end effector achieves a predetermined velocity, estimating a size of the vessel based on the sensed parameters, controlling the electrical energy based on maintaining a predetermined initial heating rate of heating the vessel until a predetermined amount of energy corresponding to the estimated size of the vessel has been delivered, and controlling the electrical energy based on a predetermined heating rate curve of heating the vessel after the predetermined amount of energy corresponding to the estimated size of the vessel has been delivered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: David J. Van Tol, Kelly E. Goodman, Keith W. Malang, Christopher T. Tschudy
  • Publication number: 20200107852
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer and generator (TAG) assembly of a surgical instrument includes generator components and transducer components. The generator components are disposed within a first cavity cooperatively defined by a body portion and a cover. The generator components are covered in a thermally insulative material. The transducer components are disposed within a second cavity cooperatively defined by a proximal housing and a spinner housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Weng-Kai K. Lee, Michael Clifton, James R. Fagan, Titus Horton, Keith W. Malang, Kenneth E. Netzel, Daniel Simmons, Christopher T. Tschudy, David J. Van Tol
  • Publication number: 20190239914
    Abstract: An ultrasonic horn, an ultrasonic transducer assembly including the same, and an ultrasonic surgical instrument including the same. The ultrasonic horn includes a body and a nose. The body defines a length and a maximum diameter of the ultrasonic horn. The body includes at least one depression arranged annularly thereabout that is configured to receive at least one protrusion for mounting the body within a support structure. The nose extends distally from the body. The body defines a proximal connector configured to enable the body to be secured to a piezoelectric stack and the nose defines a distal connector configured to enable the nose to be engaged with a waveguide for transmission of ultrasonic energy produced by the piezoelectric stack to the waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER T. TSCHUDY, MATTHEW S. COWLEY