Patents by Inventor Christopher W. Birri
Christopher W. Birri 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: 11857283Abstract: A surgical instrument and method of operating same includes an end effector and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly has proximal and distal shaft portions respectively extending along proximal and distal axes, a first elongate member, and an articulation section. The articulation section extends between the proximal and distal shaft portions and is configured to articulate about a first articulation axis and about a second articulation axis to thereby respectively deflect the end effector along a first plane and a second plane. The articulation section has a first lumen radially offset from the proximal and distal axes that longitudinally intersects the first and second articulation axes. The first lumen movably supports the first elongate member such that the radial spacing of the first elongate member is maintained relative to the proximal and distal axes at each of the first and second articulation axes during deflection of the end effector.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Mark A. Davison, Jason A. Hill, William G. Saulenas, Christopher W. Birri, Thomas J. Erb
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Patent number: 11406442Abstract: An articulable wrist for an end effector includes a distal linkage provided at a distal end of the articulable wrist, a proximal linkage provided at a proximal end of the articulable wrist, and a central channel cooperatively defined by the distal and proximal linkages and extending between the distal and proximal ends. A flexible member is arranged within the central channel and has a first end operatively coupled to the distal linkage and a second end axially movable relative to the proximal linkage. One or more conduits are defined in the flexible member to receive one or more central actuation members extending through the flexible member.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2018Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONALInventors: Mark A. Davison, Christopher W. Birri, William George Saulenas, Jalen Lee Wize
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Publication number: 20210129357Abstract: A surgical instrument and method of operating same includes an end effector and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly has proximal and distal shaft portions respectively extending along proximal and distal axes, a first elongate member, and an articulation section. The articulation section extends between the proximal and distal shaft portions and is configured to articulate about a first articulation axis and about a second articulation axis to thereby respectively deflect the end effector along a first plane and a second plane. The articulation section has a first lumen radially offset from the proximal and distal axes that longitudinally intersects the first and second articulation axes. The first lumen movably supports the first elongate member such that the radial spacing of the first elongate member is maintained relative to the proximal and distal axes at each of the first and second articulation axes during deflection of the end effector.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Mark A. Davison, Jason A. Hill, William G. Saulenas, Christopher W. Birri, Thomas J. Erb
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Publication number: 20210038258Abstract: An integral seal system includes a body that defines a central opening, and an asymmetric seal extending into the central opening and including a diaphragm and an annular flange that extends between the body and the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm has a cross-sectional thickness larger than a cross-sectional thickness of the annular flange. A duckbill seal extends distally from a bottom of the body and defines one or more parting lines that separate opposing seal flaps. The diaphragm complements insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the duckbill seal against a surgical tool shaft extended therethrough such that total insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the integral seal system are equalized.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Applicant: Ethicon LLCInventors: Steven G. Hall, Joseph Thomas Mozloom, Jr., Christopher W. Birri, Daniel J. Prenger, Ryan Alan Klenke
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Patent number: 10820924Abstract: A trocar assembly includes a trocar that includes a trocar housing and a cannula that extends distally from the trocar housing, and an integral seal system positioned within a central passageway extending axially through the trocar and engageable against a surgical tool shaft extended therethrough. The integral seal system includes an asymmetric seal and a duckbill seal arranged distal to the asymmetric seal, and the asymmetric seal defines a diaphragm that complements insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the duckbill seal against the surgical tool shaft such that total insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the integral seal system are equalized.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2018Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Steven G. Hall, Joseph Thomas Mozloom, Jr., Christopher W. Birri, Daniel J. Prenger, Ryan Alan Klenke
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Publication number: 20200138508Abstract: An articulable wrist for an end effector includes a distal linkage provided at a distal end of the articulable wrist, a proximal linkage provided at a proximal end of the articulable wrist, and a central channel cooperatively defined by the distal and proximal linkages and extending between the distal and proximal ends. A flexible member is arranged within the central channel and has a first end operatively coupled to the distal linkage and a second end axially movable relative to the proximal linkage. One or more conduits are defined in the flexible member to receive one or more central actuation members extending through the flexible member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2018Publication date: May 7, 2020Applicant: Ethicon LLCInventors: Mark A. Davison, Christopher W. Birri, William George Saulenas, Jalen Lee Wize
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Publication number: 20200138507Abstract: An end effector includes a first jaw rotatably coupled to a second jaw at a jaw axle, a central pulley rotatably mounted to the jaw axle, and a pivot link rotatably coupled to the first jaw at a pivot axle. A jaw cable is looped around the central pulley and operatively coupled to the pivot link such that linear movement of the jaw cable correspondingly causes the first jaw to rotate relative to the second jaw on the jaw axle and between open and closed positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2018Publication date: May 7, 2020Applicant: Ethicon LLCInventors: Mark A. Davison, Benjamin D. Dickerson, Christopher W. Birri
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Publication number: 20190380742Abstract: A trocar assembly includes a trocar that includes a trocar housing and a cannula that extends distally from the trocar housing, and an integral seal system positioned within a central passageway extending axially through the trocar and engageable against a surgical tool shaft extended therethrough. The integral seal system includes an asymmetric seal and a duckbill seal arranged distal to the asymmetric seal, and the asymmetric seal defines a diaphragm that complements insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the duckbill seal against the surgical tool shaft such that total insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the integral seal system are equalized.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2018Publication date: December 19, 2019Applicant: Ethicon LLCInventors: Steven G. Hall, Joseph Thomas Mozloom, JR., Christopher W. Birri, Daniel J. Prenger, Ryan Alan Klenke