Patents by Inventor Curt D. Hammill
Curt D. Hammill 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: 9554841Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end and movable about a pivot from a first position and disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue, a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another. At least one jaw member conducts electrical energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot and includes a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material. The high durometer material may operably retain the flexible insulating boot atop the proximal ends of the jaw members.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Paul Guerra, Curt D. Hammill, James S. Cunningham, Charles Schryver
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Publication number: 20140221995Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end and movable about a pivot from a first position and disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue, a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another. At least one jaw member conducts electrical energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot and includes a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material. The high durometer material may operably retain the flexible insulating boot atop the proximal ends of the jaw members.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: COVIDIEN LPInventors: PAUL GUERRA, CURT D. HAMMILL, JAMES S. CUNNINGHAM, CHARLES SCHRYVER
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Patent number: 8696667Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end and movable about a pivot from a first position and disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue, a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another. At least one jaw member conducts electrical energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot and includes a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material. The high durometer material may operably retain the flexible insulating boot atop the proximal ends of the jaw members.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Paul Guerra, Curt D. Hammill, James S. Cunningham, Charles Schryver
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Patent number: 8679114Abstract: An electrode sealing assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue includes first and second jaw members which are movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue. The jaw members include electrically conductive sealing plates designed to selectively transmit electrosurgical energy to tissue disposed between the sealing plates. The jaw members also include a thermoelectric cooling plate having a first surface in direct contact with an outer surface of the sealing plate. The thermoelectric cooling plate includes first and second electrical connections on opposite sides of the jaw member. The first connection is configured to selectively transmit a first electrical potential and the second connection is configured to selectively transmit a second electrical potential such that heat generated by the sealing plates is transferred away from the tissue via the thermoelectric cooling plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2010Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Covidien AGInventors: Troy J. Chapman, Curt D. Hammill, Chelsea Shields, David A. Schechter, Ronald J. Podhajsky
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Patent number: 8382754Abstract: Electrosurgical bipolar forceps for sealing tissue is disclosed. The forceps includes a shaft member having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members includes a sealing plate that communicates electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween. One or more of the sealing plates includes one or more springs, the sealing plate is configured to slowly flex to accommodate pressure applied to the tissue until a specified closure pressure is obtained based upon at least one of tissue type and tissue thickness.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Covidien AGInventors: Darren Odom, Curt D. Hammill
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Publication number: 20120303021Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end and movable about a pivot from a first position and disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue, a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another. At least one jaw member conducts electrical energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot and includes a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material. The high durometer material may operably retain the flexible insulating boot atop the proximal ends of the jaw members.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: TYCO HEALTHCARE GROUP LPInventors: Paul Guerra, Curt D. Hammill, James S. Cunningham, Charles Schryver
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Patent number: 8241283Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end and movable about a pivot from a first position and disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue, a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another. At least one jaw member conducts electrical energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot, and includes a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material. The high durometer material may operably retain the flexible insulating boot atop the proximal ends of the jaw members.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2008Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: TYCO Healthcare Group LPInventors: Paul Guerra, Curt D. Hammill, James S. Cunningham, Charles Schryver
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Patent number: 8235992Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end thereof that is movable about a pivot from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue. A movable handle is included that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another and at least one of the jaw members is adapted to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on at least a portion of an exterior surface of one or both jaw members and about the pivot. The flexible boot includes one or more mechanically reinforcing elements operatively coupled thereto that is configured enhance the rigidity of the insulating boot.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2008Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: TYCO Healthcare Group LPInventors: Paul Guerra, Curt D. Hammill, James S. Cunningham, Dylan Hushka, Jeffrey R. Townsend
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Publication number: 20100204698Abstract: An electrode sealing assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue includes first and second jaw members which are movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue. The jaw members include electrically conductive sealing plates designed to selectively transmit electrosurgical energy to tissue disposed between the sealing plates. The jaw members also include a thermoelectric cooling plate having a first surface in direct contact with an outer surface of the sealing plate. The thermoelectric cooling plate includes first and second electrical connections on opposite sides of the jaw member. The first connection is configured to selectively transmit a first electrical potential and the second connection is configured to selectively transmit a second electrical potential such that heat generated by the sealing plates is transferred away from the tissue via the thermoelectric cooling plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2010Publication date: August 12, 2010Inventors: Troy J. Chapman, Curt D. Hammill, Chelsea Shields, David A. Schechter, Ronald J. Podhajsky
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Patent number: 7708735Abstract: An electrode sealing assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue includes first and second jaw members which are movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue. The jaw members include electrically conductive sealing plates designed to selectively transmit electrosurgical energy to tissue disposed between the sealing plates. The jaw members also include a thermoelectric cooling plate having a first surface in direct contact with an outer surface of the sealing plate. The thermoelectric cooling plate includes first and second electrical connections on opposite sides of the jaw member. The first connection is configured to selectively transmit a first electrical potential and the second connection is configured to selectively transmit a second electrical potential such that heat generated by the sealing plates is transferred away from the tissue via the thermoelectric cooling plate.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2005Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Covidien AGInventors: Troy J. Chapman, Curt D. Hammill, Chelsea Shields, David A. Schechter, Ronald J. Podhajsky
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Publication number: 20090131934Abstract: Electrosurgical bipolar forceps for sealing tissue is disclosed. The forceps includes a shaft member having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members includes a sealing plate that communicates electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween. One or more of the sealing plates includes one or more biasing members, the sealing plate is configured to slowly flex to accommodate pressure applied to the tissue until a specified closure pressure is obtained based upon at least one of tissue type and tissue thickness.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2009Publication date: May 21, 2009Inventors: Darren Odom, Curt D. Hammill
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Publication number: 20090088740Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end thereof that is movable about a pivot from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue. A movable handle is included that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another and at least one of the jaw members is adapted to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on at least a portion of an exterior surface of one or both jaw members and about the pivot. The flexible boot includes one or more mechanically reinforcing elements operatively coupled thereto that is configured enhance the rigidity of the insulating boot.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Inventors: Paul Guerra, Curt D. Hammill, James S. Cunningham, Dylan Hushka, Jeffrey R. Townsend
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Publication number: 20090088748Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable about a pivot from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue. A movable handle actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another and at least one of the jaw members is adapted to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on at least a portion of an exterior surface of one or both jaw members and about the pivot. The flexible boot includes a woven mesh-like base material that is covered with a layer of flexible silicone configured to reduce stray currents emanating from the jaw members and the pivot during electrical activation of the forceps.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Inventors: Paul Guerra, Curt D. Hammill, James S. Cunningham, Dylan Hushka
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Publication number: 20090088738Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members movable about a pivot from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue, a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another. At least one of the jaw members includes at least one mechanical interface and at least one jaw member is adapted to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the at least one jaw member is capable of conducting energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on at least a portion of an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot, the flexible boot including a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Inventors: Paul Guerra, Curt D. Hammill, James S. Cunningham, Charles Schryver
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Patent number: 7491202Abstract: An Electrosurgical bipolar forceps for sealing tissue is disclosed which includes at least one shaft member having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members including a sealing plate which communicates electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween. At least one of the sealing plates includes one or more adjustable stop members coupled to one or more controllers. The adjustable stop member(s) are adapted for separating the sealing plates by a predetermined gap distance and the controller(s) adapted for adjusting the adjustable stop member(s) to close the sealing plates at a predetermined rate.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2005Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Covidien AGInventors: Darren Odom, Curt D. Hammill