Patents by Inventor D. Allen

D. Allen 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).

  • MONOPOLAR ELECTRODES FOR USE IN ELECTROSURGERY
    Publication number: 20200360077
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes a shaft, an elongated electrosurgical blade coupled to the shaft, and a housing. The shaft is coupled to a source of electrical energy and the electrosurgical blade is coupled to the shaft. The electrosurgical blade defines a longitudinally-extending crease and is configured to be manually bent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventor: JAMES D. ALLEN, IV
  • Polycarbonate polyol compositions and methods
    Patent number: 10836859
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure encompasses polymerization systems for the copolymerization of CO2 and epoxides comprising 1) a catalyst including a metal coordination compound having a permanent ligand set and at least one ligand that is a polymerization initiator, and 2) a chain transfer agent having two or more sites that can initiate polymerization. In a second aspect, the present disclosure encompasses methods for the synthesis of polycarbonate polyols using the inventive polymerization systems. In a third aspect, the present disclosure encompasses polycarbonate polyol compositions characterized in that the polymer chains have a high percentage of —OH end groups and a high percentage of carbonate linkages. The compositions are further characterized in that they contain polymer chains having an embedded polyfunctional moiety linked to a plurality of individual polycarbonate chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Aramco Technologies Company
    Inventors: Scott D. Allen, Geoffrey W. Coates, Anna E. Cherian, Chris A. Simoneau, Alexei A. Gridnev, Jay J. Farmer
  • Surgical instruments and methods for performing tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and other surgical procedures
    Patent number: 10828084
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending therefrom, an end effector assembly supported by the shaft, a movable handle, and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a translatable drive member for actuating the end effector assembly, and a torsion spring including first and second legs. The first leg is configured to translate through the housing in response to movement of the movable handle relative to the housing. The second leg is configured to translate through the housing in cooperation with the first leg to move the drive member longitudinally when a force acting on the drive member is less than a threshold force, and to remain in fixed position, thereby tensioning the torsion spring and retaining the drive member in fixed position when the force acting on the drive member is equal to or exceeds the threshold force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Craig V. Krastins, James D. Allen, IV, Jessica E. C. Olson, Jason G. Weihe, Purvish Soni
  • Disassembly methods facilitating reprocessing of multi-function surgical instruments
    Patent number: 10828756
    Abstract: A method of disassembling a surgical instrument includes obtaining a surgical instrument including a housing, an input shaft defining an axis and extending from the housing, and a paddle engaged with the input shaft and configured to pivot about the axis. The method further includes disengaging a cover plate of the paddle from a body of the paddle by providing a force to the cover plate substantially in a direction parallel to the axis and disengaging the body from the input shaft by providing a force to the body substantially in a direction parallel to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: John R. Twomey, James D. Allen, IV
  • Nanostructure enhanced targeting (NSET) of inflammatory cells
    Patent number: 10821078
    Abstract: The present invention provides nanomaterials for the specific targeting of immune cells. Methods of treating cardiac disease and inflammatory disease are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Evan A. Scott, Sijia Yi, Sean D. Allen
  • GAP CONTROL VIA OVERMOLD TEETH AND HARD STOPS
    Publication number: 20200315695
    Abstract: A forceps includes an end effector assembly having a stop and a plurality of overmold teeth within at least one jaw member. One (or both) of the jaw members is moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. One (or both) of the jaw members includes a stop molded within an insulative housing, and an insulator plate with the overmold teeth formed from plastic. The overmold teeth extend through openings within a sealing plate and protrude past the tissue sealing surface of the sealing plate. The stop primarily controls the gap distance between opposing jaw members by bearing most of an applied load and the overmold teeth assist in controlling the gap distance by bearing the remaining applied load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: John R. Twomey, Dylan R. Kingsley, James D. Allen, IV, Sean T. O'Neill, Jeffrey M. Roy
  • CUTTING MECHANISMS FOR SURGICAL END EFFECTOR ASSEMBLIES, INSTRUMENTS, AND SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20200297369
    Abstract: An end effector assembly configured for use with a surgical instrument or surgical system includes first and second jaw members each including an outer jaw housing, a tissue-treating plate, and a longitudinally-extending channel therethrough. At least one of the first or second jaw members is pivotable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position. A cutting mechanism is configured to cut tissue grasped between the jaw members. The cutting mechanism may include an activation member coupled to a knife and configured to advance the knife transversely between the jaw members, a heat-activated elongated sheet configured to un-roll to advance a cutting edge thereof transversely between the jaw members, or a clutch and spring mechanism configured to deploy a knife longitudinally between the jaw members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas E. Drochner, David J. Van Tol, Duane E. Kerr, Gary M. Couture, James D. Allen, IV, Robert M. Sharp
  • SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH SENSOR
    Publication number: 20200297407
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector disposed at a distal end of the shaft, an actuator operably coupled to the housing, an actuation assembly, and a sensor module. The actuation assembly extends through the housing and the shaft and includes a distal end operably coupled to the end effector or a component associated therewith, a proximal end operably coupled to the actuator, and a spring. Actuation of the actuator manipulates the end effector or deploys the component relative thereto. The sensor module is disposed within the housing and configured to sense a property of the spring indicative of an amount the spring has been compressed. The sensor module is further configured, based upon the sensed property, to determine a condition of the end effector or the relative position of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventor: James D. Allen, IV
  • SURGICAL TOOL POSITIONING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20200297988
    Abstract: A positioning device is provided for delivering or guiding a surgical device into a lumen of a body vessel to a position adjacent target tissue. The device includes a housing, an elongate sleeve, and a source of pressurized fluid. The sleeve has a first end coupled to a delivery side of the housing, a second end positioned on a return side of the housing, and an inverted distal portion positioned between the first and second ends. One second end of the sleeve can be furled about a support member supported on the housing. A distal portion of the sleeve defines a cavity that communicates with a pressure chamber within the housing. When pressurized fluid is directed into the pressure chamber, the pressurized fluid flows into the cavity of the distal portion of the sleeve to advance the sleeve away from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: James D. Allen, IV, Jing Zhao
  • Systems and methods facilitating reprocessing of surgical instruments
    Patent number: 10780544
    Abstract: A method of sharpening a cutting edge of a knife of a surgical instrument includes manipulating an end effector assembly of a surgical instrument such that first and second jaw members of the end effector assembly are disposed in a spaced-apart position, retaining the first and second jaw members in the spaced-apart position, advancing a knife of the surgical instrument to an extended position wherein the knife extends between the first and second jaw members, retaining the knife in the extended position, and sharpening a cutting edge of the knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: John R. Twomey, James D. Allen, IV
  • Surgical energy system with universal connection features
    Patent number: 10772673
    Abstract: A surgical energy system includes a first and second surgical instruments and a generator including a universal interface. The first surgical instrument includes a first instrument connector having one or more instrument couplers disposed in a first instrument coupler configuration. The second surgical instrument includes a second instrument connector having one or more instrument couplers disposed in a second instrument coupler configuration. The first and second instrument coupler configurations are different. The generator includes a universal interface including generator couplers arranged to provide generator coupler configurations at the universal interface. Each generator coupler configuration accommodates one of the first and second instrument coupler configurations in order to electronically couple the generator to a respective one of the first and second surgical instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: James D. Allen, IV, Duane E. Kerr
  • ACCESS ASSEMBLY INCLUDING FLEXIBLE CANNULA
    Publication number: 20200268412
    Abstract: An access device configured for accommodating passage of an instrument with a curved end effector includes a housing assembly and a cannula member extending from the housing. The cannula member includes a length and a plurality of rigid portions alternating with a plurality of flexible portions. The cannula member is configured to maintain a circular cross-sectional profile when a force is applied to the cannula member from the outside and to flex to an oblong cross-sectional profile when a force is applied to the cannula member from the inside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: William E. Robinson, James D. Allen, IV, John A. Hammerland, III
  • Work string tubing connection restoration
    Patent number: 10751824
    Abstract: A hardfacing metal composition and method of restoring worn work string tubing by application of a hardfacing metal to the worn regions of the work string tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Postle Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Miller, James D. Allen, Steven L. Stefancic
  • Extrudable poly(propylene) compositions
    Patent number: 10745579
    Abstract: Extrudable compositions were prepared comprising poly(propylene) and a liquid additive comprising a lactam group. The compositions can comprise other optional additives that include a polyhemiaminal, antioxidants, UV light absorbers, and surfactants. The extruded compositions have higher percent elongation at break and lower Young's modulus compared to extruded poly(propylene) lacking the liquid additive. These and other property improvements make the extruded compositions attractive for forming field joint coatings for undersea pipeline applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Subsea 7 (US) LLC
    Inventors: Jeannette M. Garcia, Alireza Rahimi, Robert D. Allen, John Hobbs, Michael Firmian
  • Facile Assembly of Soft Nanoarchitectures and Co-Loading of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Molecules via Flash Nanoprecipitation
    Publication number: 20200255603
    Abstract: Described herein are flash nanoprecipitation methods capable of encapsulating hydrophobic molecules, hydrophilic molecules, bioactive protein therapeutics, or other target molecules in amphiphilic copolymer nanocarriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Evan A. Scott, Sean D. Allen
  • Elevator suspension and transmission strip
    Patent number: 10737906
    Abstract: A suspension and transmission device for use with an elevator system comprises one or more strips that provide load carrying, transmission or traction, and load carrying redundancy or safety functions for the elevator system. In one version a single strip comprised of polymer and composite materials provides these functions. In another version multiple strips comprised of polymer and composite materials provide these functions. In another version, a strip comprises a hollow interior portion. In another version one or more strips incorporate materials that can be detected when using the strip to monitor the condition of the one or more strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Frank P. Dudde, Peter P. Feldhusen, Gomaa G. Abdelsadek, Alan M. Parker, Jie Xu, Stephen D. Allen, Mike Palazzola
  • Work String Tubing Connection Restoration
    Publication number: 20200249270
    Abstract: A hardfacing metal composition and method of restoring worn work string tubing by application of a hardfacing metal to the worn regions of the work string tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Robert F. Miller, James D. Allen, Steven L. Stefancic
  • SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH RESILIENT DRIVING MEMBER AND RELATED METHODS OF USE
    Publication number: 20200246065
    Abstract: A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: David M. Garrison, James D. Allen, IV, Jeffrey R. Unger, Duane E. Kerr, Sean T. O'Neill, Peter M. Mueller, Kim V. Brandt, James S. Cunningham, Keir Hart, Daniel A. Joseph, Jason T. Sanders, Robert M. Sharp
  • SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR TREATING TISSUE
    Publication number: 20200214729
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion coupled to a housing. An inner shaft member extends at least partially through the elongated shaft and is selectively movable in a longitudinal direction. An end effector is supported by the distal portion of the elongated shaft. The end effector includes upper and lower jaw members pivotally coupled to the distal portion of the elongated shaft about a pivot axis and including a pair of laterally spaced flanges. The pairs of flanges of the jaw members are arranged in an offset configuration such that one flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally exterior side of a corresponding flange of the lower jaw member, and the other flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally interior side of the other flange of the lower jaw member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: James D. Allen, IV, John R. Twomey, Michael B. Lyons, Jessica E.C. Olson, Sean T. O'Neill, Grant T. Sims
  • Gap control via overmold teeth and hard stops
    Patent number: 10702332
    Abstract: A forceps includes an end effector assembly having a stop and a plurality of overmold teeth within at least one jaw member. One (or both) of the jaw members is moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. One (or both) of the jaw members includes a stop molded within an insulative housing, and an insulator plate with the overmold teeth formed from plastic. The overmold teeth extend through openings within a sealing plate and protrude past the tissue sealing surface of the sealing plate. The stop primarily controls the gap distance between opposing jaw members by bearing most of an applied load and the overmold teeth assist in controlling the gap distance by bearing the remaining applied load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: John R. Twomey, Dylan R. Kingsley, James D. Allen, IV, Sean T. O'Neill, Jeffrey M. Roy