Patents by Inventor David A. Nicholas

David A. Nicholas 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: 11383936
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic height adjusting manifold, and in particular to a manifold that is adjustable to be located adjacent to a workpiece. A conveyor can have an overhead structure that supports a concealer such as a canopy or removable doors. A sizing device measures the height of a workpiece. The sizing device is outside of the work areas of the machine. A height safety is provided to make sure that no workpieces taller than the measured piece enter the machine. There are liquid bays and blowoff bays within the machine. The blowoff bay has an air knife or other manifold device. A height system is provided and is adjustable to correlate with the measured height at the sizing device. A string potentiometer can be used for an air knife position feedback to the programmable logic controller (PLC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Alliance Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery Paul Brouchoud, David Nicholas van Zon, Bobby Joseph Marquardt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11369378
    Abstract: An adapter assembly includes a cam housing defining a proximal cam slot and a distal cam slot, a first elongate shaft, and a second elongate shaft. The first elongate shaft has a proximal end portion received in the proximal cam slot, and a distal end portion configured to be coupled to a surgical loading unit. The second elongate shaft has a proximal end portion received in the distal cam slot, and a distal end portion configured to be coupled to the surgical loading unit. The first and second elongate shafts are configured to move in opposing longitudinal directions in response to a rotation of the cam housing to articulate the surgical loading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: John Beardsley, Kenneth Whitfield, Russell Pribanic, Stanislaw Kostrzewski, David Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20220186815
    Abstract: A handle assembly includes a single-motor transmission assembly for actuating various functions of an attached end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventor: David A. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 11350942
    Abstract: A flexible surgical stapler includes an adapter having a coupling assembly configured for securing the adapter assembly to a handle assembly, an elongate body extending from the coupling assembly, a first drive assembly extending through the elongate body, and a loading unit secured to a distal portion of the elongate body. The loading unit includes a firing assembly operably connected to the first drive assembly. The firing assembly includes a cycloid gear assembly for increasing an input torque from the first drive assembly to actuate the firing assembly. The flexible surgical stapler may include an introducer assembly to facilitate introduction of a stapling portion of the surgical stapler into a body cavity of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: David A. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 11344302
    Abstract: A surgical device includes an adapter assembly and a tool assembly that is coupled to the adapter assembly by a pivot member to facilitate articulation of the tool assembly in relation to the adapter assembly. The adapter assembly supports a drive assembly for actuating or firing the tool assembly. The adapter assembly includes an articulation mechanism that adjusts the position of the tool assembly in relation to the drive assembly to compensate for changes in stroke length of the drive assembly that result from articulation of the tool assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Justin Williams, Russell Pribanic, John W. Beardsley, David A. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20220151723
    Abstract: A surgical device includes a power source and a motor coupled to the power source. The device also includes a drive shaft having a proximal drive shaft having a proximal end portion coupled to the motor and a distal end portion, a proximal index gear coupled to the distal end portion of the proximal drive shaft, a distal drive shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a distal index gear coupled to the proximal end portion of the distal drive shaft, a spring member biasedly coupling the proximal index gear and the distal index gear. The device also includes a force measurement sensor configured to measure rotation of the proximal index gear and the distal index gear. The device further includes a controller coupled to the force measurement sensor and configured to determine a force applied to the drive shaft based on a difference between rotation of the proximal index gear and the distal index gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Anthony D. Calderoni, David A. Nicholas, John M. Pantazis, David A. Zeichner
  • Publication number: 20220133324
    Abstract: A handle assembly for use with a surgical tack applier includes an actuation assembly and an articulation lever assembly configured to articulate an articulation portion of the surgical tack applier. The actuation assembly includes a motor, an actuation rod, and an actuation switch configured to actuate the motor. The actuation rod has a first end operatively coupled to an output shaft of the motor for concomitant rotation therewith, and a second end operatively coupled to a loading unit of the surgical tack applier such that rotation of the actuation rod ejects a surgical tack from the loading unit. The articulation lever assembly includes an articulation rod operatively coupled with an articulation portion of the surgical tack applier such that axial displacement of the articulation rod causes articulation of the articulation portion, and an articulation lever operatively coupled with the articulation rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Russell Pribanic, Christopher Switalski, David A. Zeichner, David A. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20220133308
    Abstract: An adapter assembly includes an articulation nut, an articulation link, and a drive belt operably coupled to a distal portion of the articulation link. The articulation link has a proximal end portion operably coupled to the articulation nut, such that rotation of the articulation nut results in translation of the articulation link. The drive belt has a distal end portion configured to be operably coupled to a proximal end portion of a surgical loading unit, such that movement of the drive belt articulates the surgical loading unit relative to the adapter assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: David Nicholas, Russell Pribanic
  • Patent number: 11317911
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly that includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a channel member that includes structure for releasably engaging the anvil assembly to allow for separation of the entire cartridge assembly from the anvil assembly after each use of the stapling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Justin Williams, David A. Nicholas, Russell Pribanic
  • Patent number: 11317909
    Abstract: A surgical device is provided, the surgical device including a first driver for performing a first movement function; a second driver for performing a second movement function; a first rotatable drive shaft configured, upon actuation, to cause selective engagement of one of the first and second drivers with a second rotatable drive shaft, wherein the second rotatable drive shaft is configured to drive the selectively engaged one of the first and second drivers. Third and fourth drivers may also be included. The drivers may function to rotate a shaft portion of the surgical device relative to, and about the longitudinal axis of, a handle; move a jaw portion relative to the shaft portion; move a first jaw relative to a second jaw; and/or move a surgical member within the second jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, Donald Malinouskas, Peter Datcuk, David Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20220129485
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for an intermediary mapping an de-identification comprising steps of retrieving datasets and meta data from a data source; selecting a target standard; mapping the retrieved datasets and the metadata to the target standard, wherein the datasets and the metadata are mapped to the target standard using one of, a schema mapping, a variable mapping, or a combination thereof; infer one or more of, variable classifications, variable connections, groupings, disclosure risk settings, and de-identification settings using the dataset mapping and metadata; perform a de-identification propagation using the mapped datasets, the mapped metadata, the inferred variable classifications, the inferred variable connections, the inferred groupings, the inferred disclosure risk settings, the inferred de-identification settings, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Muhammad Oneeb Rehman Mian, David Nicholas Maurice Di Valentino, George Wesley Bradley
  • Patent number: 11298114
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to adapter assemblies for use with and to electrically and mechanically interconnect electromechanical surgical devices and surgical loading units, and to surgical systems including handheld electromechanical surgical devices and adapter assemblies for connecting surgical loading units to the handheld electromechanical surgical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: David Nicholas, Russell Pribanic
  • Publication number: 20220104809
    Abstract: A hand-held surgical instrument includes a handle housing and a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle housing. The shaft assembly includes an elongate body configured to translate from a distal position to a proximal position in response to an insertion of a surgical loading unit into a distal end portion of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly has a cam plate configured to convert rotational motion into an articulation of an end effector of the surgical loading unit. When the elongate body is in the distal position, the elongate body is configured to prevent rotation of the cam plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventor: David A. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20220096079
    Abstract: A hand-held surgical instrument includes a handle housing, an elongated shaft portion configured to extend distally relative to the handle housing, and a surgical end effector configured to be coupled to a distal end portion of the shaft portion. An articulation screw is operably coupled to the surgical end effector, and an articulation nut is disposed about and operably coupled to the articulation screw. The articulation screw is configured to translate in response to a rotation of the articulation nut, whereby the articulation screw articulates the surgical end effector between a parallel orientation relative to the shaft portion and a non-parallel orientation relative to the shaft portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventor: David A. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20220087679
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly for performing anastomoses procedures. The tool assembly includes a reload assembly and an anvil assembly that have oval configurations to facilitate passage of the tool assembly into a body cavity of a patient with minimal trauma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Justin Williams, Russell Pribanic, David A. Nicholas, Andrew M. Miesse, Johana M. Marinelli, Stephen S. Chiang, Drew R. Seils
  • Patent number: 11272948
    Abstract: A hand-held surgical instrument includes a handle housing, a first motor disposed within the handle housing, a shaft portion extending distally from the handle housing, an articulation shaft operably coupled to the first motor and disposed within the shaft portion, and a position sensor associated with the articulation shaft. The articulation shaft is configured to axially move within the shaft portion to articulate an end effector, and the position sensor is configured to determine an articulation position of the articulation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David Nicholas, Russell Pribanic
  • Patent number: 11267600
    Abstract: A tape closure system is shown and described herein. The tape closure system includes a first tape component having a pressure sensitive adhesive and a second tape component having a pressure sensitive adhesive, where at least one of the pressure sensitive adhesives has a modified surface to reduce the tack of the surface such that when the first and second pressure adhesives are brought into contact with one another they may sufficiently adhere to one another to form a seal but are still separable from one another and able to be repeatedly opened and sealed. Such a tape may be manufactured through high speed manufacturing processes and wound into large master rolls. In the roll configuration, the modified surface contacts the backside of the liner and experiences compressive forces in the roll. Due to the compressive forces, a part of the modified surface may get pushed into the PSA, thereby affecting the properties of the modified adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: FLEX R&D, INC.
    Inventors: Prakash Mallya, Ramin Heydarpour, David Nicholas Edwards, William Ben Bower
  • Publication number: 20220061835
    Abstract: A needle reload device includes a loading assembly including a needle holder pulley and a needle release arm. The needle holder pulley includes a base including first and second portions configured to receive a needle. The needle release arm is transitionable between an engaged state, in which the needle release arm engages the needle holder pulley to inhibit rotation of the needle holder pulley, and a disengaged state, in which the needle release arm is disengaged from the needle holder pulley such that the needle holder pulley is rotatable. When the needle release arm is in the engaged state, the first portion of the needle holder pulley is positioned between jaws of a stitching device, and when the needle release arm is in the disengage state, the second portion of the base of the needle holder pulley is positioned between the jaws.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: David A. Nicholas, Russell Pribanic, Stanislaw Marczyk
  • Patent number: 11241228
    Abstract: An adapter assembly includes an articulation nut, an articulation link, and a drive belt operably coupled to a distal portion of the articulation link. The articulation link has a proximal end portion operably coupled to the articulation nut, such that rotation of the articulation nut results in translation of the articulation link. The drive belt has a distal end portion configured to be operably coupled to a proximal end portion of a surgical loading unit, such that movement of the drive belt articulates the surgical loading unit relative to the adapter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David Nicholas, Russell Pribanic
  • Publication number: 20220031309
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus is provided. The surgical apparatus includes a proximal body portion, a distal body portion selectively articulable relative to the proximal body portion at an articulation joint, and a first drive gear disposed within the distal body portion. The distal body portion has a diameter and a length. The length of the distal body portion is substantially the same as the diameter of the distal body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: David Nicholas, John Beardsley, Russell Pribanic