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).

  • 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
  • Patent number: 11234701
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Russell Pribanic, Christopher Switalski, David A. Zeichner, David A. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20220022853
    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 hand held electromechanical surgical devices and adapter assemblies for connecting surgical loading units to the hand held electromechanical surgical devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: David Nicholas, Russell Pribanic
  • Publication number: 20220024865
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are clusters compounds that include at least one substituted amine sulfate and at least one substituted amine bisulfate molecule. The substituted amine sulfate molecule and the substituted amine bisulfate molecule may each include an ammonium moiety with at least one alkyl substituent. Optionally, the alkyl substituent can include 1 to 20 carbon atoms, 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or 1 to 6 carbon atoms. For example, the alkyl substituent can be a methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or pentyl group. In some examples, the substituted amine sulfate molecule and the substituted amine bisulfate molecule each include an ammonium moiety with at least two alkyl substituents. Optionally, the two alkyl substituents are the same. Alternatively, however, the two alkyl substituents can be different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: Earth Science Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Reid Henry Bowman, David Nicholas, Freddie L. Singleton
  • Publication number: 20220022870
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a surgical device including an adapter assembly for selectively interconnecting an end effector and the device housing. The adapter assembly includes at least one drive converter assembly that converts and transmits a rotation of the rotatable drive shaft to an axial translation of at least one axially translatable drive member of the end effector. A first drive converter assembly includes a first drive element, a nut, an articulation sleeve, an articulation bearing, and an articulation link. Rotation of the rotatable drive shaft results in rotation of the first drive element. Rotation of the first drive element results in axial translation of the nut, the articulation sleeve, the articulation bearing, the articulation link, and the at least one axially translatable drive member of the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: David Nicholas, Russell Pribanic, John Beardsley, Michael Zemlok
  • Publication number: 20220015767
    Abstract: A circular stapling device includes an elongate body having a flexible outer tube that supports a reload assembly, a flexible inner cable that supports an anvil assembly, and a flexible central tube that is supported about the inner cable and within the outer tube. The stapling device is configured to access body cavities which cannot be easily accessed by a circular stapling device having a rigid shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Justin Williams, Russell Pribanic, David A. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 11228699
    Abstract: A method of characterizing an imaging system includes generating a plurality of point spread function (“PSF”) samples using the imaging system, each PSF sample representing a response of an imaging system to a point illumination source, each PSF sample comprising one or more pixel values. The method also includes co-registering the pixel values contained in each of the plurality of PSF samples to form an oversampled point spread function (“PSF”) population; resampling the oversampled PSF population to uniform spacing to form a PSF image; slicing the PSF image in an evaluation direction to form a slice of the PSF image; and evaluating the slice to determine a value of a resolution metric of the imaging system that is specific to the evaluation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey Holt, David Nicholas Conran
  • Patent number: 11219452
    Abstract: The present invention, in accordance with various embodiments thereof, relates to a surgical device for at least one of cutting and stapling a section of tissue. The surgical device includes a housing including at least two drivers. The surgical device also includes an anvil mechanically attachable to the housing and moveable relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position. The first driver operates to move the anvil relative to the housing to an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position. The second driver operates to move at least a portion of the housing relative to the anvil between the intermediate position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, David A. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 11219468
    Abstract: A trocar assembly includes a housing, an elongated cannula extending from the housing to an insertion tip, and skirt. The skirt has a leading end portion and a trailing end portion. The leading end portion is secured to the insertion tip. The skirt has an outer surface supporting an antimicrobial material and an inner surface supporting a medical adhesive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Olesea Diaz-Chiosa, Russell V. Pribanic, David A. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 11197665
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David A. Nicholas, Russell Pribanic, Stanislaw Marczyk
  • Publication number: 20210383573
    Abstract: A system for calibrating a plurality of user sensors includes a calibration management system comprising a processor and a node services module and a plurality of calibration nodes disposed at a plurality of geographical locations. The processor is communicably coupled to the plurality of user sensors, the node services module, and the plurality of calibration nodes and operable to: provide calibration node information to a system associated with one of the plurality of user sensors and cause the calibration node to perform at least one calibration action after providing the calibration information, the calibration action may include performing an environmental measurement and/or providing a calibration reference signal to the user sensor. The processor is also operable to provide calibration results information containing results of the calibration action to the system associated with the one of the plurality of user sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey William Holt, Mark Duquette, Michael Wellington Dann, Erik A. Skarin, Paul David Mascia, Christopher Newman Durrell, Brandon James Russell, William Schuren Arnold, Daniel Francis Scharpf, Joseph William Jablonski, David Nicholas Conran
  • Patent number: 11191589
    Abstract: A shaft assembly for a microwave ablation applicator which includes a shaft assembly and an antenna assembly located within the shaft assembly is disclosed. The shaft assembly comprises an elongate shaft which extends from a first end to a second end thereof, and which defines therein a hollow inner volume and a longitudinal axis of the antenna assembly, and an applicator tip mounted on the second end of the elongate shaft. The shaft assembly further includes a coolant delivery tube having a side wall which defines an elongate hollow interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Gyrus Medical Limited
    Inventors: David Nicholas Williams, Tudor Thomas
  • Patent number: 11185369
    Abstract: The disclosure herein relate to systems, methods, and devices for developing patient-specific spinal treatments, operations, and procedures. In some embodiments, systems, methods, and devices described herein for developing patient-specific spinal treatments, operations, and procedures can comprise an iterative virtuous cycle. The iterative virtuous cycle can further comprise pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative techniques or processes. For example, the iterative virtuous cycle can comprise imaging analysis, case simulation, implant production, case support, data collection, machine learning, and/or predictive modeling. One or more techniques or processes of the iterative virtuous cycle can be repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: MEDICREA NTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: David Nicholas Ryan, Denys Sournac, Thomas Mosnier, Christophe Xavier Guillaume Javelot, Agathe Senac, Céline Augagneur
  • Publication number: 20210345999
    Abstract: A surgical device with a powered in-line handle assembly that includes actuators for actuating and articulating an end effector of the surgical device allows for single handed operation of the surgical device. The handle assembly includes a battery that is received in a removable compartment in a battery cover to allow for removal and recycling of the battery following use. The handle assembly also includes a manual release mechanism that allows a firing rod assembly of the handle assembly to be manually retracted in emergency situations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventor: David A. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20210329154
    Abstract: A method of characterizing an imaging system includes generating a plurality of point spread function (“PSF”) samples using the imaging system, each PSF sample representing a response of an imaging system to a point illumination source, each PSF sample comprising one or more pixel values. The method also includes co-registering the pixel values contained in each of the plurality of PSF samples to form an oversampled point spread function (“PSF”) population; resampling the oversampled PSF population to uniform spacing to form a PSF image; slicing the PSF image in an evaluation direction to form a slice of the PSF image; and evaluating the slice to determine a value of a resolution metric of the imaging system that is specific to the evaluation direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey Holt, David Nicholas Conran
  • Patent number: 11147548
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David Nicholas, John Beardsley, Russell Pribanic
  • Patent number: 11141140
    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 hand held electromechanical surgical devices and adapter assemblies for connecting surgical loading units to the hand held electromechanical surgical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: David Nicholas, Russell Pribanic
  • Publication number: 20210310199
    Abstract: A releasable rail coupling (1000) for releasably coupling a first rail 10A providing a first portion P1 of a miming surface RS for a wheel (120) and a second rail (10B) providing a second portion P2 of the miming surface RS is described. The rail coupling (1000) comprises a first part (1100) having a first end 1110 comprising a first male coupling member (1111) and a second end (1120) arranged for joining to the first rail (10A). The rail coupling (1000) comprises a second part (1200) having a first end (1210) comprising a corresponding first female coupling member (1212), arranged to receive the first male coupling member (1111) therein, and a second end (1220) arranged for joining to the second rail (10B). The rail coupling (1000) is arrangeable in a first configuration wherein the first male coupling member (1111) and the first female coupling member (1212) are uncoupled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventor: David Nicholas EVANS
  • Publication number: 20210307745
    Abstract: A hand-held electromechanical surgical instrument includes a handle housing, a shaft portion extending distally from the handle housing, a firing shaft configured to effect a stapling function of an end effector, and a manual lever coupled to the firing shaft for manually retracting the firing shaft and, in turn, opening the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventor: David A. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20210309265
    Abstract: A trolley 100 for a rail 10 is described. The trolley 100 comprises a frame 110, a set S of wheels 120, including a first wheel 120A and a second wheel 120B, rotatably coupled to the frame 110 and an attachment member 130, coupled to the frame 110, for suspension of a load W therefrom, in use. The first wheel 120A is rotatable in a first plane P1 about a first axis A1 and the second wheel 120B is rotatable in a second plane P2 about a second axis A2. The first plane P1 and the second plane P2 define a line L. The trolley 100 is arrangeable in a first configuration, wherein the attachment member 130 is arranged at a first angular displacement D1 about the line L. The trolley 100 is arrangeable in a second configuration, wherein the attachment member 130 is arranged at a second angular displacement D2 about the line L, wherein the first angular displacement D1 and the second angular displacement D2 are different. A rail assembly 1, including the trolley 100 and the rail 10, is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventor: David Nicholas EVANS