Patents by Inventor David B. Griffith

David B. Griffith 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: 11284918
    Abstract: A cannula sleeve for a surgical trocar assembly. The cannula sleeve includes a hollow shaft, at least a portion of which is made of a rigid material, and a seal at the distal end of the hollow shaft, the seal being movable between a first open position and a second closed position. The shaft defines a proximal end, a distal end, a periphery, and a longitudinal axis. The shaft further includes a channel at the periphery substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the channel being in communication with the hollow shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH Inlernational
    Inventors: David B. Griffith, Sean P. Conlon, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Christopher J. Hess, Kempton K. Carroll, II
  • Publication number: 20190321073
    Abstract: A cannula sleeve for a surgical trocar assembly. The cannula sleeve includes a hollow shaft, at least a portion of which is made of a rigid material, and a seal at the distal end of the hollow shaft, the seal being movable between a first open position and a second closed position. The shaft defines a proximal end, a distal end, a periphery, and a longitudinal axis. The shaft further includes a channel at the periphery substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the channel being in communication with the hollow shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: David B. Griffith, Sean P. Conlon, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Christopher J. Hess, Kempton K. Carroll, II
  • Patent number: 10307280
    Abstract: A duodenal sleeve assembly comprises a sleeve, an expandable sealing member, a tether, and an expandable anchor. The sleeve is secured to the sealing member. The tether couples the anchor with the sealing member. A deployment instrument comprises a shaft assembly, a first retention member, and a second retention member. The first retention member selectively secures the sealing member to the shaft assembly. The second retention member selectively secures the anchor to the shaft assembly. When the first retention member is released, the sealing member expands outwardly to seal the proximal end of the sleeve against the mucosa of the patient's duodenum. When the second retention member is released, the anchor expands outwardly within the stomach to anchor the sleeve assembly relative to the stomach. The tether traverses the pylorus. The sleeve isolates chyme from enzymes in the duodenum; and the mucosa of the duodenum from nutrients in the chyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Zeiner, Mark S. Ortiz, David B. Griffith
  • Patent number: 10206709
    Abstract: A cannula assembly including a housing, a rotatable member, a first plurality of membranes, and a second plurality of membranes is disclosed. The housing may include a distal end defining a distal opening, wherein the distal end is configured to couple to a cannula tube aligned with the distal opening, and a proximal end defining a proximal opening. The rotatable member may be positioned within the housing and may define a passage in fluid communication with the distal opening, a first opening in fluid communication with the passage, and a second opening in fluid communication with the passage. The first plurality of membranes may be arranged as a stack at the first opening, wherein each of the first plurality of membranes defines an aperture. The second plurality of membranes may be arranged as a stack at the second opening, wherein each of the second plurality of membranes defines an aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: David B. Griffith, Sean P. Conlon, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Christopher J. Hess, Kempton K. Carroll, II
  • Publication number: 20170000638
    Abstract: A duodenal sleeve assembly comprises a sleeve, an expandable sealing member, a tether, and an expandable anchor. The sleeve is secured to the sealing member. The tether couples the anchor with the sealing member. A deployment instrument comprises a shaft assembly, a first retention member, and a second retention member. The first retention member selectively secures the sealing member to the shaft assembly. The second retention member selectively secures the anchor to the shaft assembly. When the first retention member is released, the sealing member expands outwardly to seal the proximal end of the sleeve against the mucosa of the patient's duodenum. When the second retention member is released, the anchor expands outwardly within the stomach to anchor the sleeve assembly relative to the stomach. The tether traverses the pylorus. The sleeve isolates chyme from enzymes in the duodenum; and the mucosa of the duodenum from nutrients in the chyme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Mark S. Zeiner, Mark S. Ortiz, David B. Griffith
  • Publication number: 20160338731
    Abstract: A cannula assembly including a housing, a rotatable member, a first plurality of membranes, and a second plurality of membranes is disclosed. The housing may include a distal end defining a distal opening, wherein the distal end is configured to couple to a cannula tube aligned with the distal opening, and a proximal end defining a proximal opening. The rotatable member may be positioned within the housing and may define a passage in fluid communication with the distal opening, a first opening in fluid communication with the passage, and a second opening in fluid communication with the passage. The first plurality of membranes may be arranged as a stack at the first opening, wherein each of the first plurality of membranes defines an aperture. The second plurality of membranes may be arranged as a stack at the second opening, wherein each of the second plurality of membranes defines an aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: David B. Griffith, Sean P. Conlon, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Christopher J. Hess, Kempton K. Carroll, II
  • Patent number: 9456917
    Abstract: A duodenal sleeve assembly comprises a sleeve, an expandable sealing member, a tether, and an expandable anchor. The sleeve is secured to the sealing member. The tether couples the anchor with the sealing member. A deployment instrument comprises a shaft assembly, a first retention member, and a second retention member. The first retention member selectively secures the sealing member to the shaft assembly. The second retention member selectively secures the anchor to the shaft assembly. When the first retention member is released, the sealing member expands outwardly to seal the proximal end of the sleeve against the mucosa of the patient's duodenum. When the second retention member is released, the anchor expands outwardly within the stomach to anchor the sleeve assembly relative to the stomach. The tether traverses the pylorus. The sleeve isolates chyme from enzymes in the duodenum; and the mucosa of the duodenum from nutrients in the chyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Zeiner, Mark S. Ortiz, David B. Griffith
  • Patent number: 9427255
    Abstract: A cannula assembly including a seal for an endoscopic internal magnetic camera tether. The seal may include stacked compliant membranes with an aperture in each membrane through which a camera tether may pass. The apertures may overlap. The at least one aperture may be arranged as a slit. Each of the apertures may comprise a wedge-shaped gap. The membranes may include engagement members that couple to engagement members on the cannula assembly. The cannula assembly may provide separate ports for the camera tethers and for a trocar or other endoscopic instrument passing through the cannula assembly. The cannula assembly also may include a rotating housing with two openings and a seal arranged in each opening. The cannula assembly may include a sleeve that encases a cannula tube. The sleeve may include a seal on its end and a channel on its periphery through which a camera tether may pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Griffith, Sean P. Conlon, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Christopher J. Hess, Kempton K. Carroll, II
  • Patent number: 8986199
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a lens, or one or more lenses, of an endoscopic camera while the endoscope is deployed in a patient during a medical procedure, such as a minimally invasive procedure, or a therapeutic or diagnostic procedure, is disclosed. The cleaning apparatus generally includes a conduit having a fluid delivery port, an alignment system, and a flexible supply tube to fluidly connect the conduit to one or both of a source of a fluid and a suction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Weisenburgh, II, Christopher J. Hess, Rudolph H. Nobis, David B. Griffith, Robert M. Trusty
  • Publication number: 20150065938
    Abstract: A duodenal sleeve assembly comprises a sleeve, an expandable sealing member, a tether, and an expandable anchor. The sleeve is secured to the sealing member. The tether couples the anchor with the sealing member. A deployment instrument comprises a shaft assembly, a first retention member, and a second retention member. The first retention member selectively secures the sealing member to the shaft assembly. The second retention member selectively secures the anchor to the shaft assembly. When the first retention member is released, the sealing member expands outwardly to seal the proximal end of the sleeve against the mucosa of the patient's duodenum. When the second retention member is released, the anchor expands outwardly within the stomach to anchor the sleeve assembly relative to the stomach. The tether traverses the pylorus. The sleeve isolates chyme from enzymes in the duodenum; and the mucosa of the duodenum from nutrients in the chyme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Mark S. Zeiner, Mark S. Ortiz, David B. Griffith
  • Patent number: 8906035
    Abstract: A specimen retrieval device may comprise the specimen retrieval bag for retrieval biological materials, a hybrid shaft, a first collapsible arm, and a second collapsible arm. The hybrid shaft may comprise a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is flexible, and wherein the proximal end is rigid. The first collapsible arm may be located at the distal end of the hybrid shaft, and may include a first portion. The second collapsible arm may be located at the distal end of the hybrid shaft, may include a first portion and a second portion. The second portion of the second collapsible arm may extend distally beyond the first portion of the second collapsible arm. The specimen retrieval bag may have an open end and a closed end, and may be configured to be retained upon the first collapsible arm and the second collapsible arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Zwolinski, David B. Griffith
  • Patent number: 8721529
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for providing suction and/or irrigation to locations within a body cavity. In general, the methods and devices can allow instruments within a body cavity to be cleaned during a surgical procedure without having to remove the instruments from the body cavity. In one embodiment, an end effector is provided that includes an elongate body having a cleaning base formed thereon. The end effector can be configured as a modular element configured to be removably and replaceably attachable to a distal end of an elongate shaft. The cleaning base can have one or more ports formed through a surface thereof. The cleaning base can be configured to provide suction and/or irrigation through the one or more ports to clean a face of a surgical instrument seated in the cleaning base or in close proximity to the cleaning base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Hess, Duane Linenkugel, David B. Griffith
  • Patent number: 8715294
    Abstract: A transgastric instrument provides a sterile and repeatable pathway to and through a gastric wall for the purpose of facilitating endoscopic transgastric procedures. The instrument includes at least one guide tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being shaped and dimensioned for positioning adjacent a desired location along the gastric wall. The instrument also includes a fixation mechanism at the distal end of the guide tube for selectively securing the distal end of the guide tube at a desired location along the gastric wall. An otomy creation device circumferentially smaller than the guide tube extends through the guide tube, the otomy creation device including a distal end shaped and dimensioned for cutting and dilating the gastric wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Ortiz, William J. Kraimer, David B. Griffith, Lynetta J. Freeman
  • Patent number: 8608652
    Abstract: A surgical method, system, kit, and various devices are provided for use in, among other things, vaginal entry during a natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgical procedure. A system and/or method provide for the rapid creation of a conduit and/or multiple ports in a natural orifice, such as a patient's vagina, while accommodating anatomical variation to reduce the need to excise additional tissue from the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Voegele, David B. Griffith, Mark S. Zeiner
  • Publication number: 20130303851
    Abstract: A cannula assembly including a seal for an endoscopic internal magnetic camera tether. The seal may include stacked compliant membranes with an aperture in each membrane through which a camera tether may pass. The apertures may overlap. The at least one aperture may be arranged as a slit. Each of the apertures may comprise a wedge-shaped gap. The membranes may include engagement members that couple to engagement members on the cannula assembly. The cannula assembly may provide separate ports for the camera tethers and for a trocar or other endoscopic instrument passing through the cannula assembly. The cannula assembly also may include a rotating housing with two openings and a seal arranged in each opening. The cannula assembly may include a sleeve that encases a cannula tube. The sleeve may include a seal on its end and a channel on its periphery through which a camera tether may pass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Griffith, Sean P. Conlon, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Christopher J. Hess, Kempton K. Carroll, II
  • Publication number: 20130253256
    Abstract: Various embodiments of spacer apparatuses, and transport and/or storage apparatuses, for use with magnetic platforms configured to be magnetically coupled to a medical device within a body cavity of a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: DAVID B. GRIFFITH, Kevin M. Huey, Christoper J. Hess, Sean P. Conlon
  • Publication number: 20130217970
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a lens, or one or more lenses, of an endoscopic camera while the endoscope is deployed in a patient during a medical procedure, such as a minimally invasive procedure, or a therapeutic or diagnostic procedure, is disclosed. The cleaning apparatus generally includes a conduit having a fluid delivery port, an alignment system, and a flexible supply tube to fluidly connect the conduit to one or both of a source of a fluid and a suction device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Weisenburgh, II, Christopher J. Hess, Rudolph H. Nobis, David B. Griffith, Robert M. Trusty
  • Patent number: 8480689
    Abstract: A surgical suturing device has a grasper device that is translatable within an outer lumen where a first end of a needle is grasped with the grasper device. The needle may be resilient to a curved resting state. The grasper device translates proximally relative to the outer lumen such that the needle is translated into the outer lumen, wherein the outer lumen tends to straighten the needle from the curved resting state. The grasper device may be translated distally relative to the outer lumen such that a second end of the needle extends distally from the outer lumen and pierces the tissue. The needle may return to the curved resting state as it exits the outer lumen. When a second end of the needle emerges from the tissue, the second end of the needle may be grasped with the grasper device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Spivey, Kempton K. Carroll, II, David B. Griffith
  • Publication number: 20130158348
    Abstract: An introducer for an internal magnetic camera is provided. The introducer may be arranged to enable the camera to be placed inside of a body cavity through an otomy or incision and then oriented next to the tissue of the body cavity opposite an External Control Unit (“ECU”) outside of the body cavity. The camera may be retained in the introducer by a magnet or a magnetic material, by a selectively engageable retainer, or by covering the camera within a cavity. The camera may be retained in the introducer by a latch. The camera may include a keyed surface that only can align with a matching keyed surface on the retainer in a single orientation. The introducer may include a spring to eject the camera from the introducer when the retainer is disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph H. Nobis, James T. Spivey, Alexander P. Kondor, Kempton K. Carroll, II, Christopher J. Hess, Sean P. Conlon, David B. Griffith
  • Publication number: 20130085337
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for providing suction and/or irrigation to locations within a body cavity. In general, the methods and devices can allow instruments within a body cavity to be cleaned during a surgical procedure without having to remove the instruments from the body cavity. In one embodiment, an end effector is provided that includes an elongate body having a cleaning base formed thereon. The end effector can be configured as a modular element configured to be removably and replaceably attachable to a distal end of an elongate shaft. The cleaning base can have one or more ports formed through a surface thereof. The cleaning base can be configured to provide suction and/or irrigation through the one or more ports to clean a face of a surgical instrument seated in the cleaning base or in close proximity to the cleaning base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Hess, Duane Linenkugel, David B. Griffith