Patents by Inventor David J. Cagle

David J. Cagle 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).

  • ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH STAGED CLAMPING
    Publication number: 20150148834
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The ultrasonic blade is configured to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency. The clamp arm comprises a clamp pad. The clamp arm is movable toward the ultrasonic blade to compress tissue between the clamp pad and the ultrasonic blade in two stages. During the first stage, the clamp arm is configured to compress tissue with only a distal portion of the clamp pad. During the second stage, the clamp arm is configured to compress tissue with the distal portion and a proximal portion of the clamp pad. Thus, the tissue compression begins at the distal portion and subsequently progresses toward the proximal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Jacob S. Gee, David J. Cagle, Frederick L. Estera, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Craig N. Faller, Shan Wan, David A. Monroe, Jeffrey D. Messerly, William A. Olson, Richard W. Timm
  • SHIELDING FEATURES FOR ULTRASONIC BLADE OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT
    Publication number: 20150148833
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a shield member. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The ultrasonic blade is configured to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency. The clamp arm is movable toward the ultrasonic blade to compress tissue against the ultrasonic blade. The shield member is selectively movable from a first position to a second position in response to movement of the clamp arm toward the ultrasonic blade. The shield member is configured cover at least a first portion of the ultrasonic blade in the first position. The shield member is configured to uncover the first portion of the ultrasonic blade in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Jacob S. Gee, Kevin D. Felder, Tylor C. Muhlenkamp, Patrick J. Scoggins, Craig N. Faller, Jeffrey D. Messerly, David J. Cagle, William B. Weisenburgh, II
  • SLEEVE FEATURES FOR ULTRASONIC BLADE OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT
    Publication number: 20150148835
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm, and a sleeve. The ultrasonic blade is configured to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency. The clamp arm is configured to move toward the ultrasonic blade. The sleeve extends along at least part of the length of an outer portion of the ultrasonic blade or the clamp arm. The sleeve is configured to prevent tissue from contacting a portion of the ultrasonic blade or clamp arm covered by the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Craig N. Faller, Cory G. Kimball, David J. Cagle, Benjamin D. Dickerson, II, Kristen Denzinger, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Phillip H. Clauda, Ryan M. Asher, Frederick L. Estera, Omar J. Vakharia, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Richard W. Timm, Richard C. Smith, Paul F. Riestenberg, Wells D. Haberstich, Gregory W. Johnson