Patents by Inventor Douglas E. Withers
Douglas E. Withers 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).
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Patent number: 11793513Abstract: A surgical system is disclosed comprising a firing member movable from a proximal position toward a distal position during a firing stroke, a motor configured to drive the firing member toward the distal position, and a control system configured to operate in an open-loop configuration and a closed-loop configuration. In the open-loop configuration, the control system is configured to cause the motor to drive the firing member to a predetermined position between the proximal position and the distal position, determine a time required to drive the firing member to the predetermined position, compare the determined time to a predetermined time, and set a motor velocity of the motor based on the comparison. In the closed-loop configuration, the control system is configured to drive the firing member at the set motor velocity.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Jason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, David C. Yates, Douglas E. Withers, Shane R. Adams
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Publication number: 20220240923Abstract: Surgical access devices having wound closure features incorporated as part of the device are provided. The devices allow suture to be inserted directly into the device and operated to close an opening through which the device is disposed as or shortly after the device is removed from the surgical site. Further, the wound closure features allow for various orientations of wound closure to be achieved by adjusting an angle at which the suture enters tissue surrounding the opening to be closed. Some of the wound closure features provided for include openings formed in both the housing and cannula of the surgical access device, multiple openings formed in one or both the housing and cannula, locations of the openings being adjustable or otherwise movable, and various flexible seals. Other features, as well as methods of closing an opening through which the surgical access device was disposed, are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Christopher J. Hess, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan, Ryan A. Bledsoe, Douglas E. Withers, Craig T. Gates
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Patent number: 11284881Abstract: Surgical access devices having wound closure features incorporated as part of the device are provided. The devices allow suture to be inserted directly into the device and operated to close an opening through which the device is disposed as or shortly after the device is removed from the surgical site. Further, the wound closure features allow for various orientations of wound closure to be achieved by adjusting an angle at which the suture enters tissue surrounding the opening to be closed. Some of the wound closure features provided for include openings formed in both the housing and cannula of the surgical access device, multiple openings formed in one or both the housing and cannula, locations of the openings being adjustable or otherwise movable, and various flexible seals. Other features, as well as methods of closing an opening through which the surgical access device was disposed, are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2019Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Christopher J. Hess, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan, Ryan A. Bledsoe, Douglas E. Withers, Craig T. Gates
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Publication number: 20210052271Abstract: A motorized surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a displacement member, a motor coupled to the displacement member, a display, and a control circuit coupled to the motor and the display. The control circuit is configured to measure distance traveled by the displacement member over a predetermined period of time, cause the display to present a selection menu indicia that is indicative of a velocity mode, receive a user input corresponding to the velocity mode, and set the motor velocity of the displacement member based on the measured distance traveled by the displacement member over the predetermined period of time and the user input.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Inventors: Jason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, David C. Yates, Douglas E. Withers, Shane R. Adams
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Patent number: 10912543Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering end effectors through surgical trocars are described herein. In one embodiment, a surgical end effector loading device is provided that includes a housing having a distal-facing first portion configured to couple with a proximal end of a surgical trocar, and an elongate second portion protruding distally from the first portion. The second portion can include a lumen formed therein and can be configured to extend into a working channel of the surgical trocar when the housing is coupled thereto. The device can also include at least one mating element coupled to the housing and configured to interface with a complementary mating element of the surgical trocar to restrict movement of the housing relative to the trocar, as well as an end effector retainer coupled to the housing and configured to selectively couple a surgical end effector to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2015Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Christopher J. Hess, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Ryan A. Bledsoe, Jeffrey L. Savage, Craig T. Gates, Douglas E. Withers
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Patent number: 10799257Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly that releasably attaches to the body assembly, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The body assembly includes a first electrical contact and a first sealing portion. The shaft assembly includes a second electrical contact and a second sealing portion. The first and second electrical contacts are configured to electrically couple together to establish an electrical connection therebetween when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly. The first and second sealing portions are configured to sealingly engage one another when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly to establish a liquid-tight seal that surrounds the electrical connection.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Sarah A. Worthington, Andrew Kolpitcke, Laura A. Schoettmer, Laura R. Corsetto, John E. Brady, Christopher J. Hess, Douglas E. Withers, Ryan P. Posey, Jeffery D. Bruns, Gregory G. Scott, Alexander R. Cuti, Gregory J. Bakos
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Patent number: 10779820Abstract: A motorized surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a displacement member, a motor coupled to the displacement member, a display, and a control circuit coupled to the motor and the display. The control circuit is configured to measure distance traveled by the displacement member over a predetermined period of time, cause the display to present a selection menu indicia that is indicative of a velocity mode, receive a user input corresponding to the velocity mode, and set the motor velocity of the displacement member based on the measured distance traveled by the displacement member over the predetermined period of time and the user input.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2017Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Jason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, David C. Yates, Douglas E. Withers, Shane R. Adams
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Patent number: 10702257Abstract: Devices and methods for positioning a surgical instrument are described herein. In one embodiment, a positioning device can include a base that can be placed against tissue and a shuttle including a lumen that can receive a surgical instrument. The lumen can be translated in at least two directions relative to the base and an orientation of the lumen relative to the base can be polyaxially adjusted. Further, the device can include a locking mechanism that, upon actuation, prevents both translational movement and polyaxial movement of the lumen relative to the base.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Christopher J. Hess, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jeffrey L. Savage, Craig T. Gates, Douglas E. Withers, Adam D. Hensel
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Patent number: 10675009Abstract: Devices and methods for organizing a plurality of end effectors and selectively delivering them through surgical trocars are described herein. In one embodiment, a surgical end effector loading device is provided that includes at least one mating element to interface with a surgical trocar, a deployment lumen positioned to align with a working channel of a surgical trocar, an end effector repository having a plurality of end effector lumens formed therein to receive end effectors, the repository being configured to selectively align any of the plurality of end effector lumens with the deployment lumen, and an advancer coupled to the repository and configured to advance an end effector from the repository through the deployment lumen.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2015Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Christopher J. Hess, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Ryan A. Bledsoe, Jeffrey L. Savage, Craig T. Gates, Douglas E. Withers
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Publication number: 20200046342Abstract: Surgical access devices having wound closure features incorporated as part of the device are provided. The devices allow suture to be inserted directly into the device and operated to close an opening through which the device is disposed as or shortly after the device is removed from the surgical site. Further, the wound closure features allow for various orientations of wound closure to be achieved by adjusting an angle at which the suture enters tissue surrounding the opening to be closed. Some of the wound closure features provided for include openings formed in both the housing and cannula of the surgical access device, multiple openings formed in one or both the housing and cannula, locations of the openings being adjustable or otherwise movable, and various flexible seals. Other features, as well as methods of closing an opening through which the surgical access device was disposed, are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventors: Christopher J. Hess, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan, Ryan A. Bledsoe, Douglas E. Withers, Craig T. Gates
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Patent number: 10426461Abstract: Surgical access devices having wound closure features incorporated as part of the device are provided. The devices allow suture to be inserted directly into the device and operated to close an opening through which the device is disposed as or shortly after the device is removed from the surgical site. Further, the wound closure features allow for various orientations of wound closure to be achieved by adjusting an angle at which the suture enters tissue surrounding the opening to be closed. Some of the wound closure features provided for include openings formed in both the housing and cannula of the surgical access device, multiple openings formed in one or both the housing and cannula, locations of the openings being adjustable or otherwise movable, and various flexible seals. Other features, as well as methods of closing an opening through which the surgical access device was disposed, are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Christopher J. Hess, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan, Ryan A. Bledsoe, Douglas E. Withers, Craig T. Gates
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Publication number: 20190290308Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly that releasably attaches to the body assembly, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The body assembly includes a first electrical contact and a first sealing portion. The shaft assembly includes a second electrical contact and a second sealing portion. The first and second electrical contacts are configured to electrically couple together to establish an electrical connection therebetween when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly. The first and second sealing portions are configured to sealingly engage one another when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly to establish a liquid-tight seal that surrounds the electrical connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Sarah A. Worthington, Andrew Kolpitcke, Laura A. Schoettmer, Laura R. Corsetto, John E. Brady, Christopher J. Hess, Douglas E. Withers, Ryan P. Posey, Jeffery D. Bruns, Gregory G. Scott, Alexander R. Cuti, Gregory J. Bakos
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Patent number: 10420544Abstract: Surgical access devices having wound closure features incorporated as part of the device are provided. The devices allow suture to be inserted directly into the device and operated to close an opening through which the device is disposed as or shortly after the device is removed from the surgical site. Further, the wound closure features allow for various orientations of wound closure to be achieved by adjusting an angle at which the suture enters tissue surrounding the opening to be closed. Some of the wound closure features provided for include openings formed in both the housing and cannula of the surgical access device, multiple openings formed in one or both the housing and cannula, locations of the openings being adjustable or otherwise movable, and various flexible seals. Other features, as well as methods of closing an opening through which the surgical access device was disposed, are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2016Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Christopher J. Hess, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan, Ryan A. Bledsoe, Douglas E. Withers, Craig T. Gates
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Patent number: 10368864Abstract: A motorized surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a displacement member, a motor coupled to the displacement member, a control circuit coupled to the motor, and a position sensor coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to determine a velocity of the displacement member via the position sensor, and cause the display to present an indicia that is indicative of the velocity of the displacement member, wherein a portion of the display occupied by the indicia corresponds to the velocity of the displacement member.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Jason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Sarah A. Worthington, Michael J. Vendely, Chester O. Baxter, III, Christopher J. Hess, Douglas E. Withers
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Patent number: D879809Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Jason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Douglas E. Withers, Christopher J. Hess
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Patent number: D890784Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Douglas E. Withers, Sarah A. Worthington, Chester O. Baxter, III
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Patent number: D907647Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Tony C. Siebel, Richard L. Leimbach, John V. Hunt, Douglas E. Withers, Raymond E. Parfett, Kevin D. Sackett, Shane R. Adams, Mark D. Overmyer
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Patent number: D907648Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Tony C. Siebel, Sol A. Posada, Richard L. Leimbach, Raymond E. Parfett, Kevin D. Sackett, John V. Hunt, Douglas E. Withers, Mark D. Overmyer, Shane R. Adams
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Patent number: D917500Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Tony C. Siebel, John V. Hunt, Brett E. Swensgard, Douglas E. Withers, Richard L. Leimbach, Raymond E. Parfett, Shane R. Adams, Brian D. Schings, Kevin D. Sackett
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Patent number: D971232Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Tony C. Siebel, Sol A. Posada, Richard L. Leimbach, Raymond E. Parfett, Kevin D. Sackett, John V. Hunt, Douglas E. Withers, Mark D. Overmyer, Shane R. Adams