Patents by Inventor Eric D. Stout

Eric D. Stout 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).

  • Surgical stapler having controllable shaft bias
    Patent number: 12661111
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a base and a shaft extending distally from the base along a longitudinal axis. The shaft is configured to rotate relative to the base about the longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument also includes an end effector operatively coupled with the shaft. The end effector is configured to articulate relative to the shaft about an articulation joint. The end effector includes a first jaw and a second jaw configured to cooperate with the first jaw to clamp tissue. The second jaw is configured to support a stapling assembly. The surgical instrument further includes a firing assembly configured to be distally advanced through the shaft for driving distal translation of a staple actuator of the stapling assembly. The firing assembly is configured to be proximally retracted against at least one of the second jaw or the shaft to thereby apply a compression bias to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Eric D. Stout, Jonathan Z. Von Stein, Heather E. Dickson
  • SURGICAL STAPLER HAVING CONTROLLABLE SHAFT BIAS
    Publication number: 20260000397
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a base and a shaft extending distally from the base along a longitudinal axis. The shaft is configured to rotate relative to the base about the longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument also includes an end effector operatively coupled with the shaft. The end effector is configured to articulate relative to the shaft about an articulation joint. The end effector includes a first jaw and a second jaw configured to cooperate with the first jaw to clamp tissue. The second jaw is configured to support a stapling assembly. The surgical instrument further includes a firing assembly configured to be distally advanced through the shaft for driving distal translation of a staple actuator of the stapling assembly. The firing assembly is configured to be proximally retracted against at least one of the second jaw or the shaft to thereby apply a compression bias to the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Publication date: January 1, 2026
    Inventors: Eric D. Stout, Jonathan Z. Von Stein, Heather E. Dickson