Patents by Inventor Frank Viola

Frank Viola 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: 11191673
    Abstract: A surgical portal apparatus includes a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end that extends along a longitudinal axis, and a surgical tape. The sleeve includes an inner wall defining an internal longitudinal passageway dimensioned for permitting passage of a surgical object therethrough and an outer wall configured for positioning against tissue. The inner and outer walls define at least a partial annular space therebetween, the annular space being in fluid communication with an opening in the outer wall. The surgical tape includes a body portion retained within the annular space of the sleeve and a leading tab extendable through the opening in the outer wall of the sleeve. The surgical tape has a first surface and a second surface, each of the first and second surfaces having at least one of tissue reactive functional groups and self-reactive functional groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Timothy Sargeant, Arpan Desai, Joshua Stopek, Atu Agawu, Saumya Banerjee, Frank Viola
  • Patent number: 11160512
    Abstract: A monitoring system is disclosed for in vivo monitoring of preselected physiological parameters associated with acute and/or chronic tissue compromise or failure in one or multiple tissue/organ sites in real time. In one method, a body portion of a surgical stapling device is positioned adjacent a first tissue section, an anvil assembly adapted to engage the body portion is positioned adjacent a second tissue section, and a monitoring device is positioned adjacent the first and/or second tissue sections. The monitoring device includes a sensor adapted to measure a preselected physiological parameter and a transmitter for transmitting signal to an extracorporeal receiving unit. The surgical stapling device is fired to mechanically secure the first and second tissue sections with at least one staple and the preselected physiological parameter is monitored via the information transmitted from the monitoring device to the receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Yong Ma, Nelson Scarborough, Marisha Godek, Rohan Shah, James Power, Nilay Mukherjee, Frank Viola, Edward Mckenna, Shannon Campbell
  • Patent number: 10849619
    Abstract: A surgical fastener configured to close an opening in tissue is provided. The surgical fastener includes a base defining a central axis at least one pair of legs extending from the base. Each of the legs includes a base portion and a tissue engaging portion. When in a first position, each of the tissue engaging portions is arranged to define an insertion direction and when in a second position, each of the tissue engaging portions extends inward towards the central axis. The surgical fastener is at least partially formed from a shape memory material including a combination of Polydioxanone and Poly(L-lactide) or a combination of Trimethylene Carbonate and Poly(L-lactide). The pair of legs are configured to move from the first position to the second position upon activation of the shape memory material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Frank Viola, Gerald Hodgkinson
  • Patent number: 10285703
    Abstract: An apparatus for joining organ wall portions of first and second hollow organs, including first and second connectors, wherein the first and second connectors are magnetically attracted to one another. A device for delivering and deploying the first and second connectors to portions of the first and second hollow organs can be provided, wherein the device is configured and dimensioned to axially align the first and second connectors for performing circular anastomosis of the first and second hollow organs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Frank Viola
  • Patent number: 10194904
    Abstract: A surgical staple configured to close an opening in tissue is provided. The surgical staple includes a base including first and second base portions and first and second legs extending from respective first and second base portions. The first and second base portions form a bendable connection therebetween. The staple has a first substantially open position in which the first base portion defines an angle with the second base portion and a second substantially closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Frank Viola, Gerald Hodgkinson
  • Patent number: 10039537
    Abstract: An incision closure device includes an elongated handle portion including a distal end, a first connector detachably affixed to the distal end of the handle portion, and a second connector adapted to be axially moveable along the handle portion, wherein the first and second connectors are magnetically attracted to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Frank Viola
  • Patent number: 9918617
    Abstract: A laparoscopic surgical system comprising a camera and a base supporting the camera, and a camera insertion tool for inserting the camera into the body cavity. The camera is mountable to a surgical instrument inside the body cavity and releasable from the insertion tool after mounting to the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Frank Viola, Kenneth Horton
  • Patent number: 9883912
    Abstract: A suspension system for supporting surgical devices inside a patient's body cavity comprising an external frame, a plurality of elongated members extending from the external frame and through the patient's skin into the body cavity, and an internal platform located inside the body cavity. The internal platform includes a plurality of links reconfigurable from a first elongated position wherein the links are substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis for insertion to a second position wherein the links are angled with respect to one another to form a non-linear configuration. A first support of the external frame is movable with respect to the second support to thereby move the internal platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Frank Viola
  • Patent number: 9844370
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to surgical fastener applying apparatus and the application of variable compression to tissue. More specifically, the presently disclosed surgical fastener applying apparatus act to limit the flow of blood through tissue immediately adjacent a cut-line formed therein to effectuate hemostasis, while maximizing the flow of blood through tissue more removed from the cut-line to limit unnecessary necrosis. In one embodiment, a surgical fastener applying apparatus is disclosed having a tool assembly coupled to a distal end thereof with first and second jaws respectively including an anvil and a surgical fastener cartridge. The surgical fastener cartridge includes, among other things, angled pushers that engage surgical fasteners of varying lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Frank Viola, Michael Zemlok
  • Patent number: 9782171
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument including a handle assembly, an elongated body portion, a shell assembly and an anvil assembly. The elongated body portion extends distally from the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The shell assembly is disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated body portion and includes a non-planar, tissue-contacting surface oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis. The anvil assembly includes a non-planar, tissue-contacting surface oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis. The tissue-contacting surface of the anvil assembly is configured to align with the tissue-contacting surface of the shell assembly when the anvil assembly and shell assembly are in the approximated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Frank Viola
  • Publication number: 20170245809
    Abstract: A monitoring system is disclosed for in vivo monitoring of preselected physiological parameters associated with acute and/or chronic tissue compromise or failure in one or multiple tissue/organ sites in real time. In one method, a body portion of a surgical stapling device is positioned adjacent a first tissue section, an anvil assembly adapted to engage the body portion is positioned adjacent a second tissue section, and a monitoring device is positioned adjacent the first and/or second tissue sections. The monitoring device includes a sensor adapted to measure a preselected physiological parameter and a transmitter for transmitting signal to an extracorporeal receiving unit. The surgical stapling device is fired to mechanically secure the first and second tissue sections with at least one staple and the preselected physiological parameter is monitored via the information transmitted from the monitoring device to the receiving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Yong Ma, Nelson Scarborough, Marisha Godek, Rohan Shah, James Power, Nilay Mukherjee, Frank Viola, Edward Mckenna, Shannon Campbell
  • Patent number: 9675377
    Abstract: A method for making a non-linear incision includes forming a non-linear incision in tissue to improve post-operative adhesion of the incised tissue. In one aspect, a method for making a non-linear incision in tissue includes providing a surgical device including a housing and an end effector. The end effector is secured to the housing and includes a pair of jaws operable coupled to the housing. The jaws are disposed in substantial registration. The jaws may be oriented in substantially vertical registration or oriented in substantially horizontal registration. The method may include forming a non-linear incision in tissue with movement of tone or both of the jaws between approximated and unapproximated configurations. The movement may be horizontal or vertical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Frank Viola
  • Publication number: 20170156934
    Abstract: A surgical portal apparatus includes a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end that extends along a longitudinal axis, and a surgical tape. The sleeve includes an inner wall defining an internal longitudinal passageway dimensioned for permitting passage of a surgical object therethrough and an outer wall configured for positioning against tissue. The inner and outer walls define at least a partial annular space therebetween, the annular space being in fluid communication with an opening in the outer wall. The surgical tape includes a body portion retained within the annular space of the sleeve and a leading tab extendable through the opening in the outer wall of the sleeve. The surgical tape has a first surface and a second surface, each of the first and second surfaces having at least one of tissue reactive functional groups and self-reactive functional groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy Sargeant, Arpan Desai, Joshua Stopek, Atu Agawu, Saumya Banerjee, Frank Viola
  • Patent number: 9649113
    Abstract: A monitoring system is disclosed for in vivo monitoring of preselected physiological parameters associated with acute and/or chronic tissue compromise or failure in one or multiple tissue/organ sites in real time. In one method, a body portion of a surgical stapling device is positioned adjacent a first tissue section, an anvil assembly adapted to engage the body portion is positioned adjacent a second tissue section, and a monitoring device is positioned adjacent the first and/or second tissue sections. The monitoring device includes a sensor adapted to measure a preselected physiological parameter and a transmitter for transmitting signal to an extracorporeal receiving unit. The surgical stapling device is fired to mechanically secure the first and second tissue sections with at least one staple and the preselected physiological parameter is monitored via the information transmitted from the monitoring device to the receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Yong Ma, Nelson Scarborough, Marisha Godek, Rohan Shah, James Power, Nilay Mukherjee, Frank Viola, Edward McKenna, Shannon Campbell
  • Patent number: 9572580
    Abstract: A surgical portal apparatus includes a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end that extends along a longitudinal axis, and a surgical tape. The sleeve includes an inner wall defining an internal longitudinal passageway dimensioned for permitting passage of a surgical object therethrough and an outer wall configured for positioning against tissue. The inner and outer walls define at least a partial annular space therebetween, the annular space being in fluid communication with an opening in the outer wall. The surgical tape includes a body portion retained within the annular space of the sleeve and a leading tab extendable through the opening in the outer wall of the sleeve. The surgical tape has a first surface and a second surface, each of the first and second surfaces having at least one of tissue reactive functional groups and self-reactive functional groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Timothy Sargeant, Arpan Desai, Joshua Stopek, Atu Agawu, Saumya Banerjee, Frank Viola
  • Publication number: 20170042543
    Abstract: An apparatus for joining organ wall portions of first and second hollow organs, including first and second connectors, wherein the first and second connectors are magnetically attracted to one another. A device for delivering and deploying the first and second connectors to portions of the first and second hollow organs can be provided, wherein the device is configured and dimensioned to axially align the first and second connectors for performing circular anastomosis of the first and second hollow organs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventor: Frank Viola
  • Patent number: 9510831
    Abstract: An apparatus for joining organ wall portions of first and second hollow organs, including first and second connectors, wherein the first and second connectors are magnetically attracted to one another. A device for delivering and deploying the first and second connectors to portions of the first and second hollow organs can be provided, wherein the device is configured and dimensioned to axially align the first and second connectors for performing circular anastomosis of the first and second hollow organs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Frank Viola
  • Publication number: 20160302781
    Abstract: An incision closure device includes an elongated handle portion including a distal end, a first connector detachably affixed to the distal end of the handle portion, and a second connector adapted to be axially moveable along the handle portion, wherein the first and second connectors are magnetically attracted to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventor: Frank Viola
  • Patent number: 9402629
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to surgical fastener applying apparatus for sequentially applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue. The surgical fastener applying apparatus includes a replaceable cartridge assembly receivable in a distal end portion of a cartridge receiving half-section, the cartridge assembly including a safety lockout pivotably disposed along the upper surface of the cartridge assembly and movable from an unlocked orientation permitting assembly of an anvil half-section to the cartridge receiving half-section, to a locked orientation preventing assembly of the anvil half-section to the cartridge receiving-half section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Karl H. Ehrenfels, David Ivanko, Randolph F. Lehn, Roberto Pedros, Csaba L. Rethy, Frank Viola
  • Patent number: 9402605
    Abstract: An incision closure device includes an elongated handle portion including a distal end, a first connector detachably affixed to the distal end of the handle portion, and a second connector adapted to be axially moveable along the handle portion, wherein the first and second connectors are magnetically attracted to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Frank Viola