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).
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Publication number: 20160166252Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2016Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Frank Viola, Gerald Hodgkinson
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Patent number: 9295463Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 1, 2010Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Frank Viola, Gerald Hodgkinson
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Patent number: 9220499Abstract: A wound closure device includes an elongated body, a depth stop, and one or more barbs. The elongated body has first and second ends. The ends are configured and dimensioned for insertion within tissue on opposed sides of a wound. The depth stop is positioned on the elongated body to limit the insertion depth of at least a portion of the elongated body within tissue. The one or more barbs extend radially from the elongated body and define an inner surface. The inner surface includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion is disposed at a first orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongated body. The second portion is disposed at a second orientation relative to the longitudinal axis. The third portion disposed at a third orientation relative to the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Frank Viola
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Patent number: 9192407Abstract: A wire guide system is provided for use during a endoscopic surgical procedures. The wire guide system includes a cylindrical shaft having a hollow chamber along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical shaft, a flange fit disposed around the cylindrical shaft and a seal disposed around the cylindrical shaft and abutting the flange. The system may also include an anchor affixed to the cylindrical shaft and having an aperture from which at least one of a sensor, a light, a camera, tissue and/or organs may be suspended therefrom and at least one cable extending from one end of the cylindrical shaft to another end of the cylindrical shaft through the hollow chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: James M Power, Frank Viola, Russell Heinrich
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Patent number: 9186043Abstract: A scaffold assembly includes an instrument pod and a plurality of actuable movers. The instrument pod may include one or more instruments operably coupled thereto. The instrument pod is inserted through a tissue tract into the body cavity. Each actuatable mover includes an insertion member extending therefrom for insertion within tissue. Each mover has one or more lines removably attachable to the instrument pod that are configured to move the instrument pod between different positions relative to each mover upon the actuation of one or more of the movers to move the instrument pod within the body cavity.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2013Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Russell S. Heinrich, Frank Viola, Eric Alexander Stanley
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Patent number: 9161756Abstract: A surgical tape applicator includes a dispenser housing, a protective liner, and a surgical tape. The dispenser housing has a proximal end and a distal end and defines a passageway therethrough. The protective liner is disposed within the passageway of the housing. The surgical tape is at least partially disposed within the dispenser housing and protected by the protective liner. The surgical tape has a first surface and a second surface each having at least one tissue reactive component.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Timothy Sargeant, Frank Viola, Kevin Condrin
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Patent number: 9113870Abstract: A surgical fastener applying apparatus includes an anvil section and a cartridge section, where the cartridge section and the anvil section are movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position. The cartridge section has a plurality of retention slots, a plurality of first surgical fasteners and a plurality of second surgical fasteners. The plurality of first surgical fasteners has a first backspan with a first configuration and the plurality of second surgical fasteners has a second backspan with a second different configuration. In addition, when the first configuration applies a first compressive force to tissue and the second configuration applies a second different compressive force to tissue.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2012Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Frank Viola
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Patent number: 9113860Abstract: An endoscopic stitching device is provided including a handle assembly and an end effector operatively connected to the handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a housing; a trigger operatively supported on the housing; and an actuation cable operatively connected to the trigger and extending from the housing in such a manner that an actuation of the trigger imparts axial translation and rotation to the actuation cable. The end effector includes a tool assembly configured and adapted to perform at least a pair of operations. The actuation cable is operatively connected to the tool assembly in such a manner that the actuation cable is capable of effecting a first operation of the pair of operations of the end effector upon the axial translation thereof and/or effecting a second operation of the pair of operations of the end effector upon the rotation thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2012Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Frank Viola, Eric J. Taylor, Peter Hathaway, Kenneth W. Horton, Jr.
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Patent number: 9113875Abstract: A surgical stapler having a remote motorized staple head is provided and generally includes a handle having a control button and a highly flexible cable extending distally from the handle. A housing incorporating a staple assembly is affixed to a distal end of the flexible cable. The housing may incorporate articulating structure to position the staple assembly relative to the remainder of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2014Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Frank Viola, John W. Beardsley, Teddy R. Bryant
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Publication number: 20150209034Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: Frank Viola, Michael Zemlok
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Publication number: 20150157318Abstract: A non-reloadable surgical fastener cartridge is provided. The non-reloadable surgical fastener cartridge includes a cartridge body that includes a tissue contacting surface that includes a plurality of fastener retention slots. A plurality of surgical fasteners is disposed in the plurality of fastener retention slots. Each surgical fastener includes first and second legs of different lengths. A plurality of pushers is operably associated with the plurality of surgical fasteners. One or more of the pushers is configured such that, upon formation of a corresponding surgical fastener, a first area defined by the first leg is smaller than a second area defined by the second leg. The non-reloadable surgical fastener cartridge also includes an actuation mechanism operably associated with the plurality of pushers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2015Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: JOHN BEARDSLEY, FRANK VIOLA
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Publication number: 20150150555Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2015Publication date: June 4, 2015Inventor: Frank Viola
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Patent number: 9016541Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 22, 2009Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Frank Viola, Michael Zemlok
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Patent number: 8967446Abstract: A non-reloadable surgical fastener cartridge is provided. The non-reloadable surgical fastener cartridge includes a cartridge body that includes a tissue contacting surface that includes a plurality of fastener retention slots. A plurality of surgical fasteners is disposed in the plurality of fastener retention slots. Each surgical fastener includes first and second legs of different lengths. A plurality of pushers is operably associated with the plurality of surgical fasteners. One or more of the pushers is configured such that, upon formation of a corresponding surgical fastener, a first area defined by the first leg is smaller than a second area defined by the second leg. The non-reloadable surgical fastener cartridge also includes an actuation mechanism operably associated with the plurality of pushers.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2009Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: John Beardsley, Frank Viola
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Patent number: 8967449Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 28, 2014Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Frank Viola
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Patent number: 8967010Abstract: An actuation mechanism including a motor having a first motor output gear and a second motor output gear is provided, the motor defining a common axis of rotation for the first and second motor output gears. The actuation mechanism also includes a pair of gearboxes positioned on opposed ends of the motor. The actuation mechanism further includes a first arm adapted to mechanically cooperate with the first gearbox and a second arm adapted to mechanically cooperate with the second gearbox. The rotor of the motor slides along the common axis of rotation. The rotor is configured to be axially movable between a first position where the rotor engages the first gearbox to rotatably actuate the first arm and a second position where the rotor engages the second gearbox to rotatably actuate the second arm.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Frank Viola
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Publication number: 20150025556Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: Covidien LPInventor: Frank Viola
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Patent number: 8920446Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 7, 2014Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Frank Viola
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Publication number: 20140379011Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2014Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventor: Frank Viola
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Publication number: 20140374464Abstract: A surgical stapler having a remote motorized staple head is provided and generally includes a handle having a control button and a highly flexible cable extending distally from the handle. A housing incorporating a staple assembly is affixed to a distal end of the flexible cable. The housing may incorporate articulating structure to position the staple assembly relative to the remainder of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2014Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Frank Viola, John W. Beardsley, Teddy R. Bryant