Patents by Inventor Frederick R. Adams

Frederick R. Adams 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: 11963683
    Abstract: A surgical system may include tiered-access features. The surgical system may be used to analyze at least a portion of a surgical field. Based on a control parameter, the system may scale up or down various capabilities, such as visualization processing, endocutter communication, endocutter algorithm updates, smart cartridge connectivity, smart motor control for circular stapler, smart energy control, cloud analytics, hub connectivity control, and/or hub visualization and control interactions. The control parameter may include system aspects such as processing capability or bandwidth for example and/or the identification of an appropriate service tier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Patrick L. Creamer, Shane R. Adams, Jason L. Harris, Kevin M. Fiebig, Michael J. Vendely
  • Patent number: 11950779
    Abstract: A method for establishing signal and power communication between a surgical instrument and a staple cartridge is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Patrick L. Creamer, Shane R. Adams, Jason L. Harris, Morgan R. Hunter, Ismail Akram, William S. Honey, Edward G. Colby, Helen S. Clubb, Emily R. Woodhouse
  • Publication number: 20240108335
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed including an end effector configurable between an open state and a clamped state, a firing member movable from an unfired position toward a fired position during a firing stroke, a manually-driveable closure system, a motor-powered firing system, and a control system. The motor-powered firing system is configured to drive the firing member through the firing stroke. The control system is configured to detect, at a first time point, the end effector reaching the clamped state with the manually-driveable closure system, detect, at a second time point, the actuation of the motor-powered firing system, set a firing motion parameter of the motor-powered firing system based on an elapsed time from the first time point to the second time point, and drive the firing member through the firing stroke with the motor-powered firing system using the firing motion parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait
  • Publication number: 20240108331
    Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical instrument for treating tissue in a surgical procedure. The surgical instrument comprises an end effector, comprising an anvil, and a staple cartridge. The surgical instrument further comprises a drive train operably coupled to the end effector, a motor configured to motivate the drive train based on a default control algorithm to affect a tissue treatment motion of the end effector, and a sensor configured to monitor an independent parameter of the surgical procedure. The independent parameter is independent of the motion of the end effector. The surgical instrument further comprises a control circuit coupled to the motor and the sensor. The control circuit is configured to receive an input from the sensor indicative of the independent parameter, and adjust the default control algorithm based on the independent parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Michael J. Vendely, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross
  • Publication number: 20240108337
    Abstract: A surgical system is disclosed including a surgical instrument and a control system. The surgical instrument comprises an end effector, a first drive system, and a second drive system. The control system is configured to detect the actuation of the first drive system of the surgical instrument, drive a first function of the end effector using the first drive system, monitor a first parameter associated with a first function, set a second parameter associated with a second function of the end effector based on the monitored first parameter, and drive the second function of the end effector using the second drive system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Jacqueline C. Aronhalt, Kevin M. Fiebig
  • Publication number: 20240108329
    Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprising a motor system and a control circuit is disclosed. The motor system comprises a motor and a drive train coupleable to the motor and configured to actuate a firing member through a staple firing stroke. The control circuit is coupled to the motor, wherein the control circuit comprises a motor controller configured to control the motor, and wherein, during the staple firing stroke, the control circuit is configured to actuate the firing member through the staple firing stroke, monitor a parameter of the motor system during the staple firing stroke, identify when the firing member is within an active adjustment portion of the staple firing stroke; and automatically adjust, at a frequency, tuning parameters of the motor controller with based on the monitored parameter of the motor system during the active adjustment portion of the staple firing stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams, Eric B. LaFay, Sarah A. Worthington
  • Publication number: 20240108341
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed including an end effector, a firing member movable from an unfired position toward a fired position during a firing stroke, a firing system comprising a motor, and a control system. The end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw, and a staple cartridge. The firing system is configured to drive the firing member through the firing stroke. The control system is configured to drive the firing member from the unfired position toward the fired position with the firing system, detect a force to fire the firing member toward the fired position, predict a future force to fire the firing member, based on the detected force to fire, and dynamically adjust a firing algorithm of the firing system, based on the prediction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Shane R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20240108334
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for controlling a tissue-treatment motion by a surgical instrument are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Michael J. Vendely, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Jason L. Harris, Kevin M. Fiebig, Eric B. LaFay, Jose Luis De Cordoba Matilla, Raymond E. Parfett, Curtis A. Maples, Sarah A. Worthington, Jacqueline C. Aronhalt
  • Publication number: 20240108342
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an end effector, a firing member movable from an unfired position toward a fired position during a firing stroke, a firing system comprising a motor, and a control system. The firing system is configured to drive the firing member through the firing stroke. The control system is configured to drive the firing member from the unfired position toward the fired position with the firing system, detect a force to fire the firing member toward the fired position, pause advancement of the firing member for a first amount of time, based on the detected force to fire, resume advancement of the firing member after the first amount of time, and pause advancement of the firing member for a second amount of time, wherein the second amount of time is based on the first amount of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20240108336
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed including a motor-powered firing system comprising a firing motor, a motor-powered closure system comprising a closure motor, and a control system. The firing motor is configured to drive a firing member between an unfired position and a fired position. The closure motor is configured to transition an end effector between an open state and a clamped state. The control system is configured to set a first parameter of the motor-powered closure system, based on a received first input, drive the end effector toward the clamped state with the motor-powered closure system using the first parameter, monitor a second parameter associated with the end effector transitioning toward the clamped state, set a third parameter of the motor-powered firing system, based on a received second input and the monitored second parameter, and drive the firing member toward the fired position using the third parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Jason L. Harris, Nicholas J. Ross
  • Publication number: 20240108421
    Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprising a motor system and a control circuit is disclosed. The motor system comprises a motor and a drive train coupleable to the motor and configured to actuate a firing member through a staple firing stroke. The control circuit is coupled to the motor, wherein, during the staple firing stroke, the control circuit is configured to monitor current draw of the motor and initiate an oscillating impact signal sequence to the motor based on the monitored current draw of the motor. The oscillating impact signal comprises a pulse amplitude selected based on the monitored current draw and a pulse width based on the monitored current draw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20240108333
    Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprising a drive train and a control circuit is disclosed. The drive train comprises a motor and a shaft actuatable by the motor to actuate a function of an end effector. The control circuit is coupled to the motor, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine a relative excess capacity of the drive train, compare the relative excess capacity to a predetermined shifting threshold, and increase the speed of the motor based on the relative excess capacity exceeding the predetermined shifting threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20240108420
    Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical system, comprising an end effector configurable between an open state and a clamped state. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw. The surgical system further comprises a drive system, comprising a motor and a drive assembly movable by the motor to effect a tissue-treatment motion at the end effector. The surgical system further comprises a motor control system comprising motor control electronics. The motor control system is configured to transmit a motor drive signal that causes the motor to move the drive assembly to effect the tissue-treatment motion at the end effector and control the motor control electronics to modify the tissue-treatment motion independent of the motor drive signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20240108340
    Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprising a motor system and a control circuit is disclosed. The motor system comprises a motor and a drive train movable by the motor to actuate a firing member through a staple firing stroke. The control circuit is coupled to the motor, wherein, during the staple firing stroke, the control circuit is configured to perform a first sensory action to determine if a speed of the motor can be increased to a first target speed, monitor a result of the first sensory action, adjust a parameter of a subsequent sensory action based on the monitored result of the first sensory action, and perform the subsequent sensory action with the adjusted parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Kevin M. Fiebig, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20240112798
    Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical system for use with a surgical device. The surgical system comprises a remote processing device comprising a device control circuit and a surgical hub configured to communicably couple to the remote processing device and the surgical device. The surgical hub comprises a hub control circuit, wherein the hub control circuit and the device control circuit perform distributed processing. The surgical hub control circuit is configured to transmit a synchronization feature to the remote processing device, transmit a first subset of data associated with the surgical device to the remote processing device, perform a second analysis on a second subset of the data, determine a second result based on the second analysis, receive a first result from the remote processing device and synchronization data of the first result, assess a synchronicity of the first result and the second result based on the synchronization data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams, Jason L. Harris
  • Publication number: 20240108339
    Abstract: A surgical stapling system includes an anvil, a blade, a motor and gear assembly, a motor power supply, and a motor controller. A method of controlling the motor includes receiving first and second data indicative of operations of the motor under first and second conditions, respectively, and adjusting a motor control signal based on a difference between the first and second data. Another method includes receiving initial manufacture motor and gear assembly data from a manufacture and operational data during an initial use of the system, and adjusting parameters of the control signal based on a difference between the manufacture data and the operational data. Another method includes controlling a pulse-width modulated (PWM) motor control signal, receiving data regarding an interaction between the blade and a tissue clamped by the anvil, and adjusting a frequency of the PWM signal based on the data related to the interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Kevin M. Fiebig, Raymond E. Parfett, Curtis A. Maples, Nicholas J. Ross, Taylor W. Aronhalt
  • Publication number: 20240108338
    Abstract: A surgical stapling system includes a motor, a gear reducer assembly, a drive train, and a motor controller. A method of controlling the motor includes applying a first signal to the motor, receiving drive train operational data, comparing the drive train data to baseline data, and applying a signal having a different shape than the first signal to the motor. A method of characterizing the motor includes transmitting a perturbation signal, receiving motor function parameters, determining stapler system characteristics, and adjusting a controller function. A method of controlling a stepper motor includes applying a signal to the stepper motor, receiving stepper motor operational data, comparing the data to baseline data, and adjusting the signal. Another method of controlling the motor includes receiving motor rotational data, receiving gear rotation data, calculating a mechanical transfer function, determining non-idealities of the stapling system, and modifying a control signal based on the non-idealities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Eric B. LaFay, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Jose Luis De Cordoba Matilla, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait
  • Patent number: 11944295
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrosurgical instrument including an end effector with a cartridge having an asymmetric cartridge body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Taylor W. Aronhalt, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Mark S. Zeiner, Jordan B. Wong, Adam D. Hensel, Gregory J. Bakos
  • Patent number: 11944297
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an end effector, a motor, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to activate the motor to distally advance a firing member within a body of the end effector. The processing unit is further configured to detect an initiation condition. In response to detecting the initiation condition, the processing unit is configured to activate an algorithmic bumping mode. The bumping mode includes activating the motor to advance the firing member distally with a first plurality starting and stopping motions at a first rate and a first power level. The bumping mode further includes activating the motor to retract the firing member proximally with a second plurality of starting and stopping motions at a second rate and a second power level. The first rate is different than the second rate. The first power level is different than the second power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams
  • Patent number: 11931034
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a plurality of first electrical contacts and a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts. The surgical instrument further includes a staple cartridge releasably attachable to the elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge has a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples deployable from the staple cavities into the tissue, and a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein the attachment of the staple cartridge to the elongate channel moves the electrical connectors causing the second electrical contacts to bridge the gap and become electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Sol E. Posada, Mark D. Overmyer, Raymond E. Parfett, Brian D. Schings, Brett E. Swensgard, Richard L. Leimbach, Shane R. Adams, David C. Yates, Jason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kharyl Evenson George Stephens, Jason M. Rector