Patents by Inventor Galen C. Robertson

Galen C. Robertson 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).

  • Publication number: 20200375592
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus. Various embodiments include a handle assembly that has a movable handle that is movable through actuation strokes relative to a stationary handle housing. An actuation is shaft supported at least in part within the stationary handle housing and is movable in response to manipulation of the movable handle. Various embodiments further include a firing lock out assembly that is configured to selectively prevent longitudinal movement of the actuation shaft in a distal direction. A firing release trigger is supported on the movable handle for travel therewith and is configured to interface with the firing lockout assembly to selectively release the firing lockout assembly to permit the actuation shaft to move longitudinally in the distal direction upon manipulation of the movable handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Steven G. Hall, Randall J. Tanguay, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Galen C. Robertson, Andrew M. Zwolinski, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 10835768
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument is disclosed. The ultrasonic surgical instrument may include: a housing, a motor assembly supported by the housing, a cutting blade, wherein a proximal end of the cutting blade is configured to be removably coupled to the motor assembly, an ultrasonic transducer assembly supported by the housing, an ultrasonic blade, wherein a proximal end of the ultrasonic blade is configured to be removably coupled to the ultrasonic transducer assembly, and an outer sheath configured to support the cutting blade and the ultrasonic blade, wherein a proximal end of the outer sheath is configured to be removably coupled to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Galen C. Robertson, Richard W. Timm, Kevin L. Houser, Sean P. Conlon, Aron O. Zingman
  • Patent number: 10835250
    Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly comprising a firing member, an end effector, a closure member, and a shaft including an attachment interface is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly is configured to be attached to a surgical instrument interface by way of the attachment interface. The end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, and a staple cartridge comprising staples configured to be ejected by the firing member. The second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw between an open position, a fully-clamped position, and a collapsed position. The end effector further comprises an interconnection between the first jaw and the second jaw defining a rotational axis about which the second iaw is movable relative to the first iaw. The rotational axis is shiftable toward and away from the first iaw as the second iaw is moved between the open position, the fully-clamped position, and the collapsed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: William B. Weisenburgh, II, Jerome R. Morgan, Kyle P. Moore, Mark H. Ransick, Steven G. Hall, Randall J. Tanguay, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Galen C. Robertson, Andrew M. Zwolinski, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Thomas W. Huitema, Glen A. Armstrong, Shailendra K Parihar, Donna L. Korvick, Richard W. Timm, Kevin R. Doll, Bret W. Smith, William D. Kelly, Ronald J. Kolata, Joshua R. Uth, Charles J. Scheib, Geoffrey C. Hueil, Mark S. Ortiz, Douglas B. Hoffman, Patrick A. Weizman, Dean B. Bruewer, Gregory B. Blair, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 10828059
    Abstract: A handle assembly for a handheld surgical instrument is disclosed. The handle assembly may include a body portion extending parallel to a longitudinal axis, a fixed handle interfaced with the body portion and extending downwardly from the body portion and away from the longitudinal axis, and a detachable handle portion. The fixed handle may define a proximal contact surface. The detachable handle portion may define an internal surface configured to interface with the proximal contact surface of the fixed handle and comprise at least one attachment feature to removably couple the detachable handle portion to the fixed handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Daniel W. Price, Galen C. Robertson, Cory G. Kimball, Scott A. Woodruff, Matthew C. Miller, Kip M. Rupp, Carrie I. Hensley, Jane A. Sheetz, Carl J. Draginoff, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10828057
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument further comprises an ultrasonic blade extending along the longitudinal axis. The ultrasonic blade is coupled to the transducer and comprises a body and a treatment region. The body comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a bottom surface. The distal end of the body is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer. The treatment region extends from the proximal end to the distal end. The surgical instrument further comprises a protective sheath disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the ultrasonic blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Neurohr, Galen C. Robertson, Louis T. DeLuca, Foster B. Stulen, Daniel W. Price
  • Publication number: 20200315625
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus. Various embodiments include a rotatable elongated body that extends from a rotatable shroud on handle assembly and has a distal end configured for attachment to a disposable loading unit. The apparatus further includes a lockable rotation system for selectively locking the rotatable shroud to prevent rotation thereof about a longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Steven G. Hall, Randall J. Tanguay, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Galen C. Robertson, Andrew M. Zwolinski, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Geoffrey C. Hueil, Mark S. Ortiz, Douglas B. Hoffman, Patrick A. Weizman, Dean B. Bruewer, Gregory B. Blair
  • Patent number: 10743870
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus. Various embodiments include a handle assembly that has a movable handle that is movable through actuation strokes relative to a stationary handle housing. An actuation is shaft supported at least in part within the stationary handle housing and is movable in response to manipulation of the movable handle. Various embodiments further include a firing lock out assembly that is configured to selectively prevent longitudinal movement of the actuation shaft in a distal direction. A firing release trigger is supported on the movable handle for travel therewith and is configured to interface with the firing lockout assembly to selectively release the firing lockout assembly to permit the actuation shaft to move longitudinally in the distal direction upon manipulation of the movable handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Steven G. Hall, Randall J. Tanguay, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Galen C. Robertson, Andrew M. Zwolinski, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 10716568
    Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly comprising a staple cartridge carrier, an anvil, an outer surface, a closure member, a staple cartridge, and a firing system is disclosed. The anvil is rotatable between a first position and a second position. The closure member is slideable along the outer surface to hold the anvil in the second position. The closure member comprises a clearance opening. The staple cartridge is positioned within the staple cartridge carrier. The staple cartridge comprises staples removably stored therein. The staple cartridge and the anvil define a tissue gap therebetween when the anvil is in the second position. The clearance opening is aligned with the tissue gap when the anvil is in the second position. The firing system is configured to eject the staples from the staple cartridge during a staple firing stroke. The firing system engages the staple cartridge carrier and the anvil during the staple firing stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Steven G. Hall, Randall J. Tanguay, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Galen C. Robertson, Andrew M. Zwolinski, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Geoffrey C. Hueil, Mark S. Ortiz, Douglas B. Hoffman, Patrick A. Weizman, Dean B. Bruewer, Gregory B. Blair, Charles J. Scheib, Kevin R. Doll, Bret W. Smith, William D. Kelly, Ronald J. Kolata, Joshua R. Uth, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Jerome R. Morgan, Kyle P. Moore, Mark H. Ransick, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Thomas W. Huitema, Glen A. Armstrong, Shailendra K. Parihar, Donna L. Korvick, Richard W. Timm
  • Patent number: 10661029
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a housing can define a reservoir. A lower cap can be coupled to the housing and define an outlet, and an upper cap can be coupled to the housing and can define an inlet. The upper cap can include an extending portion extending laterally a distance beyond an outermost extending portion of the lower cap relative to a central axis of the housing such that, when the lower cap and the extending portion of the upper cap contact a horizontal surface, the central axis of the housing is transverse to the surface and a sealing member is configured to sealingly engage a sealing surface of a valve seat prior to a liquid fluid level within a reservoir decreasing below a minimum threshold fluid level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: 410 Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Galen C. Robertson, Andrew W. Lane, Savannah K. Carlsen, Mark D. Piehl, Robert W. Titkemeyer, Stephen Latham, Douglas Rodenkirch, Jesse Darley, Curtis Irwin, Amrish Chourasia
  • Publication number: 20200085462
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument including an ultrasonically actuated blade or end effector having a treatment portion. The blade can define a central axis and at least one axis which is transverse to the central axis, wherein the transverse axis can lie within a plane which is perpendicular, or normal, to the longitudinal axis and can define a cross-section of the treatment portion. Such a cross-section can include a central portion and a step extending from the central portion, wherein the central portion can comprise a width, and wherein the step can comprise a cutting edge. In at least one embodiment, the cutting edge can be defined by first and second surfaces which define an angle therebetween. In various embodiments, the position of the cutting edge and/or the angle between the cutting edge surfaces can be selected in order to balance the blade with respect to the transverse axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventor: Galen C. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20200054386
    Abstract: A surgical device. The surgical device may comprise a transducer configured to provide vibrations along a longitudinal axis and an end effector coupled to the transducer and extending from the transducer along the longitudinal axis. The surgical device also may comprise a lower jaw extending parallel to the end effector. The lower jaw may comprise a clamp face extending toward the longitudinal axis. Also, the lower jaw may be slidable relative to the end effector to bring the clamp face toward a distal end of the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin L. Houser, Stephanie J. Muir, Louis T. DeLuca, Daniel W. Price, William D. Boyd, Galen C. Robertson, Michael J. O'Neil
  • Publication number: 20200050222
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a tube portion can be configured to be fluidically coupled to a patient access component. A source of pressurized fluid can be coupled to the tube portion and can be configured to deliver fluid to the tube portion at a source pressure. A fluid pressure regulating device can include an expandable reservoir and can be coupled to the tube portion such that the expandable reservoir is in fluidic communication with the tube portion. The fluid pressure regulating device can be configured such that, when fluid is delivered from the source of pressurized fluid to the lumen of the tube portion at the source pressure, the expandable reservoir of the fluid pressure regulating device can receive fluid such that the expandable reservoir of the fluid pressure regulating device expands and fluid is delivered from the lumen of the tube portion to the patient via the patient access component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew LANE, Savannah CARLSEN, Galen C. ROBERTSON, Mark D. PIEHL, Stephen LATHAM, Douglas RODENKIRCH, Jesse DARLEY, Curtis IRWIN, Amrish CHOURASIA
  • Publication number: 20200015838
    Abstract: A method of balancing an ultrasonic instrument having an ultrasonically actuated blade is disclosed. The blade includes a body portion and a step portion extending from the body portion. The body portion comprises a first side, a second side, and a width defined between the first and second sides. The step portion includes a first surface, a second surface, and a cutting edge situated intermediate the first and second surfaces. The second surface extends between a first plane including the cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to the first plane. The first and second surfaces are not parallel and are oriented such that there is an angle defined therebetween. The method comprises the steps of configuring at least a portion of the blade such that a relationship is substantially equal to zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventor: Galen C. Robertson
  • Patent number: 10531910
    Abstract: A surgical device is disclosed including a surgical instrument and an outer sheath surrounding the surgical instrument. The surgical instruments includes an end effector including a first jaw member and a second jaw member. At least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member is pivotable toward the other to grasp tissue. The outer sheath is slidable relative to the surgical instrument along a longitudinal axis between a first position, wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member are positioned within the outer sheath proximal to a distal portion of the outer sheath, and a second positon, wherein the first iaw member and the second iaw member are positioned outside the outer sheath distal to the distal portion of the outer sheath. The distal portion of the outer sheath is configured to clamp tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Houser, Stephanie J. Muir, Louis T. DeLuca, Daniel W. Price, William D. Boyd, Galen C. Robertson, Michael J. O'Neil
  • Publication number: 20200001021
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a housing can define a reservoir. A lower cap can be coupled to the housing and define an outlet, and an upper cap can be coupled to the housing and can define an inlet. The upper cap can include an extending portion extending laterally a distance beyond an outermost extending portion of the lower cap relative to a central axis of the housing such that, when the lower cap and the extending portion of the upper cap contact a horizontal surface, the central axis of the housing is transverse to the surface and a sealing member is configured to sealingly engage a sealing surface of a valve seat prior to a liquid fluid level within a reservoir decreasing below a minimum threshold fluid level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Galen C. ROBERTSON, Andrew W. LANE, Savannah K. CARLSEN, Mark D. PIEHL, Robert W. TITKEMEYER, Stephen LATHAM, Douglas RODENKIRCH, Jesse DARLEY, Curtis IRWIN, Amrish CHOURASIA
  • Publication number: 20190374724
    Abstract: An infusion device includes a housing with an interior chamber sized and configured to hold at least a flange and plunger of a syringe, a trigger held by the housing, and a lever in communication with the trigger and including an upwardly extending cam with a cam path having an upper end. The cam is in communication with the flange of the syringe. In response to actuation of the trigger to dispense fluid from the syringe, the upper end of the cam travels upward above the syringe and longitudinally toward a dispensing end of the syringe to linearly translate the plunger of the syringe in a first direction to dispense fluid from the syringe. To refill fluid into the syringe, the upper end of the cam travels downward and longitudinally away from the dispensing end of the syringe to linearly translate the plunger in a second direction to intake fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: 410 Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. PIEHL, Galen C. ROBERTSON, John Tyler Willis HAGLER, Robert W. TITKEMEYER, Frederic C. FEILER, JR.
  • Patent number: 10441308
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a transducer, a waveguide coupled to the transducer and defining a longitudinal axis, a tube comprising an outer surface, an end effector, and a protective sheath. The waveguide extends through the tube. The end effector includes a surgical blade extending from the waveguide. The surgical blade is asymmetric relative to the longitudinal axis. The surgical blade includes a cutting edge on a first side of the longitudinal axis, an atraumatic surface on a second side of the longitudinal axis, a distal tip, and a treatment portion. The cutting edge includes a proximal end. The treatment portion extends between the proximal end of the cutting edge and the distal tip. The protective sheath extends around at least a portion of the tube and along at least a portion of the surgical blade to the treatment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventor: Galen C. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20190274700
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument is disclosed. The ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a housing, an ultrasonic transducer assembly to selectively generate ultrasonic motion, a motor within the housing, an outer sheath coupled to the housing, and a blade operably coupled to the ultrasonic transducer assembly and rotatably supported within the outer sheath for rotation with the ultrasonic transducer assembly. The ultrasonic transducer assembly is rotatably supported within the housing. The motor is configured to selectively apply a rotary motion to the ultrasonic transducer assembly. The outer sheath comprises a distal tip portion defining a tip cavity. The blade includes a tissue-cutting distal end rotatably supported within the tip cavity. A portion of the tissue-cutting distal end is configured to apply the ultrasonic motion to tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Galen C. Robertson, Richard W. Timm, Kip M. Rupp, Kristina A. Snyder
  • Patent number: 10391257
    Abstract: An infusion device includes a housing with an interior chamber sized and configured to hold at least a flange and plunger of a syringe, a trigger held by the housing, and a lever in communication with the trigger and including an upwardly extending cam with a cam path having an upper end. The cam is in communication with the flange of the syringe. In response to actuation of the trigger to dispense fluid from the syringe, the upper end of the cam travels upward above the syringe and longitudinally toward a dispensing end of the syringe to linearly translate the plunger of the syringe in a first direction to dispense fluid from the syringe. To refill fluid into the syringe, the upper end of the cam travels downward and longitudinally away from the dispensing end of the syringe to linearly translate the plunger in a second direction to intake fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: 410 Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Piehl, Galen C. Robertson, John Tyler Willis Hagler, Robert W. Titkemeyer, Frederic C. Feiler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10322227
    Abstract: A kit of components for a medical infusion includes a syringe having a syringe body with a liquid chamber having a volumetric capacity in a range of 5 ml to 30 ml, large bore tubing having an inner diameter greater than 3 mm and less than or equal to 6 mm and a length in a range of 4 feet to 10 feet, a valve with an axially extending valve body with opposing first and second ends, and a package holding the syringe pre-attached to the valve body and the large bore tubing in a sterile condition to thereby provide components in a ready-to-use configuration for insertion of the syringe and valve into an infusion device. The valve body includes an inlet tube residing between the first and second ends of the valve body and an exit port on the first end of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: 410 Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Piehl, Galen C. Robertson, John Tyler Willis Hagler, Robert W. Titkemeyer, Frederic C. Feiler, Jr.