Patents by Inventor Gerald N. Hodgkinson

Gerald N. Hodgkinson 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: 10245031
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a housing and an end effector secured to the housing. The housing supports a knife assembly including a knife. The end effector has first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members define a knife channel. The first jaw member defines fastener slots and the second jaw member defines fastener pockets. One or more of the knife channel, the fastener slots, and the fastener pockets includes lateral recesses. Fasteners are disposed in the fastener slots and formed by the fastener pockets. One or more surgical buttresses have a body that overlies one or both of the fastener slots and the fastener pockets. Portions of the body of the one or more surgical buttresses are disposed within the lateral recesses to secure the one or more surgical buttresses to one or both of the first jaw member and the second jaw member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Scott J. Prior
  • Publication number: 20190021734
    Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical apparatus. The end effector comprising a staple cartridge having a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot and an anvil plate having a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot. A surgical buttress releasably disposed on the tissue contacting surfaces of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate. An adhesive tape is disposed over the central longitudinal slot of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate and configured retain the respective surgical buttress atop the respective tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventor: Gerald N. Hodgkinson
  • Publication number: 20180296214
    Abstract: A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus including a tool assembly and a surgical buttress. The tool assembly includes: a cartridge assembly including a staple cartridge having a tissue facing surface, staple retaining pockets having a plurality of surgical fasteners therein, and a knife slot; and an anvil assembly including an anvil plate having a tissue facing surface defining staple forming pockets and a knife slot. The surgical buttress is attached to the tissue facing surface of at least one of the cartridge assembly or the anvil assembly, and conforms to the tissue facing surface such that the surgical buttress is deformed locally into the staple retaining pockets and the knife slot of the cartridge assembly or the staple forming pockets and the knife slot of the anvil assembly to which the surgical buttress is attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Paul A. Scirica
  • Publication number: 20180214147
    Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with a surgical stapler, comprising a staple cartridge having a tissue contacting surface, an anvil plate having a tissue contacting surface, a buttress material releasably disposed on the tissue contacting surfaces of each of the staple cartridge and the anvil plate, and an epoxy positioned onto the tissue contacting surfaces of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate defining an attachment zone configured to retain the respective buttress material atop the respective tissue contacting surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Rahim R. Merchant, Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Danny Berry, Sally L. Carter
  • Publication number: 20180168654
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of rows of staple receiving slots and an anvil assembly having a plurality of rows of staple forming recesses. The staple cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly, or both have one or more attachment members overmolded thereon. A staple line reinforcement material is attached to the attachment members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Richard Stevenson, Jennifer (Whiffen) Diederich
  • Patent number: 9974542
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a housing, an end effector, fasteners, and one or more surgical buttresses. The end effector is secured to the housing and has first and second jaw assemblies. The first jaw assembly defines slots and the second jaw assembly defines pockets. One or both of the first and second jaw assemblies define recesses. The fasteners are disposed in the slots of the first jaw assembly and are formed by the pockets of the second jaw assembly. The one or more surgical buttresses have a body that includes plugs that are integrally formed with the body for insertion into the recesses to secure the surgical buttress(es) to one or both of the first and second jaw assemblies. The body substantially overlies at least some of the slots of the first jaw assembly and/or at least some of the pockets of the second jaw assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Gerald N. Hodgkinson
  • Patent number: 9968352
    Abstract: A barbed suture and a method of forming a barbed suture are disclosed. The barbed suture includes a core fiber and a sheet, which can be monolithic or formed from a plurality of longitudinally extending fibers, which is placed around the core fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Gerald N. Hodgkinson
  • Publication number: 20170281328
    Abstract: A surgical implant includes at least two porous film layers each having a plurality of pores. The porous film layers are in a stacked configuration and are interconnected to one another at a plurality of attachment points to define at least one void between the porous film layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Ph.D., Richard P. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 9687226
    Abstract: A suturing device includes an elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis, a trajectory guide translatably mounted on the elongate shaft and an introducer guard member operatively coupled to a distal portion of the elongate shaft. The introducer guard member includes at least one arm member which is movable between a first position in which the arm member is retracted, substantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis and a second position in which the at least one arm member is deployed. The introducer guard member includes an attaching member for releasably retaining a suture. The trajectory guide defines at least one bore therethrough. The bore obliquely extends through the trajectory guide and defines an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. The bore aligns with the attaching member when the introducer guard member is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Timothy D. Ebner
  • Patent number: 9681936
    Abstract: A surgical implant includes at least two porous film layers each having a plurality of pores. The porous film layers are in a stacked configuration and are interconnected to one another at a plurality of attachment points to define at least one void between the porous film layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Richard P. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 9597077
    Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical apparatus. The end effector comprising a staple cartridge having a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot and an anvil plate having a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot. A surgical buttress releasably disposed on the tissue contacting surfaces of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate. An adhesive tape is disposed over the central longitudinal slot of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate and configured retain the respective surgical buttress atop the respective tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Gerald N. Hodgkinson
  • Publication number: 20160367253
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a housing, an end effector, fasteners, and one or more surgical buttresses. The end effector is secured to the housing and has first and second jaw assemblies. The first jaw assembly defines slots and the second jaw assembly defines pockets. One or both of the first and second jaw assemblies define recesses. The fasteners are disposed in the slots of the first jaw assembly and are formed by the pockets of the second jaw assembly. The one or more surgical buttresses have a body that includes plugs that are integrally formed with the body for insertion into the recesses to secure the surgical buttress(es) to one or both of the first and second jaw assemblies. The body substantially overlies at least some of the slots of the first jaw assembly and/or at least some of the pockets of the second jaw assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventor: Gerald N. Hodgkinson
  • Patent number: 9433420
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a housing, an end effector, fasteners, and one or more surgical buttresses. The end effector is secured to the housing and has first and second jaw assemblies. The first jaw assembly defines slots and the second jaw assembly defines pockets. One or both of the first and second jaw assemblies define recesses. The fasteners are disposed in the slots of the first jaw assembly and are formed by the pockets of the second jaw assembly. The one or more surgical buttresses have a body that includes plugs that are integrally formed with the body for insertion into the recesses to secure the surgical buttress(es) to one or both of the first and second jaw assemblies. The body substantially overlies at least some of the slots of the first jaw assembly and/or at least some of the pockets of the second jaw assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Gerald N. Hodgkinson
  • Publication number: 20160157857
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a housing and an end effector secured to the housing. The housing supports a knife assembly including a knife. The end effector has first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members define a knife channel. The first jaw member defines fastener slots and the second jaw member defines fastener pockets. One or more of the knife channel, the fastener slots, and the fastener pockets includes lateral recesses. Fasteners are disposed in the fastener slots and formed by the fastener pockets. One or more surgical buttresses have a body that overlies one or both of the fastener slots and the fastener pockets. Portions of the body of the one or more surgical buttresses are disposed within the lateral recesses to secure the one or more surgical buttresses to one or both of the first jaw member and the second jaw member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Scott J. Prior
  • Patent number: 9351732
    Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with a surgical stapler, the end effector comprises a staple cartridge assembly having a tissue contacting surface and an anvil assembly having a tissue contacting surface. A surgical buttress configured and dimensioned to substantially overlie at least a portion of the tissue contacting surface of at least one of the staple cartridge assembly and anvil assembly. A plurality of attachment pads secured to at least one of the tissue contacting surface of the at least one staple cartridge assembly and anvil assembly configured to retain the respective buttress material thereto, wherein the surgical buttress is ultrasonically welded to each of the plurality of attachment pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Gerald N. Hodgkinson
  • Publication number: 20160113647
    Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical apparatus. The end effector comprising a staple cartridge having a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot and an anvil plate having a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot. A surgical buttress releasably disposed on the tissue contacting surfaces of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate. An adhesive tape is disposed over the central longitudinal slot of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate and configured retain the respective surgical buttress atop the respective tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventor: Gerald N. Hodgkinson
  • Patent number: 9295466
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a housing and an end effector secured to the housing. The housing supports a knife assembly including a knife. The end effector has first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members define a knife channel. The first jaw member defines fastener slots and the second jaw member defines fastener pockets. One or more of the knife channel, the fastener slots, and the fastener pockets includes lateral recesses. Fasteners are disposed in the fastener slots and formed by the fastener pockets. One or more surgical buttresses have a body that overlies one or both of the fastener slots and the fastener pockets. Portions of the body of the one or more surgical buttresses are disposed within the lateral recesses to secure the one or more surgical buttresses to one or both of the first jaw member and the second jaw member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Scott J. Prior
  • Patent number: 9237892
    Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical apparatus. The end effector comprising a staple cartridge having a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot and an anvil plate having a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot. A surgical buttress releasbly disposed on the tissue contacting surfaces of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate. An adhesive tape is disposed over the central longitudinal slot of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate and configured retain the respective surgical buttress atop the respective tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Gerald N. Hodgkinson
  • Patent number: 9107665
    Abstract: A surgical stapler instrument has surgical stapler jaws, at least one staple line reinforcement material, and a fastener including a hook and a loop. The hook can be disposed on one of the surgical stapler jaws and the loop can be disposed on the staple line reinforcement material. Alternatively, the hook can be disposed on the staple line reinforcement material and the look on one of the surgical stapler jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Sally L. Carter
  • Publication number: 20150209045
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of rows of staple receiving slots and an anvil assembly having a plurality of rows of staple forming recesses. The staple cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly, or both have one or more attachment members overmolded thereon. A staple line reinforcement material is attached to the attachment members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Richard Stevenson, Jennifer (Whiffen) Diederich