Patents by Inventor J. Shurtleff

J. Shurtleff 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: 20100010310
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for providing irrigation and/or suction to a surgical site and maintaining clear visibility through a lens of a scoping device during a surgical procedure. In general, the methods and devices can allow for a surgical instrument to maintain visibility during a surgical procedure using a fluid conduit coupled to the surgical instrument. A surgical device can include a sheath having at least one lumen extending therethrough configured to allow a surgical viewing instrument to be disposed therein. The sheath can also have a passageway extending therethrough configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough. The fluid conduit can be configured to be movable between positions that can allow alternative directions of fluid toward and/or away from a viewing element on the surgical instrument and fluid away from the viewing element and toward a surgical field in a body cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.
    Inventors: William B. Weisenburgh, II, Carl J. Shurtleff, Darrel M. Powell, Christopher J. Hess
  • Publication number: 20090234193
    Abstract: A first expression of apparatus for keeping clean a medical viewing scope's distal scope end includes a tube, an annular sheath, and a handpiece. The tube has a proximal end fluidly connectable to irrigation fluid and has a distal end fluidly connected to the handpiece. The sheath is surroundingly attachable to the scope and includes a lumen between the sheath's inside and outside diameters. The lumen has a substantially constant cross-sectional flow area which is substantially equal in area to the tube's cross-sectional flow area. The handpiece is in fluid communication with the proximal lumen end. The distal scope end is positioned proximate the attached sheath's distal lumen end. A second expression of the apparatus has the lumen with a substantially crescent shape without any limitation on its cross-sectional flow area. In an alternate embodiment, the lumen substantially continuously varies in cross-sectional flow area and/or irrigation flow path direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.
    Inventors: William B. Weisenburgh, II, Carl J. Shurtleff, Christopher J. Hess, Michael A. Murray, James W. Voegele, Darrel M. Powell
  • Publication number: 20090192344
    Abstract: A surgical kit can be used to manipulate tissue within the body of a patient to create a working space within the body to allow a surgeon to easily access and work within the body using various surgical instruments. A surgical kit can include an implant comprised of a magnetic material which can be engaged with tissue within the body. The kit can further include a surgical instrument having a magnet which can be used to manipulate the implant and tissue engaged therewith. A surgical kit can include an anchor and a hanger configured to engage tissue at different locations within the body and a connection member engaged with the anchor and the hanger such that the connection member can be pulled to move the anchor toward the hanger. A surgical instrument which utilizes a vacuum provided to one or more movable members can also be used to manipulate tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Bakos, Christie Mrie Cunningham, Kendall Lee Dobler, William D. Fox, Christopher J. Hess, Gary L. Long, Rudolph Henry Nobis, Carl J. Shurtleff, James T. Spivey, David Stefanchik, Michael J. Stokes, Omar J. Vakharia, James W. Voegele
  • Publication number: 20080255459
    Abstract: Various compositions, methods, and devices are provided that use fluorescent nanoparticles, which can function as markers, indicators, and light sources. The fluorescent nanoparticles can be formed from a fluorophore core surrounded by a biocompatible shell, such as a silica shell. In one embodiment, the fluorescent nanoparticles can be delivered to tissue to mark the tissue, enable identification and location of the tissue, and/or illuminate an area surrounding the tissue. In another embodiment, the fluorescent nanoparticles can be used on a device or implant to locate the device or implant in the body, indicate an orientation of the device or implant, and/or illuminate an area surrounding the device or implant. The fluorescent nanoparticles can also be used to provide a therapeutic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.
    Inventors: James W. Voegele, Carl J. Shurtleff
  • Publication number: 20080255460
    Abstract: Various compositions, methods, and devices are provided that use fluorescent nanoparticles to function as markers, indicators, and/or light sources. In an exemplary embodiment, the fluorescent nanoparticles are biocompatible, and more preferably they can be formed from a fluorophore core surrounded by a biocompatible shell, such as a silica shell. In one aspect, the fluorescent nanoparticles can be delivered to tissue to mark the tissue, enable identification and location of the tissue, and/or illuminate an area surrounding the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.
    Inventors: James W. Voegele, Robert P. Gill, Michael A. Murray, Christopher J. Hess, Carl J. Shurtleff
  • Publication number: 20080255537
    Abstract: Various compositions, methods, and devices are provided that use fluorescent nanoparticles, which can function as markers, indicators, and light sources. The fluorescent nanoparticles can be formed from a fluorophore core surrounded by a biocompatible shell, such as a silica shell. In one embodiment, the fluorescent nanoparticles can be delivered to tissue to mark the tissue, enable identification and location of the tissue, and/or illuminate an area surrounding the tissue. In another embodiment, the fluorescent nanoparticles can be used on a device or implant to locate the device or implant in the body, indicate an orientation of the device or implant, and/or illuminate an area surrounding the device or implant. The fluorescent nanoparticles can also be used to provide a therapeutic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.
    Inventors: James W. Voegele, Robert P. Gill, Carl J. Shurtleff
  • Publication number: 20080086078
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing post-operative ileus and/or gastric stasis is described. The method can include applying to the intestine a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a drug that is effective in reducing post-operative ileus and/or gastric stasis, such as by introducing the composition through a surgical access device, such as a trocar or endoscope. The apparatus can include a surgical fastener and a buttress comprising the composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Darrel M. Powell, Mark Pomeroy, Michael A. Murray, Carl J. Shurtleff
  • Publication number: 20080085296
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing post-operative ileus and/or gastric stasis is described. The method can include applying to the intestine a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a drug that is effective in reducing post-operative ileus and/or gastric stasis, such as by introducing the composition through a surgical access device, such as a trocar or endoscope. The apparatus can include a sheet of material, a surgical fastener, or a buttress comprising the composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Darrel M. Powell, Mark Pomeroy, Michael A. Murray, Carl J. Shurtleff
  • Publication number: 20080023197
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for in-situ extraction of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation. The system includes a well drilled through a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, and a completion unit that places an injection tube near a fluid injection point near the bottom of a target zone and a production tube near a fluid production point near the top of the target zone. An isolation unit isolates the fluid injection point from the fluid production point such that injected fluid flows through the target zone. The system further includes a heat source, and a fluid that delivers thermal energy from the heat source to the hydrocarbons in the target zone to entrain the hydrocarbons in the fluid. The resulting production fluid is heated, free hydrogen is added, and the production fluid is treated on a catalytic reactor to reduce the size of the hydrocarbon chains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventor: J. Shurtleff