Patents by Inventor James A. Woodard, Jr.
James A. Woodard, Jr. 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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Patent number: 9113861Abstract: A needle holder includes a shaft and a needle driver located at the distal end of the shaft. The needle driver is operable to rotate a needle such that the needle forms a non-perpendicular angle with a longitudinal axis of the shaft. In some versions, the needle driver includes a first arm and a rotatable assembly that is configured to longitudinally clamp about a portion of a needle. The rotatable assembly may include self-righting features to right the needle perpendicular to the first arm. The needle driver may further include a second arm that is pivotable relative to the first arm. The rotatable assembly may include a top member associated with the second arm and a bottom member associated with the first arm. In some versions, spring-loaded collets may secure the needle to a rotatable assembly. Alternatively, a pair of actuating arms may pivot the needle about a curved surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2012Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: David T. Martin, James A. Woodard, Jr., Carl J. Shurtleff, Andrew C. Yoo
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Patent number: 9044228Abstract: A surgical fastening instrument can comprise a handle and an end effector, wherein the end effector can comprise a first jaw comprising a first cartridge attachment portion and a second jaw comprising a second cartridge attachment portion, and wherein one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other of the first jaw and the second jaw. The surgical fastening instrument can further comprise a first cartridge that is insertable into the first jaw and attachable to the first cartridge attachment portion and, in addition, a second cartridge that is insertable into the second jaw and attachable to the second cartridge attachment portion. In various embodiments, the first cartridge can comprise first fastener portions which are engageable with second fastener portions in the second cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: James A. Woodard, Jr., Charles J. Scheib, Chad P. Boudreaux, Dean B. Bruewer, Richard F. Schwemberger, Christopher J. Schall, Jerome R. Morgan, Robert J. Simms, Jeffrey S. Swayze, John N. Ouwerkerk
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Publication number: 20150142020Abstract: A suture needle driving instrument comprises a shaft and an end effector. The end effector is located at the distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of needle grasping arms. Each grasping arm extends along a respective arm axis. The grasping arms are operable to drive a suture needle along a rotational path about an axis, such as one of the arm axes, that is offset from the central longitudinal axis of the shaft. The rotational path may be perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. A needle driven by the end effector may have an arc radius that is greater than the radius of the shaft. At least one of the needle grasping arms may include a dogleg feature positioning a distal portion of the grasping arm outside the radius of the shaft. The instrument may be used through a trocar during minimally invasive surgery.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventors: James A. Woodard, JR., Jason R. Lesko, Shawn C. Snyder, David T. Martin
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Patent number: 9033203Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument can comprise, one, a handle comprising an actuator and, two, an end effector comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The end effector can further comprise a first jaw configured to support staples comprising staple legs and, in addition, a second jaw supporting a matrix element opposite the staples, wherein one of the jaws is movable toward the other in order to engage the matrix element with the staple legs. The stapling instrument can further comprise a cam operably coupled with the actuator, wherein the cam is movable along the longitudinal axis to deform the staple legs.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: James A. Woodard, Jr., Charles J. Scheib, Chad P. Boudreaux, Dean B. Bruewer, Richard F. Schwemberger, Christopher J. Schall, Jerome R. Morgan, Robert J. Simms, Jeffrey S. Swayze, John N. Ouwerkerk
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Publication number: 20140367447Abstract: A surgical fastener system can comprise a plurality of fasteners which can be connected to each other by, one, a retention matrix which is assembled to the fasteners in order to capture tissue within the fasteners and, two, an alignment matrix configured to hold the fasteners together before the retention matrix is assembled thereto. In various embodiments, the retention matrix and the alignment matrix can each comprise a tissue-contacting surface configured to compress tissue therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2014Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: James A. Woodard, JR., Charles J. Scheib, Chad P. Boudreaux, Dean B. Bruewer, Richard F. Schwemberger, Christopher J. Schall, Jerome R. Morgan, Robert J. Simms, Jeffrey S. Swayze, John N. Ouwerkerk
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Patent number: 8906043Abstract: A suture needle driving instrument comprises a shaft and an end effector. The end effector is located at the distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of needle grasping arms. Each grasping arm extends along a respective arm axis. The grasping arms are operable to drive a suture needle along a rotational path about an axis, such as one of the arm axes, that is offset from the central longitudinal axis of the shaft. The rotational path may be perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. A needle driven by the end effector may have an arc radius that is greater than the radius of the shaft. At least one of the needle grasping arms may include a dogleg feature positioning a distal portion of the grasping arm outside the radius of the shaft. The instrument may be used through a trocar during minimally invasive surgery.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2011Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: James A. Woodard, Jr., Jason R. Lesko, Shawn C. Snyder, David T. Martin
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Patent number: 8876761Abstract: Methods and devices create an intestinal braking effect, are non-invasive or minimally invasive, and may be reversible. These methods and devices are accomplished via stabilized implantable systems and ingestible pills. In one embodiment, a method of producing satiety comprising the steps of accessing a gastrointestinal tract of a patient and implanting an intraintestinal therapeutic substance eluting implant. The implant is capable of eluting a satiety inducing substance selected from at least one of a nutrient, a specific satiety inducing bio-active substance, pancreatic polypeptides, free fatty acids, cholecystokinin, amino acids, glutamine, lipids, linoleic acid, or a combination thereof, from the implant into the gastrointestinal tract.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2011Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Albrecht, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Sean P. Conlon, Michael S. Cropper, Denzel Z. Herrera-Davis, Daniel F. Dlugos, Jr., Jason L. Harris, Christopher J. Hess, Prasanna Malaviya, Glenda C. Marsh, Mark S. Ortiz, Mark D. Overmyer, Alessandro Pastorelli, Galen C. Robertson, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Michael J. Stokes, James W. Voegele, Lauren S. Weaner, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Christopher W. Widenhouse, Tamara S. Vetro Widenhouse, James A. Woodard, Jr., David C. Yates, Mark S. Zeiner, Andrew M. Zwolinski
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Patent number: 8814024Abstract: A surgical fastener system can comprise a plurality of fasteners which can be connected to each other by a flexible retention matrix which is assembled to the fasteners in order to capture tissue therebetween. The flexible retention matrix can comprise, one, a plurality of retention matrix elements configured to engage the fasteners and, two, a lattice of connectors which connect one or more retention matrix elements.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: James A. Woodard, Jr., Charles J. Scheib, Chad P. Boudreaux, Dean B. Bruewer, Richard F. Schwemberger, Christopher J. Schall, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Jerome R. Morgan, Robert J. Simms, John N. Ouwerkerk
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Patent number: 8757465Abstract: A surgical fastener system can comprise a plurality of fasteners which can be connected to each other by, one, a retention matrix which is assembled to the fasteners in order to capture tissue within the fasteners and, two, an alignment matrix configured to hold the fasteners together before the retention matrix is assembled thereto. In various embodiments, the retention matrix and the alignment matrix can each comprise a tissue-contacting surface configured to compress tissue therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: James A. Woodard, Jr., Charles J. Scheib, Chad P. Boudreaux, Dean B. Bruewer, Richard F. Schwemberger, Christopher J. Schall, Jerome R. Morgan, Robert J. Simms, Jeffrey S. Swayze, John N. Ouwerkerk
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Publication number: 20140158741Abstract: An apparatus is provided for operating on tissue. The apparatus includes an end effector having an upper jaw and lower jaw. The upper and lower jaws each include an electrode surface. The apparatus also includes a tissue tacking cartridge coupled to one of either the upper jaw or the lower jaw. The tissue tacking cartridge includes at least one fastener positioned outside of the electrode surfaces. The fastener is operable to be deployed from the tissue tacking cartridge. A tack loading cartridge may also be operable to load the end effector with at least one fastener.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2012Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.Inventors: James A. Woodard, Jr., Kreena R. Modi, Gary W. Knight, Andrew C. Yoo, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Joseph E. Young, Chester O. Baxter, III, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
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Publication number: 20140155807Abstract: Methods and devices create an intestinal braking effect, are non-invasive or minimally invasive, and may be reversible. These methods and devices are accomplished via stabilized implantable systems, and ingestible pills. In one embodiment, the implantable system comprises a device delivering a therapeutic substance to a target location within the gastrointestinal tract of a patient in order to initiate an intestinal braking effect which would promote sensations of satiety and stimulate excess weight loss for the patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Albrecht, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Sean P. Conlon, Michael S. Cropper, Denzel Z. Herrera-Davis, Daniel F. Dlugos, Jason L. Harris, Christopher J. Hess, Thomas W. Huitema, John W. Hunt, Prasanna Malaviya, Mark S. Ortiz, Mark D. Overmyer, Alessandro Pastorelli, Galen C. Robertson, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Michael J. Stokes, Foster B. Stulen, James W. Voegele, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Christopher W. Widenhouse, Tamara S. Vetro Widenhouse, James A. Woodard, JR., David C. Yates, Mark S. Zeiner, Andrew M. Zwolinksi
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Patent number: 8702732Abstract: A suture needle driving instrument comprises a shaft, an end effector, and a grasping actuation assembly. The end effector is located at the distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of grasping arms. Each grasping arm comprises a respective pair of jaws. Each pair of jaws is operable to cooperate to grasp and release a suture needle. The grasping actuation assembly is operable to drive one jaw of each pair in one direction while simultaneously driving the other jaw of the pair in an opposite direction, to selectively grasp or release the suture needle. The actuation assembly may include a drive shaft having separate threaded regions with opposing pitch. The end effector is further operable to pass the needle from one arm to the other arm during a suturing procedure. The instrument may be used through a trocar during minimally invasive surgery.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: James A. Woodard, Jr., Jason R. Lesko
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Patent number: 8636751Abstract: Methods and devices reroute chyme to induce intestinal brake in order to improve the effectiveness of bariatric surgical procedures and to improve comorbidity resolution. A bowel is manipulated to provide a shortened path for chyme to travel to the ileum. These methods and devices of rerouting chyme to induce intestinal brake may include one or more of a surgical procedure, an implanted device, or a combination of an implant with an improved surgical procedure.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2011Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Albrecht, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Sean P. Conlon, Michael S. Cropper, Denzel Z. Herrera-Davis, Daniel F. Dlugos, Jr., Jason L. Harris, Christopher J. Hess, Kevin L. Houser, Mario Gutierrez, Prasanna Malaviya, Amy L. Marcotte, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Anthony Nguyen, Mark S. Ortiz, Mark D. Overmyer, Alessandro Pastorelli, Galen C. Robertson, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Michael J. Stokes, Foster B. Stulen, James W. Voegele, Lauren S. Weaner, Tamara S. Vetro Widenhouse, James A. Woodard, Jr., Mark S. Zeiner
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Patent number: 8603023Abstract: Methods and devices create an intestinal braking effect, are non-invasive or minimally invasive, and may be reversible. These methods and devices are accomplished via stabilized implantable systems, and ingestible pills. In one embodiment, the implantable system comprises a device delivering a therapeutic substance to a target location within the gastrointestinal tract of a patient in order to initiate an intestinal braking effect which would promote sensations of satiety and stimulate excess weight loss for the patient.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Albrecht, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Sean P. Conlon, Michael S. Cropper, Denzel Z. Herrera-Davis, Daniel F. Dlugos, Jr., Jason L. Harris, Christopher J. Hess, Thomas W. Huitema, John V. Hunt, Prasanna Malaviya, Mark S. Ortiz, Mark D. Overmyer, Alessandro Pastorelli, Galen C. Robertson, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Michael J. Stokes, Foster B. Stulen, James W. Voegele, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Christopher W. Widenhouse, Tamara S. Vetro Widenhouse, James A. Woodard, Jr., David C. Yates, Mark S. Zeiner, Andrew M. Zwolinski
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Publication number: 20130282031Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector assembly, and a drive assembly. The body may include a handpiece with an integral motor. The shaft assembly may include two pairs of concentric shafts. The end effector assembly may include arms that selectively grasp and release a suturing needle. The drive assembly is operable to drive the end effector assembly via the shaft assembly. The drive assembly is operable to convert a single rotary input into at least two rotary outputs. In some versions, the drive assembly comprises a plurality of shaft assemblies that include an input shaft, a first output shaft, a second output shaft, and a third output shaft. The drive assembly is operable to selectively rotate and hold the shaft assemblies in accordance with a predetermined sequence, such as to perform tissue suturing through a trocar in a minimally invasive surgical procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2012Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: James A. Woodard, JR., Aaron J. Brickner, Jason R. Lesko
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Publication number: 20130282027Abstract: A suture needle driving instrument comprises a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a grasping actuation assembly. The end effector is located at the distal end of the shaft assembly and includes a pair of grasping arms. Each grasping arm comprises a respective pair of jaws. Each pair of jaws is operable to cooperate to grasp and release a suture needle. The grasping actuation assembly is operable to drive one jaw of each pair in one direction while simultaneously driving the other jaw of the pair in an opposite direction, to selectively grasp or release the suture needle. The shaft assembly includes two pairs of parallel concentric shafts, which form part of the actuation assembly. Each shaft pair is operable to drive a respective internal drive shaft having separate threaded regions with opposing pitch. The instrument may be used through a trocar during minimally invasive surgery.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2012Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: James A. Woodard, JR., Aaron J. Brickner, Jason R. Lesko, William J. White, David T. Martin
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Publication number: 20130267969Abstract: An apparatus comprises an end effector, a shaft assembly, and a drive assembly. The end effector comprises needle receiving arms operable to grasp a needle. The drive assembly comprises drive members that are rotatable about respective drive axes that are perpendicular to the axis of the shaft assembly. The drive assembly is operable to drive the needle receiving arms to selectively engage and disengage the needle; and to selectively pass the needle from one needle receiving arm to the other needle receiving arm. The drive assembly provides an interface to a controller that is operable via a remote user interface. The drive assembly may include helical gears, clutch assemblies, a rack and pinion, or other components to convert motion of the drive members into motion at the end effector.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2012Publication date: October 10, 2013Inventors: David T. Martin, James A. Woodard, JR.
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Publication number: 20130245643Abstract: A suture needle driving instrument comprises a shaft and an end effector. The end effector is located at the distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of grasping arms. Each grasping arm comprises a respective pair of jaws. Each pair of jaws is operable to cooperate to grasp and release a suture needle. Each jaw has a needle grasping member operable to align a suture needle along a predetermined arc path. The end effector is further operable to pass the needle from one arm to the other arm during a suturing procedure. The instrument may be used through a trocar during minimally invasive surgery.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Inventors: James A. Woodard, JR., Aaron J. Brickner, Jason R. Lesko
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Patent number: 8529600Abstract: A surgical fastener system can comprise a plurality of fasteners which can be connected to one another by a retention matrix which is assembled to the fasteners in order to capture tissue therebetween. In various embodiments, each fastener can comprise a base and the distance in which the retention matrix is seated relative to the fastener bases can be selectively determined by a surgeon in order to apply a desired pressure to the tissue. In certain embodiments, each fastener can further comprise a fastener leg and the retention matrix can comprise a first layer configured to engage the fastener legs. The retention matrix can further comprise a second layer mounted to the first layer which can comprise one or more encapsulations containing a medicine therein. The encapsulations can be aligned with retention apertures in the retention matrix such that they can be punctured by the fastener legs.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: James A. Woodard, Jr., Charles J. Scheib, Chad P. Boudreaux, Dean B. Bruewer, Richard F. Schwemberger, Christopher J. Schall, Jerome R. Morgan, Robert J. Simms, Douglas J. Siebenaler, Jeffrey S. Swayze, John N. Ouwerkerk
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Patent number: 8491526Abstract: A surgical device comprises a housing, a bioprocessing module, an end effector, and a pumping device. The bioprocessing module comprises media reservoirs, fluid conduits in communication with the reservoirs, and a port through which media is expelled. The end effector is configured for insertion into a lumen and delivering a tissue repair composition into that lumen. The end effector has at least one fluid conduit extending therethrough and at least one orifice in communication with the fluid conduit. The fluid conduit in the first end effector is in fluid communication with the port on the bioprocessing module. The pumping device is operable to urge a tissue repair composition comprising at least a portion of the contents of the media reservoirs through the fluid conduit of the first end effector such that the tissue repair composition is expelled from the at least one orifice.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Cronin, Jerome R. Morgan, Patrick D. Dugan, Rebecca J. Mollere, John B. Schulte, David A. Witt, Joseph P. Schowalter, Eugene L. Timperman, Prasanna Malaviya, Shailendra K. Parihar, Shelby L. Cook Kornbluth, Richard W. Timm, Donna L. Korvick, James A. Woodard, Jr., Peter K. Shires, Barbara L. Mattson, Matthew C. Miller, Frederick E. Shelton, IV