Patents by Inventor James D. Allen

James D. Allen 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: 12251155
    Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes jaw members having a cutting element extending therebetween and a generator configured to: provide minimal power to the cutting element to maintain a pre-dissection temperature thereof; sense a change in resistance of the cutting element and ramp up power to a dissection temperature; regulate the temperature of the cutting element by regulating power; and terminate power to the cutting element to allow the cutting element to cool to the pre-dissection temperature before providing power back to the cutting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: James D. Allen, IV, William D. Faulkner, Duane E. Kerr
  • Patent number: 12239336
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending from the housing, an end effector assembly extending from the shaft and configured to rotate and/or articulate relative to the housing, a motor disposed within the housing and operably coupled to the end effector assembly to rotate and/or articulate of the end effector assembly relative to the housing, and a sensing assembly configured to sense movement of the housing relative to a reference position and to drive the motor to rotate and/or articulate of the end effector assembly relative to the housing based upon the sensed movement. The sensing assembly is configured to operate in each of a standard mode, wherein movement of the housing effects rotation and/or articulation of the end effector assembly in a similar direction, and a reversed mode, wherein movement of the housing effects rotation and/or articulation of the end effector assembly in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: James D. Allen, IV
  • Publication number: 20250057580
    Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument having an electrode with a polymeric dielectric coating; and an electrosurgical generator, which includes a power converter configured to generate RF energy; a sensor coupled to the power converter and configured to sense a parameter of the RF energy; and a controller coupled to the sensor and the power converter. The controller is configured to control the power converter to output an RF waveform to achieve conductor breakthrough through the polymeric dielectric coating. The controller is further configured to determine whether the conductor breakthrough occurred based on the parameter; and execute a treatment algorithm based on a determination of the conductor breakthrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Applicant: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Todd W. Boucher, William E. Robinson, Monte S. Fry, James D. Allen, IV, Jennifer R. McHenry
  • Patent number: 12213725
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly is operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members that are movable relative to one another. A drive assembly operably couples to a handle assembly associated with the housing and is configured to impart movement of a respective jaw member when the handle assembly is actuated. A spring component operably associated with each of the jaw members is configured to provide a sealing force at the jaw members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Glenn A. Horner, James D. Allen, IV
  • Publication number: 20250017645
    Abstract: Jaw members of end effector assemblies include sealing plates configured to direct the amount and flow of energy through the sealing plates. The sealing plates may have a height varying from a minimal height to a maximum height along a width or a length of the sealing plate and/or a sealing surface including at least two impedance zones having different impedance values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Applicant: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Samuel W. Tobey, James D. Allen, IV, Kenlyn S. Bonn, Jennifer R. Mchenry, William E. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20250009412
    Abstract: A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David M. Garrison, James D. Allen, IV, Jeffrey R. Unger, Duane E. Kerr, Sean T. O'Neill, Peter M. Mueller, Kim V. Brandt, James S. Cunningham, Keir Hart, Daniel A. Joseph, Jason Sanders, Robert M. Sharp
  • Patent number: 12167884
    Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument having an electrode with a polymeric dielectric coating; and an electrosurgical generator, which includes a power converter configured to generate RF energy; a sensor coupled to the power converter and configured to sense a parameter of the RF energy; and a controller coupled to the sensor and the power converter. The controller is configured to control the power converter to output an RF waveform to achieve conductor breakthrough through the polymeric dielectric coating. The controller is further configured to determine whether the conductor breakthrough occurred based on the parameter; and execute a treatment algorithm based on a determination of the conductor breakthrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Todd W. Boucher, William E. Robinson, Monte S. Fry, James D. Allen, IV, Jennifer R. McHenry
  • Publication number: 20240370312
    Abstract: A processor is described. The processor includes model specific register space that is visible to software above a BIOS level. The model specific register space is to specify a granularity of a processing entity of a lock-step group. The processor also includes logic circuitry to support dynamic entry/exit of the lock-step group's processing entities to/from lock-step mode including: i) termination of lock-step execution by the processing entities before the program code to be executed in lock-step is fully executed; and, ii) as part of the exit from the lock-step mode, restoration of a state of a shadow processing entity of the processing entities as the state existed before the shadow processing entity entered the lock-step mode and began lock-step execution of the program code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Vedvyas SHANBHOGUE, Jeff A. HUXEL, Jeffrey G. WIEDEMEIER, James D. ALLEN, Arvind RAMAN, Krishnakumar GANAPATHY
  • Publication number: 20240360581
    Abstract: A thermal cutting element for a surgical instrument includes a substrate, a Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) coating disposed on the substrate, and a heating element disposed on the PEO coating and including first and second end portions adapted to connect to different potentials of electrical energy to heat the heating element. A jaw member of a surgical instrument includes a structural frame including a proximal flange portion and a distal body portion, a jaw housing surrounding the distal body portion of the structural frame, a tissue-treating plate disposed atop the jaw housing and defining a longitudinal slot therethrough along at least a portion of a length thereof, and the thermal cutting element disposed within the longitudinal slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: William Robinson, James D. Allen, IV, Mark A. Johnston, Brendan J. Heinig, Hector A. MacPherson
  • Publication number: 20240358393
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical system includes an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive an electrical drive signal and produce ultrasonic mechanical motion that is output along an ultrasonic horn of the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic horn defines a transverse cam slot. A blade extends from the ultrasonic horn. The blade receives the ultrasonic mechanical motion from the ultrasonic horn for treating tissue. A jaw member is movable relative to the blade between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for clamping tissue. A cam pin is slidably disposed in the cam slot and is operably coupled to the jaw member. Slidably advancing the cam pin in the cam slot actuates the jaw member between the spaced-apart position and the approximated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: David J. Van Tol, Michael B. Lyons, Ken Netzel, Monte S. Fry, James D. Allen
  • Patent number: 12127781
    Abstract: Jaw members of end effector assemblies include sealing plates configured to direct the amount and flow of energy through the sealing plates. The sealing plates may have a height varying from a minimal height to a maximum height along a width or a length of the sealing plate and/or a sealing surface including at least two impedance zones having different impedance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Samuel W. Tobey, James D. Allen, IV, Kenlyn S. Bonn, Jennifer R. Mchenry, William E. Robinson
  • Patent number: 12130740
    Abstract: Embodiments of an invention a processor architecture are disclosed. In an embodiment, a processor includes a decoder, an execution unit, a coherent cache, and an interconnect. The decoder is to decode an instruction to zero a cache line. The execution unit is to issue a write command to initiate a cache line sized write of zeros. The coherent cache is to receive the write command, to determine whether there is a hit in the coherent cache and whether a cache coherency protocol state of the hit cache line is a modified state or an exclusive state, to configure a cache line to indicate all zeros, and to issue the write command toward the interconnect. The interconnect is to, responsive to receipt of the write command, issue a snoop to each of a plurality of other coherent caches for which it must be determined if there is a hit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jason W. Brandt, Robert S. Chappell, Jesus Corbal, Edward T. Grochowski, Stephen H. Gunther, Buford M. Guy, Thomas R. Huff, Christopher J. Hughes, Elmoustapha Ould-Ahmed-Vall, Ronak Singhal, Seyed Yahya Sotoudeh, Bret L. Toll, Lihu Rappoport, David B. Papworth, James D. Allen
  • Publication number: 20240350158
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion coupled to a housing. An inner shaft member extends at least partially through the elongated shaft and is selectively movable in a longitudinal direction. An end effector is supported by the distal portion of the elongated shaft. The end effector includes upper and lower jaw members pivotally coupled to the distal portion of the elongated shaft about a pivot axis and including a pair of laterally spaced flanges. The pairs of flanges of the jaw members are arranged in an offset configuration such that one flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally exterior side of a corresponding flange of the lower jaw member, and the other flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally interior side of the other flange of the lower jaw member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: James D. Allen, IV, John R. Twomey, Michael B. Lyons, Jessica E.C. Olson, Sean T. O'Neill, Grant T. Sims
  • Patent number: 12114913
    Abstract: A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David M. Garrison, James D. Allen, IV, Jeffrey R. Unger, Duane E. Kerr, Sean T. O'Neill, Peter M. Mueller, Kim V. Brandt, James S. Cunningham, Keir Hart, Daniel A. Joseph, Jason Sanders, Robert M. Sharp
  • Patent number: 12086653
    Abstract: A processor is described. The processor includes model specific register space that is visible to software above a BIOS level. The model specific register space is to specify a granularity of a processing entity of a lock-step group. The processor also includes logic circuitry to support dynamic entry/exit of the lock-step group's processing entities to/from lock-step mode including: i) termination of lock-step execution by the processing entities before the program code to be executed in lock-step is fully executed; and, ii) as part of the exit from the lock-step mode, restoration of a state of a shadow processing entity of the processing entities as the state existed before the shadow processing entity entered the lock-step mode and began lock-step execution of the program code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Vedvyas Shanbhogue, Jeff A. Huxel, Jeffrey G. Wiedemeier, James D. Allen, Arvind Raman, Krishnakumar Ganapathy
  • Publication number: 20240268882
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing having an elongated shaft extending distally therefrom and configured to support an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members each having a tissue sealing plate disposed thereon and adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source for delivery thereto upon activation thereof. A sensor is disposed one or both of the tissue sealing plates of the first and second jaw members and is configured to communicate data relating to a location of tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members to the electrosurgical energy source. The electrosurgical energy source, in turn, uses the tissue location data to adjust one or more parameters associated with the delivery of electrosurgical energy to the tissue upon activation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: James D. Allen, IV, Christopher A. Valentine, Grant T. Sims
  • Patent number: 12059166
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion coupled to a housing. An inner shaft member extends at least partially through the elongated shaft and is selectively movable in a longitudinal direction. An end effector is supported by the distal portion of the elongated shaft. The end effector includes upper and lower jaw members pivotally coupled to the distal portion of the elongated shaft about a pivot axis and including a pair of laterally spaced flanges. The pairs of flanges of the jaw members are arranged in an offset configuration such that one flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally exterior side of a corresponding flange of the lower jaw member, and the other flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally interior side of the other flange of the lower jaw member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: James D. Allen, IV, John R. Twomey, Michael B. Lyons, Jessica E. C. Olson, Sean T. O'Neill, Grant T. Sims
  • Patent number: 12053229
    Abstract: Jaw members of end effector assemblies include sealing plates configured to direct the amount and flow of energy through the sealing plates. The sealing plates may have a height varying from a minimal height to a maximum height along a width or a length of the sealing plate and/or a sealing surface including at least two impedance zones having different impedance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Samuel W. Tobey, James D. Allen, IV, Kenlyn S. Bonn, Jennifer R. Mchenry, William E. Robinson
  • Patent number: 12049706
    Abstract: A thermal cutting element for a surgical instrument includes a substrate, a Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) coating disposed on the substrate, and a heating element disposed on the PEO coating and including first and second end portions adapted to connect to different potentials of electrical energy to heat the heating element. A jaw member of a surgical instrument includes a structural frame including a proximal flange portion and a distal body portion, a jaw housing surrounding the distal body portion of the structural frame, a tissue-treating plate disposed atop the jaw housing and defining a longitudinal slot therethrough along at least a portion of a length thereof, and the thermal cutting element disposed within the longitudinal slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: William Robinson, James D. Allen, IV, Mark A. Johnston, Brendan J. Heinig, Hector A. MacPherson
  • Patent number: 12048472
    Abstract: A jaw member of an electrosurgical instrument includes an insulative spacer including a face and defining first and second elongated recesses on either side of the face, first and second cleats disposed at least partially within the first and second elongated recesses, respectively, a structural frame, and a tissue treating plate. The structural frame is configured to receive at least a portion of the insulative spacer therein such that first and second elongated sides of the structural frame at least partially overlap the first and second cleats, respectively. The first and second elongated sides are engaged with the first and second cleats, respectively, to thereby secure the insulative spacer relative to the structural frame with the face exposed. The tissue treating plate is disposed on the face of the insulative spacer and is adapted to connect to a source of energy to treat tissue therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Netzel, James D. Allen, IV