Patents by Inventor James E. Dunning

James E. Dunning 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: 8388614
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrosurgical generator for supplying electrosurgical energy to tissue and methods thereof. The electrosurgical generator includes sensor circuitry, a processing device, and a controller. The type of return electrode pad may be determined automatically. The sensor circuitry is configured to determine one or more characteristics of a patient and/or measure tissue temperature at a return electrode pad site. The processing device is configured to determine a maximum temperature of tissue and calculate real-time predicted temperature at the return electrode pad site. The controller is configured to regulate output of the electrosurgical generator based on one or more characteristics of a patient and the determined maximum temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: James E. Dunning
  • Patent number: 8382749
    Abstract: An electrosurgical return electrode is disclosed. The return electrode includes a first and second flexible conductive material layers and a material layer disposed between the first and second conductive material layers. The material layer is transitionable between a solid state and a non-solid state, the material layer is also configured to melt upon an increase in temperature beyond a predetermined threshold, thereby increasing conductivity between the first and second conductive material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: James E. Dunning, Peter D. Gadsby, David Gresback
  • Publication number: 20120283721
    Abstract: An electrosurgical return electrode is disclosed. The return electrode includes a first and second flexible conductive material layers and a material layer disposed between the first and second conductive material layers. The material layer is transitionable between a solid state and a non-solid state, the material layer is also configured to melt upon an increase in temperature beyond a predetermined threshold, thereby increasing conductivity between the first and second conductive material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: TYCO HEALTHCARE GROUP LP
    Inventors: James E. Dunning, Peter Gadsby, David Gresback
  • Patent number: 8235980
    Abstract: A return pad includes a backing, at least one return electrode, and at least one ring sensor. The backing has a top side, a bottom side, and a periphery. The return electrode is disposed on the bottom side of the backing layer and is adapted to connect to a current generator. The ring sensor(s) is disposed in substantial concentric registration with the periphery of the backing and is configured to connect to a measuring component. The measuring component is operable to approximate contact quality of the return electrode during electrosurgical application and is configured to communicate with the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: TYCO Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: James E. Dunning, Jeffrey L. Eggleston, Kyle R. Rick
  • Patent number: 8231614
    Abstract: An electrosurgical return electrode is disclosed. The return electrode includes a first and second flexible conductive material layers and a material layer disposed between the first and second conductive material layers. The material layer is transitionable between a solid state and a non-solid state, the material layer is also configured to melt upon an increase in temperature beyond a predetermined threshold, thereby increasing conductivity between the first and second conductive material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: TYCO Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: James E. Dunning, Peter Gadsby, David Gresback
  • Publication number: 20120089140
    Abstract: A return pad includes a backing, at least one return electrode, and at least one ring sensor. The backing has a top side, a bottom side, and a periphery. The return electrode is disposed on the bottom side of the backing layer and is adapted to connect to a current generator. The ring sensor(s) is disposed in substantial concentric registration with the periphery of the backing and is configured to connect to a measuring component. The measuring component is operable to approximate contact quality of the return electrode during electrosurgical application and is configured to communicate with the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: TYCO Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: James E. Dunning, Jeffrey L. Eggleston, Kyle R. Rick
  • Patent number: 8080007
    Abstract: A return pad includes a backing, at least one return electrode, and at least one ring sensor. The backing has a top side, a bottom side, and a periphery. The return electrode is disposed on the bottom side of the backing layer and is adapted to connect to a current generator. The ring sensor(s) is disposed in substantial concentric registration with the periphery of the backing and is configured to connect to a measuring component. The measuring component is operable to approximate contact quality of the return electrode during electrosurgical application and is configured to communicate with the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: TYCO Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: James E. Dunning, Jeffrey L. Eggleston, Kyle R. Rick
  • Patent number: 8021360
    Abstract: A return pad for use with an electrosurgical system is disclosed. The return pad includes a conductive layer, a contact layer configured to engage a patient's skin and an intermediate layer disposed between the conductive layer and the contact layer. The intermediate layer is adapted to distribute energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: TYCO Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: James E. Dunning, Kyle R. Rick, David Gresback, Peter Gadsby
  • Publication number: 20110112525
    Abstract: A return pad for use with an electrosurgical system is disclosed. The return pad includes a conductive layer, a contact layer configured to engage a patient's skin and an intermediate layer disposed between the conductive layer and the contact layer. The intermediate layer is adapted to distribute energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: TYCO Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: James E. Dunning, Kyle R. Rick, David Gresback, Peter Gadsby
  • Publication number: 20110077641
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrosurgical generator for supplying electrosurgical energy to tissue and methods thereof. The electrosurgical generator includes sensor circuitry, a processing device, and a controller. The type of return electrode pad may be determined automatically. The sensor circuitry is configured to determine one or more characteristics of a patient and/or measure tissue temperature at a return electrode pad site. The processing device is configured to determine a maximum temperature of tissue and calculate real-time predicted temperature at the return electrode pad site. The controller is configured to regulate output of the electrosurgical generator based on one or more characteristics of a patient and the determined maximum temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: James E. Dunning
  • Publication number: 20090198229
    Abstract: An electrosurgical return electrode is disclosed. The return electrode includes an intermediary layer formed from a dielectric material, the intermediary layer having a top surface and a patient-contacting surface. The return electrode also includes a capacitive return electrode formed from a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the intermediary layer and a resistive monitoring electrode formed from a conductive material disposed on the patient-contact surface of the intermediary layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: James E. Dunning
  • Publication number: 20080281310
    Abstract: An electrosurgical return electrode is disclosed. The return electrode includes a first and second flexible conductive material layers and a material layer disposed between the first and second conductive material layers. The material layer is transitionable between a solid state and a non-solid state, the material layer is also configured to melt upon an increase in temperature beyond a predetermined threshold, thereby increasing conductivity between the first and second conductive material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: James E. Dunning, Peter Gadsby, David Gresback
  • Publication number: 20080281309
    Abstract: A return pad includes a backing, at least one return electrode, and at least one ring sensor. The backing has a top side, a bottom side, and a periphery. The return electrode is disposed on the bottom side of the backing layer and is adapted to connect to a current generator. The ring sensor(s) is disposed in substantial concentric registration with the periphery of the backing and is configured to connect to a measuring component. The measuring component is operable to approximate contact quality of the return electrode during electrosurgical application and is configured to communicate with the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: James E. Dunning, Jeffrey L. Eggleston, Kyle R. Rick
  • Publication number: 20080281311
    Abstract: An electrosurgical return electrode includes a conductive pad including a patient-contacting surface configured to conduct electrosurgical energy, and a temperature sensing circuit coupled to the conductive pad. The temperature sensing circuit includes a plurality of switching elements connected in series, wherein each of the plurality of switching elements is configured to vary in impedance in response to temperature changes, such that an interrogation signal transmitted therethrough is indicative of the temperature change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: James E. Dunning, Peter Gadsby, David Gresback
  • Publication number: 20080249520
    Abstract: A return pad for use with an electrosurgical system is disclosed. The return pad includes a conductive layer, a contact layer configured to engage a patient's skin and an intermediate layer disposed between the conductive layer and the contact layer. The intermediate layer is adapted to distribute energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: James E. Dunning, Kyle R. Rick, David Gresback, Peter Gadsby
  • Publication number: 20080249524
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a return pad for use with an electrosurgical system and includes a contact layer configured to engage patient skin, a conductive layer disposed on the contact layer, and a heating layer operatively associated with at least one of the contact layer and the conductive layer. The heating layer is configured to heat the return pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: James E. Dunning
  • Publication number: 20080249521
    Abstract: A return pad for use with an electrosurgical system is disclosed. The return pad includes a conductive layer, a contact layer configured to engage a patient's skin and an intermediate layer disposed between the conductive layer and the contact layer. The intermediate layer is adapted to distribute energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: James E. Dunning, Kyle R. Rick, David Gresback, Peter Gadsby
  • Patent number: 6172529
    Abstract: A domino logic circuit having output noise elimination is disclosed. A compound domino logic circuit includes at least two trees of logic devices arranged in parallel, with each tree having a precharge transistor connected to a power supply, and one or more input transistors coupled between the precharge transistor and ground. The precharge transistor receives a clock input while each of the one or more input transistors receives a signal input. The compound domino logic circuit also includes a logic gate coupled to the precharge transistor to produce a signal output. The logic gate includes at least two transistors connected in series. Further, an adjustment transistor is coupled to a node between the two transistors to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Juergen Klim, James E. Dunning
  • Patent number: 5396128
    Abstract: An output driver circuit has a circuitry portion (70) which is used to generate a Drive-Hi control signal in response to an Output Enable, an optional Precondition signal, and a Data Input signal. A circuit portion (75) ensures that the Drive-Hi control signal is maintained at a voltage which is substantially equal to Vdd when the Output Enable is deactivated. Circuit portion (80) selectively controls the Data Output by driving Vdd onto the Data Output in response to the Drive-Hi control signal being activated. A circuit portion (100) functions to selectively drive the Data Output to a logic zero (ground potential) when a Drive-Lo signal is asserted. Circuit portions (90 and 95) generate the Drive-Lo signal in response to the Output Enable, the optional Precondition signal, and the Data Input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Dunning, James R. Lundberg, Richard S. Ramus, James G. Gay