Patents by Inventor Jason L. Craig
Jason L. Craig 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: 11617599Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, an end effector including a clamp jaw, a drive member extending distally from the housing, and a clamp lever pivotably coupled to the housing. The drive member is operably coupled to the clamp jaw such that translation of the drive member pivots the clamp jaw from an open position towards a clamping position. The clamp lever is operably coupled to the drive member via a rigid slider. The clamp jaw is configured to provide a jaw force to clamped tissue, measured at about 0.192 inches from a distal end of the clamp jaw, of from about 1 lbf to about 8 lbf in response to a full actuation of the clamp lever.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2020Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Jason L. Craig, Kenneth E. Netzel, Michael J. Brown, Christopher T. Tschudy, Weng-Kai Lee
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Patent number: 11571237Abstract: A jaw member for use with a surgical instrument includes a support base, a jaw liner, and a jaw overmold. The support base has a proximal portion configured to be pivotably coupled to a surgical instrument, and a distal portion. The support base defines a channel that extends longitudinally between the proximal and distal portions and an aperture disposed in communication with the channel. The jaw liner includes an elongate body configured for receipt in the channel of the support base, and a projection extending from the elongate body and configured for receipt in the aperture of the support base. The jaw overmold overlaps at least a portion of the support base and the jaw liner to fix the jaw liner to the support base.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Jason L. Craig, Kenneth E. Netzel
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Patent number: 11490920Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, an end effector, a movable handle, and a drive assembly. The movable handle includes first and second cantilever spring arms and is movable relative to the housing between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position. The first cantilever spring arm is flexed upon movement of the movable handle from the spaced-apart position towards the approximated position to bias the movable handle towards the spaced-apart position. The drive assembly is operably coupled between the movable handle and the end effector such that movement of the movable handle from the spaced-apart position towards the approximated position moves the end effector from an open position towards a clamping position for clamping tissue. The second cantilever spring arm is flexed upon application of a threshold pressure to tissue clamped by the end effector to control an amount of pressure applied to tissue clamped by the end effector.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Jason L. Craig, Ryan C. Artale, Thomas W. Meiser, Roland Jeffrey Wyatt
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Patent number: 11478268Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a support frame defining first and second non-circular apertures each defining at least one stop surface, and a jaw member having a structural body including a proximal flange portion and an elongated distal portion extending distally from the proximal flange portion. A jaw liner is engaged with the elongated distal portion and defines a tissue-contacting surface. A first and a second pivot boss protrude from opposite sides of the proximal flange portion and at least partially into the first and second non-circular apertures, respectively. Each pivot boss is non-circular and defines at least one stop surface configured to mate with the at least one stop surface of the respective non-circular aperture to stop rotation of the jaw member before the jaw liner is forced into contact with a blade from the surgical instrument. A surgical instrument including such a jaw member is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Michael J. Brown, Jason L. Craig, Matthias Lester, Matthew S. Cowley
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Publication number: 20220117622Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, an end effector including a clamp jaw, a drive member extending distally from the housing, and a clamp lever pivotably coupled to the housing. The drive member is operably coupled to the clamp jaw such that translation of the drive member pivots the clamp jaw from an open position towards a clamping position. The clamp lever is operably coupled to the drive member via a rigid slider. The clamp jaw is configured to provide a jaw force to clamped tissue, measured at about 0.192 inches from a distal end of the clamp jaw, of from about 1 lbf to about 8 lbf in response to a full actuation of the clamp lever.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2020Publication date: April 21, 2022Inventors: Jason L. Craig, Kenneth E. Netzel, Michael J. Brown, Christopher T. Tschudy, Weng-Kai Lee
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Publication number: 20220117623Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a housing, a waveguide extending from the housing to a blade, a clamp jaw pivotable relative to the blade to clamp tissue, a drive member extending from the housing to the end effector and operably coupled to the clamp jaw such that translation of the drive member pivots the clamp jaw to exert a jaw force on the clamped tissue, a rigid slider operably coupled to the drive member such that translation of the rigid slider results in corresponding translation of the drive member, and a clamp lever. The clamp lever is actuatably coupled to the housing and operably coupled to the rigid slider such that a full actuation of the clamp lever translates the rigid slider and the drive member to thereby pivot the clamp jaw from the open position towards the clamping position with substantially no dampening of the jaw force.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2020Publication date: April 21, 2022Inventors: Jason L. Craig, Kenneth E. Netzel, Michael J. Brown, Christopher T. Tschudy, Weng-Kai Lee
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Patent number: 11266432Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an elongated assembly releasably engagable with an ultrasonic transducer and including a waveguide having a blade at a distal end and a torque adapter towards a proximal end. Fixed and movable sleeves are disposed about the waveguide and support and operably couple to a jaw member at the respective distal ends thereof. A drive tube is fixed to the movable sleeve such that translation of the drive tube pivots the jaw member relative to the blade. A torque housing is slidably disposed about the drive tube, longitudinally fixed about the fixed sleeve, and fixedly about the torque adapter. A rotation knob is longitudinally fixed about the torque housing and operably coupled to the torque housing such that the torque housing and the rotation knob cooperate to define a torque wrench inhibit application of additional torque to the waveguide above a torque limit.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Michael J. Brown, Jason L. Craig
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Publication number: 20220000512Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated body operably connected to a jaw member and a blade. The elongated body includes an inner tube and an outer tube configured to move laterally with respect to one another. A drive arm has a first end engaged to the outer tube and a second end pivotably coupled to the jaw member configured to move laterally in tandem with the outer tube such that motion of the outer tube in a first direction pulls the jaw member away from the blade, and motion of the outer tube in a second direction pushes the jaw member towards the blade. The drive arm includes a semi-rigid material configured to flex when compressed, such that flexion of the drive arm can offload excess force exerted by the outer tube on the jaw member.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Kenneth E. Netzel, Jason L. Craig
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Patent number: 11123093Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated body operably connected to a jaw member and a blade. The elongated body includes an inner tube and an outer tube configured to move laterally with respect to one another. A drive arm has a first end engaged to the outer tube and a second end pivotably coupled to the jaw member configured to move laterally in tandem with the outer tube such that motion of the outer tube in a first direction pulls the jaw member away from the blade, and motion of the outer tube in a second direction pushes the jaw member towards the blade. The drive arm includes a semi-rigid material configured to flex when compressed, such that flexion of the drive arm can offload excess force exerted by the outer tube on the jaw member.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Kenneth E. Netzel, Jason L. Craig
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Patent number: 11076910Abstract: A jaw member for a surgical instrument includes a structural body including a proximal flange portion and an elongated distal portion extending distally from the proximal flange portion. The elongated distal portion includes a base and first and second sidewalls extending from either side of the base along at least a portion of a length of the elongated distal portion. A jaw liner is engaged with the base of the elongated distal portion and defines a tissue-contacting surface. The first and second sidewalls extend beyond the tissue-contacting surface of the jaw liner and are configured to facilitate gripping tissue between the structural body and an opposed structure. A surgical instrument including such a jaw member is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Kenneth E. Netzel, Jason L. Craig
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Patent number: 10987124Abstract: A jaw member for use with a surgical instrument includes a support base, a jaw liner, and an elongated plate. The support base defines a cavity therein configured for receipt of the jaw liner. The elongated plate is configured to be seated in the cavity of the support base adjacent the jaw liner to secure the jaw liner relative to the support base.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Kenneth E. Netzel, Jason L. Craig
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Patent number: 10966746Abstract: A removable component configured for insertion into an internal compartment of a surgical instrument is provided including a housing defining first and second ends, a grasping member, and a biasing member. The grasping member is operably coupled to the housing at the second end thereof and is movable relative to the housing between a presented position, wherein at least a portion of the grasping member is spaced-apart from the second end of the housing, and a stored position, wherein the grasping member is approximated relative to the second end of the housing. The biasing member is disposed between the grasping member and the second end of the housing and is configured to bias the grasping member towards the presented position. Systems including a surgical instrument and such a removable component and methods of assembling a surgical instrument using the same are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Jason L. Craig, Scott N. Lacosta, Kenneth E. Netzel, Clifford D. Owens, James R. Fagan
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Publication number: 20210045768Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a support frame defining first and second non-circular apertures each defining at least one stop surface, and a jaw member having a structural body including a proximal flange portion and an elongated distal portion extending distally from the proximal flange portion. A jaw liner is engaged with the elongated distal portion and defines a tissue-contacting surface. A first and a second pivot boss protrude from opposite sides of the proximal flange portion and at least partially into the first and second non-circular apertures, respectively. Each pivot boss is non-circular and defines at least one stop surface configured to mate with the at least one stop surface of the respective non-circular aperture to stop rotation of the jaw member before the jaw liner is forced into contact with a blade from the surgical instrument. A surgical instrument including such a jaw member is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: Michael J. Brown, Jason L. Craig, Matthias Lester, Matthew S. Cowley
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Publication number: 20210007763Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated body operably connected to a jaw member and a blade. The elongated body includes an inner tube and an outer tube configured to move laterally with respect to one another. A drive arm has a first end engaged to the outer tube and a second end pivotably coupled to the jaw member configured to move laterally in tandem with the outer tube such that motion of the outer tube in a first direction pulls the jaw member away from the blade, and motion of the outer tube in a second direction pushes the jaw member towards the blade. The drive arm includes a semi-rigid material configured to flex when compressed, such that flexion of the drive arm can offload excess force exerted by the outer tube on the jaw member.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2019Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: KENNETH E. NETZEL, JASON L. CRAIG
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Publication number: 20210007771Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, an end effector, a movable handle, and a drive assembly. The movable handle includes first and second cantilever spring arms and is movable relative to the housing between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position. The first cantilever spring arm is flexed upon movement of the movable handle from the spaced-apart position towards the approximated position to bias the movable handle towards the spaced-apart position. The drive assembly is operably coupled between the movable handle and the end effector such that movement of the movable handle from the spaced-apart position towards the approximated position moves the end effector from an open position towards a clamping position for clamping tissue. The second cantilever spring arm is flexed upon application of a threshold pressure to tissue clamped by the end effector to control an amount of pressure applied to tissue clamped by the end effector.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Jason L. Craig, Ryan C. Artale, Thomas W. Meiser, Roland Jeffrey Wyatt
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Patent number: 10792064Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, an end effector, a movable handle, and a drive assembly. The movable handle includes first and second cantilever spring arms and is movable relative to the housing between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position. The first cantilever spring arm is flexed upon movement of the movable handle from the spaced-apart position towards the approximated position to bias the movable handle towards the spaced-apart position. The drive assembly is operably coupled between the movable handle and the end effector such that movement of the movable handle from the spaced-apart position towards the approximated position moves the end effector from an open position towards a clamping position for clamping tissue. The second cantilever spring arm is flexed upon application of a threshold pressure to tissue clamped by the end effector to control an amount of pressure applied to tissue clamped by the end effector.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2017Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Jason L. Craig, Ryan C. Artale, Thomas W. Meiser, Roland Jeffrey Wyatt
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Publication number: 20200214734Abstract: A jaw member for use with a surgical instrument includes a support base, a jaw liner, and a jaw overmold. The support base has a proximal portion configured to be pivotably coupled to a surgical instrument, and a distal portion. The support base defines a channel that extends longitudinally between the proximal and distal portions and an aperture disposed in communication with the channel. The jaw liner includes an elongate body configured for receipt in the channel of the support base, and a projection extending from the elongate body and configured for receipt in the aperture of the support base. The jaw overmold overlaps at least a portion of the support base and the jaw liner to fix the jaw liner to the support base.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Jason L. CRAIG, Kenneth E. NETZEL
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Patent number: 10603065Abstract: A jaw member for use with a surgical instrument includes a support base, a jaw liner, and a jaw overmold. The support base has a proximal portion configured to be pivotably coupled to a surgical instrument, and a distal portion. The support base defines a channel that extends longitudinally between the proximal and distal portions and an aperture disposed in communication with the channel. The jaw liner includes an elongate body configured for receipt in the channel of the support base, and a projection extending from the elongate body and configured for receipt in the aperture of the support base. The jaw overmold overlaps at least a portion of the support base and the jaw liner to fix the jaw liner to the support base.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Jason L. Craig, Kenneth E. Netzel
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Publication number: 20190343550Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an elongated assembly releasably engagable with an ultrasonic transducer and including a waveguide having a blade at a distal end and a torque adapter towards a proximal end. Fixed and movable sleeves are disposed about the waveguide and support and operably couple to a jaw member at the respective distal ends thereof. A drive tube is fixed to the movable sleeve such that translation of the drive tube pivots the jaw member relative to the blade. A torque housing is slidably disposed about the drive tube, longitudinally fixed about the fixed sleeve, and fixedly about the torque adapter. A rotation knob is longitudinally fixed about the torque housing and operably coupled to the torque housing such that the torque housing and the rotation knob cooperate to define a torque wrench inhibit application of additional torque to the waveguide above a torque limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: MICHAEL J. BROWN, JASON L. CRAIG
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Patent number: 10368898Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an elongated assembly releasably engagable with an ultrasonic transducer and including a waveguide having a blade at a distal end and a torque adapter towards a proximal end. Fixed and movable sleeves are disposed about the waveguide and support and operably couple to a jaw member at the respective distal ends thereof. A drive tube is fixed to the movable sleeve such that translation of the drive tube pivots the jaw member relative to the blade. A torque housing is slidably disposed about the drive tube, longitudinally fixed about the fixed sleeve, and fixedly about the torque adapter. A rotation knob is longitudinally fixed about the torque housing and operably coupled to the torque housing such that the torque housing and the rotation knob cooperate to define a torque wrench inhibit application of additional torque to the waveguide above a torque limit.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Michael J. Brown, Jason L. Craig