Patents by Inventor Jean-Luc Boulnois

Jean-Luc Boulnois 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: 9642603
    Abstract: An instrument includes, a lumen, a handpiece affixed to the proximal end of the lumen and including an actuator, a proximal articulable segment, the proximal end of the proximal articulable segment pivotably attached to the distal end of the lumen via a proximal hinge pin extending in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the lumen, an actuation cable extending from the actuator through the lumen and into the proximal articulable segment, and a cable router comprising a proximal pulley assembly rotatable about the proximal hinge pin, wherein the cable is wrapped about the proximal pulley assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: MICROLINE SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Steven B. Woolfson, Sharad H Joshi, Jean-Luc Boulnois, Albert A. LePage, Christopher Devlin
  • Patent number: 9326785
    Abstract: A connector for connecting an instrument tip with a laparoscopic tube end, the connector including a base forming a body of the connector, the base having a lumen configured to accommodate an instrument tip actuator therein, and a seal permanently bonded to an inner surface of a proximal end of the base and configured to deform upon connection of the connector with the tube end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: MICROLINE SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Sharad H. Joshi, Jean-Luc Boulnois, Chris A. Devlin, Peter Aliski, Russ LaRoche, Chris Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9211125
    Abstract: A clip applier includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. Further, the distal end of the shaft includes a flexible tool having at least two rails connected to each other by at least one jointed connection, and the at least two rails configured to rotate about the jointed connection. Additionally, a pair of jaws may be provided at a distal end of the flexible tool. Further, an actuator may be provided at the proximal end of the shaft to advance the surgical clip within the flexible tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: MICROLINE SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Boulnois, Tomohiro Kawano, Masayasu Sato
  • Patent number: 9023079
    Abstract: A surgical tool assembly includes a pair of opposing jaws. Further, a viewing opening may be provided in at least one of the opposing jaws. The viewing opening may extend from an upper to a lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the viewing opening is provided. The viewing opening may include a material retainer provided proximate the lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the viewing opening is provided. The material retainer may include an inclined surface inclined towards a central axis of the viewing opening. A grasping insert may be molded onto a lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the viewing opening is provided and an elastomeric material of the grasping inserts may within the viewing opening, the material of the grasping inserts covering the inclined surface of the first material retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Microline Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Boulnois, Richard C. Kowalski
  • Publication number: 20150018843
    Abstract: An instrument includes, a lumen, a handpiece affixed to the proximal end of the lumen and including an actuator, a proximal articulable segment, the proximal end of the proximal articulable segment pivotably attached to the distal end of the lumen via a proximal hinge pin extending in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the lumen, an actuation cable extending from the actuator through the lumen and into the proximal articulable segment, and a cable router comprising a proximal pulley assembly rotatable about the proximal hinge pin, wherein the cable is wrapped about the proximal pulley assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: MICROLINE SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Steven B. WOOLFSON, Sharad H. JOSHI, Jean-Luc BOULNOIS, Albert A. LAPAGE, Christopher DEVLIN
  • Patent number: 8920309
    Abstract: An endoscopic video system for visualizing an internal body cavity is provided. The endoscopic video system may include a first instrument and a second instrument. The first instrument may include a light configured to illuminate the cavity, and a first camera configured to capture first images of the illuminated cavity. The second instrument may include a surgical tool configured to perform a surgical procedure, and a second camera configured to capture second images of the illuminated cavity. In addition, the endoscopic video system may further include a video control unit configured to receive the captured first and second images, and a video display configured to display the captured first and second images transmitted from the video control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Microline Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Boulnois, Christopher Devlin
  • Patent number: 8900267
    Abstract: An instrument includes, a lumen, a handpiece affixed to the proximal end of the lumen and including an actuator, a proximal articulable segment, the proximal end of the proximal articulable segment pivotably attached to the distal end of the lumen, an actuation cable extending from the actuator through the lumen and into the proximal articulable segment, and a cable router having a proximal knuckle assembly having a proximal segment knuckle affixed to the proximal end of the proximal articulable segment, a lumen knuckle affixed to the distal end of the lumen, and a proximal hinge pin knuckle positioned about the proximal hinge pin, wherein the cable is bent against the proximal segment knuckle, the lumen knuckle and the proximal hinge pin knuckle when the proximal articulable segment is generally parallel with the lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Microline Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven B. Woolfson, Sharad Joshi, Jean-Luc Boulnois, Albert A. LePage, Jr., Christopher Devlin
  • Patent number: 8852183
    Abstract: A bipolar scissor for cutting and coagulating tissue includes a first blade having a first cutting edge and a first shearing blade surface and a second blade having a second cutting edge and a second shearing blade surface. Additionally, one of the first and second blades may include a non-conductive material having an embedded electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Microline Surgical Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Boulnois, David Strome, Charles Faust, James Barnitz, Peter Aliski
  • Publication number: 20130184523
    Abstract: An instrument tip includes a wire retention chamber extending in a width direction of the tip and open at the sides of a tip, the wire retention chamber configured to removably retain a wire therein, and a wire retention slot extending from the outermost side of the tip to the wire retention chamber and in an oblique direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tip, the wire retention slot in open communication with the wire retention chamber, wherein the wire retention chamber has a diameter greater than a diameter of the wire retention slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: MICROLINE SURGICAL, INC.,
    Inventors: Jean-Luc BOULNOIS, Sharad H. JOSHI, Christopher DEVLIN, Peter ALISKI, Paul David RYLL
  • Patent number: 8480688
    Abstract: A clip applier for deploying a surgical clip includes an actuator having a flexible wire and a collet chuck coupled to a piston. Further, actuation of the piston in a forward direction towards a distal end of the clip applier advances the flexible wire in the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Microline Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Boulnois, Masayasu Sato, Tomohiro Kawano
  • Publication number: 20130012985
    Abstract: A surgical tool assembly includes a pair of opposing jaws. Further, a viewing opening may be provided in at least one of the opposing jaws. The viewing opening may extend from an upper to a lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the viewing opening is provided. The viewing opening may include a material retainer provided proximate the lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the viewing opening is provided. The material retainer may include an inclined surface inclined towards a central axis of the viewing opening. A grasping insert may be molded onto a lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the viewing opening is provided and an elastomeric material of the grasping inserts may within the viewing opening, the material of the grasping inserts covering the inclined surface of the first material retainer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: MICROLINE SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc BOULNOIS, Richard C. KOWALSKI
  • Publication number: 20120289773
    Abstract: A connector for connecting an instrument tip with a laparoscopic tube end, the connector including a base forming a body of the connector, the base having a lumen configured to accommodate an instrument tip actuator therein, and a seal permanently bonded to an inner surface of a proximal end of the base and configured to deform upon connection of the connector with the tube end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: MICROLINE SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Sharad H. JOSHI, Jean-Luc BOULNOIS, Chris A. DEVLIN, Peter ALISKI, Russ LaROCHE, Chris SULLIVAN
  • Patent number: 8252021
    Abstract: A surgical tool assembly includes a pair of opposing jaws pivotally connected to each other. Further, at least one viewing opening may be provided in at least one of the opposing jaws. In this regard, the at least one viewing opening may extend from an upper to a lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the viewing opening is provided. Additionally, the at least one viewing opening may include a material retainer provided proximate the lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the at least one viewing opening is provided. Further, the material retainer may include an inclined surface inclined towards a central axis of the at least one viewing opening. Further, a grasping insert may be molded onto a lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the viewing opening is provided and an elastomeric material of the grasping inserts may within the at least one viewing opening, the material of the grasping inserts covering the inclined surface of the first material retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Microline Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Boulnois, Richard C. Kowalski
  • Publication number: 20120143219
    Abstract: A clip applier for deploying a surgical clip includes an actuator having a flexible wire and a collet chuck coupled to a piston. Further, actuation of the piston in a forward direction towards a distal end of the clip applier advances the flexible wire in the forward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: MICROLINE SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc BOULNOIS, Masayasu SATO, Tomohiro KAWANO
  • Patent number: 8142451
    Abstract: A clip applier for deploying a surgical clip includes an actuator having a flexible wire and a collet chuck coupled to a piston. Further, actuation of the piston in a forward direction towards a distal end of the clip applier advances the flexible wire in the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Microline Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Boulnois, Masayasu Sato, Tomohiro Kawano
  • Publication number: 20120035617
    Abstract: An instrument includes, a lumen, a handpiece affixed to the proximal end of the lumen and including an actuator, a proximal articulable segment, the proximal end of the proximal articulable segment pivotably attached to the distal end of the lumen, an actuation cable extending from the actuator through the lumen and into the proximal articulable segment, and a cable router having a proximal knuckle assembly having a proximal segment knuckle affixed to the proximal end of the proximal articulable segment, a lumen knuckle affixed to the distal end of the lumen, and a proximal hinge pin knuckle positioned about the proximal hinge pin, wherein the cable is bent against the proximal segment knuckle, the lumen knuckle and the proximal hinge pin knuckle when the proximal articulable segment is generally parallel with the lumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: MICROLINE SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Sharad JOSHI, Jean-Luc BOULNOIS, Steven B. WOOLFSON, Albert A. LePAGE, JR., Christopher DEVLIN
  • Publication number: 20110224485
    Abstract: An endoscopic video system for visualizing an internal body cavity is provided. The endoscopic video system may include a first instrument and a second instrument. The first instrument may include a light configured to illuminate the cavity, and a first camera configured to capture first images of the illuminated cavity. The second instrument may include a surgical tool configured to perform a surgical procedure, and a second camera configured to capture second images of the illuminated cavity. In addition, the endoscopic video system may further include a video control unit configured to receive the captured first and second images, and a video display configured to display the captured first and second images transmitted from the video control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: MICROLINE SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc BOULNOIS, Christopher DEVLIN
  • Publication number: 20100312240
    Abstract: A bipolar scissor for cutting and coagulating tissue includes a first blade having a first cutting edge and a first shearing blade surface and a second blade having a second cutting edge and a second shearing blade surface. Additionally, one of the first and second blades may include a non-conductive material having an embedded electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: MICROLINE SURGICAL INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc BOULNOIS, David STROME, Charles FAUST, James BARNITZ, Peter ALISKI
  • Publication number: 20100191257
    Abstract: A clip applier for deploying a surgical clip includes an actuator having a flexible wire and a collet chuck coupled to a piston. Further, actuation of the piston in a forward direction towards a distal end of the clip applier advances the flexible wire in the forward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: MICROLINE PENTAX INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc BOULNOIS, Masayasu SATO, Tomohiro KAWANO
  • Publication number: 20100106167
    Abstract: A clip applier includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. Further, the distal end of the shaft includes a flexible tool having at least two rails connected to each other by at least one jointed connection, and the at least two rails configured to rotate about the jointed connection. Additionally, a pair of jaws may be provided at a distal end of the flexible tool. Further, an actuator may be provided at the proximal end of the shaft to advance the surgical clip within the flexible tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: MICROLINE PENTAX INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Boulnois, Tomohiro KAWANO, Masayasu SATO