Patents by Inventor Jeffery Kirk
Jeffery Kirk 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: 11786761Abstract: Described herein include various embodiments of a tool assembly for performing endoscopic surgery that can be used manually and/or with a robotic surgical system. The tool assembly can include a shaft assembly that extends from a housing of the tool assembly. A distal end of the shaft can include an end effector that includes a clamp arm pivotally coupled to a blade for cutting and/or sealing tissue. Pivoting of the clamp arm between the open and closed configurations can be caused by movement of a yoke that is slidably disposed within the housing of the tool assembly. For example, the yoke can be caused to move by one or more outputs (e.g., a manual output, a rotary output, and/or a linear mechanical output). Furthermore, some tool assembly embodiments can include a biasing system that biases the yoke such that the clamp arm is in the open configuration. In some embodiments, the tool assembly can be configured for tissue spread dissection using the clamp arm and blade.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2019Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Jeffery Kirk, Kevin D. Felder
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Publication number: 20210204978Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for various insufflation sealing approaches for a trocar. For example, a trocar is provided that has a housing and a cannula extending therefrom. The housing and the cannula have a tool pathway extending therethrough for receiving a surgical tool, and the housing has an insufflation port therein. A variety of seal elements are provided that seal the insufflation port to prevent fluid flow into the port. The port and seal elements are configured to have a reduced profile to prevent interference between the trocar and a tissue surface during use.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2021Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: Katherine J. Schmid, Jeffery Kirk
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Patent number: 11013528Abstract: Surgical systems and methods are provided for controlling actuation and movement of various surgical devices.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Joseph Isosaki, Andrew Carroll, David Alexander Monroe, Jeffery Kirk, David C. Yates, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin L. Houser, Jason L. Harris, Chester O. Baxter, III
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Patent number: 10959756Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for various insufflation sealing approaches for a trocar. For example, a trocar is provided that has a housing and a cannula extending therefrom. The housing and the cannula have a tool pathway extending therethrough for receiving a surgical tool, and the housing has an insufflation port therein. A variety of seal elements are provided that seal the insufflation port to prevent fluid flow into the port. The port and seal elements are configured to have a reduced profile to prevent interference between the trocar and a tissue surface during use.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Katherine J. Schmid, Jeffery Kirk
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Patent number: 10925682Abstract: Surgical systems and methods are provided for controlling actuation and movement of various surgical devices.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, David C. Yates, Jeffery Kirk, David Alexander Monroe, Andrew Carroll, Joseph Isosaki
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Patent number: 10813713Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for coupling a robotic surgical tool with a tool driver of a robotic surgical system via a sterile barrier disposed between the tool and the tool driver. The sterile barrier can have a housing configured to accommodate proximal portions of a plurality of actuation members of the tool driver when the sterile barrier is coupled to the tool driver. The housing can have at least partially disposed within it substantially cylindrical, longitudinally expandable bellows, each being configured to encompass and mate with a proximal portion of a corresponding one of the plurality of actuation members. In some cases, the sterile barrier can have a plurality of sterile barrier couplers each having a first portion configured to engage with an actuation member of a tool driver, and a second portion configured to engage with a tool actuation member of a surgical tool.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2016Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Robert L. Koch, Jr., Jeffery Kirk, Andrew Beckman, Kenneth Miller
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Patent number: 10624671Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for attaching a trocar to a surgical arm. For example, a surgical system is provided that has a trocar with a housing and a cannula extending distally from the housing. The housing and the cannula have a tool pathway extending therethrough for receiving a tool. The system also has a trocar support that is configured to be mounted on a distal end of a surgical robotic arm. The trocar is configured to couple to the trocar support through a variety of engagements, such as engaging the trocar in a first configuration that allows free movement of the trocar relative to the trocar support and in a second configuration in which the trocar is locked in a fixed position relative to the trocar support.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Jeffrey S. Swayze, Jeffery Kirk
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Publication number: 20200078611Abstract: Described herein include various embodiments of a tool assembly for performing endoscopic surgery that can be used manually and/or with a robotic surgical system. The tool assembly can include a shaft assembly that extends from a housing of the tool assembly. A distal end of the shaft can include an end effector that includes a clamp arm pivotally coupled to a blade for cutting and/or sealing tissue. Pivoting of the clamp arm between the open and closed configurations can be caused by movement of a yoke that is slidably disposed within the housing of the tool assembly. For example, the yoke can be caused to move by one or more outputs (e.g., a manual output, a rotary output, and/or a linear mechanical output). Furthermore, some tool assembly embodiments can include a biasing system that biases the yoke such that the clamp arm is in the open configuration. In some embodiments, the tool assembly can be configured for tissue spread dissection using the clamp arm and blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Applicant: Ethicon LLCInventors: Jeffery Kirk, Kevin D. Felder
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Patent number: 10471282Abstract: Described herein include various embodiments of a tool assembly for performing endoscopic surgery that can be used manually and/or with a robotic surgical system. The tool assembly can include a shaft assembly that extends from a housing of the tool assembly. A distal end of the shaft can include an end effector that includes a clamp arm pivotally coupled to a blade for cutting and/or sealing tissue. Pivoting of the clamp arm between the open and closed configurations can be caused by movement of a yoke that is slidably disposed within the housing of the tool assembly. For example, the yoke can be caused to move by one or more outputs (e.g., a manual output, a rotary output, and/or a linear mechanical output). Furthermore, some tool assembly embodiments can include a biasing system that biases the yoke such that the clamp arm is in the open configuration. In some embodiments, the tool assembly can be configured for tissue spread dissection using the clamp arm and blade.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Jeffery Kirk, Kevin D. Felder
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Publication number: 20190060018Abstract: Surgical systems and methods are provided for controlling actuation and movement of various surgical devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, David C. Yates, Jeffery Kirk, David Alexander Monroe, Andrew Carroll, Joseph Isosaki
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Publication number: 20190059932Abstract: Surgical systems and methods are provided for controlling actuation and movement of various surgical devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Joseph Isosaki, Andrew Carroll, David Alexander Monroe, Jeffery Kirk, David C. Yates, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin L. Houser, Jason L. Harris, Chester O. Baxter, III
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Patent number: 10143524Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for coupling a robotic surgical tool with a tool driver of a robotic surgical system via a sterile barrier disposed between the tool and the driver. The tool has an elongate shaft and an end effector coupled thereto, as well as a mating interface member having a plurality of independently movable portions and a plurality of coupling features disposed about a perimeter of an outer wall of the mating interface member. The coupling features are configured to reversibly engage with a proximal end of a corresponding actuation member from a plurality of actuation members of the tool driver. The coupling features reversibly engage with the proximal ends of the actuation members so as to allow the actuation members to move in proximal and distal directions independently from one another to thereby control operation of the end effector.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2016Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Robert L. Koch, Jeffery Kirk, Andrew Beckman, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Mark D. Overmyer, Eric W. Thompson, Kenneth Miller
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Patent number: 10064690Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for coupling a robotic surgical tool with a tool driver of a robotic surgical system via a sterile barrier disposed between the tool and the driver. The tool has an elongate shaft and an end effector coupled thereto, as well as a mating interface member having a plurality of independently movable portions and a plurality of coupling features disposed about a perimeter of an outer wall of the mating interface member. The coupling features are configured to reversibly engage with a proximal end of a corresponding actuation member from a plurality of actuation members of the tool driver. The coupling features reversibly engage with the proximal ends of the actuation members so as to allow the actuation members to move in proximal and distal directions independently from one another to thereby control operation of the end effector.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2016Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Ethicon, LLCInventors: Robert L. Koch, Jeffery Kirk, Andrew Beckman, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Mark D. Overmyer, Eric W. Thompson, Kenneth Miller
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Publication number: 20180168688Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for various insufflation sealing approaches for a trocar. For example, a trocar is provided that has a housing and a cannula extending therefrom. The housing and the cannula have a tool pathway extending therethrough for receiving a surgical tool, and the housing has an insufflation port therein. A variety of seal elements are provided that seal the insufflation port to prevent fluid flow into the port. The port and seal elements are configured to have a reduced profile to prevent interference between the trocar and a tissue surface during use.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2016Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Katherine J. Schmid, Jeffery Kirk
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Publication number: 20180168760Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for coupling a robotic surgical tool with a tool driver of a robotic surgical system via a sterile barrier disposed between the tool and the tool driver. The sterile barrier can have a housing configured to accommodate proximal portions of a plurality of actuation members of the tool driver when the sterile barrier is coupled to the tool driver. The housing can have at least partially disposed within it substantially cylindrical, longitudinally expandable bellows, each being configured to encompass and mate with a proximal portion of a corresponding one of the plurality of actuation members. In some cases, the sterile barrier can have a plurality of sterile barrier couplers each having a first portion configured to engage with an actuation member of a tool driver, and a second portion configured to engage with a tool actuation member of a surgical tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2016Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Robert L. Koch, JR., Jeffery Kirk, Andrew Beckman, Kenneth Miller
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Publication number: 20180168744Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for coupling a robotic surgical tool with a tool driver of a robotic surgical system via a sterile barrier disposed between the tool and the driver. The tool has an elongate shaft and an end effector coupled thereto, as well as a mating interface member having a plurality of independently movable portions and a plurality of coupling features disposed about a perimeter of an outer wall of the mating interface member. The coupling features are configured to reversibly engage with a proximal end of a corresponding actuation member from a plurality of actuation members of the tool driver. The coupling features reversibly engage with the proximal ends of the actuation members so as to allow the actuation members to move in proximal and distal directions independently from one another to thereby control operation of the end effector.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2016Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Robert L. Koch, JR., Jeffery Kirk, Andrew Beckman, Jeffery S. Swayze, Mark D. Overmyer, Eric W. Thompson, Kenneth Miller
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Publication number: 20180168681Abstract: Described herein include various embodiments of a tool assembly for performing endoscopic surgery that can be used manually and/or with a robotic surgical system. The tool assembly can include a shaft assembly that extends from a housing of the tool assembly. A distal end of the shaft can include an end effector that includes a clamp arm pivotally coupled to a blade for cutting and/or sealing tissue. Pivoting of the clamp arm between the open and closed configurations can be caused by movement of a yoke that is slidably disposed within the housing of the tool assembly. For example, the yoke can be caused to move by one or more outputs (e.g., a manual output, a rotary output, and/or a linear mechanical output). Furthermore, some tool assembly embodiments can include a biasing system that biases the yoke such that the clamp arm is in the open configuration. In some embodiments, the tool assembly can be configured for tissue spread dissection using the clamp arm and blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2016Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Jeffery Kirk, Kevin D. Felder
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Patent number: 7112011Abstract: A hydro-pneumatic tensioner includes a barrel having an inner bore and a pressurized fluid contained within to form at least part of a primary accumulator having a preset volume of gas at a nominal pressure. A piston having a piston rod extending from an aperture in the barrel is slidably carried in the bore of the barrel and is in communication with the pressurized fluid and positioned to increase the fluid pressure when the piston strokes in the direction of the pressurized fluid. A secondary accumulator also has a preset volume of gas at a preselected pressure. A fluid separator maintains functional separation of the fluid volumes of the primary and secondary accumulators when the primary accumulator pressure is less than the preselected secondary accumulator pressure. The fluid separator allows functional combining of the fluid volumes of the primary and secondary accumulators when the primary accumulator pressure equals or is greater than the preselected secondary accumulator pressure.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2004Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Jeffery Kirk McCarty, Andrew Campbell Kelly, Joseph William Pallini, Jr.