Patents by Inventor JENNIFER R. MCHENRY

JENNIFER R. MCHENRY 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).

  • Publication number: 20210267664
    Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an end effector assembly, a display, and a controller. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members each defining a tissue-treating surface. At least one of the first or second jaw members is movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue between the tissue-treating surfaces thereof. At least one of the first or second jaw members includes a sensor. The controller is configured to receive sensor data from the sensor, generate a tissue indication based upon the sensor data, and output the tissue indication to the display. The display is configured to display the tissue indication. The tissue indication indicates a location along the first jaw member at which tissue is grasped between the tissue-treating surfaces of the first and second jaw members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Amanda H. Lennartz, Daniel A. Joseph, Jennifer R. Mchenry, Cornelia F. Twomey, Erin E. Wehrly, Pierre Gherardi, David M. Garrison, Tyler J. Bagrosky, Jing Zhao
  • Publication number: 20210267663
    Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an end effector assembly and an electrosurgical generator. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members, one or both of which is movable relative to the other for grasping tissue between tissue-contacting surfaces thereof. One or both of the jaw members includes a sensor configured to sense at least one property associated with the grasped tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes a controller and an energy output configured to supply electrosurgical energy to the tissue-contacting surface of one or both of the jaw members for conduction through the grasped tissue to seal the grasped tissue. The controller is configured to receive the at least one sensed property, determine at least one condition of collagen within the grasped tissue based upon the at least one sensed property, and control the energy output based upon the determined at least one condition of the collagen within the grasped tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Amanda H. Lennartz, Daniel A. Joseph, Jennifer R. McHenry, Cornelia F. Twomey, Erin E. Wehrly, Pierre Gherardi, Tracy J. Pheneger, Tyler J. Bagrosky, Robert H. Wham, Jing Zhao
  • Publication number: 20210259759
    Abstract: In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, an adaptor assembly includes a plug, a selector assembly, and a connector. The plug is coupled to an electrosurgical generator and is configured to receive electrosurgical energy from the electrosurgical generator. The selector assembly includes a first position and a second position. The first position is configured to indicate a first setting of the electrosurgical generator. The second position is configured to indicate a second setting of the electrosurgical generator. The selector assembly, when actuated, indicates the selected position to the electrosurgical generator to initiate the corresponding setting. The connector is configured to couple to a surgical instrument and convey the electrosurgical energy to the surgical instrument. The electrosurgical energy, when based on the first setting, is different from the electrosurgical energy, when based on the second setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Jennifer R. Mchenry, William D. Faulkner, James E. Dunning, Devon E. Scott-Drechsel, Eric M. Westra, Donald L. Tonn
  • Patent number: 11045248
    Abstract: The electrosurgical systems and corresponding methods of the present disclosure involve an electrosurgical generator, sensing circuitry, and a controller. The electrosurgical generator includes a radio frequency (RF) output stage that supplies power to tissue. The sensing circuitry measures impedance of tissue. The controller controls the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a nonlinear power curve until the power supplied from the RF output stage has reached a predetermined peak power of the nonlinear power curve. The controller further determines whether a tissue reaction has occurred based on impedance measured by the sensing circuitry and controls the power supplied from the RF output stage during a cooling phase if the controller determines that a tissue reaction has occurred. The controller may further control the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a linear power curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Jennifer R. McHenry, Alexander M. Waskiewicz, Anthony D. Ricke, Rebecca J. Coulson, Jessica E. C. Olson
  • Publication number: 20210100603
    Abstract: The electrosurgical systems and corresponding methods of the present disclosure involve an electrosurgical generator, sensing circuitry, and a controller. The electrosurgical generator includes a radio frequency (RF) output stage that supplies power to tissue. The sensing circuitry measures impedance of tissue. The controller controls the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a nonlinear power curve until the power supplied from the RF output stage has reached a predetermined peak power of the nonlinear power curve. The controller further determines whether a tissue reaction has occurred based on impedance measured by the sensing circuitry and controls the power supplied from the RF output stage during a cooling phase if the controller determines that a tissue reaction has occurred. The controller may further control the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a linear power curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Jennifer R. McHenry, Alexander M. Waskiewicz, Anthony D. Ricke, Rebecca J. Coulson, Jessica E.C. Olson
  • Publication number: 20210007789
    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: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: TODD W. BOUCHER, WILLIAM E. ROBINSON, MONTE S. FRY, JAMES D. ALLEN, IV, JENNIFER R. MCHENRY
  • Publication number: 20200405380
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members at least one of which is movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. A sheath is movable relative to the end effector assembly between a retracted position, wherein the sheath is positioned proximally of the first and second jaw members, and an extended position, wherein the sheath is disposed about the first and second jaw members. The sheath is configured to fluidly couple to a source of at least one of suction or irrigation to provide at least one of suction or irrigation at a surgical site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Jennifer R. McHenry, Daniel A. Joseph
  • Publication number: 20200405378
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft supporting an end effector assembly, a sheath slidably disposed about the elongated shaft and the end effector assembly, and a housing disposed at a proximal end portion of the elongated shaft. Inflow, outflow, and common tubes extend into the housing. A manifold is disposed within the housing and defines an inflow port fluidly coupled to the inflow tube, and outflow port fluidly coupled to the outflow tube, and a common tube port fluidly coupled to the common tube. First and second valve assemblies are disposed within the housing and operably coupled to the manifold. The first valve assembly is configured to selectively control a flow of fluid from the inflow tube to the interior of the sheath, and the second valve assembly is configured to selectively control a flow of fluid from the interior of the sheath to the outflow tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Tyler J. Bagrosky, Jennifer R. McHenry, Daniel A. Joseph, Todd W. Boucher, Jason T. Sanders
  • Publication number: 20200237427
    Abstract: The electrosurgical systems and corresponding methods of the present disclosure involve an electrosurgical generator, sensing circuitry, and a controller. The electrosurgical generator includes a radio frequency (RF) output stage that supplies power to tissue. The sensing circuitry measures impedance of tissue. The controller controls the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a nonlinear power curve until the power supplied from the RF output stage has reached a predetermined peak power of the nonlinear power curve. The controller further determines whether a tissue reaction has occurred based on impedance measured by the sensing circuitry and controls the power supplied from the RF output stage during a cooling phase if the controller determines that a tissue reaction has occurred. The controller may further control the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a linear power curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Jennifer R. McHenry, Alexander M. Waskiewicz, Anthony D. Ricke, Rebecca J. Coulson, Jessica E.C. Olson
  • Publication number: 20200113617
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for operating an electrosurgical generator, comprising an RF output stage configured to output an electrosurgical waveform through at least one pair of electrodes, sensing circuitry configured to measure an impedance between the at least one pair of electrodes configured to grasp tissue, and a controller configured to determine whether the impedance of the tissue disposed between the at least one pair of electrodes exceeds an impedance threshold, determine whether a change in the impedance is greater than an upper change in impedance threshold, and output an alarm indicative of the at least one pair of electrodes being at least partially open based on at least one of the impedance exceeding the impedance threshold or the change in impedance exceeding the change in impedance threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Jennifer R. McHenry, Anthony D. Ricke
  • Patent number: 10617463
    Abstract: The electrosurgical systems and corresponding methods of the present disclosure involve an electrosurgical generator, sensing circuitry, and a controller. The electrosurgical generator includes a radio frequency (RF) output stage that supplies power to tissue. The sensing circuitry measures impedance of tissue. The controller controls the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a nonlinear power curve until the power supplied from the RF output stage has reached a predetermined peak power of the nonlinear power curve. The controller further determines whether a tissue reaction has occurred based on impedance measured by the sensing circuitry and controls the power supplied from the RF output stage during a cooling phase if the controller determines that a tissue reaction has occurred. The controller may further control the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a linear power curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Jennifer R. McHenry, Alexander M. Waskiewicz, Anthony D. Ricke, Rebecca J. Coulson, Jessica E. C. Olson
  • Patent number: 10512499
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for operating an electrosurgical generator, comprising an RF output stage configured to output an electrosurgical waveform through at least one pair of electrodes, sensing circuitry configured to measure an impedance between the at least one pair of electrodes configured to grasp tissue, and a controller configured to determine whether the impedance of the tissue disposed between the at least one pair of electrodes exceeds an impedance threshold, determine whether a change in the impedance is greater than an upper change in impedance threshold, and output an alarm indicative of the at least one pair of electrodes being at least partially open based on at least one of the impedance exceeding the impedance threshold or the change in impedance exceeding the change in impedance threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Jennifer R. McHenry, Anthony D. Ricke
  • Publication number: 20190090931
    Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods relate to controlling the application of electrosurgical energy by an electrosurgical instrument to minimizing arcing and subsequent wear of electrosurgical instruments. An electrosurgical generator in accordance with the present disclosure includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: DONALD L. TONN, JAMES E. DUNNING, WILLIAM D. FAULKNER, JENNIFER R. McHENRY, DEVON E. SCOTT-DRECHSEL, ERIC M. WESTRA
  • Publication number: 20190090932
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes an electrosurgical generator that controls treatment energy to be provided in a coagulation mode, where the treatment energy has an adjustable voltage ramp rate which can be set to a ramp rate in a range of voltage ramp rates. The generator receives signals from an instrument over time relating to load impedance. When the load impedance is above a threshold, the generator sets the adjustable voltage ramp rate to a ramp rate in the range of voltage ramp rates, and decreases, at the adjustable voltage ramp rate, a voltage of the treatment energy. When the load impedance is below the threshold, the generator sets the adjustable voltage ramp rate to a ramp rate in the range of voltage ramp rates, and increases, at the adjustable voltage ramp rate, the voltage of the treatment energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: DONALD L. TONN, JAMES E. DUNNING, WILLIAM D. FAULKNER, JENNIFER R. McHENRY, DEVON E. SCOTT-DRECHSEL, ERIC M. WESTRA
  • Publication number: 20190090930
    Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods relate to controlling the application of electrosurgical energy by an electrosurgical instrument. An electrosurgical generator in accordance with the present disclosure includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor. When the instructions are executed, they cause the generator to receive signals from the instrument over time relating to whether tissue is grasped by the instrument, receive an indication to provide an indicated treatment power to the instrument where the indicated treatment power is set by a user, determine based on the signals that tissue is currently grasped and that, for at least a predetermine length of time prior, no tissue had been grasped, and based on the determination, provide a treatment power surge to the instrument for a surge time period, where the treatment power surge is greater than the indicated treatment power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: DONALD L. TONN, JAMES E. DUNNING, WILLIAM D. FAULKNER, JENNIFER R. McHENRY, DEVON E. SCOTT-DRECHSEL, ERIC M. WESTRA
  • Publication number: 20160367309
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for operating an electrosurgical generator, comprising an RF output stage configured to output an electrosurgical waveform through at least one pair of electrodes, sensing circuitry configured to measure an impedance between the at least one pair of electrodes configured to grasp tissue, and a controller configured to determine whether the impedance of the tissue disposed between the at least one pair of electrodes exceeds an impedance threshold, determine whether a change in the impedance is greater than an upper change in impedance threshold, and output an alarm indicative of the at least one pair of electrodes being at least partially open based on at least one of the impedance exceeding the impedance threshold or the change in impedance exceeding the change in impedance threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: JENNIFER R. MCHENRY, ANTHONY D. RICKE
  • Publication number: 20160310204
    Abstract: The electrosurgical systems and corresponding methods of the present disclosure involve an electrosurgical generator, sensing circuitry, and a controller. The electrosurgical generator includes a radio frequency (RF) output stage that supplies power to tissue. The sensing circuitry measures impedance of tissue. The controller controls the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a nonlinear power curve until the power supplied from the RF output stage has reached a predetermined peak power of the nonlinear power curve. The controller further determines whether a tissue reaction has occurred based on impedance measured by the sensing circuitry and controls the power supplied from the RF output stage during a cooling phase if the controller determines that a tissue reaction has occurred. The controller may further control the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a linear power curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: JENNIFER R. MCHENRY, ALEXANDER M. WASKIEWICZ, ANTHONY D. RICKE, REBECCA J. COULSON, JESSICA E.C. OLSON