Patents by Inventor John Craig Collins

John Craig Collins 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).

  • APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING INSTRUMENTS IN LAPAROSCOPIC AND OTHER MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY
    Publication number: 20190336203
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying surgical instruments, e.g., MIS instruments, including a shaft including a proximal end and a distal end sized for introduction into a patient's body, a tool tip on the distal end including an end effector, and a handpiece or connector on the proximal end. One or more identifier members may be provided on the proximal end and/or distal end of the shaft, on the handpiece, and/or on the tool tip to identify one of a type and a class of the end effector. For example, a set of surgical instruments may be provided that include identifier knobs added onto the shafts to identify different tool tips, the shafts may include different outer shapes and/or textures, or colored and/or luminescent features may be provided on the instruments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventor: John Craig Collins
  • Apparatus, systems, and methods for identifying instruments in laparoscopic or other minimally invasive surgery
    Patent number: 10350001
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying surgical instruments, e.g., MIS instruments, including a shaft including a proximal end and a distal end sized for introduction into a patient's body, a tool tip on the distal end including an end effector, and a handpiece or connector on the proximal end. One or more identifier members may be provided on the proximal end and/or distal end of the shaft, on the handpiece, and/or on the tool tip to identify one of a type and a class of the end effector. For example, a set of surgical instruments may be provided that include identifier knobs added onto the shafts to identify different tool tips, the shafts may include different outer shapes and/or textures, or colored and/or luminescent features may be provided on the instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventor: John Craig Collins
  • APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING INSTRUMENTS IN LAPAROSCOPIC AND OTHER MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY
    Publication number: 20140074116
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying surgical instruments, e.g., MIS instruments, including a shaft including a proximal end and a distal end sized for introduction into a patient's body, a tool tip on the distal end including an end effector, and a handpiece or connector on the proximal end. One or more identifier members may be provided on the proximal end and/or distal end of the shaft, on the handpiece, and/or on the tool tip to identify one of a type and a class of the end effector. For example, a set of surgical instruments may be provided that include identifier knobs added onto the shafts to identify different tool tips, the shafts may include different outer shapes and/or textures, or colored and/or luminescent features may be provided on the instruments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventor: John Craig Collins