Patents by Inventor JOHN R. GEARHEART

JOHN R. GEARHEART 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).

  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INDICATING RETURN ELECTRODE CONTACT
    Publication number: 20220079653
    Abstract: An electrosurgical system monitors and visually indicates a degree of contact between a return electrode and a patient's skin. The system includes an electrosurgical generator and a return pad. The return pad includes a return electrode, a lighting element, and a cable electrically and mechanically coupling the return electrode to the generator. The lighting element is configured to emit light based on the degree of contact between the return electrode and the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: John R. Gearheart, David Hubelbank
  • System and method for indicating return electrode contact
    Patent number: 11185362
    Abstract: An electrosurgical system monitors and visually indicates a degree of contact between a return electrode and a patient's skin. The system includes an electrosurgical generator and a return pad. The return pad includes a return electrode, a lighting element, and a cable electrically and mechanically coupling the return electrode to the generator. The lighting element is configured to emit light based on the degree of contact between the return electrode and the patient's tissue (e.g., skin).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: John R. Gearheart, David Hubelbank
  • SURGICAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROTECTING AGAINST UNAUTHORIZED USE
    Publication number: 20210358609
    Abstract: A surgical device includes a limited-use component configured to perform a surgical operation, where the limited-use component can be used for a pre-determined number of uses, and a reusable component operationally coupled to the limited-use component. The limited-use component includes a body forming a pocket and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag disposed within the pocket. The reusable component includes an RFID tag transceiver configured to read operating parameters from a memory of the RFID tag of the limited-use component. The operating parameters are erased from the memory when the limited-use component has been used for the pre-determined number of uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Nikolai D. Begg, Aleksandar Marinkovic, John R. Gearheart
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INDICATING RETURN ELECTRODE CONTACT
    Publication number: 20200360075
    Abstract: An electrosurgical system monitors and visually indicates a degree of contact between a return electrode and a patient's skin. The system includes an electrosurgical generator and a return pad. The return pad includes a return electrode, a lighting element, and a cable electrically and mechanically coupling the return electrode to the generator. The lighting element is configured to emit light based on the degree of contact between the return electrode and the patient's tissue (e.g., skin).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: JOHN R. GEARHEART, DAVID HUBELBANK