Patents by Inventor John W. Kulas

John W. Kulas 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: 20240407793
    Abstract: A surgical bur including primary flutes and auxiliary flutes. The primary flutes include (i) first clearance surfaces, and (ii) first rake surfaces with first cutting edges. The primary flutes extend from a proximal end of the surgical bur to a distal end of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes are localized in central regions or distal regions of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes include (i) second clearance surfaces, and (ii) second rake surfaces with second cutting edges. At least one of the auxiliary flutes is located between a pair of adjacent ones of the primary flutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20240398434
    Abstract: A surgical device includes a tool and a motor configured to drive movement of the tool. The tool is supported on a shaft assembly and the shaft assembly and the motor include a plurality of components that cooperate to support or drive the tool. One or more indicators are disposed proximate one or more of the plurality of components and are configured to provide feedback indicative of one or more properties of one of the plurality of components either prior to, during or after use of the surgical device. The plurality of components may include at least one of gears, shafts and bearings, and the indicators may include any one of: thermochromic indicators, thermally-activated elements, thermal fuses, thermocouples, and thermistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Vu, Jennifer M. Cao, Haoran Li, Aayush Malla, Andrew J. Wald, Saideep Nakka, Mark W. Garwood, Milton F. Barnes, Sophie A. Pervere, John W. Kulas
  • Publication number: 20240398505
    Abstract: A method for identifying a surgical tool for use with a surgical device includes integrating a variable indicator within a removably engageable component of a surgical tool of a surgical device. The method also includes engaging the surgical tool with the surgical device, wherein, upon engagement, the variable indicator aligns with one or more leads connected to a power console. The power control reads the variable indicator and identifies the surgical tool based on quantifying the variable indicator. The power control is then calibrated according to the operating parameters of the surgical tool stored within the power control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Vu, Aayush Malla, Haoran Li, John W. Kulas
  • Publication number: 20240382224
    Abstract: A surgical system having adaptive control includes a surgical cutting device, at least one sensor, and a controller. The surgical cutting device includes a cutting tool and a motor configured to drive movement of the cutting tool. The at least one sensor is configured to produce sensor data indicative of at least one property of the surgical cutting device during use. The controller is configured to receive the sensor data and determine a performance condition of the surgical cutting device based at least on the sensor data. The controller is further configured, where the determined performance condition is an adverse performance condition, to at least one of: adjust settings of the surgical cutting device or recommend a change relating to use of the surgical cutting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Vu, Milton F. Barnes, Jaffar Hleihil, Aayush Malla, Andrew J. Wald, Mahin Maharjan, Saideep Nakka, Haoran Li, Sophie A. Pervere, Bret R. Hauser, John W. Kulas
  • Patent number: 12064126
    Abstract: A surgical bur including primary flutes and auxiliary flutes. The primary flutes include (i) first clearance surfaces, and (ii) first rake surfaces with first cutting edges. The primary flutes extend from a proximal end of the surgical bur to a distal end of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes are localized in central regions or distal regions of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes include (i) second clearance surfaces, and (ii) second rake surfaces with second cutting edges. At least one of the auxiliary flutes is located between a pair of adjacent ones of the primary flutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20230346421
    Abstract: A surgical cutting device includes a handle, a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle, a cutting tool extending through the shaft assembly, and a retractable shield. The retractable shield and/or the cutting tool is movable relative to the other between a retracted position, wherein a distal tip of the cutting tool extends through and distally beyond a ring (or other opening) of the retractable shield, and one or more extended positions, wherein the ring (or other portion) of the retractable shield extends distally beyond the distal tip of the cutting tool. In aspects, a sensor is disposed on a distal face of the retractable shield. In aspects, a surgical system including the surgical cutting device includes control circuitry configured to receive sensed data from the sensor and to provide an output based thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Vu, Aayush Malla, Milton F. Barnes, John W. Kulas, Sophie A. Pervere
  • Patent number: 11576685
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system to engage one or more tools. In the system, a drive shaft and collet may be assembled to engage and disengage, selectively, a plurality of tools. A guide may be used with the system to select various features of a procedure, such as depth and position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Medtronic PS Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Card, Brad Clayton, Allen P. Hilton, John W. Kulas
  • Patent number: 11439410
    Abstract: A surgical dissection tool for cutting bone and other tissue includes a cutting head having an outer surface having non-paired or an odd number of flutes formed therein. Each flute includes a rake surface intersecting with the outer surface to form a cutting edge, and a relief surface opposite the rake surface. The relief surface and the rake surface form a first angle. Each flute also includes a leading angled surface extending from the relief surface to a distal end portion of the cutting head, the leading angled surface and the rake surface forming a second angle substantially the same as the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic PS Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 11253271
    Abstract: A surgical bur including flutes and lands. Each of the flutes includes a cutting edge, rake surfaces and a clearance surface. The rake surfaces of one of the flutes are decoupled from each other. Each of the lands is disposed between a pair of the flutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic PS Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 11191551
    Abstract: A surgical bur includes a body and a drill point. The body includes flutes and lands. Each of the flutes includes a cutting edge, a rake face, and a clearance surface. Each of the lands is convex-shaped and disposed between a pair of the flutes. The drill point includes axial relief surfaces. Each of the axial relief surfaces has a planar area, is distinct from the lands and borders (i) a distal portion of one of the cutting edges, (ii) one of the lands, and (iii) one of the clearance surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Medtronic PS Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20210121186
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system to engage one or more tools. In the system, a drive shaft and collet may be assembled to engage and disengage, selectively, a plurality of tools. A guide may be used with the system to select various features of a procedure, such as depth and position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Jennifer Mincieli, Brad Clayton, Allen P. Hilton, John W. Kulas
  • Publication number: 20210000488
    Abstract: A surgical bur including primary flutes and auxiliary flutes. The primary flutes include (i) first clearance surfaces, and (ii) first rake surfaces with first cutting edges. The primary flutes extend from a proximal end of the surgical bur to a distal end of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes are localized in central regions or distal regions of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes include (i) second clearance surfaces, and (ii) second rake surfaces with second cutting edges. At least one of the auxiliary flutes is located between a pair of adjacent ones of the primary flutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 10786266
    Abstract: A surgical bur including primary flutes and auxiliary flutes. The primary flutes include (i) first clearance surfaces, and (ii) first rake surfaces with first cutting edges. The primary flutes extend from a proximal end of the surgical bur to a distal end of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes are localized in central regions or distal regions of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes include (i) second clearance surfaces, and (ii) second rake surfaces with second cutting edges. At least one of the auxiliary flutes is located between a pair of adjacent ones of the primary flutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20200113582
    Abstract: A surgical dissection tool for cutting bone and other tissue includes a cutting head having an outer surface having non-paired or an odd number of flutes formed therein. Each flute includes a rake surface intersecting with the outer surface to form a cutting edge, and a relief surface opposite the rake surface. The relief surface and the rake surface form a first angle. Each flute also includes a leading angled surface extending from the relief surface to a distal end portion of the cutting head, the leading angled surface and the rake surface forming a second angle substantially the same as the first angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: John W. KULAS, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 10507028
    Abstract: A surgical dissection tool for cutting bone and other tissue includes a cutting head having an outer surface having non-paired or an odd number of flutes formed therein. Each flute includes a rake surface intersecting with the outer surface to form a cutting edge, and a relief surface opposite the rake surface. The relief surface and the rake surface form a first angle. Each flute also includes a leading angled surface extending from the relief surface to a distal end portion of the cutting head, the leading angled surface and the rake surface forming a second angle substantially the same as the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic PS Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20190321053
    Abstract: A surgical bur including flutes and lands. Each of the flutes includes a cutting edge, rake surfaces and a clearance surface. The rake surfaces of one of the flutes are decoupled from each other. Each of the lands is disposed between a pair of the flutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 10335166
    Abstract: A surgical bur including flutes and lands. Each of the flutes includes a cutting edge, rake surfaces and a clearance surface. The rake surfaces of one of the flutes are decoupled from each other. Each of the lands is disposed between a pair of the flutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: MEDTRONICS PS MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20180242986
    Abstract: A surgical bur including primary flutes and auxiliary flutes. The primary flutes include (i) first clearance surfaces, and (ii) first rake surfaces with first cutting edges. The primary flutes extend from a proximal end of the surgical bur to a distal end of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes are localized in central regions or distal regions of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes include (i) second clearance surfaces, and (ii) second rake surfaces with second cutting edges. At least one of the auxiliary flutes is located between a pair of adjacent ones of the primary flutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20180206855
    Abstract: A surgical dissection tool for cutting bone and other tissue includes a cutting head having an outer surface having non-paired or an odd number of flutes formed therein. Each flute includes a rake surface intersecting with the outer surface to form a cutting edge, and a relief surface opposite the rake surface. The relief surface and the rake surface form a first angle. Each flute also includes a leading angled surface extending from the relief surface to a distal end portion of the cutting head, the leading angled surface and the rake surface forming a second angle substantially the same as the first angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: John W. KULAS, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20180153562
    Abstract: A surgical bur includes a body and a drill point. The body includes flutes and lands. Each of the flutes includes a cutting edge, a rake face, and a clearance surface. Each of the lands is convex-shaped and disposed between a pair of the flutes. The drill point includes axial relief surfaces. Each of the axial relief surfaces has a planar area, is distinct from the lands and borders (i) a distal portion of one of the cutting edges, (ii) one of the lands, and (iii) one of the clearance surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns