Patents by Inventor Kenneth H. Whitfield
Kenneth H. Whitfield 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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Publication number: 20250072896Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly having a drive assembly, an anvil, and a cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a replaceable staple cartridge that includes an actuation sled assembly having an actuation sled, a knife bar, and a retractor link. The retractor link is secured to the knife bar such that the actuation sled assembly is movable through a cartridge body of the staple cartridge. The retractor link is movable from a non-deformed condition disengaged from the drive assembly to a deformed condition engaged with the drive assembly to facilitate retraction of the actuation sled assembly after the stapling device is fired.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2024Publication date: March 6, 2025Applicant: Covidien LPInventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield, Roanit A. Fernandes
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Patent number: 12193666Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly having a drive assembly, an anvil, and a cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a replaceable staple cartridge that includes an actuation sled assembly having an actuation sled, a knife bar, and a retractor link. The retractor link is secured to the knife bar such that the actuation sled assembly is movable through a cartridge body of the staple cartridge. The retractor link is movable from a non-deformed condition disengaged from the drive assembly to a deformed condition engaged with the drive assembly to facilitate retraction of the actuation sled assembly after the stapling device is fired.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2022Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield, Roanit A. Fernandes
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Patent number: 12137908Abstract: A surgical buttress loading system includes an anvil having a spring assembly biased against a tissue facing surface of an anvil body and a loading tool including a cavity configured to receive the anvil therein, a buttress cartridge including a surgical buttress releasably disposed thereon, an actuator, and a handle operably coupled to the buttress cartridge. When the anvil is positioned within the cavity of the loading tool and the handle is moved to from an unactuated position to an actuated position, the handle moves the actuator to from a retracted position to an extended position and into engagement with the spring assembly of the anvil to lift the spring assembly off of the tissue facing surface and then slides the buttress cartridge towards the spring assembly to move a proximal end portion of the surgical buttress between the spring assembly and the tissue facing surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2023Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield, Roanit A. Fernandes
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Publication number: 20240335196Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a housing assembly, an elongated shaft extending from the housing assembly, a housing electrical connector assembly, and a loading unit selectively attachable to the elongated shaft. The loading unit extends distally to an end effector supporting at least one sensor. The loading unit supports a loading unit electrical connector assembly on a proximal end portion of loading unit. The loading unit electrical connector assembly is positioned to contact the housing electrical connector assembly when the loading unit electrical connector assembly is received within the elongated shaft to electrically couple the at least one sensor to the housing assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2024Publication date: October 10, 2024Inventors: Pawel Abramek, Kenneth H. Whitfield, Roanit A. Fernandes, Kenneth M. Cappola
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Patent number: 12016557Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a housing assembly and an elongated shaft assembly. The elongated shaft assembly is selectively attachable to the housing assembly. The elongated shaft assembly includes an adapter assembly and a loading unit. The adapter assembly extends distally to a distal tip housing. The distal tip housing supports an adapter electrical connector assembly therein. The loading unit is selectively attachable to the adapter assembly and extends distally to an end effector supporting one or more sensors therein. The loading unit supports a loading unit electrical connector assembly therein. The loading unit electrical connector assembly is positioned to contact the adapter electrical connector assembly when the adapter assembly and the loading unit are coupled together to electrically couple the one or more sensors to the housing assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2021Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Pawel Abramek, Kenneth H. Whitfield, Roanit A. Fernandes, Kenneth M. Cappola
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Patent number: 11918231Abstract: An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a handle assembly and a shaft assembly. The handle assembly includes a drive assembly; and a trigger operatively connected to the drive assembly. The shaft assembly extends from the handle assembly and includes an articulating neck assembly; and an end effector assembly supported on a distal end of the articulating neck assembly and being configured to form a surgical clip in place on the body tissue.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield, Csaba L. Rethy
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Publication number: 20240058003Abstract: A surgical buttress loading system includes an anvil having a spring assembly biased against a tissue facing surface of an anvil body and a loading tool including a cavity configured to receive the anvil therein, a buttress cartridge including a surgical buttress releasably disposed thereon, an actuator, and a handle operably coupled to the buttress cartridge. When the anvil is positioned within the cavity of the loading tool and the handle is moved to from an unactuated position to an actuated position, the handle moves the actuator to from a retracted position to an extended position and into engagement with the spring assembly of the anvil to lift the spring assembly off of the tissue facing surface and then slides the buttress cartridge towards the spring assembly to move a proximal end portion of the surgical buttress between the spring assembly and the tissue facing surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield, Roanit A. Fernandes
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Publication number: 20230404576Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly having a drive assembly, an anvil, and a cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a replaceable staple cartridge that includes an actuation sled assembly having an actuation sled, a knife bar, and a retractor link. The retractor link is secured to the knife bar such that the actuation sled assembly is movable through a cartridge body of the staple cartridge. The retractor link is movable from a non-deformed condition disengaged from the drive assembly to a deformed condition engaged with the drive assembly to facilitate retraction of the actuation sled assembly after the stapling device is fired.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2022Publication date: December 21, 2023Inventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield, Roanit A. Fernandes
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Patent number: 11806017Abstract: A surgical buttress loading system includes an anvil having a spring assembly biased against a tissue facing surface of an anvil body and a loading tool including a cavity configured to receive the anvil therein, a buttress cartridge including a surgical buttress releasably disposed thereon, an actuator, and a handle operably coupled to the buttress cartridge. When the anvil is positioned within the cavity of the loading tool and the handle is moved to from an unactuated position to an actuated position, the handle moves the actuator to from a retracted position to an extended position and into engagement with the spring assembly of the anvil to lift the spring assembly off of the tissue facing surface and then slides the buttress cartridge towards the spring assembly to move a proximal end portion of the surgical buttress between the spring assembly and the tissue facing surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield, Roanit A. Fernandes
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Patent number: 11806021Abstract: An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a handle assembly; a shaft assembly including a housing extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the shaft assembly; a jaw mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly, the jaw being movable between an open spaced-apart condition and a closed approximated condition; and a pusher bar reciprocally disposed within the housing of the shaft assembly and being detachably connectable to the housing of the shaft assembly, the pusher bar being configured to load a distal-most surgical clip into the jaws during distal movement and remain connected to the housing of the shaft assembly and in a distally advanced position during an approximation of the jaws.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Gregory Sorrentino, Kenneth H. Whitfield
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Patent number: 11786247Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a body portion and a tool assembly. The body portion includes a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion extending distally from the large diameter portion. The large diameter portion supports larger internal components of the device including a lockout assembly adapted to prevent refiring of the stapler to allow the diameter of the small diameter portion of the device to be minimized to facilitate passage of the small diameter portion of the stapler and the tool assembly through an 8 mm trocar.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield, Thomas Casasanta, Timothy D. Ebner, Anthony Gaddy
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Patent number: 11666330Abstract: A tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly pivotally secured to the cartridge assembly and movable between open and clamped positions. The cartridge assembly includes a channel member, a staple cartridge supported in the channel member, and an actuation sled positioned within the staple cartridge. The actuation sled is movable from a first position to a second position to eject staples from the staple cartridge. The tool assembly further includes a drive assembly having a clamping member movable from an initial position to an advanced position to move the actuation sled from the first position to the second position, and a lockout member secured to the channel member and moveable between a relaxed condition and a flexed condition. Movement of the actuation sled from the first position towards the second position causes the lockout member to move to the flexed condition to permit advancement of the drive assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield, Roanit A. Fernandes
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Publication number: 20230157691Abstract: A surgical buttress loading system includes an anvil having a spring assembly biased against a tissue facing surface of an anvil body and a loading tool including a cavity configured to receive the anvil therein, a buttress cartridge including a surgical buttress releasably disposed thereon, an actuator, and a handle operably coupled to the buttress cartridge. When the anvil is positioned within the cavity of the loading tool and the handle is moved to from an unactuated position to an actuated position, the handle moves the actuator to from a retracted position to an extended position and into engagement with the spring assembly of the anvil to lift the spring assembly off of the tissue facing surface and then slides the buttress cartridge towards the spring assembly to move a proximal end portion of the surgical buttress between the spring assembly and the tissue facing surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2021Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield, Roanit A. Fernandes
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Patent number: 11547407Abstract: A loading unit includes a staple cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly, and an anvil hook assembly. The anvil assembly has an opening defined therethrough, and the anvil hook assembly includes an anvil hook disposed within the opening of the anvil assembly and a pivot pin extending through the anvil hook and the anvil assembly. The anvil hook is pivotable with respect to the anvil assembly about the pivot pin between a loading position and a loaded position. The loading unit may further include a surgical buttress assembly including a cartridge buttress releasably attached to the staple cartridge assembly, an anvil buttress releasably attachable to the anvil assembly by the anvil hook, and a connecting member interconnecting the cartridge and anvil buttresses.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Roanit Fernandes, Kenneth H. Whitfield
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Publication number: 20220323072Abstract: A method of forming staples includes firing staples supported in a staple cartridge into an anvil operatively coupled to the staple cartridge. The method also involves forming the staples in biased staple-forming pockets defined in the anvil such that both legs of each formed staple are positioned on one side of a backspan of the respective staple. The one side of the backspan is positioned toward a longitudinal axis of the anvil.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield, Roanit A. Fernandes, Anthony Gaddy
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Publication number: 20220313250Abstract: A tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly pivotally secured to the cartridge assembly and movable between open and clamped positions. The cartridge assembly includes a channel member, a staple cartridge supported in the channel member, and an actuation sled positioned within the staple cartridge. The actuation sled is movable from a first position to a second position to eject staples from the staple cartridge. The tool assembly further includes a drive assembly having a clamping member movable from an initial position to an advanced position to move the actuation sled from the first position to the second position, and a lockout member secured to the channel member and moveable between a relaxed condition and a flexed condition. Movement of the actuation sled from the first position towards the second position causes the lockout member to move to the flexed condition to permit advancement of the drive assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2021Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield, Roanit A. Fernandes
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Patent number: 11376000Abstract: An end effector for a surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly. The cartridge assembly supports staples. Each staple includes a backspan, a first leg, and a second leg. The first and second legs extend from the backspan. The anvil assembly is coupled to the cartridge assembly. The anvil assembly includes an anvil having opposed side surfaces. The anvil defines a knife slot and biased staple-forming pockets disposed between the opposed side surfaces of the anvil. Each biased staple-forming pocket is positioned to form the first and second legs of a respective staple on one side of the backspan of the respective staple. The one side of the backspan is positioned toward the knife slot of the anvil relative to the opposed side surfaces of the anvil.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield, Roanit A. Fernandes, Anthony Gaddy
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Patent number: 11337696Abstract: A surgical stapling device for sequentially applying a plurality of fasteners to body tissue and simultaneously incising tissue is provided. The surgical stapling device is adapted to receive disposable loading units having staples in linear rows whose length can be between about 30 mm and 60 mm. The disposable loading unit includes a proximal body portion, a mounting assembly and a tool assembly. The mounting assembly is secured to the proximal end of the tool assembly and pivotally mounted about a pivot axis to the distal end of the proximal body portion. A support member or blow-out plate assembly is positioned on opposite sides of the pivot axis and extends between the proximal body portion and the mounting assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2020Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Thomas Wenchell, Stanislaw Marczyk, Kenneth H. Whitfield, Roman Czernik, Henry E. Holsten, Frank C. Maffei
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Publication number: 20220096091Abstract: An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a handle assembly and a shaft assembly. The handle assembly includes a drive assembly; and a trigger operatively connected to the drive assembly. The shaft assembly extends from the handle assembly and includes an articulating neck assembly; and an end effector assembly supported on a distal end of the articulating neck assembly and being configured to form a surgical clip in place on the body tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield, Csaba L. Rethy
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Publication number: 20220047261Abstract: A reload assembly of a surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly, a drive assembly that is movable from a retracted position to an advanced position to actuate the tool assembly, and a lockout assembly including a lock member and a biasing member that prevents readvancement of the drive assembly. The lock member and the biasing member of the lockout assembly are configured to be securely fastened to each other using different structures and methods of securement.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2020Publication date: February 17, 2022Inventors: Jacob C. Baril, Kenneth H. Whitfield, Zalika Walcott