Patents by Inventor Kevin L. Houser

Kevin L. Houser 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: 20180199957
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument is disclosed. The ultrasonic surgical instrument may include: a housing, a motor assembly supported by the housing, a cutting blade, wherein a proximal end of the cutting blade is configured to be removably coupled to the motor assembly, an ultrasonic transducer assembly supported by the housing, an ultrasonic blade, wherein a proximal end of the ultrasonic blade is configured to be removably coupled to the ultrasonic transducer assembly, and an outer sheath configured to support the cutting blade and the ultrasonic blade, wherein a proximal end of the outer sheath is configured to be removably coupled to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Galen C. Robertson, Richard W. Timm, Kevin L. Houser, Sean P. Conlon, Aron O. Zingman
  • Patent number: 10010341
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical shears includes an ultrasonic surgical blade, a clamping arm operable to open and close toward the blade, and a tissue pad attached to the clamping arm. A method for sealing a blood vessel of a patient includes obtaining an ultrasonic surgical shears and positioning the blood vessel between the blade and the tissue pad. The clamping arm is operated to exert an average coaptation pressure between and including 120 psi and 210 psi. The blade is ultrasonically vibrated to transect and seal the blood vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Houser, Sarah A. Noschang
  • Patent number: 10010339
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical blade includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface. The distal end is movable relative to a longitudinal axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end. At least a portion of the outer surface of the body comprises a lubricious coating adhered thereto. The lubricious coating has a coefficient of friction that is less than the coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: David A. Witt, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Kevin L. Houser
  • Publication number: 20180177521
    Abstract: An ultrasonic clamp coagulator assembly that is configured to permit selective cutting, coagulation and clamping of tissue during surgical procedures. An elongated portion of the instrument can be configured for endoscopic applications and has an outside diameter of less than 6 mm. The construction includes a clamping mechanism, including a clamp arm pivotally mounted at the distal portion of the instrument, which is specifically configured to create a desired level of tissue clamping forces, exceeding 4 pounds when the trigger is fully closed. The clamping mechanism includes a force-limiting mechanism that effectively smoothes out abusive tissue forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Craig N. Faller, Kevin L. Houser, Mark A. Neurohr
  • Patent number: 10004497
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for use by an operator in a surgical procedure includes an elongate shaft, an end effector extending from the elongate shaft, and a control system. The end effector is articulatable relative to the elongate shaft between a home state position and an articulated position. The control system includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor to store program instructions. The processor can alert the operator when the end effector reaches the home state position from the articulated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Brett E. Swensgard, Shane R. Adams, Thomas W. Lytle, IV, Richard L. Leimbach, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin L. Houser
  • Publication number: 20180168680
    Abstract: A surgical instrument that may include a housing, a transducer engaged with the housing which can produce vibrations, and an end-effector engaged with the transducer. The surgical instrument can further include an adjustable sheath extending from the housing where the sheath is movable relative to the distal tip of the end-effector and where the distance between the distal tip of the sheath and the distal tip of the end-effector can be set such that the sheath can act as a depth stop. The sheath can be adjusted such that, when the distal tip of the sheath contacts the tissue or bone being incised, the surgeon can determine that the appropriate depth of the incision has been reached. In other embodiments, the end-effector can be moved with respect to the sheath in order to adjust the distance between the distal tip of the end-effector and the distal tip of the sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin L. Houser, Andrew M. Zwolinski, Tracy D. Lopes, Prasanna Malaviya, Daniel W. Price, Louis T. DeLuca
  • Publication number: 20180161118
    Abstract: Various exemplary surgical tool and robotic surgical system interfaces are provided. In general, a sterile barrier can be positioned between a robotic surgical system and a surgical tool releasably coupled to the robotic surgical system. The surgical tool can be in a sterile environment on one side of the sterile barrier, and the robotic surgical system can be in a non-sterile environment on the other, opposite side of the sterile barrier. The robotic surgical system can be configured to control movement of the surgical tool releasably coupled thereto using a magnetic field that extends across the sterile barrier between the surgical tool and the robotic surgical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Joshua Young, David C. Yates, Kevin L. Houser
  • Publication number: 20180161109
    Abstract: Various exemplary surgical tool and robotic surgical system interfaces are provided. In general, a sterile barrier can be positioned between a robotic surgical system and a surgical tool releasably coupled to the robotic surgical system. The surgical tool can be in a sterile environment on one side of the sterile barrier, and the robotic surgical system can be in a non-sterile environment on the other, opposite side of the sterile barrier. The robotic surgical system can be configured to control movement of the surgical tool releasably coupled thereto using a magnetic field that extends across the sterile barrier between the surgical tool and the robotic surgical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Joshua Young, David C. Yates, Kevin L. Houser
  • Publication number: 20180161111
    Abstract: Various exemplary surgical tool and robotic surgical system interfaces are provided. In general, a sterile barrier can be positioned between a robotic surgical system and a surgical tool releasably coupled to the robotic surgical system. The surgical tool can be in a sterile environment on one side of the sterile barrier, and the robotic surgical system can be in a non-sterile environment on the other, opposite side of the sterile barrier. The robotic surgical system can be configured to control movement of the surgical tool releasably coupled thereto using a magnetic field that extends across the sterile barrier between the surgical tool and the robotic surgical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Joshua Young, David C. Yates, Kevin L. Houser
  • Publication number: 20180161110
    Abstract: Various exemplary surgical tool and robotic surgical system interfaces are provided. In general, a sterile barrier can be positioned between a robotic surgical system and a surgical tool releasably coupled to the robotic surgical system. The surgical tool can be in a sterile environment on one side of the sterile barrier, and the robotic surgical system can be in a non-sterile environment on the other, opposite side of the sterile barrier. The robotic surgical system can be configured to control movement of the surgical tool releasably coupled thereto using a magnetic field that extends across the sterile barrier between the surgical tool and the robotic surgical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Joshua Young, David C. Yates, Kevin L. Houser
  • Publication number: 20180146977
    Abstract: A surgical instrument having a transmission assembly, a transducer, and a handle assembly is configured for coupling the transmission assembly to the handle assembly using a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is operable to restrict the rotational movement of an actuator coupling member and the transducer relative to the handle assembly. The locking mechanism may also be operable to lock a trigger of the handle assembly in a first position. An inner tubular actuating member of the transmission assembly may be threadably attachable to the actuator coupling member or the actuator coupling member may include a latching mechanism to couple to a flared portion of the inner tubular actuating member. A waveguide of the transmission assembly may also be threadably attachable to the transducer. In one alternative, the trigger may be configured to operate the locking mechanism, either in the first position or when pivoted distally to a third position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Chad P. Boudreaux, Kevin L. Houser
  • Publication number: 20180098785
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a surgical instrument comprises an articulable waveguide. The articulable waveguide may be configured to transmit ultrasonic energy therealong. The articulable waveguide comprises a proximal drive section, an end effector and a first flexible. The proximal drive section is configured to couple to an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector is located at a distal portion of the articulable waveguide. The first flexible section comprises a flex bias and be positioned between the proximal drive section and the end effector. The surgical instrument further comprises a first tine extending longitudinally relative to the articulable waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel W. Price, Kevin L. Houser, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Foster B. Stulen
  • Publication number: 20180095487
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a surgical instrument. The method includes connecting a power assembly to a control circuit, wherein the power assembly is configured to provide a source voltage, energizing, by the power assembly, a voltage boost convertor circuit configured to provide a set voltage greater than the source voltage, and energizing, by the voltage boost convertor, one or more voltage convertors configured to provide one or more operating voltages to one or more circuit components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Richard L. Leimbach, Shane R. Adams, Mark D. Overmyer, Brett E. Swensgard, Thomas W. Lytle, IV, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin L. Houser
  • Publication number: 20180092660
    Abstract: A surgical device. The surgical device may comprise a transducer configured to provide vibrations along a longitudinal axis and an end effector coupled to the transducer and extending from the transducer along the longitudinal axis. The surgical device also may comprise a lower jaw extending parallel to the end effector. The lower jaw may comprise a clamp face extending toward the longitudinal axis. Also, the lower jaw may be slidable relative to the end effector to bring the clamp face toward a distal end of the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin L. Houser, Stephanie J. Muir, Louis T. DeLuca, Daniel W. Price, William D. Boyd, Galen C. Robertson, Michael J. O'Neil
  • Publication number: 20180085156
    Abstract: An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a discharge port in communication with a first fluid path, an aspiration port in communication with a second fluid path, a first and second electrode, and a diverter in mechanical communication with the two electrodes. The diverter may receive, on its surface, a fluid emitted by the discharge port, and maintain a contact of the fluid with the first and second electrodes. The diverter may be further configured to prevent an aspiration, by the aspiration port, of the fluid on its surface. An electrosurgical device may include a source port in communication with a first fluid path, an evacuation port in communication with a second fluid path, a first and second electrode, and a housing. The device may include a shaft extending distally from the housing and the end effector as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: David A. Witt, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, David C. Yates, Chad P. Boudreaux, Eric M. Roberson, Kevin L. Houser, Geoffrey S. Strobl
  • Publication number: 20180074535
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a surgical instrument. The method includes connecting a power assembly to a control circuit, wherein the power assembly is configured to provide a source voltage, energizing, by the power assembly, a voltage boost convertor circuit configured to provide a set voltage greater than the source voltage, and energizing, by the voltage boost convertor, one or more voltage convertors configured to provide one or more operating voltages to one or more circuit components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Brett E. Swensgard, Richard L. Leimbach, Shane R. Adams, Mark D. Overmyer, Kevin L. Houser
  • Patent number: 9913680
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a module for compiling a plurality of operational parameters of the surgical system during a plurality of treatment cycles performed by the surgical system. The module includes a processor and a memory unit, the processor configured to store in the memory unit values of the plurality of operational parameters associated with each of the plurality of treatment cycles, wherein the processor is configured to identify a subset of the stored values of the plurality of operational parameters temporally proximate to an intervening event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Aaron C. Voegele, Kevin L. Houser, Robert A. Kemerling, Gregory A. Trees
  • Publication number: 20180064440
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft, an end effector extending distally from the shaft, and a housing extending proximally from the shaft. The housing includes a motor configured to generate at least one motion to effectuate the end effector, and a power source configured to supply power to the surgical instrument, wherein the power source includes a casing, a data storage unit, and a deactivation mechanism configured to interrupt access to data stored in the data storage unit. In addition, the power source includes a battery pack and a deactivation mechanism configured to deactivate the battery pack if the casing is breached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Emily A. Schellin, David C. Yates, Kevin L. Houser
  • Publication number: 20180064443
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft, an end effector extending distally from the shaft, and a housing extending proximally from the shaft. The housing includes a motor configured to generate at least one motion to effectuate the end effector, and a power source configured to supply power to the surgical instrument, wherein the power source includes a casing, a data storage unit, and a deactivation mechanism configured to interrupt access to data stored in the data storage unit. In addition, the power source includes a battery pack and a deactivation mechanism configured to deactivate the battery pack if the casing is breached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Emily A. Schellin, David C. Yates, Kevin L. Houser
  • Publication number: 20180064442
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft, an end effector extending distally from the shaft, and a housing extending proximally from the shaft. The housing includes a motor configured to generate at least one motion to effectuate the end effector, and a power source configured to supply power to the surgical instrument, wherein the power source includes a casing, a data storage unit, and a deactivation mechanism configured to interrupt access to data stored in the data storage unit. In addition, the power source includes a battery pack and a deactivation mechanism configured to deactivate the battery pack if the casing is breached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Emily A. Schellin, David C. Yates, Kevin L. Houser