Patents by Inventor Kevin M. Fiebig

Kevin M. Fiebig 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).

  • Patent number: 11963683
    Abstract: A surgical system may include tiered-access features. The surgical system may be used to analyze at least a portion of a surgical field. Based on a control parameter, the system may scale up or down various capabilities, such as visualization processing, endocutter communication, endocutter algorithm updates, smart cartridge connectivity, smart motor control for circular stapler, smart energy control, cloud analytics, hub connectivity control, and/or hub visualization and control interactions. The control parameter may include system aspects such as processing capability or bandwidth for example and/or the identification of an appropriate service tier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Patrick L. Creamer, Shane R. Adams, Jason L. Harris, Kevin M. Fiebig, Michael J. Vendely
  • Patent number: 11963685
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The handle assembly includes a body and an actuator. The actuator includes a rotary member that is configured to be driven by a finger of a hand that grasps the handle body. The shaft assembly includes an external sheath that is fixed to the handle body and an inner shaft that is coupled to the actuator. The inner shaft is configured to slide longitudinally relative to the external sheath in response to rotation of the first rotary member relative to the handle body. The end effector is configured to encompass a bodily lumen and includes a flexible member extending distally from the inner shaft. A first coupling element is fixed to the distal tip of the flexible member. A second coupling element is fixed to the external sheath. The flexible member defines an adjustable loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Tylor C. Muhlenkamp, Kevin M. Fiebig, David K. Norvell
  • Patent number: 11957353
    Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one link and a plurality of beads. The plurality of beads is joined using the at least one link and is configured to be arranged in an annular arrangement. The annular arrangement is sized and configured to form a loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. The annular arrangement is configured to move between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration. The loop in the contracted configuration is configured to prevent fluid flow through the anatomical structure. Each bead includes a housing, a magnet contained within the housing, and a secondary element that is different from the magnet. The magnet is configured to emit a magnetic field. The magnets of the plurality of beads are configured to magnetically bias the loop toward the contracted configuration. The secondary element is contained within the housing and is configured to increase the magnetic field of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Glenn W. Ellison, Tylor C. Muhlenkamp
  • Patent number: 11957352
    Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one link and a plurality of beads. The plurality of beads are joined using the at least one link and configured to be arranged in an annular arrangement. Each bead includes at least one magnet. The annular arrangement is sized and configured to form a loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. Adjacent beads are magnetically attracted together at a plurality of magnetic interfaces that include first and second magnetic interfaces. The first magnetic interface has a first magnetic field strength. The second magnetic interface has a second magnetic field strength that is less than the first magnetic field strength so that the beads forming the second interface are configured to separate prior to the beads forming the first interface when the loop moves from the contracted configuration to the expanded configuration, thereby providing uniform radial expansion of the loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Glen W. Ellison, Tylor C. Muhlenkamp
  • Patent number: 11957336
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, a firing system, and a firing lockout assembly. The end effector is operatively coupled with the shaft assembly. The end effector includes first and second jaws. The first jaw includes an anvil. The second jaw is configured to removably receive an unspent staple cartridge. The firing system extends through at least a portion of the shaft assembly and the end effector. The firing lockout assembly is selectively coupled with the firing system. The firing lockout assembly is disposed proximal to the end effector. The firing lockout assembly is configured to allow actuation of the firing system in an unlocked configuration in response to the unspent staple cartridge being coupled with the second jaw; and inhibit actuation of the firing system in a locked configuration in response to the unspent staple cartridge being absent from the second jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Adam D. Hensel
  • Patent number: 11957349
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of links and a plurality of beads interconnected together using the plurality of links. Each link of the plurality of links defines a chord length. The plurality of beads is configured to be arranged in an annular arrangement. Each bead of the plurality of beads includes at least one magnet configured to emit a magnetic field. The annular arrangement is sized and configured to form a loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. The loop in the expanded configuration is configured to permit fluid flow through the anatomical structure. Adjacent magnetic fields of adjacent magnets of the adjacent beads are configured to interact until separated past a minimum threshold in response the annular arrangement moving from the contracted configuration to the expanded configuration. The minimum threshold is based on the chord length of the links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig
  • Publication number: 20240120041
    Abstract: A surgical data management system may enable a patient to provide conditional consent(s). The patient granted consent may be associated with one or more condition(s), stipulation(s), and/or limitations of the scope, duration, and/or usage of their health data. The surgical data management system may be configured to check that patient data is only being used in accordance with the consent data (e.g., for the agreed upon purpose(s) and for the agreed upon time). In response to a data request for health data associated with a patient, the system may obtain a conditional consent associated with the patient. The system may determine whether to block access to at least a portion of the health data associated with the patient based on the data request and whether the condition(s) associated with the conditional consent have been met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig
  • Publication number: 20240120046
    Abstract: A data propagation reporting system may obtain an annotation associated with health data associated with a patient and may determine, based on the annotation, utilization information associated with the patient's health data. The data propagation reporting system may generate a patient data utilization report that may include at least a portion of the utilization information associated with the patient. The utilization information may indicate at least one of: the system(s) in which the health data associated with the patient has been used, when the health data associated with the patient has been accessed, or the purpose(s) for which the health data associated with the patient has been used. The utilization information may indicate the control program(s) (e.g., system algorithms) to which the patient's data has been contributed. The utilization information may indicate the data collection(s) in which the patient's data has been included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig
  • Publication number: 20240108334
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for controlling a tissue-treatment motion by a surgical instrument are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Michael J. Vendely, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Jason L. Harris, Kevin M. Fiebig, Eric B. LaFay, Jose Luis De Cordoba Matilla, Raymond E. Parfett, Curtis A. Maples, Sarah A. Worthington, Jacqueline C. Aronhalt
  • Publication number: 20240108340
    Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprising a motor system and a control circuit is disclosed. The motor system comprises a motor and a drive train movable by the motor to actuate a firing member through a staple firing stroke. The control circuit is coupled to the motor, wherein, during the staple firing stroke, the control circuit is configured to perform a first sensory action to determine if a speed of the motor can be increased to a first target speed, monitor a result of the first sensory action, adjust a parameter of a subsequent sensory action based on the monitored result of the first sensory action, and perform the subsequent sensory action with the adjusted parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Kevin M. Fiebig, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20240108337
    Abstract: A surgical system is disclosed including a surgical instrument and a control system. The surgical instrument comprises an end effector, a first drive system, and a second drive system. The control system is configured to detect the actuation of the first drive system of the surgical instrument, drive a first function of the end effector using the first drive system, monitor a first parameter associated with a first function, set a second parameter associated with a second function of the end effector based on the monitored first parameter, and drive the second function of the end effector using the second drive system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Jacqueline C. Aronhalt, Kevin M. Fiebig
  • Publication number: 20240108339
    Abstract: A surgical stapling system includes an anvil, a blade, a motor and gear assembly, a motor power supply, and a motor controller. A method of controlling the motor includes receiving first and second data indicative of operations of the motor under first and second conditions, respectively, and adjusting a motor control signal based on a difference between the first and second data. Another method includes receiving initial manufacture motor and gear assembly data from a manufacture and operational data during an initial use of the system, and adjusting parameters of the control signal based on a difference between the manufacture data and the operational data. Another method includes controlling a pulse-width modulated (PWM) motor control signal, receiving data regarding an interaction between the blade and a tissue clamped by the anvil, and adjusting a frequency of the PWM signal based on the data related to the interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Kevin M. Fiebig, Raymond E. Parfett, Curtis A. Maples, Nicholas J. Ross, Taylor W. Aronhalt
  • Publication number: 20240112768
    Abstract: Patient health data and consent data may be managed. Conditional consent by a patient may be provided for utilizing their private health data in one or more of the following: the adaptation of procedures, instrument operation, system configuration, display of results and/or plans for device usage. The patient granted consent may be associated with one or more condition(s), stipulation(s), and/or limitations of the scope, duration, and/or usage of their health data. A health data management system may check that patient data is only being used in accordance with the consent data (e.g., for the agreed upon purpose(s) and for the agreed upon time).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Matthew David Cowperthwait, Christopher Waid, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Jason L. Harris, Kevin M. Fiebig
  • Publication number: 20240112770
    Abstract: A consent management system may receive a request to modify consent data associated with a patient. The system may obtain patient capacity information associated with the patient and may determine whether to allow the patient to modify the consent data based on the obtained patient capacity information. The patient capacity information may indicate patient cognitive capacity, patient emotional capacity and/or the like. A response to the consent modification request may be generated based on the determining. For example, based on a determination that the obtained patient capacity information indicates that patient lacks the capacity to modify the consent data, the response may indicate a rejection of the request (e.g., may indicate that the consent data may not be modified). Based on a determination that the obtained patient capacity information indicates that patient possesses the capacity to modify the consent data, the response may indicate an approval of the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig
  • Publication number: 20240112769
    Abstract: A surgical data management system may adjust patient data access and display capabilities based on the location, the data origin, and/or the patient geographic characteristics associated with a patient data display interface. The patient data display interface may be located within or outside of the privacy protection boundary. The system may identify a region of the patient or a controlling jurisdiction of the patient's data usage. The system may determine a region-based consent requirement associated with the dataset based on the relevant controlling region and may determine whether to display the dataset via the patient data display interface based on the determined region-based consent requirement and patient consent data. The system may generate the patient data display interface based on the determining. The system may determine a regional law's bearing on patient consent and may adapt consent management accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig
  • Publication number: 20240112772
    Abstract: A medical data processing system may associate a utilization score of a dataset with data in the dataset. For example, the medical data processing system may obtain a dataset including medical data. The medical data processing system may obtain an indication of a control program, and determine, for the control program, a utilization score of the dataset. The medical data processing system may associate the utilization score with the medical data in the dataset. The utilization score may indicate a level of valuableness of the dataset to the control program. For example, the medical data processing system may determine metadata associated with the dataset, retrieve the metadata associated with the dataset from a metadata repository, and determine the utilization score of the dataset based on the metadata associated with the dataset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig
  • Publication number: 20240112771
    Abstract: A health data management system may obtain a consent key for accessing health information associated with a patient. The system may determine that at least some of the health information associated with the patient is stored in an external system, different from the health data system. The external system may be, for example, a second health data management system or a secure storage container associated with the patient. The health data system may send a request to access the health information associated with the patient. The access request may include a consent key associated with the patient's consent data. The consent key may be, may include, and/or may indicate the patient's consent data. The health data system may access the health information associated with the patient from the external system (e.g., upon the external system authorizing access based on the consent key).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 11944297
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an end effector, a motor, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to activate the motor to distally advance a firing member within a body of the end effector. The processing unit is further configured to detect an initiation condition. In response to detecting the initiation condition, the processing unit is configured to activate an algorithmic bumping mode. The bumping mode includes activating the motor to advance the firing member distally with a first plurality starting and stopping motions at a first rate and a first power level. The bumping mode further includes activating the motor to retract the firing member proximally with a second plurality of starting and stopping motions at a second rate and a second power level. The first rate is different than the second rate. The first power level is different than the second power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams
  • Patent number: 11944296
    Abstract: A modular surgical instrument system, comprising a handle assembly, comprising a disposable outer housing configured to define a sterile barrier. The disposable outer housing comprises a first housing-portion and a second housing-portion movable relative to the first housing-portion between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The handle assembly further comprises a control inner core receivable inside the disposable outer housing in the open configuration. The disposable outer housing is configured to isolate the control inner core in the closed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Ravi C. Patel, Joshua L. Liebowitz
  • Patent number: 11937866
    Abstract: A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure using an electrosurgical instrument including an end effector is disclosed. The method comprises applying a bipolar energy to a target tissue grasped by the end effector in a tissue-feathering segment, applying an energy blend of the bipolar energy and a monopolar energy to the target tissue in a tissue-warming segment and a tissue-sealing segment following the tissue-warming segment, and discontinuing the bipolar energy but continuing to apply the monopolar energy to the target tissue in a tissue-cutting segment following the tissue-sealing segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Mark S. Zeiner, Sarah A. Worthington, Joshua P. Morgan, Nicholas M. Morgan