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: 11627960
    Abstract: A modular surgical instrument system that comprises modular components and a control circuit electrically couplable to the modular components. The modular components comprise a shaft and a handle assembly. The handle assembly comprises a disposable outer housing. The disposable outer housing is movable 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. The modular components further comprise a loading unit releasably couplable to the shaft and a staple cartridge releasably couplable to an end effector. The loading unit comprises the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Ravi C. Patel, Joshua L. Liebowitz
  • Publication number: 20230116781
    Abstract: In general, devices, systems, and methods for multi-source imaging are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Charles J. Scheib, Kevin M. Fiebig
  • Publication number: 20230098670
    Abstract: In general, devices, systems, and methods for multi-source imaging are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Shane R. Adams, Kevin M. Fiebig
  • Publication number: 20230096406
    Abstract: In general, devices, systems, and methods for multi-source imaging are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Kevin M. Fiebig
  • Patent number: 11602364
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic waveguide extending through a body assembly. An ultrasonic blade connects to the ultrasonic waveguide. A clamp arm assembly of the surgical instrument is able to move from an opened position for receiving a tissue toward a closed position for clamping the tissue. The clamp arm assembly includes a clamp body and a clamp pad facing the ultrasonic blade. A clamp arm actuator of the surgical instrument is able to move from a first position toward a second position to direct the clamp arm assembly from the opened position toward the closed position. A modular coupling of the surgical instrument connects to the clamp pad such that at least the clamp pad can be disconnected relative to the ultrasonic blade for replacement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Ryan M. Asher, Gregory D. Bishop, Brian D. Black, Chad P. Boudreaux, David J. Cagle, William E. Clem, Joseph Dennis, Kristen G. Denzinger, Benjamin D. Dickerson, Kevin M. Fiebig, Ellen Burkart, Christina M. Hough, John V. Hunt, Cody R. Jackson, Cory G. Kimball, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Gabriel I. Myers, Ion V. Nicolaescu, William A. Olson, Candice Otrembiak, John K. Swain, Gregory A. Trees, John A. Weed, III, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Eitan T. Wiener, Barry C. Worrell, David C. Yates, Monica L. Zeckel
  • Patent number: 11589916
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument comprising an end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. At least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable to transition the end effector from an open configuration to a closed configuration to grasp tissue therebetween. The second jaw comprises linear portions cooperating to form an angular profile and a treatment surface comprising segments extending along the angular profile. The segments comprise different geometries and different conductivities. The segments are configured to produce variable energy densities along the treatment surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Sarah A. Worthington
  • Publication number: 20230045893
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, a stapling assembly, and a restriction feature. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector being on a distal end of the shaft assembly and incudes a first second jaw. The stapling assembly is supported by one of the first jaw or the second jaw. The stapling assembly includes a wedge sled. The wedge sled is configured to move relative to the one of the first jaw or the second jaw to drive movement of one or more staples. The restriction feature is configured to releasably hold the wedge sled in a predetermined position within the stapling assembly while the stapling assembly is in a pre-fired configuration. At least a portion of the restriction feature is configured to respond to movement of the edge sled to release the restriction feature from the wedge sled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Adam D. Hensel
  • Publication number: 20230051105
    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: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Adam D. Hensel
  • Publication number: 20230045998
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, an actuation assembly, and a bailout mechanism. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector is disposed on a distal end of the shaft assembly and includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The actuation assembly includes a pusher member configured to move relative to the end effector to drive movement of the first jaw, the second jaw, or both the first jaw and the second jaw. The bailout mechanism includes a first elongate actuation element and a second elongate actuation element. A portion of the bailout mechanism is configured to selectively apply tension to the first elongate actuation element and the second elongate actuation element to move the pusher member. The first elongate actuation element is stronger in tension than the second elongate actuation element cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig
  • Publication number: 20230051361
    Abstract: A method of operating a robotically controlled surgical instrument that includes an end effector, a driving assembly, and a lockout, the method includes inhibiting actuation of the driving assembly when the lockout is in a locked configuration in response to an unspent staple cartridge being absent from a first jaw of the end effector. The method also includes inserting the unspent staple cartridge into the first jaw of the end effector to switch the lockout to an unlocked configuration. The method also includes actuating the driving assembly to pivot the first jaw, which includes the staple cartridge, toward a second jaw of the end effector to at least one of staple or cut tissue with the end effector when the lockout is in the unlocked configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams, Adam D. Hensel, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Nicholas J. Ross, Curtis A. Maples, Gregory J. Bakos
  • Publication number: 20230051222
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a shaft assembly and an end effector. The end effector includes a first jaw having an anvil, a second jaw configured to removably receive a staple cartridge, and a driving assembly translatable distally through the second jaw for pivoting the second jaw toward the first jaw to clamp tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw. The instrument also includes a lockout mechanism configured to transition between a first state in which the lockout mechanism prevents distal translation of the driving assembly through the second jaw, and a second state in which the lockout mechanism permits distal translation of the driving assembly through the second jaw. The lockout mechanism is configured to transition from the first state to the second state when the staple cartridge is removably received by the second jaw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Adam D. Hensel, Gregory J. Bakos
  • Publication number: 20230048444
    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: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20230049736
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a drive member visualization assembly. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw, a staple cartridge, and a drive member capable of actuating along a firing stroke to fire a plurality of staples out of the staple cartridge or to sever tissue. The drive member visualization assembly provides an electronic indication linked to a physical location of the drive member within the upper jaw and the lower jaw during the firing stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Curtis A. Maples
  • Publication number: 20230050707
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a shaft assembly and an end effector. The end effector includes a first jaw having an anvil, and a second jaw. The instrument also includes a stapling assembly supported by the second jaw and including a plurality of staples, a staple actuator, and a driver assembly. The driver assembly includes a laterally-opposed pair of distal drivers that receive respective staples, a proximal driver that receives a respective staple, and a cam surface. The staple actuator is configured to engage the cam surface during distal translation of the staple actuator to drive the respective staples into contact with the anvil. The staple actuator and the cam surface are configured such that, when the respective staples contact the anvil, the engagement between the staple actuator and the cam surface is centered at a location along the cam surface distal of a centroid of the first driver assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Adam D. Hensel
  • Publication number: 20230051271
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, a driving assembly, at least one motor, and a motor controller. The at least one motor is configured to actuate the driving assembly to deploy staples. The motor controller is in communication with the motor. The motor controller is configured to determine whether values of first and second trigger variables exceed predetermined thresholds. The motor controller is configured to modify at least one motor control parameter in response to determining that the values of the first and second trigger variables exceed the predetermined thresholds. The motor control parameters include a motion profile instituted by the motor controller for the motor, a waiting period during which power to the motor is reduced or stopped, or the predetermined threshold relating to current or force for proximal retraction to be different from the predetermined threshold relating to current or force for distal advancement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Curtis A. Maples
  • Publication number: 20230052307
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a flexible firing member. The end effector includes a driving assembly translatable distally relative to a first jaw and a second jaw to thereby transition the first and second jaws from an open state to a closed state. The flexible firing member is configured to selectively advance the driving assembly distally and retract the driving assembly proximally. The flexible firing member includes a plurality of segments, at least one axial force transmission feature configured to transmit axial forces between the segments, and at least one lateral alignment feature configured to resist lateral misalignment of the segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Gregory J. Bakos, Michael J. Vendely, Adam D. Hensel
  • Publication number: 20230051756
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an end effector and a drive system. The drive system is configured to drive a jaw closure assembly to provide the end effector in a first closed position. The drive system is further configured to operatively disengage the jaw closure assembly and operatively engage a firing assembly, then distally advance a firing member to actuate the end effector. The drive system is further configured to detect an initiation condition; and in response to detecting the initiation condition, operatively disengage the firing assembly and operatively re-engage the jaw closure assembly. The drive system is further configured to drive the jaw closure assembly to provide the end effector in a second closed position, then operatively disengage the jaw closure assembly and operatively re-engage the firing assembly. The drive system is further configured to distally advance the firing member further within the end effector to further actuate the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams, Adam D. Hensel
  • Publication number: 20230050358
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a shaft assembly, an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly and having a first jaw with an anvil and a second jaw operable to cooperate with the first jaw to clamp tissue, and a cartridge inserted into the second jaw. The cartridge includes staples, a movable member translatable distally during a firing stroke to discharge the staples into tissue, a first sensor assembly configured to monitor a first condition of the cartridge, and a second sensor assembly configured to monitor a second condition of the cartridge. A first processor is coupled with the first and second sensor assemblies and is configured to receive first and second signals from the sensor assemblies, respectively, where each signal is indicative of the respective condition of the cartridge. The first processor is configured to selectively permit or restrict the firing stroke based upon the signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Curtis A. Maples
  • Publication number: 20230051938
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, a stapling assembly, and a drive system. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector is disposed on a distal end of the shaft assembly and includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The stapling assembly is supported by one of the first jaw or the second jaw of the end effector. The drive system includes a shift mechanism configured to selectively modify a mechanical advantage of a drive input driven by a motor and used to power one or more functions associated with operation of the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams, Adam D. Hensel
  • Publication number: 20220395364
    Abstract: An implantable restriction device includes a plurality of beads, a plurality of links joining the beads together, and a parking feature. Each bead in the plurality of beads includes a housing, a passageway extending through the housing, and at least one magnet disposed around the passageway. The plurality of links are slidably disposed in corresponding passageways of the beads such that the plurality of beads can transition between a constricted configuration and an expanded configuration. The parking feature can consistently position the at least one link relative to the housing in the contracted configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Jerome R. Morgan