Patents by Inventor Kevin W. Smith, JR.

Kevin W. Smith, JR. 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: 11974745
    Abstract: A surgical instrument that comprises a surgical end effector, a handle that is connected to the surgical end effector and has a controller, and an interchangeable part removably connected to the surgical end effector and having an encryption device in electrical communication with the controller. The encryption device is programmed to authenticate the interchangeable part when the interchangeable part is at the surgical end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: CILAG GmbH International
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Derek Dee Deville, Carlos Rivera, Matthew A. Palmer
  • Patent number: 9084625
    Abstract: A battery assembly for use in a number of battery-powered, cordless ultrasonic surgical instruments with handles having a battery chamber and coupled to different ultrasonic waveguide types, comprises a housing having an exterior shape formed to removably connect with the battery chamber of the handles. The housing has at least one energy storage cell operable to power an ultrasonic-signal-generation assembly of the surgical instruments. The ultrasonic-signal-generation assembly is operable to dynamically produce a resonant wave along an ultrasonic waveguide. A battery/handle interface has a plurality of connectors shaped to mate with a plurality of corresponding connectors within the battery chamber of the handles. A voltage-control circuit communicatively couples with and provides power to the ultrasonic-signal-generation assembly, detects which one of the ultrasonic waveguide types is coupled to the handle connected to the housing, and provides an output in response to the detected waveguide type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Derek Dee Deville, Kevin W. Smith, Jr., Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Matthew A. Palmer
  • Publication number: 20130245657
    Abstract: A battery assembly for use in a number of battery-powered, cordless ultrasonic surgical instruments with handles having a battery chamber and coupled to different ultrasonic waveguide types, comprises a housing having an exterior shape formed to removably connect with the battery chamber of the handles. The housing has at least one energy storage cell operable to power an ultrasonic-signal-generation assembly of the surgical instruments. The ultrasonic-signal-generation assembly is operable to dynamically produce a resonant wave along an ultrasonic waveguide. A battery/handle interface has a plurality of connectors shaped to mate with a plurality of corresponding connectors within the battery chamber of the handles. A voltage-control circuit communicatively couples with and provides power to the ultrasonic-signal-generation assembly, detects which one of the ultrasonic waveguide types is coupled to the handle connected to the housing, and provides an output in response to the detected waveguide type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Derek Dee Deville, Kevin W. Smith, JR., Thomas O. Bales, JR., Matthew A. Palmer