Patents by Inventor Larry A. Gilstrap

Larry A. Gilstrap 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: 6066117
    Abstract: A cannula includes a cannula cap connected to a proximal end of the cannula, which cap has cap body having a bore defining an instrument receiving passageway. A monolithic flapper valve is positioned within the cannula proximal end and adjacent the cap body. The flapper valve includes a flapper, a flapper mount positioned adjacent the cap body, and an integrally formed hinge connecting the flapper mount to the flapper for permitting the flapper to move to an open position when an instrument is positioned within the instrument receiving passageway and for biasing the flapper toward a closed position when the instrument is removed from the passageway. A sealing washer is carried by the flapper mount for positioning between the valve and the cannula cap enclosing the flapper valve within the cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Endolap, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Q. Fox, Larry A. Gilstrap
  • Patent number: 5820604
    Abstract: A cannula cap embodiment includes a monolithic elastomeric cap body having a sidewall portion for engaging a proximal end of a cannula, and an end portion connected to the cylindrical sidewall portion. The cannula cap also includes a monolithic flapper valve positioned within an interior of the cap body. The monolithic flapper valve includes a flapper portion, a ringed-shaped flapper mounting portion connected to adjacent interior portions of the cap body, and an integrally formed hinge portion connecting the flapper mounting portion to the flapper portion for permitting the flapper portion to move to an open position when an instrument is positioned within the instrument receiving passageway, and for biasing the flapper portion toward a closed position when an instrument is removed from the instrument receiving passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Endolap, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Q. Fox, Larry A. Gilstrap