Patents by Inventor Lauren E. Flakne

Lauren E. Flakne 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: 20230032987
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an auto-tensioning feature. The handle assembly includes a body and a plunger. The shaft assembly includes an external sheath that is fixed to the handle body and an interior shaft that is coupled to the plunger. The interior shaft is slidable relative to the external sheath. The end effector is configured to encompass a bodily lumen and includes a flexible member extending distally from the interior 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 first and second coupling elements are magnetically attracted to each other and are biased toward each other such that the flexible member defines an adjustable loop. The auto-tensioning feature is configured to bias the plunger portion proximally relative to the handle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Lauren E. Flakne, Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard, Kyle P. Taylor, Celeste L. Huster, Jerome K. Grudem, JR.
  • Patent number: 11439431
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an auto-tensioning feature. The handle assembly includes a body and a plunger. The shaft assembly includes an external sheath that is fixed to the handle body and an interior shaft that is coupled to the plunger. The interior shaft is slidable relative to the external sheath. The end effector is configured to encompass a bodily lumen and includes a flexible member extending distally from the interior 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 first and second coupling elements are magnetically attracted to each other and are biased toward each other such that the flexible member defines an adjustable loop. The auto-tensioning feature is configured to bias the plunger portion proximally relative to the handle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Lauren E. Flakne, Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard, Kyle P. Taylor, Celeste L. Huster, Jerome K. Grudem, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10945738
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of beads, a plurality of links, a clasp assembly, and an adjustment feature. Each bead includes a housing, a passageway extending through the housing, and at least one annular magnet. The at least one annular magnet is coaxially positioned about the passageway. The links join the beads together. Portions of the links are slidably disposed in corresponding passageways of the beads. The clasp assembly is configured to removably secure the beads and links in a loop formation. The adjustment feature is operable to adjust an effective circumference of the loop formation. The adjustment feature may be incorporated into one or both of the clasp assembly or at least one of the beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignees: Torax Medical, Inc., Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Auld, Lauren E. Flakne, Kyle P. Taylor, Jerome K. Grudem, Jr., Celeste L. Huster
  • Publication number: 20210038256
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an auto-tensioning feature. The handle assembly includes a body and a plunger. The shaft assembly includes an external sheath that is fixed to the handle body and an interior shaft that is coupled to the plunger. The interior shaft is slidable relative to the external sheath. The end effector is configured to encompass a bodily lumen and includes a flexible member extending distally from the interior 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 first and second coupling elements are magnetically attracted to each other and are biased toward each other such that the flexible member defines an adjustable loop. The auto-tensioning feature is configured to bias the plunger portion proximally relative to the handle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Lauren E. Flakne, Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard, Kyle P. Taylor, Celeste L. Huster, Jerome K. Grudem, JR.
  • Patent number: 10828064
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an auto-tensioning feature. The handle assembly includes a body and a plunger. The shaft assembly includes an external sheath that is fixed to the handle body and an interior shaft that is coupled to the plunger. The interior shaft is slidable relative to the external sheath. The end effector is configured to encompass a bodily lumen and includes a flexible member extending distally from the interior 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 first and second coupling elements are magnetically attracted to each other and are biased toward each other such that the flexible member defines an adjustable loop. The auto-tensioning feature is configured to bias the plunger portion proximally relative to the handle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignees: Torax Medical, Inc., Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Lauren E. Flakne, Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard, Kyle P. Taylor, Celeste L. Huster, Jerome K. Grudem, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10813737
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of beads and a plurality of links joining the beads together. Each bead includes a housing, a passageway extending through the housing, and at least one annular magnet. The passageway defines an axis. The at least one annular magnet is coaxially positioned about the passageway. The housing defines a gap adjacent to the at least one annular magnet. The gap is sized and configured to allow at least one annular magnet to rotate relative to the housing about a rotation axis. The rotation axis is offset from the axis of the passageway. Portions of the links are slidably disposed in corresponding passageways of the beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: Torax Medical, Inc., Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard, Lauren E. Flakne, Kyle P. Taylor, Celeste L. Huster, Jerome K. Grudem, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190274803
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of beads and a plurality of links joining the beads together. Each bead includes a housing, a passageway extending through the housing, and at least one annular magnet. The passageway defines an axis. The at least one annular magnet is coaxially positioned about the passageway. The housing defines a gap adjacent to the at least one annular magnet. The gap is sized and configured to allow at least one annular magnet to rotate relative to the housing about a rotation axis. The rotation axis is offset from the axis of the passageway. Portions of the links are slidably disposed in corresponding passageways of the beads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard, Lauren E. Flakne, Kyle P. Taylor, Celeste L. Huster, Jerome K. Grudem, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190274689
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of beads, a plurality of links, a clasp assembly, and an adjustment feature. Each bead includes a housing, a passageway extending through the housing, and at least one annular magnet. The at least one annular magnet is coaxially positioned about the passageway. The links join the beads together. Portions of the links are slidably disposed in corresponding passageways of the beads. The clasp assembly is configured to removably secure the beads and links in a loop formation. The adjustment feature is operable to adjust an effective circumference of the loop formation. The adjustment feature may be incorporated into one or both of the clasp assembly or at least one of the beads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Michael D. Auld, Lauren E. Flakne, Kyle P. Taylor, Jerome K. Grudem, JR., Celeste L. Huster
  • Publication number: 20190269436
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an auto-tensioning feature. The handle assembly includes a body and a plunger. The shaft assembly includes an external sheath that is fixed to the handle body and an interior shaft that is coupled to the plunger. The interior shaft is slidable relative to the external sheath. The end effector is configured to encompass a bodily lumen and includes a flexible member extending distally from the interior 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 first and second coupling elements are magnetically attracted to each other and are biased toward each other such that the flexible member defines an adjustable loop. The auto-tensioning feature is configured to bias the plunger portion proximally relative to the handle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Lauren E. Flakne, Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard, Kyle P. Taylor, Celeste L. Huster, Jerome K. Grudem, JR.