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).
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Publication number: 20230032987Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Lauren E. Flakne, Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard, Kyle P. Taylor, Celeste L. Huster, Jerome K. Grudem, JR.
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Patent number: 11439431Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 23, 2020Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Lauren E. Flakne, Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard, Kyle P. Taylor, Celeste L. Huster, Jerome K. Grudem, Jr.
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Patent number: 10945738Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 7, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignees: Torax Medical, Inc., Ethicon LLCInventors: Michael D. Auld, Lauren E. Flakne, Kyle P. Taylor, Jerome K. Grudem, Jr., Celeste L. Huster
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Publication number: 20210038256Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Lauren E. Flakne, Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard, Kyle P. Taylor, Celeste L. Huster, Jerome K. Grudem, JR.
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Patent number: 10828064Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 1, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignees: Torax Medical, Inc., Ethicon LLCInventors: Lauren E. Flakne, Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard, Kyle P. Taylor, Celeste L. Huster, Jerome K. Grudem, Jr.
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Patent number: 10813737Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 7, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignees: Torax Medical, Inc., Ethicon LLCInventors: Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard, Lauren E. Flakne, Kyle P. Taylor, Celeste L. Huster, Jerome K. Grudem, Jr.
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Publication number: 20190274803Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2018Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard, Lauren E. Flakne, Kyle P. Taylor, Celeste L. Huster, Jerome K. Grudem, JR.
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Publication number: 20190274689Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2018Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Michael D. Auld, Lauren E. Flakne, Kyle P. Taylor, Jerome K. Grudem, JR., Celeste L. Huster
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Publication number: 20190269436Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2018Publication date: September 5, 2019Inventors: Lauren E. Flakne, Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard, Kyle P. Taylor, Celeste L. Huster, Jerome K. Grudem, JR.