Patents by Inventor Mark D. Overmyer

Mark D. Overmyer 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: 20210267596
    Abstract: Methods for resetting a fuse in a surgical instrument are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas Fanelli, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Adam D. Hensel, Jason M. Rector, Bingshi Wang, Mark D. Overmyer
  • Publication number: 20210267595
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a plurality of first electrical contacts and a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts. The surgical instrument further includes a staple cartridge releasably attachable to the elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge has a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples deployable from the staple cavities into the tissue, and a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein the attachment of the staple cartridge to the elongate channel moves the electrical connectors causing the second electrical contacts to bridge the gap and become electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Sol A. Posada, Mark D. Overmyer, Raymond E. Parfett, Brian D. Schings, Brett E. Swensgard, Richard L. Leimbach, Shane R. Adams, David C. Yates, Jason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kharyl Evenson George Stephens, Jason M. Rector
  • Patent number: 11096689
    Abstract: An end effector is disclosed comprising a cartridge channel, a staple cartridge positionable in the cartridge channel, and a firing assembly configured to lock itself if the staple cartridge is not positioned in the cartridge channel. Moreover, the firing assembly is configured to lock itself if the staple cartridge has been at least partially spent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Andrew T. Beckman, Robert L. Koch, Jr., Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 11090048
    Abstract: Methods for resetting a fuse in a surgical instrument are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Nicholas Fanelli, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Adam D. Hensel, Jason M. Rector, Bingshi Wang, Mark D. Overmyer
  • Publication number: 20210244406
    Abstract: A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and an end effector rotatably coupled to the shaft by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument can further include a staple cartridge positioned within the end effector and a firing drive operably coupled with a trigger wherein the operation of the trigger can advance and/or retract a firing member of the firing drive relative to the end effector. The surgical instrument can further comprise an articulation drive which is selectively engageable with the firing drive. When the articulation drive is engaged with the firing drive, the operation of the firing drive can operate the articulation drive and articulate the end effector. When the articulation drive is not engaged with the firing drive, the firing drive can be operated independently of the articulation drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Wendy A. Kerr, Thomas W. Lytle, IV, Mark D. Overmyer, Brett E. Swensgard, Richard L. Leimbach, Kevin D. Sackett
  • Publication number: 20210196411
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a robotic surgical assembly and a control assembly. The robotic surgical assembly includes a robotic actuation assembly, a processing device, and a first communication device. The robotic actuation assembly includes a robotic arm. The processing device is configured to instruct the robotic actuation assembly to perform a task based on a set of instructions. The first communication device is operable to transfer the set of instructions to the processing device. The control assembly includes a second communication device and a user input device. The second communication device is operable to communicate the set of instructions to the first communication device. The user input device assembly is configured to generate the set of instructions and send the set of instruction to the second communication device. At least a portion of the instructions are based on positioning of the user input device within three-dimensional space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Omar J. Vakharia, James G. Lee, Matthew S. Corbin, Mark D. Overmyer, Cory G. Kimball
  • Patent number: 11045270
    Abstract: A surgical instrument assembly configured to be operably attached to and detached from a surgical robot interface is disclosed. The surgical instrument assembly comprises a shaft assembly comprising an end effector and a closure drive member configured to move a second jaw relative to a first jaw of the end effector. The surgical instrument assembly further comprises a control assembly, wherein the shaft assembly is operably coupled with the control assembly, and wherein the control assembly comprises a housing, a closure drive system configured to actuate the closure drive member, and an exterior closure drive actuator exterior to the housing and configured to be actuated by a clinician to manually rotate a rotary input drive of the closure drive system to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw when the surgical instrument assembly is not operably attached to the surgical robot interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Mark D. Overmyer, Vincenzo Barbato, Robert L. Koch, Jr., Nathan D. Grubbs
  • Patent number: 11033344
    Abstract: A method includes advancing an end effector of a surgical tool to a surgical site, the surgical tool being pivotably mounted to a robotic arm at a tool driver, engaging tissue at the surgical site with the end effector, calculating a force vector assumed on the end effector by engaging the tissue, optimizing the force vector to obtain an optimized force vector, and actuating the end effector after applying the optimized force vector on the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Sol A. Posada, Joshua D. Young, Mark A. Davison, Christopher A. Denzinger
  • Patent number: 11026678
    Abstract: A surgical stapler. The surgical stapler includes a drive system, an electric motor, a battery and a control system. The electric motor is mechanically coupled to the drive system. The battery is electrically couplable to the electric motor. The control system is electrically connected to the electric motor and includes an H-bridge circuit, an electrically resistive element and an electrically inductive element. The H-bridge circuit includes a high side and a low side. The low side of the H-bridge circuit includes first and second switching devices. The electrically resistive element is electrically connected in series with the first switching device. The electrically inductive element is electrically connected to the electrically resistive element. The control system is configured to control a force applied to the drive system based on a current downstream of the electrically resistive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, David C. Yates, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Richard L. Leimbach
  • Patent number: 11020113
    Abstract: A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has a force delivery system which communicates a changing force to a user of the surgical instrument when a limit of a surgical function is reached. A sensor senses position of a moving element to communicate a signal to the force delivery system. In various embodiments, the system generates a vibratory force to signal the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan, Richard L. Leimbach, Mark D. Overmyer
  • Patent number: 10987177
    Abstract: Various embodiments of tool assemblies are provided having at least one rotary input coupling and at least one linear input coupling for allowing either a rotary output or a linear output (e.g., from a tool driver on a surgical robot) to activate at least one mechanism of the tool assembly. For example, mechanisms of the tool assembly can include a clamping assembly, a firing assembly, an articulation assembly, and a roll assembly. The clamping assembly can open and close jaws of an end effector, the firing assembly can translate a knife assembly through the end effector to fire staples and cut tissue, the articulation assembly can articulate the end effector, and the roll assembly can rotate the elongate shaft and/or the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Robert L. Koch
  • Patent number: 10966627
    Abstract: A powered surgical cutting and stapling instrument is disclosed. The instrument includes at least one sensor to measure at least one parameter associated with the instrument, at least one processor, and a memory operatively associated with the processor. The memory includes machine executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to monitor the at least one sensor over a predetermined time period and determine a rate of change of the measured parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Brett E. Swensgard, Richard L. Leimbach, Shane R. Adams, Mark D. Overmyer
  • Publication number: 20210093409
    Abstract: A method includes grasping a user input device in communication with a surgical tool of a robotic surgical system, the surgical tool including an end effector with opposing jaws, squeezing the user input device and thereby actuating a motor that closes the jaws and clamps down on tissue at a surgical site, and calculating with a computer system in communication with the surgical tool work completed by the motor to close the jaws and clamp down on the tissue. The computer system generates one or more effort indicators when the work completed by the motor meets or exceeds one or more predetermined work increments corresponding to operation of the motor, and communicates the one or more effort indicators to an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Sol A. Posada, Kris Eren Kallenberger, Christopher A. Denzinger
  • Patent number: 10959725
    Abstract: A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and an end effector rotatably coupled to the shaft by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument can further include a staple cartridge positioned within the end effector and a firing drive operably coupled with a trigger wherein the operation of the trigger can advance and/or retract a firing member of the firing drive relative to the end effector. The surgical instrument can further comprise an articulation drive which is selectively engageable with the firing drive. When the articulation drive is engaged with the firing drive, the operation of the firing drive can operate the articulation drive and articulate the end effector. When the articulation drive is not engaged with the firing drive, the firing drive can be operated independently of the articulation drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Wendy A. Kerr, Thomas W. Lytle, IV, Mark D. Overmyer, Brett E. Swensgard, Richard L. Leimbach, Kevin D. Sackett
  • Publication number: 20210085316
    Abstract: A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes an elongated channel configured to support a staple cartridge, an anvil pivotably connected to the elongated channel, a knife mechanically coupled to the staple cartridge, an electric motor and a control circuit electrically connected to the electric motor. The control circuit is configured to change a firing motion a first way based on a first value of a projected peak firing force and a second way based on a second value of the projected peak firing force value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Jason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Mark D. Overmyer
  • Publication number: 20210068818
    Abstract: A surgical stapler. The surgical stapler includes a drive system, an electric motor, a battery and a control system. The electric motor is mechanically coupled to the drive system. The battery is electrically couplable to the electric motor. The control system is electrically connected to the electric motor and includes an H-bridge circuit, an electrically resistive element and an electrically inductive element. The H-bridge circuit includes a high side and a low side. The low side of the H-bridge circuit includes first and second switching devices. The electrically resistive element is electrically connected in series with the first switching device. The electrically inductive element is electrically connected to the electrically resistive element. The control system is configured to control a force applied to the drive system based on a current downstream of the electrically resistive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, David C. Yates, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Richard L. Leimbach
  • Publication number: 20210059773
    Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing, a closure tube that extends from the drive housing, an end effector arranged at an end of the closure tube and having opposing jaws, and a closure yoke mounted to the closure tube and having a projection extending therefrom. A gearing assembly includes one or more spur gears attached to a corresponding one or more drive shafts such that rotation of the one or more drive shafts correspondingly rotates the one or more spur gears, and a closure cam gear positioned to intermesh with the one or more spur gears and defining a profile that receives the projection. Rotating the one or more spur gears causes the closure cam gear to rotate, which causes the projection to traverse the profile, and the projection traversing the profile urges the closure yoke and the closure tube to linearly displace and thereby actuate the jaws.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Kris Eren Kallenberger
  • Publication number: 20210059670
    Abstract: A surgical stapler. The surgical stapler includes a drive system, an electric motor, a battery and a control system. The drive system includes a movable drive member. The electric motor is mechanically coupled to the drive system. The battery is electrically couplable to the electric motor. The control system is electrically connected to the electric motor and includes an accelerometer. The control system is configured to control a force applied to the drive system based on an acceleration of the movable drive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, David C. Yates, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Jason L. Harris
  • Publication number: 20210059777
    Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing, a shaft extending from the drive housing, an end effector at an end of the shaft and having opposing jaws and a cutting element, and an articulable wrist configured to rotate the end effector within a plane. The wrist is articulated via antagonistic translation of a pair of drive members. Various systems are provided for homing one or more drive inputs that cause movement in the wrist and/or the end effector, or for controlling articulation of the drive inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Benjamin Lawrence Bertram, Vincenzo Barbato, Kris Eren Kallenberger
  • Publication number: 20210052343
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a tool driver, a drive housing mountable to the tool driver and including one or more component parts made of or including a magnetically responsive material, a first inductor coil included on the tool driver and configured to generate a magnetic field, and a second inductor coil included on the drive housing and configured to measure an intensity of the magnetic field and a field distortion caused by the one or more component parts. A change in the field distortion provides an indication of movement of the one or more component parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventor: Mark D. Overmyer