Patents by Inventor Mary R. Towers
Mary R. Towers 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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Patent number: 10973521Abstract: A surgical instrument and method for forming a plurality of staples in tissue of a patient includes a body having a firing mechanism, a shaft assembly, an end effector with an anvil, and a cartridge received within the end effector that is operatively connected to the firing mechanism. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing having a plurality of staple slots, a plurality of staples respectively positioned within the plurality of staple slots, and a driver assembly. The driver assembly has a plurality of drivers respectively supporting the plurality of staples within the plurality of staple slots. The firing mechanism is configured to selectively move the plurality of drivers distally toward the anvil for forming the plurality of staples therebetween. At least one driver of the plurality of drivers has a variable distal height relative to at least another driver of the plurality of drivers in a predetermined variable height pattern.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Thomas E. Adams, Anil K. Nalagatla, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Barry T. Jamison, Mary R. Towers
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Patent number: 10966719Abstract: A method for manipulating tissue of a patient includes a surgical instrument having a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The method includes positioning a tissue within a gap between a cartridge and an anvil and against a guide pin to laterally position the tissue relative to the cartridge and the anvil. The method also includes moving a retaining pin from an open position to a closed position to capture the tissue and moving the cartridge toward the anvil in a closed configuration. Furthermore, the method includes inhibiting deflection of a distal end portion of the end effector wherein at least at least one of the guide pin or the retaining pin connects to the distal end portion. The method further includes forming a plurality of staples within the tissue and cutting the tissue with a knife.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Thomas Adams, Hector Chow, Steven Dickinson, Douglas B. Hoffman, Barry T. Jamison, John S. Kimsey, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Anil K. Nalagatla, Sudhir Patel, Mary R. Towers
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Publication number: 20190261985Abstract: A surgical instrument and method for forming a plurality of staples in tissue of a patient includes a body having a firing mechanism, a shaft assembly, an end effector with an anvil, and a cartridge received within the end effector that is operatively connected to the firing mechanism. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing having a plurality of staple slots, a plurality of staples respectively positioned within the plurality of staple slots, and a driver assembly. The driver assembly has a plurality of drivers respectively supporting the plurality of staples within the plurality of staple slots. The firing mechanism is configured to selectively move the plurality of drivers distally toward the anvil for forming the plurality of staples therebetween. At least one driver of the plurality of drivers has a variable distal height relative to at least another driver of the plurality of drivers in a predetermined variable height pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Thomas E. Adams, Anil K. Nalagatla, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Barry T. Jamison, Mary R. Towers
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Patent number: 10258334Abstract: A surgical instrument and method for forming a plurality of staples in tissue of a patient includes a body having a firing mechanism, a shaft assembly, an end effector with an anvil, and a cartridge received within the end effector that is operatively connected to the firing mechanism. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing having a plurality of staple slots, a plurality of staples respectively positioned within the plurality of staple slots, and a driver assembly. The driver assembly has a plurality of drivers respectively supporting the plurality of staples within the plurality of staple slots. The firing mechanism is configured to selectively move the plurality of drivers distally toward the anvil for forming the plurality of staples therebetween. At least one driver of the plurality of drivers has a variable distal height relative to at least another driver of the plurality of drivers in a predetermined variable height pattern.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2015Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Thomas Adams, Anil K. Nalagatla, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Barry T. Jamison, Mary R. Towers
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Publication number: 20190000455Abstract: A method for manipulating tissue of a patient includes a surgical instrument having a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The method includes positioning a tissue within a gap between a cartridge and an anvil and against a guide pin to laterally position the tissue relative to the cartridge and the anvil. The method also includes moving a retaining pin from an open position to a closed position to capture the tissue and moving the cartridge toward the anvil in a closed configuration. Furthermore, the method includes inhibiting deflection of a distal end portion of the end effector wherein at least at least one of the guide pin or the retaining pin connects to the distal end portion. The method further includes forming a plurality of staples within the tissue and cutting the tissue with a knife.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: Thomas Adams, Hector Chow, Steven Dickinson, Douglas B. Hoffman, Barry T. Jamison, John S. Kimsey, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Anil K. Nalagatla, Sudhir Patel, Mary R. Towers
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Patent number: 10045780Abstract: A method for manipulating tissue of a patient includes a surgical instrument having a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The method includes positioning a tissue within a gap between a cartridge and an anvil and against a guide pin to laterally position the tissue relative to the cartridge and the anvil. The method also includes moving a retaining pin from an open position to a closed position to capture the tissue and moving the cartridge toward the anvil in a closed configuration. Furthermore, the method includes inhibiting deflection of a distal end portion of the end effector wherein at least at least one of the guide pin or the retaining pin connects to the distal end portion. The method further includes forming a plurality of staples within the tissue and cutting the tissue with a knife.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2015Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Thomas Adams, Hector Chow, Steven Dickinson, Douglas B. Hoffman, Barry T. Jamison, John S. Kimsey, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Anil K. Nalagatla, Sudhir Patel, Mary R. Towers
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Publication number: 20170189022Abstract: A method for manipulating tissue of a patient includes a surgical instrument having a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The method includes positioning a tissue within a gap between a cartridge and an anvil and against a guide pin to laterally position the tissue relative to the cartridge and the anvil. The method also includes moving a retaining pin from an open position to a closed position to capture the tissue and moving the cartridge toward the anvil in a closed configuration. Furthermore, the method includes inhibiting deflection of a distal end portion of the end effector wherein at least at least one of the guide pin or the retaining pin connects to the distal end portion. The method further includes forming a plurality of staples within the tissue and cutting the tissue with a knife.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2015Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: Thomas Adams, Hector Chow, Steven Dickinson, Douglas B. Hoffman, Barry T. Jamison, John S. Kimsey, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Anil K. Nalagatla, Sudhir Patel, Mary R. Towers
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Publication number: 20170189024Abstract: A surgical instrument and method for forming a plurality of staples in tissue of a patient includes a body having a firing mechanism, a shaft assembly, an end effector with an anvil, and a cartridge received within the end effector that is operatively connected to the firing mechanism. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing having a plurality of staple slots, a plurality of staples respectively positioned within the plurality of staple slots, and a driver assembly. The driver assembly has a plurality of drivers respectively supporting the plurality of staples within the plurality of staple slots. The firing mechanism is configured to selectively move the plurality of drivers distally toward the anvil for forming the plurality of staples therebetween. At least one driver of the plurality of drivers has a variable distal height relative to at least another driver of the plurality of drivers in a predetermined variable height pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2015Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: Thomas Adams, Anil K. Nalagatla, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Barry T. Jamison, Mary R. Towers