Patents by Inventor Matthew Aaron Wixey

Matthew Aaron Wixey 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: 20250228605
    Abstract: An instrument may comprise a shaft and an end effector comprising a jaw mechanism coupled to the shaft. The jaw mechanism may comprise a first jaw member and a second jaw member movable relative to one another by pivoting about a pivot axis between an open configuration of the jaw mechanism and a closed configuration of the jaw mechanism. The second jaw member may be rotatable about a roll axis of the second jaw member between at least two orientations, the roll axis of the second jaw member being transverse to the pivot axis. In a first orientation of the at least two orientations, the jaw mechanism is configured to perform a first function. In a second orientation of the at least two orientations, the jaw mechanism is configured to perform a second function differing from the first function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew Aaron Wixey
  • Patent number: 12137903
    Abstract: Locking assemblies for surgical clamping and cutting instruments include a locking member and a switch. A drive member may be configured to releasably engage a knife and/or a shuttle of the surgical instrument for translating the knife and/or shuttle in a distal direction through a firing stroke. The locking member is movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke, and a second position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke. A switch, when proximally positioned, releasably engages the locking member to maintain the locking member in the first position. The switch disengages from the locking member when the switch is moved to a distal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Atal C Patel, Matthew Aaron Wixey
  • Publication number: 20240335194
    Abstract: Locking assemblies for surgical clamping and cutting instruments include a locking member and a switch. A drive member may be configured to releasably engage a knife and/or a shuttle of the surgical instrument for translating the knife and/or shuttle in a distal direction through a firing stroke. The locking member is movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke, and a second position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke. A switch, when proximally positioned, releasably engages the locking member to maintain the locking member in the first position. The switch disengages from the locking member when the switch is moved to a distal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Atal C. Patel, Matthew Aaron Wixey
  • Publication number: 20240189054
    Abstract: A drive assembly of an instrument includes an input drive interface removably engageable with an external actuator device and configured to receive drive actuation force from the external actuator device in a state of engagement with the external actuator device, a drive shaft configured to be driven in rotation, a capstan, and a splined snap-fit connection mechanism between the drive shaft and the capstan. The splined snap-fit connection mechanism includes splined engagement features configured to engage each other so as to prevent relative rotation between the drive shaft and the capstan, and a plurality of snap-fit elements to provide a snap-fit engagement between the drive shaft and the capstan so as to provide resistance to relative axial movement between the drive shaft and the capstan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, Nicholas H. Ragosta
  • Patent number: 11877819
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes: a distal movable component; a proximal drive assembly including a drive shaft, a capstan, and a plurality of splines; a first cable extending between the distal movable component and the drive shaft; and a second cable extending between the distal movable component and the capstan. The drive shaft includes a tapered projection, and the capstan includes a tapered bore in which the tapered projection of the drive shaft is received. The plurality of splines engage the tapered projection of the drive shaft with the tapered bore of the capstan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, Nicholas H. Ragosta
  • Publication number: 20220395270
    Abstract: Locking assemblies for surgical clamping and cutting instruments include a locking member and a switch. A drive member may be configured to releasably engage a knife and/or a shuttle of the surgical instrument for translating the knife and/or shuttle in a distal direction through a firing stroke. The locking member is movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke, and a second position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke. A switch, when proximally positioned, releasably engages the locking member to maintain the locking member in the first position. The switch disengages from the locking member when the switch is moved to a distal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Atal C Patel, Matthew Aaron Wixey
  • Patent number: 11439390
    Abstract: Locking assemblies for surgical clamping and cutting instruments include a locking member and a switch. A drive member may be configured to releasably engage a knife and/or a shuttle of the surgical instrument for translating the knife and/or shuttle in a distal direction through a firing stroke. The locking member is movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke, and a second position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke. A switch, when proximally positioned, releasably engages the locking member to maintain the locking member in the first position. The switch disengages from the locking member when the switch is moved to a distal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Atal C Patel, Matthew Aaron Wixey
  • Publication number: 20220015849
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a dynamic preload tension feature for a tensioning element that actuates a distal end component of a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes a chassis at a proximal end of the surgical instrument, drive components mounted in the chassis, a distal end component at a distal end of the surgical instrument, a flexible tensioning element coupled between a first of the drive components and the distal end component, and a dynamic preload tensioner mounted in the chassis and coupled to a second of the drive components. The flexible tensioning element extends along a path. The dynamic preload tensioner is configured to be driven by the second of the drive components to be moved relative to the chassis and is positioned to change the path of the flexible tensioning element as the dynamic preload tensioner moves relative to the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, William Burbank, Thomas Grosvenor Cooper, Patrick Flanagan, Nicholas H. Ragosta, Donald Frank Wilson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11160625
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a dynamic preload tension feature for a tensioning element that actuates a distal end component of a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes a chassis at a proximal end of the surgical instrument, drive components mounted in the chassis, a distal end component at a distal end of the surgical instrument, a flexible tensioning element coupled between a first of the drive components and the distal end component, and a dynamic preload tensioner mounted in the chassis and coupled to a second of the drive components. The flexible tensioning element extends along a path. The dynamic preload tensioner is configured to be driven by the second of the drive components to be moved relative to the chassis and is positioned to change the path of the flexible tensioning element as the dynamic preload tensioner moves relative to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, William Burbank, Thomas Grosvenor Cooper, Patrick Flanagan, Nicholas H. Ragosta, Donald Frank Wilson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210059778
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes: a distal movable component; a proximal drive assembly including a drive shaft, a capstan, and a plurality of splines; a first cable extending between the distal movable component and the drive shaft; and a second cable extending between the distal movable component and the capstan. The drive shaft includes a tapered projection, and the capstan includes a tapered bore in which the tapered projection of the drive shaft is received. The plurality of splines engage the tapered projection of the drive shaft with the tapered bore of the capstan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, Nicholas H. Ragosta
  • Publication number: 20200397430
    Abstract: Locking assemblies for surgical clamping and cutting instruments include a locking member and a switch. A drive member may be configured to releasably engage a knife and/or a shuttle of the surgical instrument for translating the knife and/or shuttle in a distal direction through a firing stroke. The locking member is movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke, and a second position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke. A switch, when proximally positioned, releasably engages the locking member to maintain the locking member in the first position. The switch disengages from the locking member when the switch is moved to a distal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Atal C Patel, Matthew Aaron Wixey
  • Patent number: 10863988
    Abstract: Drive assemblies for surgical clamping and cutting instruments, as well as surgical clamping and cutting instruments using these drive assemblies, are disclosed. The drive assemblies may include a drive member, a locking member mounted to the drive member, and a spring. The drive member may be configured to releasably engage at least one of a knife or a shuttle of a surgical clamping and cutting instrument for translating the knife and/or shuttle in a distal direction through a firing stroke. The locking member may be movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke, and a second position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke. The spring may be configured to bias the locking member toward the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Atal C Patel, Charles Godin, Matthew Aaron Wixey
  • Patent number: 10792115
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes: a distal movable component; a proximal drive assembly including a drive shaft, a capstan, and a plurality of splines; a first cable extending between the distal movable component and the drive shaft; and a second cable extending between the distal movable component and the capstan. The drive shaft includes a tapered projection, and the capstan includes a tapered bore in which the tapered projection of the drive shaft is received. The plurality of splines engage the tapered projection of the drive shaft with the tapered bore of the capstan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, Nicholas H. Ragosta
  • Publication number: 20190231464
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a dynamic preload tension feature for a tensioning element that actuates a distal end comport of a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes a chassis at a proximal end of the surgical instrument, drive components mounted in the chassis, a distal end component at a distal end of the surgical instrument, a flexible tensioning element coupled between a first of the drive components and the distal end component, and a dynamic preload tensioner mounted in the chassis and coupled to a second of the drive components. The flexible tensioning element extends along a path. The dynamic preload tensioner is configured to be driven by the second of the drive components to be moved relative to the chassis and is positioned to change the path of the flexible tensioning element as the dynamic preload tensioner moves relative to the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, William Burbank, Thomas Grosvenor Cooper, Patrick Flanagan, Nicholas H. Ragosta, Donald Frank Wilson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190167266
    Abstract: Drive assemblies for surgical clamping and cutting instruments, as well as surgical clamping and cutting instruments using these drive assemblies, are disclosed. The drive assemblies may include a drive member, a locking member mounted to the drive member, and a spring. The drive member may be configured to releasably engage at least one of a knife or a shuttle of a surgical clamping and cutting instrument for translating the knife and/or shuttle in a distal direction through a firing stroke. The locking member may be movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke, and a second position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke. The spring may be configured to bias the locking member toward the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Atal C. Patel, Charles Godin, Matthew Aaron Wixey
  • Publication number: 20180104012
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes: a distal movable component; a proximal drive assembly including a drive shaft, a capstan, and a plurality of splines; a first cable extending between the distal movable component and the drive shaft; and a second cable extending between the distal movable component and the capstan. The drive shaft includes a tapered projection, and the capstan includes a tapered bore in which the tapered projection of the drive shaft is received. The plurality of splines engage the tapered projection of the drive shaft with the tapered bore of the capstan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Wixey, Nicholas H. Ragosta