Patents by Inventor Matthew D. Cowperthwait

Matthew D. Cowperthwait 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: 20240108335
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed including an end effector configurable between an open state and a clamped state, a firing member movable from an unfired position toward a fired position during a firing stroke, a manually-driveable closure system, a motor-powered firing system, and a control system. The motor-powered firing system is configured to drive the firing member through the firing stroke. The control system is configured to detect, at a first time point, the end effector reaching the clamped state with the manually-driveable closure system, detect, at a second time point, the actuation of the motor-powered firing system, set a firing motion parameter of the motor-powered firing system based on an elapsed time from the first time point to the second time point, and drive the firing member through the firing stroke with the motor-powered firing system using the firing motion parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait
  • Publication number: 20240108329
    Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprising a motor system and a control circuit is disclosed. The motor system comprises a motor and a drive train coupleable to the motor and configured to actuate a firing member through a staple firing stroke. The control circuit is coupled to the motor, wherein the control circuit comprises a motor controller configured to control the motor, and wherein, during the staple firing stroke, the control circuit is configured to actuate the firing member through the staple firing stroke, monitor a parameter of the motor system during the staple firing stroke, identify when the firing member is within an active adjustment portion of the staple firing stroke; and automatically adjust, at a frequency, tuning parameters of the motor controller with based on the monitored parameter of the motor system during the active adjustment portion of the staple firing stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams, Eric B. LaFay, Sarah A. Worthington
  • Publication number: 20240108333
    Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprising a drive train and a control circuit is disclosed. The drive train comprises a motor and a shaft actuatable by the motor to actuate a function of an end effector. The control circuit is coupled to the motor, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine a relative excess capacity of the drive train, compare the relative excess capacity to a predetermined shifting threshold, and increase the speed of the motor based on the relative excess capacity exceeding the predetermined shifting threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20240108334
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for controlling a tissue-treatment motion by a surgical instrument are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Michael J. Vendely, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Jason L. Harris, Kevin M. Fiebig, Eric B. LaFay, Jose Luis De Cordoba Matilla, Raymond E. Parfett, Curtis A. Maples, Sarah A. Worthington, Jacqueline C. Aronhalt
  • Publication number: 20240108338
    Abstract: A surgical stapling system includes a motor, a gear reducer assembly, a drive train, and a motor controller. A method of controlling the motor includes applying a first signal to the motor, receiving drive train operational data, comparing the drive train data to baseline data, and applying a signal having a different shape than the first signal to the motor. A method of characterizing the motor includes transmitting a perturbation signal, receiving motor function parameters, determining stapler system characteristics, and adjusting a controller function. A method of controlling a stepper motor includes applying a signal to the stepper motor, receiving stepper motor operational data, comparing the data to baseline data, and adjusting the signal. Another method of controlling the motor includes receiving motor rotational data, receiving gear rotation data, calculating a mechanical transfer function, determining non-idealities of the stapling system, and modifying a control signal based on the non-idealities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Eric B. LaFay, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Jose Luis De Cordoba Matilla, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait
  • Publication number: 20240108340
    Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprising a motor system and a control circuit is disclosed. The motor system comprises a motor and a drive train movable by the motor to actuate a firing member through a staple firing stroke. The control circuit is coupled to the motor, wherein, during the staple firing stroke, the control circuit is configured to perform a first sensory action to determine if a speed of the motor can be increased to a first target speed, monitor a result of the first sensory action, adjust a parameter of a subsequent sensory action based on the monitored result of the first sensory action, and perform the subsequent sensory action with the adjusted parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Kevin M. Fiebig, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams
  • Patent number: 11931029
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, a motor, a firing assembly, an end effector, and a control circuit. The motor is activatable to actuate the firing assembly through a firing stroke to staple and sever tissue with the end effector. The control circuit is configured to monitor one or more use metrics of the surgical instrument. Responsive to at least one of the one or more use metrics exceeding a predetermined threshold, the control circuit is further configured to initiate at least one of providing a notification to a user or disabling the firing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Ross, Joseph D. Paulowski, Shane R. Adams, Matthew D. Cowperthwait
  • Publication number: 20240057999
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, a motor, a firing assembly, an end effector, and a control circuit. The motor is activatable to actuate the firing assembly through a firing stroke to staple and sever tissue with the end effector. The control circuit is configured to monitor one or more use metrics of the surgical instrument. Responsive to at least one of the one or more use metrics exceeding a predetermined threshold, the control circuit is further configured to initiate at least one of providing a notification to a user or disabling the firing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Ross, Joseph D. Paulowski, Shane R. Adams, Matthew D. Cowperthwait
  • Publication number: 20240001416
    Abstract: A method of determining a disposal methodology of a surgical kit includes determining a geographical location in which the surgical kit is being used, generating a location data based on the geographical location, and providing the location data set to a resource device. The method further includes receiving the disposal methodology from the resource device based on the location data set, then displaying a set of instruction based on the disposal methodology received from the resource device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jacqueline C. Aronhalt, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Shane R. Adams, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Joseph D. Paulowski, Cesar Perez
  • Publication number: 20240000474
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, an energy drive system, a circuit assembly, and a body assembly. Body assembly has a first shroud portion removably affixed to a second shroud portion by a shroud coupling in a connected state. The shroud coupling detaches the first shroud portion from the second shroud portion in a disconnected state. The first and second shroud portions in the connected state encloses and inhibits access to at least a portion of at least one of the circuit assembly or the energy drive system. The first and second shroud portions in the disconnected state allow access to the at least the portion of at least one of the circuit assembly or the energy drive system for removal of the at least the portion of at least one of the circuit assembly or the energy drive system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jacqueline C. Aronhalt, Shane R. Adams, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Robert N. Carranza, Aaron J. Chow, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Guion Y. Lucas, Nicholas J. Ross, Patrick J. Scoggins
  • Publication number: 20240006048
    Abstract: A method of reclaiming portions of a surgical kit having a surgical instrument includes disassembling the surgical instrument and determining a disposal methodology of the surgical kit. Furthermore, reclaiming further includes verifying reuse capacity of a portion of the surgical instrument and determining a waste stream for the portion of the surgical instrument. The method also includes disassembling the portion of the surgical instrument from a remainder of the surgical instrument at a predetermined region of the surgical instrument to thereby reclaim the portion of the surgical instrument according to the waste stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jacqueline C. Aronhalt, Shane R. Adams, Taylor W. Aronhalt, David A. Bruns, Bruce Brunson, JR., Ellen Burkart, Robert N. Carranza, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Aaron J. Chow, Matthew E. Derrico, Kevin M. Fiebig, Guion Y. Lucas, Cameron D. McLain, Joseph D. Paulowski, Cesar Perez, Nicholas J. Ross, Patrick J. Scoggins, Rebecca Spatholt, Gregory A. Trees
  • Publication number: 20230395250
    Abstract: Systems for customizing and troubleshooting the display of surgical data and wireless pairing techniques for surgical instruments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher A. Denzinger, Monica L. Z. Rivard, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Felix J. Bork, Risto Kojcev, Leonardo N. Rossoni, Chunhui Xie
  • Publication number: 20230301650
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, a motor, a firing assembly, an end effector, and a control circuit. The motor is activatable to actuate the firing assembly through a firing stroke to staple and sever tissue with the end effector. The control circuit is configured to monitor one or more use metrics of the surgical instrument. Responsive to at least one of the one or more use metrics exceeding a predetermined threshold, the control circuit is further configured to initiate at least one of providing a notification to a user or disabling the firing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Ross, Joseph D. Paulowski, Shane R. Adams, Matthew D. Cowperthwait
  • Publication number: 20230190289
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of beads. Each bead includes a housing and a magnet positioned within the housing. The apparatus also includes a plurality of interconnection elements. Each interconnection element movably joins together a corresponding pair of beads. The plurality of beads and the plurality of interconnection elements are sized and configured to form an expandable loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. The apparatus further includes a decoupling element. The decoupling element is positioned along the loop and is configured to selectively release a first portion of the loop from a second portion of the loop in response to application of a threshold force to the at least one decoupling element in a circumferential direction relative to the loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Tylor C. Muhlenkamp, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait
  • Publication number: 20230190285
    Abstract: A sphincter augmentation device includes a plurality of bodies and a linking structure linking the plurality of bodies together to form an annular array. Each body includes a housing and magnets positioned within the housing. The magnets magnetically bias the bodies toward one another and are movable within the housing. The annular array is sized to be positioned around a human lower esophageal sphincter so that the bodies and the linking structure bear inwardly against the lower esophageal sphincter. The annular array is configured to transition between a radially expanded state and a radially contracted state to constrict the lower esophageal sphincter. The magnets are configured to move relative to the housing of each body between a first position and a second position. In the first position the magnets are magnetically aligned with each other. In the second position the magnets are aligned with an externally applied magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Glen W. Ellison, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait
  • Publication number: 20230051361
    Abstract: A method of operating a robotically controlled surgical instrument that includes an end effector, a driving assembly, and a lockout, the method includes inhibiting actuation of the driving assembly when the lockout is in a locked configuration in response to an unspent staple cartridge being absent from a first jaw of the end effector. The method also includes inserting the unspent staple cartridge into the first jaw of the end effector to switch the lockout to an unlocked configuration. The method also includes actuating the driving assembly to pivot the first jaw, which includes the staple cartridge, toward a second jaw of the end effector to at least one of staple or cut tissue with the end effector when the lockout is in the unlocked configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams, Adam D. Hensel, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Nicholas J. Ross, Curtis A. Maples, Gregory J. Bakos
  • Publication number: 20230051271
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, a driving assembly, at least one motor, and a motor controller. The at least one motor is configured to actuate the driving assembly to deploy staples. The motor controller is in communication with the motor. The motor controller is configured to determine whether values of first and second trigger variables exceed predetermined thresholds. The motor controller is configured to modify at least one motor control parameter in response to determining that the values of the first and second trigger variables exceed the predetermined thresholds. The motor control parameters include a motion profile instituted by the motor controller for the motor, a waiting period during which power to the motor is reduced or stopped, or the predetermined threshold relating to current or force for proximal retraction to be different from the predetermined threshold relating to current or force for distal advancement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Curtis A. Maples
  • Publication number: 20230050358
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a shaft assembly, an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly and having a first jaw with an anvil and a second jaw operable to cooperate with the first jaw to clamp tissue, and a cartridge inserted into the second jaw. The cartridge includes staples, a movable member translatable distally during a firing stroke to discharge the staples into tissue, a first sensor assembly configured to monitor a first condition of the cartridge, and a second sensor assembly configured to monitor a second condition of the cartridge. A first processor is coupled with the first and second sensor assemblies and is configured to receive first and second signals from the sensor assemblies, respectively, where each signal is indicative of the respective condition of the cartridge. The first processor is configured to selectively permit or restrict the firing stroke based upon the signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Curtis A. Maples
  • Publication number: 20230049736
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a drive member visualization assembly. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw, a staple cartridge, and a drive member capable of actuating along a firing stroke to fire a plurality of staples out of the staple cartridge or to sever tissue. The drive member visualization assembly provides an electronic indication linked to a physical location of the drive member within the upper jaw and the lower jaw during the firing stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Curtis A. Maples
  • Publication number: 20220346858
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating an electrosurgical instrument including an end effector with segmented electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Taylor W. Aronhalt, Shane R. Adams, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, David C. Yates, Daniel V. Boguszewski, Mark S. Zeiner, Jordan B. Wong, Adam D. Hensel, Gregory J. Bakos, Chester O. Baxter, III, Nicholas J. Ross, Marc A. Molnar, Matthew D. Cowperthwait