Patents by Inventor Megan L. Stopek

Megan L. Stopek 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).

  • Methods of using shape memory alloys for buttress attachment
    Patent number: 9433413
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tissue contacting surface and a buttress attachment feature. The buttress attachment feature permits selectively securing a surgical buttress to the tissue contacting surface, which may be disposed on a cartridge assembly or an anvil plate of the surgical stapling device. The buttress attachment feature may include a shape memory alloy, such as a nickel titanium alloy, that is responsive to a temperature change to allow the buttress attachment feature to move between a first position where a free end of the buttress attachment feature is substantially spaced from the tissue contacting surface, and second position where the surgical attachment feature is approximated with respect to the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Megan L. Stopek
  • METHODS OF USING SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS FOR BUTTRESS ATTACHMENT
    Publication number: 20130240602
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tissue contacting surface and a buttress attachment feature. The buttress attachment feature permits selectively securing a surgical buttress to the tissue contacting surface, which may be disposed on a cartridge assembly or an anvil plate of the surgical stapling device. The buttress attachment feature may include a shape memory alloy, such as a nickel titanium alloy, that is responsive to a temperature change to allow the buttress attachment feature to move between a first position where a free end of the buttress attachment feature is substantially spaced from the tissue contacting surface, and second position where the surgical attachment feature is approximated with respect to the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Megan L. Stopek
  • Methods of using shape memory alloys for buttress attachment
    Patent number: 8453652
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tissue contacting surface and a buttress attachment feature. The buttress attachment feature permits selectively securing a surgical buttress to the tissue contacting surface, which may be disposed on a cartridge assembly or an anvil plate of the surgical stapling device. The buttress attachment feature may include a shape memory alloy, such as a nickel titanium alloy, that is responsive to a temperature change to allow the buttress attachment feature to move between a first position where a free end of the buttress attachment feature is substantially spaced from the tissue contacting surface, and second position where the surgical attachment feature is approximated with respect to the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Megan L. Stopek
  • Methods of Using Shape Memory Alloys for Buttress Attachment
    Publication number: 20120305626
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tissue contacting surface and a buttress attachment feature. The buttress attachment feature permits selectively securing a surgical buttress to the tissue contacting surface, which may be disposed on a cartridge assembly or an anvil plate of the surgical stapling device. The buttress attachment feature may include a shape memory alloy, such as a nickel titanium alloy, that is responsive to a temperature change to allow the buttress attachment feature to move between a first position where a free end of the buttress attachment feature is substantially spaced from the tissue contacting surface, and second position where the surgical attachment feature is approximated with respect to the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: TYCO HEALTHCARE GROUP LP
    Inventor: Megan L. Stopek
  • Methods of using shape memory alloys for buttress attachment
    Patent number: 8245901
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tissue contacting surface and a buttress attachment feature. The buttress attachment feature permits selectively securing a surgical buttress to the tissue contacting surface, which may be disposed on a cartridge assembly or an anvil plate of the surgical stapling device. The buttress attachment feature may include a shape memory alloy, such as a nickel titanium alloy, that is responsive to a temperature change to allow the buttress attachment feature to move between a first position where a free end of the buttress attachment feature is substantially spaced from the tissue contacting surface, and second position where the surgical attachment feature is approximated with respect to the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventor: Megan L. Stopek
  • Methods of Using Shape Memory Alloys for Buttress Attachment
    Publication number: 20110315740
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tissue contacting surface and a buttress attachment feature. The buttress attachment feature permits selectively securing a surgical buttress to the tissue contacting surface, which may be disposed on a cartridge assembly or an anvil plate of the surgical stapling device. The buttress attachment feature may include a shape memory alloy, such as a nickel titanium alloy, that is responsive to a temperature change to allow the buttress attachment feature to move between a first position where a free end of the buttress attachment feature is substantially spaced from the tissue contacting surface, and second position where the surgical attachment feature is approximated with respect to the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventor: Megan L. Stopek
  • Methods of using shape memory alloys for buttress attachment
    Patent number: 8028883
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tissue contacting surface and a buttress attachment feature. The buttress attachment feature permits selectively securing a surgical buttress to the tissue contacting surface, which may be disposed on a cartridge assembly or an anvil plate of the surgical stapling device. The buttress attachment feature may include a shape memory alloy, such as a nickel titanium alloy, that is responsive to a temperature change to allow the buttress attachment feature to move between a first position where a free end of the buttress attachment feature is substantially spaced from the tissue contacting surface, and second position where the surgical attachment feature is approximated with respect to the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventor: Megan L. Stopek
  • Methods of Using Shape Memory Alloys for Buttress Attachment
    Publication number: 20100065606
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tissue contacting surface and a buttress attachment feature. The buttress attachment feature permits selectively securing a surgical buttress to the tissue contacting surface, which may be disposed on a cartridge assembly or an anvil plate of the surgical stapling device. The buttress attachment feature may include a shape memory alloy, such as a nickel titanium alloy, that is responsive to a temperature change to allow the buttress attachment feature to move between a first position where a free end of the buttress attachment feature is substantially spaced from the tissue contacting surface, and second position where the surgical attachment feature is approximated with respect to the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Megan L. Stopek