Patents by Inventor Michael A. Mercer

Michael A. Mercer 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: 20240180608
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical instrument, a motion sensor, and a computing device. The surgical instrument includes a housing, an end effector assembly distally-spaced from the housing, and a movable component movable relative to the housing. The motion sensor is disposed on or within the housing and configured to sense a vibration signature associated with movement of the movable component relative to the housing. The computing device communicates with the motion sensor, is configured to receive the vibration signature therefrom, and is configured to determine a condition of the movable component based on the vibration signature. A method of monitoring a surgical instrument includes sensing a vibration signature generated from movement of a movable component of a surgical instrument relative to a housing of the surgical instrument, and determining, based on the sensed vibration signature, a condition of the movable component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Duane E. Kerr, Christopher K. Gibbs, Michelle P. Romero, Michael A. Mercer, Brett C. Walker, Lucas M. Lastoczy, Cameron P. Mahoney