Patents by Inventor Michael J. Stokes

Michael J. Stokes 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).

  • Patent number: 12161320
    Abstract: A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a motor, and a shaft extending from the handle. The handle and/or the shaft can define a longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can further comprise a fastener cartridge comprising a plurality of fasteners removably stored therein, an anvil configured to deform the fasteners, a closure drive configured to move the anvil toward and away from the fastener cartridge which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and a firing drive configured to deploy the fasteners from the fastener cartridge which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can further comprise a transmission comprising a first operating configuration which connects the motor to the closure drive and a second operating configuration which connects the motor to the firing drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Shailendra K. Parihar, Michael J. Stokes, Chester O. Baxter, III, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 12137901
    Abstract: A staple having a crown, a deformable leg extending from the crown, and a spring extending from the crown configured to compress tissue between the spring and the deformable member. Owing to the flexibility of the spring, the staple can accommodate a wide range of tissue thicknesses while still compressing the tissue captured therein. As a result, a single staple design can be used in a wide variety of surgical procedures thereby reducing the amount of staple designs that must be provided to the surgeon. In at least one embodiment, the staple includes a crushable member. This crushable member can include a plastically deformable first portion and an elastically deformable second portion. The present invention can also include, in various embodiments, a crown, a first deformable member extending from the crown, and means for compressing the tissue against the first deformable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Christopher J. Hess, Jerome R. Morgan, William B. Weisenburgh, II, James W. Voegele, Mark S. Ortiz, Michael J. Stokes, Carl J. Shurtleff, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jeffrey S. Swayze
  • Publication number: 20240366220
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an end effector and a closure actuator configured to engage with the end effector is disclosed. The surgical instrument further comprises an articulation drive operable to rotate the end effector about an articulation joint when the closure drive is in its partially-closed position. The surgical instrument further comprises a closure lock biased toward a top portion of the closure actuator and configured to interact with a top notch such that the closure actuator remains in a fully open position, a partially closed position, or a fully closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Applicant: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Richard L. Leimbach, Michael J. Stokes, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams
  • Publication number: 20240331054
    Abstract: A computer server receives, from a remote user device, information about a new potential risk relationship customer (including at least one new user parameter). Based on the new user parameter, the computer server accesses third-party data and utilizes a stored procedure to read data about the new potential risk relationship customer from an internal table of cloud data. The data read from the internal table is processed to dynamically evolve a schema and create an incremental view of cloud data. The computer server uses the incremental view to read and output a current batch of cloud data. A user interface workflow is then customized via a machine learning algorithm that processes the information about the new potential risk relationship customer, the third-party data, and the current batch of cloud data. A user information data store can then be updated based on information collected via user interface displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Julia M. Feldman, Sara M. Huber, Gopinath Kolanji, Peter F Mello, Kristen Kelly M'Sadoques, Nanda Kishore Nagamalla, Dennis D. Pannella Jr., Karen S. Pavio, Ameya Sambari, Kenneth J. St. Onge, Michael J Stokes, Jessica Taggett
  • Publication number: 20240299037
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and a shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween. The surgical clip applier can include a variety of features to facilitate use of the device, including features to prevent misalignment of the jaws and clip therebetween, features to protect the jaws, and features to ensure proper closure of the jaws and clip therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventors: Disha V. Labhasetwar, Michael J. Stokes, Gregory G. Scott, Chester O. Baxter, III, Michael A. Murray, Kevin A. Larson, Ryan J. Laurent
  • Patent number: 12076194
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a handle, a shaft, an end effector, and an articulation drive system configured to articulate the end effector is disclosed. The shaft and the end effector are rotatable relative to the handle about a rotation joint and, also, the end effector is rotatable relative to the shaft about an articulation joint. The articulation drive system comprises an indicator which is illuminated in a first illumination state when the shaft and end effector are rotated within a first range of shaft orientations and in a second illumination state when the shaft and end effector are rotated within a second range of shaft orientations. The controls of the articulation drive system produce a first set of responses when the shaft and end effector are in the first range of orientations and a second set of responses when the shaft and end effector are in the second range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Richard L. Leimbach, Michael J. Stokes
  • Patent number: 12064117
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly having a body, a shaft assembly having an outer tube member, an end effector, an anvil, a first trocar closure system, and a second trocar closure system. The end effector has having a staple deck fixed relative to the body, a staple driver operable to actuate relative to the staple deck between an unfired position and a fired position, and the trocar configured to selectively couple with the anvil and actuate relative to the staple dreck. The first trocar closure assembly can actuate in a first motion to drive the trocar between a distal position and a first closed position. The second trocar closure assembly can actuate in a second motion between the first closed position and a second closed position. The staple drive is inoperable at least until the first trocar closure assembly actuates the trocar to the first closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Gregory J. Bakos, Michael J. Stokes, Michael A. Jacobs, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Gregory G. Scott, Anthony Nguyen
  • Patent number: 12053175
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an end effector and a closure drive configured to close the end effector is disclosed. The surgical instrument further comprises a stowed lock deployable to hold a closure actuator of the closure drive in a partially-closed position. The surgical instrument further comprises an articulation drive operable to rotate the end effector about an articulation joint when the closure drive is in its partially-closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Richard L. Leimbach, Michael J. Stokes
  • Patent number: 12039607
    Abstract: A computer server receives, from a remote user device, information about a new potential risk relationship customer (including at least one new user parameter). Based on the new user parameter, the computer server accesses third-party data and utilizes a stored procedure to read data about the new potential risk relationship customer from an internal table of cloud data. The data read from the internal table is processed to dynamically evolve a schema and create an incremental view of cloud data. The computer server uses the incremental view to read and output a current batch of cloud data. A user interface workflow is then customized via a machine learning algorithm that processes the information about the new potential risk relationship customer, the third-party data, and the current batch of cloud data. A user information data store can then be updated based on information collected via user interface displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Julia M. Feldman, Sara M. Huber, Gopinath Kolanji, Peter F Mello, Kristen Kelly M'Sadoques, Nanda Kishore Nagamalla, Dennis D. Pannella, Jr., Karen S. Pavio, Ameya Sambari, Kenneth J. St. Onge, Michael J Stokes, Jessica Taggett
  • Publication number: 20240225648
    Abstract: Jaws of a surgical clip applier with housings formed thereon and methods for manufacturing and use during a procedure to apply surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc. are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having jaws on a distal end thereof with a rigid internal frame and an outer housing formed around the internal frame. The jaws of the surgical clip applier can include a variety of features to facilitate placement of surgical clips, including features to align a clip with the jaws and to prevent clip fallout during formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Chester O. Baxter, III, Carol J. Wynn
  • Publication number: 20240197321
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier is provided that includes first and second jaws on a distal end of an elongate shaft, a clip advancing assembly extending through the shaft and configured to advance a distal-most clip from a plurality of clips in the shaft into the first and second jaws. The jaws have opposed inward facing surfaces, and each inward facing surface has a clip track defined therein for receiving and guiding legs of a clip into the first and second jaws. The clip track of at least one of the jaws has at least one deflectable clip retention member disposed therein and configured to apply a biasing force to a leg of a clip disposed within the jaws to thereby retain the clip within the jaws and maintain alignment of the clip with respect to the jaws. The clip track of at least one of the jaws may also have at least one recess or protrusion designed to be complementary to and mate with a protrusion or recess in a clip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Gregory G. Scott, Michael A. Murray, Ryan J. Laurent, Disha V. Labhasetwar
  • Publication number: 20240180555
    Abstract: A surgical instrument having a shaft, an end effector, a firing system, and a control system is disclosed herein. The firing member is configured to translate an electric motor through a firing stroke. The control system includes a pulse width modulation circuit configured to adjust a duty cycle of voltage pulses to drive the firing system to a target speed. The control system includes a control circuit configured to evaluate the duty cycle of pulses at a predetermined adjustment point and set the target speed based at least in part on the comparison (maintain or new speed). The controls system may be configured to set the target speed at two or more adjustment points during the firing stroke and/or evaluate the duty cycle of pulses at an adjustment point more than half way through the firing stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2024
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: RICHARD L. LEIMBACH, MICHAEL J. STOKES
  • Patent number: 11986190
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and a shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween. The surgical clip applier can include a variety of features to facilitate use of the device, including features to prevent misalignment of the jaws and clip therebetween, features to protect the jaws, and features to ensure proper closure of the jaws and clip therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Disha V. Labhasetwar, Michael J. Stokes, Gregory G. Scott, Chester O. Baxter, III, Michael A. Murray, Kevin A. Larson, Ryan J. Laurent
  • Publication number: 20240156455
    Abstract: A replaceable staple cartridge is disclosed which is seatable in a jaw of a surgical stapling instrument. If the staple cartridge is not fully seated in the jaw, the closure of the surgical stapling instrument will fully seat the staple cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Chester O. Baxter, III, Michael J. Stokes
  • Patent number: 11980363
    Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The assembly can include a cartridge body having cavities defined therein forming a pattern of openings in the deck of the cartridge body. The pattern can include longitudinally-repeating clusters of cavity ends. The assembly can also include fasteners removably positioned in the cavities. The pattern of openings can comprise openings on a first side of the cartridge body comprising inner openings each defining an inner proximal-to-distal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, outer openings each defining an outer proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an outer angle, and intermediate openings each defining an intermediate proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an intermediate angle, wherein the intermediate angle is different than the outer angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Anil K. Nalagatla, Mark S. Zeiner, Chester O. Baxter, III, Disha V. Estera, Jason L. Harris, Laura S. Downing, Shannon L. Jones
  • Publication number: 20240138846
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier includes an elongate shaft extending from a drive housing, an end effector arranged at a distal end of the elongate shaft and including first and second jaw members, and an articulation joint interposing the end effector and the elongate shaft. The articulation joint includes a flexible shaft length having opposing first and second ends and defining a lumen that extends between the first and second ends, a clip track provided within the lumen and extending at least partially between the first and second ends to guide surgical clips through the articulation joint to be received by the first and second jaw members for crimping, and opposing side rails defined on angularly opposite sides of the lumen, wherein a portion of each surgical clip is receivable within and supported by the opposing side rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Gregory SCOTT, Michael J. STOKES, Louise Emma VAN DEN HEUVEL, Kevin DELSIGNORE, Cole CONSTANTINEAU
  • Patent number: 11957337
    Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The assembly can include a cartridge body having cavities defined therein forming a pattern of openings in the deck of the cartridge body. The pattern can include longitudinally-repeating clusters of cavity ends. The assembly can also include fasteners removably positioned in the cavities. The pattern of openings can comprise openings on a first side of the cartridge body comprising inner openings each defining an inner proximal-to-distal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, outer openings each defining an outer proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an outer angle, and intermediate openings each defining an intermediate proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an intermediate angle, wherein the intermediate angle is different than the outer angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Mark S. Zeiner, Chester O. Baxter, III, Jason L. Harris, Anil K. Nalagatla
  • Patent number: 11937820
    Abstract: Jaws of a surgical clip applier with housings formed thereon and methods for manufacturing and use during a procedure to apply surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc. are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having jaws on a distal end thereof with a rigid internal frame and an outer housing formed around the internal frame. The jaws of the surgical clip applier can include a variety of features to facilitate placement of surgical clips, including features to align a clip with the jaws and to prevent clip fallout during formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Chester O. Baxter, III, Carol J. Wynn
  • Patent number: 11918221
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier is provided that includes first and second jaws on a distal end of an elongate shaft, a clip advancing assembly extending through the shaft and configured to advance a distal-most clip from a plurality of clips in the shaft into the first and second jaws. The jaws have opposed inward facing surfaces, and each inward facing surface has a clip track defined therein for receiving and guiding legs of a clip into the first and second jaws. The clip track of at least one of the jaws has at least one deflectable clip retention member disposed therein and configured to apply a biasing force to a leg of a clip disposed within the jaws to thereby retain the clip within the jaws and maintain alignment of the clip with respect to the jaws. The clip track of at least one of the jaws may also have at least one recess or protrusion designed to be complementary to and mate with a protrusion or recess in a clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Gregory G. Scott, Michael A. Murray, Ryan J. Laurent, Disha V. Labhasetwar
  • Patent number: 11911032
    Abstract: A replaceable staple cartridge is disclosed which is seatable in a jaw of a surgical stapling instrument. If the staple cartridge is not fully seated in the jaw, the closure of the surgical stapling instrument will fully seat the staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Chester O. Baxter, III, Michael J. Stokes