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).
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Patent number: 12161320Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 30, 2023Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Shailendra K. Parihar, Michael J. Stokes, Chester O. Baxter, III, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
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Patent number: 12137901Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 1, 2023Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20240366220Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2024Publication date: November 7, 2024Applicant: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONALInventors: Richard L. Leimbach, Michael J. Stokes, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams
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Publication number: 20240331054Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2024Publication date: October 3, 2024Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20240299037Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2024Publication date: September 12, 2024Inventors: Disha V. Labhasetwar, Michael J. Stokes, Gregory G. Scott, Chester O. Baxter, III, Michael A. Murray, Kevin A. Larson, Ryan J. Laurent
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Patent number: 12076194Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 17, 2022Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONALInventors: Richard L. Leimbach, Michael J. Stokes
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Patent number: 12064117Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 19, 2021Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Gregory J. Bakos, Michael J. Stokes, Michael A. Jacobs, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Gregory G. Scott, Anthony Nguyen
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Patent number: 12053175Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 29, 2020Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONALInventors: Richard L. Leimbach, Michael J. Stokes
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Patent number: 12039607Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 16, 2021Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20240225648Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2024Publication date: July 11, 2024Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Chester O. Baxter, III, Carol J. Wynn
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Publication number: 20240197321Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2024Publication date: June 20, 2024Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Gregory G. Scott, Michael A. Murray, Ryan J. Laurent, Disha V. Labhasetwar
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Publication number: 20240180555Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2024Publication date: June 6, 2024Inventors: RICHARD L. LEIMBACH, MICHAEL J. STOKES
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Patent number: 11986190Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 19, 2022Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Disha V. Labhasetwar, Michael J. Stokes, Gregory G. Scott, Chester O. Baxter, III, Michael A. Murray, Kevin A. Larson, Ryan J. Laurent
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Publication number: 20240156455Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2024Publication date: May 16, 2024Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Chester O. Baxter, III, Michael J. Stokes
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Patent number: 11980363Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 18, 2021Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20240138846Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2024Publication date: May 2, 2024Applicant: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONALInventors: Gregory SCOTT, Michael J. STOKES, Louise Emma VAN DEN HEUVEL, Kevin DELSIGNORE, Cole CONSTANTINEAU
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Patent number: 11957337Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 18, 2021Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Michael J. Stokes, Mark S. Zeiner, Chester O. Baxter, III, Jason L. Harris, Anil K. Nalagatla
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Patent number: 11937820Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONALInventors: Michael J. Stokes, Chester O. Baxter, III, Carol J. Wynn
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Patent number: 11918221Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 8, 2020Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONALInventors: Michael J. Stokes, Gregory G. Scott, Michael A. Murray, Ryan J. Laurent, Disha V. Labhasetwar
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Patent number: 11911032Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Chester O. Baxter, III, Michael J. Stokes