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: 11406379
    Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical instrument includes an anvil with at least one staple pocket that defines a longitudinal axis. The staple pocket comprises a first cup and a second cup. The end effector also includes a staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    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, James J. Bedi, Adam R. Dunki-Jacobs
  • Patent number: 11364045
    Abstract: An ultrasonic forceps comprises a housing, an acoustic assembly, and a tine. The housing joins the acoustic assembly and the tine to the forceps and permits the tine to pivot relative to the acoustic assembly. The acoustic assembly comprises a transducer, a waveguide, and ultrasonic blade, and a waveguide sheath. The transducer is configured to generate ultrasonic vibrations directing the ultrasonic vibrations to the waveguide. The waveguide communicates the ultrasonic vibrations distally to the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic blade is configured to vibrate in response to the ultrasonic vibrations generated by the transducer. When the tine is pivoted relative to the transducer, the tine is configured to move toward the ultrasonic blade. Tissue may be grasped between the tine and the ultrasonic blade. The tissue may be denatured when the ultrasonic vibrations generated by the transducer vibrate the ultrasonic blade, thus resulting in the tissue being cut and/or sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Foster B. Stulen, Michael R. Lamping, Cory G. Kimball, Emron J. Henry, Michael J. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20220151621
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Gregory J. Bakos, Michael J. Stokes, Michael A. Jacobs, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Gregory G. Scott, Anthony Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20220133428
    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: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Richard L. Leimbach, Michael J. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20220133300
    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: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Richard L. Leimbach, Michael J. Stokes
  • Patent number: 11317919
    Abstract: A surgical device for clipping tissue is disclosed. The surgical device comprises a housing comprising an electric motor, a shaft defining a central shaft axis, a clip magazine, and a clip crimping system. The clip magazine comprises a plurality of clips removably stored therein. The clip crimping system comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, and a distal portion comprising a clip receiving chamber defined between said first jaw and said second jaw. The distal portion is offset from said central shaft axis. The clip crimping system further comprises a proximal connection portion connecting said first jaw and said second jaw. The proximal connection portion is positioned along said central shaft axis. The clip crimping system further comprises a clamp operably coupled with said electric motor. The clamp is movable distally by said electric motor to perform a crimping stroke and engage said first jaw and said second jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan, Michael J. Stokes, Gregory G. Scott
  • Patent number: 11259807
    Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly that includes a surgical stapling device that has a lockout that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The assembly further includes a staple cartridge with a first cam surface configured to cammingly engage a primary portion of the lockout to move the lockout laterally from the locked position and a second cam surface configured cammingly engage a secondary portion of the lockout to further move the lockout laterally into the locked position when the cartridge is operably seated in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Gregory J. Bakos, Gregory G. Scott, Michael J. Stokes
  • Patent number: 11207071
    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: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Gregory J. Bakos, Michael J. Stokes, Michael A. Jacobs, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Gregory G. Scott, Anthony Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11134952
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a body assembly with a handle and a shaft portion, an end effector with a staple deck fixed to the shaft portion, an anvil, and a firing assembly. The end effector further includes a trocar and a staple driver both configured to actuate relative to the staple deck. The staple driver can actuate a distance between an unfired position and a fired position. The trocar can couple with the anvil to define a gap distance. The firing assembly includes a trigger pivotably coupled with the body assembly via a first pivot, a driver actuator configured to actuate the staple driver, and a linkage assembly pivotably coupled with the trigger via a second pivot and the driver actuator. Where the second pivot is proximal relative to the first pivot. The linkage assembly can drive the driver actuator is response to the trigger pivoting about the first pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Gregory J. Bakos, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Gregory G. Scott, Nicholas M. Morgan, Michael A. Jacobs, Michael J. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20210251631
    Abstract: A surgical stapler includes an anvil half and a cartridge half. The anvil half includes an anvil channel member and an anvil surface. The cartridge half releasably couples with the anvil half and includes a cartridge channel member having a distal portion that receives a staple cartridge, and a latching member coupled to the cartridge channel member and movable between open and closed positions. A resilient member is arranged at a proximal end of one of the anvil half or the cartridge half, and a projection is arranged at a proximal end of the other of the anvil half or the cartridge half. The resilient member is configured to contact and releasably couple with the projection to thereby couple the proximal end of the anvil half with the proximal end of the cartridge half while the latching member is in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Jason Jones, Michael J. Stokes, Chester O. Baxter, III, Andrew T. Beckman, Anil K. Nalagatla, Robert L. Koch, JR.
  • Patent number: 11090052
    Abstract: An end effector for a surgical clip applier includes a housing, opposed first and second jaw members extending past a distal end of the housing and each comprising an independent structure movable relative to the other, a first cam track provided on the first jaw member and a second cam track provided on the second jaw member, and a cam providing first and second cam surfaces slidably engageable with the first and second cam tracks, respectively. A biasing device continuously urges the cam in a distal direction relative to the first and second jaw members, wherein the first and second cam surfaces and the first and second cam tracks are angled such that axial movement of the cam in the distal direction relative to the first and second jaw members causes the jaw members to close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Gregory G. Scott, Disha Labhasetwar, John Edward Brady
  • Patent number: 11051819
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly having a body, a shaft assembly having an outer tubular member extending distally from the body, an end effector, an anvil, and a trocar latch assembly. The end effector includes a staple deck fixed relative to the outer tubular member, a staple driver that can actuate relative to the staple deck between an unfired position and a fired position, and a trocar that can actuate relative to the staple deck and the staple driver, the anvil can couple with trocar to move relative to the staple deck to define a gap distance. The trocar latch assembly includes a locking body that can actuate between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration in response to the staple driver actuating between the unfired position and the fired position. The locking body can selective fix the trocar relative to the staple deck in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Gregory J. Bakos, Michael A. Jacobs, Michael J. Stokes, Gregory G. Scott, Disha V. Labhasetwar, Nicholas M. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20210186497
    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: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Chester O. Baxter, III, Michael J. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20210186498
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw, a second jaw rotatable relative to the first jaw, and a closure system for closing the second jaw is disclosed. The closure system comprises a multi-stage closure system. In at least one instance, the closure system comprises a first closure member which closes the second jaw quickly, but with low force, and a second closure member which closes the second jaw more slowly, but with a higher force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Chad P. Boudreaux, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Chester O. Baxter, III, Michael J. Stokes, Jason L. Harris
  • Publication number: 20210169483
    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: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Chester O. Baxter, III, Carol J. Wynn
  • Publication number: 20210169493
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier includes a drive housing, an elongate shaft extending distally from the drive housing, and an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes first and second jaw members, a cam slidably engageable with the first and second jaw members, and an actuation cable extending from the drive housing and operatively coupled to the cam. An articulation joint interposes the end effector and the shaft and includes a distal clevis coupled to the end effector, a proximal clevis coupled to a distal end of the shaft, and a spacer interposing the distal and proximal clevises. Longitudinal movement of the actuation cable moves the cam distally to collapse the first and jaw members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Scott, Michael J. Stokes, Louise Emma van den Heuvel, Kevin DelSignore, Cole Constantineau
  • Patent number: 11026713
    Abstract: Surgical clip appliers are disclosed comprising a plurality of clips which are stored in a compressed state. When a stored clip is moved into the crimping chamber of the surgical clip applier, the clip can assume a configuration which is different than its stored configuration before it is crimped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Chester O. Baxter, III, Jason L. Harris, John E. Brady, Matthew T. Kuhn, Jeffery D. Bruns, Alexander R. Cuti, Andrew C. Deck
  • Patent number: 11026687
    Abstract: A surgical device for clipping tissue is disclosed. The surgical device comprises a housing, a shaft defining a shaft axis, and an end effector. The end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, and a receiver. The first jaw and the second jaw are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. The receiver is at least partially defined between said first jaw and said second jaw. The surgical device further comprises a rotatable clip magazine configured to rotate about the shaft axis, a first advancing system, and a second advancing system. The clip magazine is configured to store at least two clips. The second advancing system is configured to operate sequentially with the first advancing system. The first advancing system and the second advancing system are configured to sequentially advance the clips into the receiver of the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Michael J. Stokes, Gregory G. Scott, Nicholas M. Morgan, Disha V. Labhasetwar
  • Patent number: 10959732
    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: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Chester O. Baxter, III, Carol J. Wynn
  • Publication number: 20210085331
    Abstract: An end effector for a surgical clip applier includes an elongate body, first and second jaw members extending out a distal end of the body, and a clip track provided within the body and containing one or more surgical clips, each surgical clip including a crown and a pair of legs extending longitudinally from the crown and diverging from each other at a diverging opening angle. A pre-forming region is defined by the first and second jaw members to receive and deform the one or more surgical clips from a first state, where the pair of legs diverge at the diverging opening angle, and a second state, where the diverging opening angle is minimized and the one or more surgical clips are prepared to be received by the first and second jaw members and crimped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Scott, Michael J. Stokes, Disha Labhasetwar