Patents by Inventor Michael Zemlok

Michael Zemlok 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: 11369370
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a housing, an endoscopic portion, a shaft portion and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The shaft portion is selectively connectable to a distal end of the endoscopic portion. The end effector is selectively connectable to a distal end of the shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael Zemlok, David Racenet
  • Publication number: 20220168056
    Abstract: A surgical robotic assembly includes an instrument drive unit including a housing defining a longitudinal channel, a plurality of motors for performing functions of a surgical instrument, and a designated motor for rotating the instrument drive unit and the surgical instrument when the surgical instrument is attached to the instrument drive unit. The instrument drive unit allows for a top-loading or a side-loading of the surgical instrument thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Chi Min Seow, Michael A. Zemlok, Mark H. MacLeod, Ranjan K. Mishra, Eric J. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20220170809
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a torque sensor for a motor with a controller includes determining a gain of the torque sensor, zeroing a torque reading of the torque sensor, accelerating the motor at a known rate, and determining an inertia of the motor in response to accelerating the motor. Zeroing the torque reading occurs when the motor is in an unloaded and unactivated condition and accelerating the motor occurs when the motor is in an unloaded condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Jaimeen Kapadia, Richard Lech, Mark MacLeod, Chi Min Seow, Michael Zemlok
  • Patent number: 11324499
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a housing, an endoscopic portion, a shaft portion and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The shaft portion is selectively connectable to a distal end of the endoscopic portion. The end effector is selectively connectable to a distal end of the shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael Zemlok, David Racenet
  • Publication number: 20220133298
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, a first endoscopic portion, a motor, and a first end effector is disclosed. The first endoscopic portion is selectively connectable to a distal portion of the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The first endoscopic portion includes a housing adjacent its proximal portion and includes an actuation member. The motor is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the housing of the first endoscopic portion and is operatively connected to the actuation member for moving the actuation member substantially along the longitudinal axis. The first end effector is selectively connectable to a distal portion of the first endoscopic portion and is configured to perform a first stapling function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Michael A. Zemlok, David C. Racenet
  • Patent number: 11311291
    Abstract: Adapter assemblies selectively interconnect a surgical end effector that is configured to perform at least a pair of functions and a surgical device that is configured to actuate the end effector. The adapter assembly includes an adapter knob housing configured and adapted for connection with the surgical device and to be in operative communication with each of the at least one rotatable drive shaft of the surgical device. The adapter knob housing defines a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough and a ring gear formed in an inner surface of the lumen of the adapter knob housing. The ring gear defines an internal array of gear teeth which are engaged with a spur gear of a rotatable drive shaft. The adapter knob housing may be a unitary member and may be formed of plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Ryan Williams, Stanislaw Marczyk, David Racenet, John Beardsley, Michael Zemlok
  • Patent number: 11298475
    Abstract: There are provided pressurized surgical instruments for use in pressurized surgical environments. The pressurized surgical instruments include pressurizing systems for maintaining a neutral or positive pressure flow within the surgical instrument during use. The pressurizing systems include a primary sensor for detecting the pressure of the surgical environment and a pressurizing mechanism for balancing the pressure of the surgical instrument with the surgical environment. The pressurizing mechanism includes a controller to receive and compare the signal sent from the primary sensor to the ambient or internal instrument pressure and a pressure delivery system to provide positive pressure to the interior of the surgical instrument in response to a signal received from the controller. The sources of pressure for the pressure delivery systems may be external or self contained within the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael Zemlok, Russell Pribanic, Adam Ross, Stanislaw Marczyk
  • Patent number: 11272992
    Abstract: An instrument drive unit includes a housing configured to be coupled to a surgical robotic arm, a motor assembly, and a flex spool assembly. The motor assembly is rotatably disposed within the housing. The flex spool assembly includes a first printed circuit board mounted to the housing, a second printed circuit board configured to be non-rotatably coupled to and electrically connected to the motor assembly, and a first flex circuit. The first flex circuit has a first end portion connected to the first printed circuit board, a second end portion connected to the second printed circuit board, and an intermediate portion coiled about the second printed circuit board such that rotation of the motor assembly relative to the housing effects movement of the second end portion of the first flex circuit along an annular path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Chi Min Seow, Richard Lech, Michael Zemlok, Jaimeen Kapadia, Mark MacLeod
  • Patent number: 11266472
    Abstract: An instrument drive assembly includes a housing assembly and a coupling assembly. The housing assembly includes a drive assembly. The coupling assembly releasably couples an instrument drive shaft to a drive member of the drive assembly and an instrument sleeve of the surgical instrument to the housing assembly. Actuation of a retention mechanism of the coupling assembly between a locked and unlocked configuration couples and decouples the instrument sleeve of the surgical instrument therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Robert Pedros, Brian Rockrohr, Michael Zemlok
  • Patent number: 11259801
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a housing, an endoscopic portion, a shaft portion and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The shaft portion is selectively connectable to a distal end of the endoscopic portion. The end effector is selectively connectable to a distal end of the shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael Zemlok, David Racenet
  • Patent number: 11259802
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a housing, an endoscopic portion, a shaft portion and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The shaft portion is selectively connectable to a distal end of the endoscopic portion. The end effector is selectively connectable to a distal end of the shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael Zemlok, David Racenet
  • Patent number: 11246589
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, a first endoscopic portion, a motor, and a first end effector is disclosed. The first endoscopic portion is selectively connectable to a distal portion of the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The first endoscopic portion includes a housing adjacent its proximal portion and includes an actuation member. The motor is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the housing of the first endoscopic portion and is operatively connected to the actuation member for moving the actuation member substantially along the longitudinal axis. The first end effector is selectively connectable to a distal portion of the first endoscopic portion and is configured to perform a first stapling function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Michael A. Zemlok, David C. Racenet
  • Publication number: 20220022867
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a housing, an endoscopic portion, a shaft portion and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The shaft portion is selectively connectable to a distal end of the endoscopic portion. The end effector is selectively connectable to a distal end of the shaft portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Zemlok, David Racenet
  • Publication number: 20220022870
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a surgical device including an adapter assembly for selectively interconnecting an end effector and the device housing. The adapter assembly includes at least one drive converter assembly that converts and transmits a rotation of the rotatable drive shaft to an axial translation of at least one axially translatable drive member of the end effector. A first drive converter assembly includes a first drive element, a nut, an articulation sleeve, an articulation bearing, and an articulation link. Rotation of the rotatable drive shaft results in rotation of the first drive element. Rotation of the first drive element results in axial translation of the nut, the articulation sleeve, the articulation bearing, the articulation link, and the at least one axially translatable drive member of the end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: David Nicholas, Russell Pribanic, John Beardsley, Michael Zemlok
  • Patent number: 11207069
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a surgical instrument which includes a housing and an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing and defining a first longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument also includes an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the endoscopic portion. The end effector includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The anvil assembly is pivotally coupled to the cartridge assembly to be movable from a first actuation position to at least one other second actuation position. The surgical instrument further includes a firing rod having a shaft defining a second longitudinal axis, the shaft having a cam member which is in mechanical cooperation with the anvil assembly and is configured to move the anvil assembly from the first actuation position to the at least one other second actuation position upon rotation of the firing rod about the second longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael Zemlok, David C. Racenet
  • Publication number: 20210393352
    Abstract: A surgical instrument holder includes a carriage and a drive coupler. The carriage is configured for movable engagement to a surgical robotic arm. The drive coupler includes an outer member and a first gear rotatably disposed therein. The outer member extends from the carriage and defines a lateral slot configured for lateral receipt of a surgical instrument. The first gear defines a lateral slot and is rotatable within the outer member to a first position, in which the lateral slot of the first gear is in alignment with the lateral slot of the outer member such that a surgical instrument is receivable within the drive coupler through the lateral slots of the outer member and the first gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Chi Min Seow, Mark Macleod, Michael Zemlok
  • Patent number: 11197727
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a surgical robotic arm, an electromechanical instrument, an instrument drive unit, and a coupling shaft. The electromechanical instrument is configured to be detachably coupled to the surgical robotic arm. The electromechanical instrument includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end having an end effector. The instrument drive unit includes a motor configured to actuate the end effector. The coupling shaft defines a longitudinal axis and is configured to be coupled between the instrument drive unit and the surgical robotic arm such that the instrument drive unit is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the coupling shaft relative to the surgical robotic arm or the electromechanical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Robert Allen, Chi Min Seow, Michael Zemlok
  • Publication number: 20210322122
    Abstract: A torque transducer for mounting a motor includes a mounting flange, a motor flange, a body, and a strain gauge. The mounting flange is configured to secure the torque transducer to a fixed structure. The motor flange is configured to secure to a motor. The body interconnects the mounting and motor flanges. The body defines a channel about a longitudinal axis of the body and is configured to flex in response to the mounting flange and the motor flange rotating relative to one another in response to torque of the motor. The strain gauge is positioned on the body to measure flexation of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Zemlok, Chi Min Seow, Jaimeen Kapadia, Richard Lech, Mark MacLeod
  • Patent number: 11141152
    Abstract: A loading unit for a surgical stapling device has a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly, the cartridge assembly including a channel and a staple cartridge having a plurality of surgical staples therein. An axial drive assembly has a clamping member, the clamping member having an upper flange for engaging the anvil assembly, and a lower flange for engaging the channel. The axial drive assembly is movable through the staple cartridge to drive the staples out of the staple cartridge and against the anvil assembly. Mechanical features are defined in the channel for indicating an end of stroke for the axial drive assembly, the mechanical features having a first pattern and a second pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael Ingmanson, Michael Zemlok
  • Publication number: 20210307746
    Abstract: An adapter assembly selectively interconnects a surgical end effector that is configured to perform at least a pair of functions and a surgical device that is configured to actuate the end effector. The end effector includes a first axially translatable drive member and a second axially translatable drive member. The surgical device includes a first rotatable drive shaft and a second rotatable drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Zemlok, David Chowaniec, Stanislaw Marczyk, Nihir Patel, Ryan Williams