Patents by Inventor Nathan Stewart Cauldwell

Nathan Stewart Cauldwell 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: 20220142645
    Abstract: Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft assembly including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft assembly. The driveshaft may include an internal channel and at least one guide surface shaped and arranged to maintain an orientation of at least one fastener in the channel of the driveshaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft assembly for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft assembly towards a distal fastener deployment position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ranucci, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix
  • Patent number: 11246597
    Abstract: Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft assembly including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft assembly. The driveshaft may include an internal channel and at least one guide surface shaped and arranged to maintain an orientation of at least one fastener in the channel of the driveshaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft assembly for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft assembly towards a distal fastener deployment position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ranucci, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix
  • Publication number: 20220031308
    Abstract: Surgical instruments and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument includes a power transmission including a trigger and a fastener driver operatively coupled to the trigger. Actuation of the trigger from a first configuration to a second configuration moves the fastener driver between at least a first position and a second position. Additionally, an actuation lockout system operatively associated with the power transmission is moveable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The actuation lockout system prevents movement of the fastener driver from the first position to the second position when the actuation lockout system is in the locked configuration. Actuation of the trigger from the first configuration towards the second configuration moves the actuation lockout system from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Kevin J. Ranucci
  • Patent number: 11234693
    Abstract: Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft assembly including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft assembly. The driveshaft may include an internal channel and at least one guide surface shaped and arranged to maintain an orientation of at least one fastener in the channel of the driveshaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft assembly for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft assembly towards a distal fastener deployment position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ranucci, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix
  • Patent number: 11191604
    Abstract: A surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft. The fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft towards a distal fastener deployment position. The surgical instrument may include a removable preload lock-out attached to the elongated shaft to prevent the follower from applying a preload to the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Davol Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Donald E. Ziniti, Derek Affonce, Justin Lewis, Augustus Felix, Talia D'Ambruoso
  • Publication number: 20210369265
    Abstract: Articulating surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument may include an elongated shaft assembly including an articulable portion moveable between a non-articulated configuration and an articulated configuration. First and second articulating shafts of the elongated shaft assembly may be coaxially arranged and axially fixed at an attachment point located distally from the articulable portion. Proximal portions of the first and second articulating shafts may be displaceable in opposing directions to articulate the articulable portion from the non-articulated configuration to the articulated configuration. In another embodiment, an articulation control may be movable from a first position to a second position to move an articulation lock from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration to selectively permit articulation of a surgical instrument. The articulation lock also may be movable from the second position to a third position to articulate the surgical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Derek J. Leatzow, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Derek Affonce, Kevin J. Ranucci, Tomas Matusaitis, Alan Bachman
  • Patent number: 11147550
    Abstract: Surgical instruments and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument includes a power transmission including a trigger and a fastener driver operatively coupled to the trigger. Actuation of the trigger from a first configuration to a second configuration moves the fastener driver between at least a first position and a second position. Additionally, an actuation lockout system operatively associated with the power transmission is moveable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The actuation lockout system prevents movement of the fastener driver from the first position to the second position when the actuation lockout system is in the locked configuration. Actuation of the trigger from the first configuration towards the second configuration moves the actuation lockout system from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Kevin J. Ranucci
  • Patent number: 11134928
    Abstract: Articulating surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument may include an elongated shaft assembly including an articulable portion moveable between a non-articulated configuration and an articulated configuration. First and second articulating shafts of the elongated shaft assembly may be coaxially arranged and axially fixed at an attachment point located distally from the articulable portion. Proximal portions of the first and second articulating shafts may be displaceable in opposing directions to articulate the articulable portion from the non-articulated configuration to the articulated configuration. In another embodiment, an articulation control may be movable from a first position to a second position to move an articulation lock from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration to selectively permit articulation of a surgical instrument. The articulation lock also may be movable from the second position to a third position to articulate the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Derek J. Leatzow, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Derek Affonce, Kevin J. Ranucci, Tomas Matusaitis, Alan Bachman
  • Patent number: 11103234
    Abstract: Articulating surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument may include an elongated shaft assembly including an articulable portion moveable between a non-articulated configuration and an articulated configuration. First and second articulating shafts of the elongated shaft assembly may be coaxially arranged and axially fixed at an attachment point located distally from the articulable portion. Proximal portions of the first and second articulating shafts may be displaceable in opposing directions to articulate the articulable portion from the non-articulated configuration to the articulated configuration. In another embodiment, an articulation control may be movable from a first position to a second position to move an articulation lock from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration to selectively permit articulation of a surgical instrument. The articulation lock also may be movable from the second position to a third position to articulate the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Derek J. Leatzow, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Derek Affonce, Kevin J. Ranucci, Tomas Matusaitis, Alan Bachman
  • Publication number: 20210236128
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a power assist device, and its method of use for deploying surgical fasteners, is disclosed. The surgical instrument may include a handle, an elongated shaft extending from the handle, and a surgical fastener deployment system including a driveshaft. The driveshaft is actuatable between at least a first proximal position and a second distal position. A striker is movable relative to the driveshaft and an impact surface is associated with the driveshaft. The impact surface is constructed and arranged to be struck by the striker member to displace the driveshaft to the second distal position and deploy the surgical fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ranucci, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix
  • Publication number: 20210236106
    Abstract: A surgical instrument and its method of use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The elongated shaft assembly may include an articulable portion with an articulation direction. The elongated shaft assembly may also include a tubular member with a flexible portion with a preferential bending direction and a direction of bending resistance. The tubular member may permit articulation of the elongated shaft assembly when the preferential bending direction is aligned with the articulation direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ranucci, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix
  • Publication number: 20210228304
    Abstract: Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft towards a distal fastener deployment position. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a removable preload lock-out attached to the elongated shaft to prevent the follower from applying a preload to the fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Davol Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Donald E. Ziniti, Derek Affonce, Justin Lewis, Augustus Felix, Talia D'Ambruoso
  • Publication number: 20210161528
    Abstract: Surgical fasteners for use with articulating surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical fastener may include a head, a shaft extending distally from the head, and a through bore extending through the shaft from a proximal surface of the head to a distal end of the shaft. A fastener carrier of a surgical instrument may be slidably received in the through bore, and the through bore may be sized and shaped to have two or fewer contact points with the fastener carrier when the fastener carrier is in a fully articulated configuration. In another embodiment, a fastener may include a head, a shaft extending distally from the head and including a distal tip, a sloped surface sloping toward the distal tip, and a through bore passing through the head, shaft, and sloped surface. The sloped surface may terminate at two shoulders located on opposing sides of the through bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix, Derek Affonce, Kevin J. Ranucci
  • Patent number: 11013502
    Abstract: A surgical instrument and its method of use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The elongated shaft assembly may include an articulable portion with an articulation direction. The elongated shaft assembly may also include a tubular member with a flexible portion with a preferential bending direction and a direction of bending resistance. The tubular member may permit articulation of the elongated shaft assembly when the preferential bending direction is aligned with the articulation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ranucci, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix
  • Patent number: 11007030
    Abstract: Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft towards a distal fastener deployment position. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a removable preload lock-out attached to the elongated shaft to prevent the follower from applying a preload to the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Davol Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Donald E. Ziniti, Derek Affonce, Justin Lewis, Augustus Felix, Talia D'Ambruoso
  • Patent number: 10993720
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a power assist device, and its method of use for deploying surgical fasteners, is disclosed. The surgical instrument may include a handle, an elongated shaft extending from the handle, and a surgical fastener deployment system including a driveshaft. The driveshaft is actuatable between at least a first proximal position and a second distal position. A striker is movable relative to the driveshaft and an impact surface is associated with the driveshaft. The impact surface is constructed and arranged to be struck by the striker member to displace the driveshaft to the second distal position and deploy the surgical fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ranucci, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix
  • Patent number: 10932776
    Abstract: Surgical fasteners for use with articulating surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical fastener may include a head, a shaft extending distally from the head, and a through bore extending through the shaft from a proximal surface of the head to a distal end of the shaft. A fastener carrier of a surgical instrument may be slidably received in the through bore, and the through bore may be sized and shaped to have two or fewer contact points with the fastener carrier when the fastener carrier is in a fully articulated configuration. In another embodiment, a fastener may include a head, a shaft extending distally from the head and including a distal tip, a sloped surface sloping toward the distal tip, and a through bore passing through the head, shaft, and sloped surface. The sloped surface may terminate at two shoulders located on opposing sides of the through bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix, Derek Affonce, Kevin J. Ranucci
  • Publication number: 20200367869
    Abstract: Embodiments of a surgical instrument including an actuation lockout system as well as its method of use are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument includes a trigger and a driveshaft coupled to the trigger such that actuation of the trigger causes the driveshaft to move from a first position to a second position, thereby resulting in deployment of a surgical fastener. An actuation lockout system restrains distal movement of the driveshaft until a force greater than or equal to a threshold force is applied to the trigger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: KEVIN J. RANUCCI, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Donald E. Ziniti
  • Publication number: 20200367882
    Abstract: Articulating surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument may include an elongated shaft assembly including an articulable portion moveable between a non-articulated configuration and an articulated configuration. First and second articulating shafts of the elongated shaft assembly may be coaxially arranged and axially fixed at an attachment point located distally from the articulable portion. Proximal portions of the first and second articulating shafts may be displaceable in opposing directions to articulate the articulable portion from the non-articulated configuration to the articulated configuration. In another embodiment, an articulation control may be movable from a first position to a second position to move an articulation lock from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration to selectively permit articulation of a surgical instrument. The articulation lock also may be movable from the second position to a third position to articulate the surgical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Derek J. Leatzow, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Derek Affonce, Kevin J. Ranucci, Tomas Matusaitis, Alan Bachman
  • Patent number: 10779813
    Abstract: Articulating surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument may include an elongated shaft assembly including an articulable portion moveable between a non-articulated configuration and an articulated configuration. First and second articulating shafts of the elongated shaft assembly may be coaxially arranged and axially fixed at an attachment point located distally from the articulable portion. Proximal portions of the first and second articulating shafts may be displaceable in opposing directions to articulate the articulable portion from the non-articulated configuration to the articulated configuration. In another embodiment, an articulation control may be movable from a first position to a second position to move an articulation lock from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration to selectively permit articulation of a surgical instrument. The articulation lock also may be movable from the second position to a third position to articulate the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Augustus Felix, Derek J. Leatzow, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Derek Affonce, Kevin J. Ranucci, Tomas Matusaitis, Alan Bachman