Patents by Inventor Neil MARKWARDT

Neil MARKWARDT 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: 12285162
    Abstract: A suturing instrument is provided. The suturing instrument comprises: a flexible shaft comprising an articulatable bending section; and a needle end effector located at a distal end of the bending section. The needle end effector comprises a toggle-based rotation mechanism to switch an orientation of a needle to engage and disengage the needle with a ferrule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Noah Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Markwardt, Matthew Robert Penny, Daniel Nasr-Church, Julia Toye, Benjamin Selle
  • Publication number: 20250009351
    Abstract: A suturing instrument is provided. The suturing instrument comprises: a flexible shaft comprising an articulatable bending section; and a needle end effector located at a distal end of the bending section. The needle end effector comprises a toggle-based rotation mechanism to switch an orientation of a needle to engage and disengage the needle with a ferrule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Neil Markwardt, Matthew Robert Penny, Daniel Nasr-Church, Julia Toye, Benjamin Selle
  • Patent number: 12102402
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a handle having a drive input and a spline, a bailout ring arranged at the handle, and a slipper clutch mechanism received within the bailout ring. The slipper clutch mechanism including a slip carrier rotationally fixed to the bailout ring and defining a vertical slot that slidably receives a pin, a first ring arranged within the slip carrier and defining a first interface, a second ring arranged within the slip carrier atop the first ring and defining a second interface, and a pinion gear operatively coupled to the spline and arranged to intermesh with radial gear teeth defined on the second ring. Manual rotation of the bailout ring rotates the slip carrier and the pin and thereby rotates the first and second ring in succession to rotate the spline and manually bail out a function of the robotic surgical tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Raffaele Definis, Benjamin L. Bertram, Christopher Denzinger, Heather E. Knox, Mark D. Overmyer, Neil Markwardt
  • Publication number: 20240299108
    Abstract: A surgical tool includes a stage portion that includes opposing first and second ends, a lead screw and at least one spline that extend between the first and second ends, and a first layer of a carriage movably mounted to the lead screw and the at least one spline. An instrument portion is releasably coupled to the stage portion and includes one or more additional layers of the carriage removably coupled to the first layer, and an elongate shaft extending distally from the one or more additional layers and having an end effector arranged at a distal end of the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft and the end effector penetrate the elevator layer and the first end when the instrument portion is coupled to the stage portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Andrew T. BECKMAN, Charles J. SCHEIB, Neil Markwardt
  • Patent number: 11998203
    Abstract: A method of manually operating a surgical tool includes arranging the surgical tool adjacent a patient, the surgical tool including a drive housing having opposing first and second ends, a spline extending between the first and second ends and being rotatably coupled to a drive input at the first end, a drive gear coupled to and rotatable with the spline, a carriage movably mounted to the spline and housing an activating mechanism operatively coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the spline actuates the activating mechanism, and a bailout mechanism arranged at the second end and including a lever engageable with the spline. The lever is movable relative to the spline to engage the lever allow the lever to be manually rotated to rotate the spline and the drive gear to manually actuate the activating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Andrew T. Beckman, Charles J. Scheib, Neil Markwardt, Robert Decou
  • Patent number: 11974823
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool comprises a stage assembly and a core assembly removably mountable to the stage assembly. The stage assembly may comprise a lead screw and at least one spline extendable between first and second ends of the stage assembly, and a nut rotatably mounted to the lead screw to translate between the first and second ends upon rotation of the lead screw. The core assembly may comprise a drive housing that is movably mountable to the stage assembly to translate, with the nut, between the first and second ends of the stage assembly. The surgical tool may also comprise a shroud assembly having a primary shroud and a secondary shroud, the primary shroud at least partially enclosing the core assembly when installed on the stage assembly, and the secondary shroud being movable between a first position, where the secondary shroud occludes an opening in the primary shroud, and a second position, where the opening in the primary shroud is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Andrew T. Beckman, Charles J. Scheib, Neil Markwardt
  • Patent number: 11896202
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a drive housing having a first end and a second end, at least one spline extending between the first and second ends and including a drive gear that rotates with rotation of the spline, and a carriage movably mounted to the spline. An elongate shaft extends from the carriage and through the first end, an end effector is arranged at a distal end of the elongate shaft, and a wrist interposes the end effector and the distal end of the shaft. An activating mechanism is housed in the carriage and operatively coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the drive gear correspondingly actuates the activating mechanism and thereby causes the wrist to articulate the end effector in at least one plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Andrew T. Beckman, Charles J. Scheib, Neil Markwardt
  • Publication number: 20230355240
    Abstract: A method of manually operating a surgical tool includes arranging the surgical tool adjacent a patient, the surgical tool including a drive housing having opposing first and second ends, a spline extending between the first and second ends and being rotatably coupled to a drive input at the first end, a drive gear coupled to and rotatable with the spline, a carriage movably mounted to the spline and housing an activating mechanism operatively coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the spline actuates the activating mechanism, and a bailout mechanism arranged at the second end and including a lever engageable with the spline. The lever is movable relative to the spline to engage the lever allow the lever to be manually rotated to rotate the spline and the drive gear to manually actuate the activating mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Andrew T. BECKMAN, Charles J. SCHEIB, Neil MARKWARDT, Robert DECOU
  • Patent number: 11701116
    Abstract: A surgical tool comprising a drive housing having a first end and a second end, a spline extending between the first and second ends and being rotatably coupled to the first end at a drive input, a drive gear coupled to and rotatable with the spline, a carriage movably mounted to the spline and housing an activating mechanism operatively coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the spline actuates the activating mechanism, and a bailout mechanism arranged at the second end. The bailout mechanism may include a lever that is movable relative to the spline, from a first position, where the spline is disengaged from the lever, to a second position, where the spline engages the lever such that rotation of the lever correspondingly rotates the spline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Andrew T. Beckman, Charles J. Scheib, Neil Markwardt, Robert Decou
  • Patent number: 11622827
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a drive housing having first and second ends, at least one spline extending between the first and second ends and including a drive gear that rotates with rotation of the spline, and a carriage mounted to the spline. A closure tube extends from the carriage through the first end and has an end effector arranged at a distal end. An activating mechanism is housed in the carriage and includes a driven gear coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the drive gear rotates the driven gear, and a carrier arranged at a proximal end of the closure tube and coupled to the driven gear such that rotation of the driven gear moves the carrier and the closure tube axially along a longitudinal axis of the closure tube. Moving the closure tube along the longitudinal axis closes or opens end effector jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Andrew T. Beckman, Charles J. Scheib, Travis Michael Schuh, Benjamin David Dickerson, Jason Alan Hill, Neil Markwardt
  • Publication number: 20220249182
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a handle having a drive input and a spline, a bailout ring arranged at the handle, and a slipper clutch mechanism received within the bailout ring. The slipper clutch mechanism including a slip carrier rotationally fixed to the bailout ring and defining a vertical slot that slidably receives a pin, a first ring arranged within the slip carrier and defining a first interface, a second ring arranged within the slip carrier atop the first ring and defining a second interface, and a pinion gear operatively coupled to the spline and arranged to intermesh with radial gear teeth defined on the second ring. Manual rotation of the bailout ring rotates the slip carrier and the pin and thereby rotates the first and second ring in succession to rotate the spline and manually bail out a function of the robotic surgical tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Raffaele DEFINIS, Benjamin L. BERTRAM, Christopher DENZINGER, Heather E. KNOX, Mark D. OVERMYER, Neil MARKWARDT
  • Publication number: 20220096083
    Abstract: A surgical tool comprising a drive housing having a first end and a second end, a spline extending between the first and second ends and being rotatably coupled to the first end at a drive input, a drive gear coupled to and rotatable with the spline, a carriage movably mounted to the spline and housing an activating mechanism operatively coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the spline actuates the activating mechanism, and a bailout mechanism arranged at the second end. The bailout mechanism may include a lever that is movable relative to the spline, from a first position, where the spline is disengaged from the lever, to a second position, where the spline engages the lever such that rotation of the lever correspondingly rotates the spline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. BECKMAN, Charles J. SCHEIB, Neil MARKWARDT, Robert DECOU
  • Publication number: 20220022977
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool comprises a stage assembly and a core assembly removably mountable to the stage assembly. The stage assembly may comprise a lead screw and at least one spline extendable between first and second ends of the stage assembly, and a nut rotatably mounted to the lead screw to translate between the first and second ends upon rotation of the lead screw. The core assembly may comprise a drive housing that is movably mountable to the stage assembly to translate, with the nut, between the first and second ends of the stage assembly. The surgical tool may also comprise a shroud assembly having a primary shroud and a secondary shroud, the primary shroud at least partially enclosing the core assembly when installed on the stage assembly, and the secondary shroud being movable between a first position, where the secondary shroud occludes an opening in the primary shroud, and a second position, where the opening in the primary shroud is exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. BECKMAN, Charles J. SCHEIB, Neil Markwardt
  • Publication number: 20210393340
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a drive housing having a first end and a second end, at least one spline extending between the first and second ends and including a drive gear that rotates with rotation of the spline, and a carriage movably mounted to the spline. An elongate shaft extends from the carriage and through the first end, an end effector is arranged at a distal end of the elongate shaft, and a wrist interposes the end effector and the distal end of the shaft. An activating mechanism is housed in the carriage and operatively coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the drive gear correspondingly actuates the activating mechanism and thereby causes the wrist to articulate the end effector in at least one plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. BECKMAN, Charles J. SCHEIB, Neil Markwardt
  • Publication number: 20210393354
    Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a drive housing having first and second ends, at least one spline extending between the first and second ends and including a drive gear that rotates with rotation of the spline, and a carriage mounted to the spline. A closure tube extends from the carriage through the first end and has an end effector arranged at a distal end. An activating mechanism is housed in the carriage and includes a driven gear coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the drive gear rotates the driven gear, and a carrier arranged at a proximal end of the closure tube and coupled to the driven gear such that rotation of the driven gear moves the carrier and the closure tube axially along a longitudinal axis of the closure tube. Moving the closure tube along the longitudinal axis closes or opens end effector jaws.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. BECKMAN, Charles J. SCHEIB, Travis Michael SCHUH, Benjamin David DICKERSON, Jason Alan HILL, Neil MARKWARDT
  • Patent number: 11173267
    Abstract: An adjustable tracheostoma valve includes a housing having a first opening that is adapted to open to a tracheostoma and a second opening that opens to ambient. The housing includes a lower housing portion defining the first opening and an upper housing portion movably attached to the lower housing portion and defining the second opening. A closure member is disposed in the housing and adapted to close the second opening. A flexible membrane includes a first region connected to the closure member and a plurality of spiral shaped legs extending from the first region and connected to the housing. The upper and lower housings are axially adjustable relative to one another to adjust an amount of air flow through the valve that would cause closure of the closure member. A heat and moisture exchanger is disposed in the housing between the first opening and the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Freudenberg Medical, LLC
    Inventors: Neil Markwardt, John C. Day
  • Publication number: 20200188620
    Abstract: An adjustable tracheostoma valve includes a housing having a first opening that is adapted to open to a tracheostoma and a second opening that opens to ambient. The housing includes a lower housing portion defining the first opening and an upper housing portion movably attached to the lower housing portion and defining the second opening. A closure member is disposed in the housing and adapted to close the second opening. A flexible membrane includes a first region connected to the closure member and a plurality of spiral shaped legs extending from the first region and connected to the housing. The upper and lower housings are axially adjustable relative to one another to adjust an amount of air flow through the valve that would cause closure of the closure member. A heat and moisture exchanger is disposed in the housing between the first opening and the second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Neil MARKWARDT, John C. DAY