Patents by Inventor Paul Scirica

Paul Scirica 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: 10070865
    Abstract: A travel clip is provided for use with a surgical staple cartridge. The travel clip includes a cover having first and second side edges which varying in distance from a centerline of the cover and a longitudinally extending rib projecting perpendicularly along the centerline of the cover. The first and second side edges include areas of maximum distance from the centerline of the cover and areas of minimum distance from the centerline of the cover. The space between adjacent areas of maximum distance from the centerline of the cover provide cutouts or openings for viewing, inspection and verification of structure retained within the surgical staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Paul Scirica
  • Publication number: 20180221046
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dissecting tip for use in a surgical stapler or instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Todd Demmy, Paul Scirica, Lee Ann Olson
  • Patent number: 10039549
    Abstract: A loading unit and retention clip assembly include a shell and a resilient retention clip. The shell has a proximal end portion and includes an annular surface that defines engagement openings. The retention clip is disposed about the annular surface of the proximal end portion. The retention clip has ends and a body between the ends. The retention clip has a lug positioned adjacent to each end of the body that extends inward from the body. Each lug is configured to extend through the engagement openings of the proximal end portion of the shell to releasably couple the shell to a surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Justin Williams, Paul A. Scirica
  • Patent number: 10039546
    Abstract: A loading unit including a shipping member is provided. The loading unit includes a housing, a staple pushing assembly, a knife assembly, and a staple cartridge. The shipping member is configured to be selectively secured to the housing of the loading unit and prevents advancement of the staple pushing assembly and the knife assembly. The shipping member also retains staples within the staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Justin Williams, Christopher Penna, Paul A. Scirica
  • Publication number: 20180199942
    Abstract: A dissecting tip is provided for use with a surgical stapler or instrument. In one embodiment, the dissecting tip is secured to the end effector of a surgical stapler, e.g., to the anvil assembly or cartridge assembly. The dissecting tip extends distally from the end effector and is configured to dissect or separate target tissue from certain tissue, e.g., adherent, connective, joined or other tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Scirica, Todd Demmy, Lee Ann Olson
  • Patent number: 10022198
    Abstract: A shipping member for selective attachment to a replaceable loading unit is provided. The shipping member includes an annular extension configured for selective engagement with a loading unit and configured to prevent movement of a knife assembly of the loading unit. The shipping member further includes first and second legs configured to prevent movement of a staple pusher assembly. The shipping member also includes a staple retaining surface configured to retain staples within a staple cartridge of the loading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Christopher Penna, Patrick Mozdzierz, Paul A. Scirica, Justin Williams
  • Publication number: 20180168588
    Abstract: Interlock assemblies for attaching a loading unit to a surgical stapling instrument are provided. The interlock assemblies are formed on a proximal end of a shell member and on a distal end of an adapter assembly. The interlock assemblies may include a collar member for selectively securing the shell member to the adapter assembly. The collar member may be mounted on the shell member or on the adapter assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Penna, Patrick Mozdzierz, Paul Scirica, Justin Williams
  • Patent number: 9987011
    Abstract: A surgical stapler is provided. The stapler includes a tubular body portion. A cartridge assembly is disposed at a distal end of the body portion for expelling an annular array of staples. Each of the staples of the annular array of staples has a generally bent backspan. An anvil member disposed at the distal end of the tubular body portion is positioned opposite the cartridge assembly to clinch the staples in tissue upon expulsion of the staples from the cartridge assembly. The anvil member has a corresponding annular array of staple forming buckets. Each of the buckets is configured to accommodate the generally bent configuration of the staples to facilitate formation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Justin Williams, Christopher Penna, Paul Scirica, David Racenet
  • Patent number: 9987008
    Abstract: A shaft assembly is provided for interconnecting at least one rotatable drive shaft of a hand-held electromechanical surgical device, and an end effector actuatable by an axial drive force. The shaft assembly includes a flexible drive cable rotatably supported in an outer tube, the flexible drive cable includes a proximal end operatively connected to a respective rotatable drive shaft of the hand-held surgical device. The flexible drive cable being off set a radial distance from a central longitudinal axis of the outer tube. The shaft assembly includes an articulation rod at least partially slidably supported in the outer tube, and an articulation link having a proximal end pivotally connected to the distal end of the articulation rod and a distal end pivotally connected to a distal neck housing. The articulation rod being off set a radial distance from the central longitudinal axis of the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Paul Scirica, Justin Williams
  • Patent number: 9987002
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, a movable handle, a tool assembly, a drive beam and a closure apparatus is disclosed. The movable handle is in mechanical cooperation with a drive member. The tool assembly includes an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a contact surface. The drive beam includes a plurality of layers and at least one layer has a proximal engagement portion and is configured to engage a portion of the drive member. The closure apparatus is configured to engage the contact surface of the tool assembly. At least a partial actuation of the movable handle moves the closure apparatus distally into engagement with the contact surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly. At least one of the layers of the drive beam is affixed to an adjacent layer of the drive beam via at least one spot weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Paul Scirica
  • Patent number: 9943311
    Abstract: A dissecting tip is provided for use with a surgical stapler or instrument. In one embodiment, the dissecting tip is secured to the end effector of a surgical stapler, e.g., to the anvil assembly or cartridge assembly. The dissecting tip extends distally from the end effector and is configured to dissect or separate target tissue from certain tissue, e.g., adherent, connective, joined or other tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Paul Scirica, Todd Demmy, Lee Ann Olson
  • Patent number: 9936968
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dissecting tip for use in a surgical stapler or instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Todd Demmy, Paul Scirica, Lee Ann Olson
  • Publication number: 20180085118
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, a movable handle, a tool assembly, a drive beam and a closure apparatus is disclosed. At least one of the closure apparatus and a contact surface of the tool assembly include a plastic surface. The body portion extends distally from the handle portion. The movable handle is located on the handle portion and is in mechanical cooperation with a drive member. The tool assembly includes an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a contact surface. The drive beam includes a proximal engagement portion and is configured to engage a portion of the drive member. The closure apparatus is configured to engage the contact surface of the tool assembly. At least a partial actuation of the movable handle moves the closure apparatus distally into engagement with the contact surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventor: Paul Scirica
  • Patent number: 9913643
    Abstract: Interlock assemblies for attaching a loading unit to a surgical stapling instrument are provided. The interlock assemblies are formed on a proximal end of a shell member and on a distal end of an adapter assembly. The interlock assemblies may include a collar member for selectively securing the shell member to the adapter assembly. The collar member may be mounted on the shell member or on the adapter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Christopher Penna, Patrick Mozdzierz, Paul Scirica, Justin Williams
  • Publication number: 20180021042
    Abstract: A surgical device includes a jaw assembly, an articulating assembly and a drive shaft. The jaw assembly includes first and second jaws. The articulating assembly is removably coupled to a proximal end of the jaw assembly and includes a distal joint member, a proximal joint member, and a pivot pin. The pivot pin is fixedly coupled to the distal joint member and is rotatably coupled to the proximal joint member. The jaw assembly and the distal joint member together define a first longitudinal axis. The proximal joint member defines a second longitudinal axis. The drive shaft includes a gear element that is meshingly engaged with a pivoting gear element that is fixedly coupled to the pivot pin. Longitudinal movement of the first drive shaft pivots the jaw assembly relative to the proximal joint member about a pivot axis defined by the pivot pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: David A. Nicholas, Paul A. Scirica, Justin Williams, Kevin Slisz
  • Publication number: 20170360444
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an anvil assembly, an end effector and/or a surgical stapler suitable for performing curved or circular anastomosis and/or treatment to internal walls of hollow tissue organs wherein the anvil assembly includes an anvil center rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the center rod defining a central longitudinal axis; and an anvil head secured to the distal end of the anvil center rod. The anvil head includes an anvil plate defining a tissue contact surface; and a plurality of staple forming pockets formed in the tissue contact surface of the anvil plate, wherein each of the plurality of staple pockets defines an arcuate longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Scirica, David Racenet
  • Patent number: 9844371
    Abstract: A surgical device including a handle assembly, an elongated body extending from the handle assembly, and an articulation mechanism connected to the handle assembly and configured to selectively articulate and lock an articulable tool assembly in one or more positions is provided. The articulation mechanism includes a main shaft member mounted for rotation and connected to an articulation linkage, a locking member configured to be received about the shaft portion of the main shaft member, the locking member defining a plurality of notches, an articulation handle fixedly secured to shaft portion of the main shaft member and configured for rotation relative to the locking member, and a lug member operatively mounted on the articulation handle and including a locking tab configured to be selectively received within a notch of the plurality of notches formed in the locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Paul Scirica, Kenneth Cappola
  • Publication number: 20170333036
    Abstract: A loading unit including a shipping assembly is provided. The shipping assembly is operably received adjacent the cartridge assembly to retain staples with the cartridge assembly. The shipping assembly includes a shipping member selectively secured to loading unit and a locking member slidably disposed within the shipping member. The locking member is movable between a proximal position wherein the shipping member is secured to the housing and a distal position wherein the shipping member is removable from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Scirica, Justin Williams, Patrick Mozdzierz, Christopher Penna
  • Patent number: 9814461
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, a movable handle, a tool assembly, a drive beam and a closure apparatus is disclosed. At least one of the closure apparatus and a contact surface of the tool assembly include a plastic surface. The body portion extends distally from the handle portion. The movable handle is located on the handle portion and is in mechanical cooperation with a drive member. The tool assembly includes an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a contact surface. The drive beam includes a proximal engagement portion and is configured to engage a portion of the drive member. The closure apparatus is configured to engage the contact surface of the tool assembly. At least a partial actuation of the movable handle moves the closure apparatus distally into engagement with the contact surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Paul Scirica
  • Publication number: 20170296187
    Abstract: A surgical device is disclosed. The surgical device includes: a jaw assembly including a first jaw and a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw; and an articulating assembly removably coupled to the proximal end of the jaw assembly, the articulating including a distal joint member, a proximal joint member, and a pivot pin fixedly coupled to the distal joint member and rotatably coupled to the proximal joint member, wherein the jaw assembly and the distal joint member define a first longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end of the jaw assembly and a distal end of the distal joint member, and the proximal joint member defines a second longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Paul A. Scirica, Justin Williams, Kevin Robert Slisz