Patents by Inventor Randy R. Stephens

Randy R. Stephens 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: 5350364
    Abstract: Trocar assembly devices are disclosed that include an improved seal assembly that accommodates instruments having a wide range of diameters. The seal assembly includes a universal seal member that is generally of hourglass shape defining converging and diverging side walls that form a constricted center bore portion therebetween. Various alternative means are provided to either increase or decrease the inner diameter of the center bore portion of the seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy R. Stephens, John M. Collins, Robert Farra, Dean Pichon
  • Patent number: 5338307
    Abstract: An adaptor cap assembly is provided for a trocar, consisting of a base which contains an opening which is the same size as the opening of the trocar cannula handle. There is also a cap integrally attached to the base which contains a gasketing assembly wherein the assembly is of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the trocar cannula handle opening as well as the opening in the base of the adaptor cap assembly. This cap is hingedly attached to the base so that it can be flipped by using the thumb either into or out of alignment with the openings of the trocar cannula handle and the base of the adaptor cap assembly. Thus, this mechanism can be used so that a smaller diameter instrument can be placed within a larger diameter opening (with the adaptor cap in place), or, the adaptor cap can be moved out of place so that a larger diameter mechanism can be inserted within the adaptor cap assembly and into the trocar cannula handle, with both the base and the trocar cannula handle having the same size opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy R. Stephens, Renato Roxas, Gregory C. Groenke
  • Patent number: 5330087
    Abstract: A surgical stapler having a trigger attached to a ratcheting mechanism for preventing the refiring of the stapler trigger with a staple loaded within a forming mechanism. In addition, the mechanism contains driver buffering means to prevent the sharp reduction in opposing force driving formation of a staple. The staples are constantly maintained in proper orientation during transfer from a track to the forming site, and are self-centering on the former, and have an oversized crown so that cold-worked areas on each staple do not hinder forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Murray, John F. Love, James D. Hughett, Randy R. Stephens, Richard F. Schwemberger
  • Patent number: 5314417
    Abstract: A safety trocar is provided which includes a spring-loaded shield that shields the cutting tip of the obturator after the obturator penetrates tissue. The distal end of the shield is conical in profile and contains a slot which conforms to the geometry of the cutting tip. The obturator tip contains a knife edge blade which extends the length of the cannula inner diameter. Ideally, the knife is made of an amorphous metal, and may be serrated at its edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy R. Stephens, Gregory D. Bishop, James Voegele, Diane Welling, Richard Smith, John M. Collins, George Selecman
  • Patent number: 5256149
    Abstract: A trocar having a trocar obturator and a trocar cannula. The trocar cannula has a cannula tube mounted in a cannula handle, wherein the cannula has an interior passage therethrough. The interior of the trocar cannula is visible through the trocar cannula. The trocar obturator is housed in the trocar cannula for insertion into a body cavity. When used in an endoscopic surgical procedure on a mammal, such that the trocar cannula is inserted into a body cavity and serves as a passageway to and from the body cavity, the interior of the trocar cannula is visible through the cannula so that the passage of instruments, sutures, staples, surgical tissue samples, etc., into and out of the mammalian body cavity through the cannula can be observed by a surgeon during an endoscopic procedure by observing the interior of the cannula at a point exterior to the cannula by looking through the cannula either directly or by using an endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Banik, Randy R. Stephens
  • Patent number: 5240164
    Abstract: A surgical stapler having a trigger attached to a ratcheting mechanism for preventing the refiring of the stapler trigger with a staple loaded within a forming mechanism. In addition, the mechanism contains driver buffering means to prevent the sharp reduction in opposing force driving formation of a staple. The staples are constantly maintained in proper orientation during transfer from a track to the forming site, and are self-centering on the former, and have an oversized crown so that cold-worked areas on each staple do not hinder forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Murray, John F. Love, James D. Hughett, Randy R. Stephens, Richard F. Schwemberger
  • Patent number: 5209736
    Abstract: Trocar assembly devices that include trocar tubes of different diameters to accommodate small and large diameter implements for providing communication into an anatomical cavity and a unique method of utilizing such devices. The trocar assembly devices include an outer or larger diameter trocar tube and an inner or smaller diameter trocar tube. A distal end portion of the inner trocar tube is tapered and extends distally beyond a distal end portion of the outer trocar tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy R. Stephens, Dale R. Schulze, Gregory D. Bishop, Narinderjit Sambi, John M. Collins, George E. Selecman, Randall Sword
  • Patent number: 5197955
    Abstract: Trocar assembly devices are disclosed that include an improved seal assembly that accommodates instruments having a wide range of diameters. The seal assembly includes a universal seal member that is generally of hourglass shape defining converging and diverging side walls that form a constricted center bore portion therebetween. Various alternative means are provided to either increase or decrease the inner diameter of the center bore portion of the seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy R. Stephens, John M. Collins, Robert Farra, Dean Pichon
  • Patent number: 5161725
    Abstract: A surgical stapler having a trigger attached to a ratcheting mechanism for preventing the refiring of the stapler trigger with a staple loaded within a forming mechanism. In addition, the mechanism contains driver buffering means to prevent the sharp reduction in opposing force driving formation of a staple. The staples are constantly maintained in proper orientation during transfer from a track to the forming site, and are self-centering on the former, and have an oversized crown so that cold-worked areas on each staple do not hinder forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Murray, John F. Love, James D. Hughett, Randy R. Stephens, Richard F. Schwemberger
  • Patent number: D274929
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Assignee: Water Refining Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Davis, Randy R. Stephens
  • Patent number: D335536
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventor: Randy R. Stephens
  • Patent number: D338270
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy R. Stephens, Pamela K. Jacobs, John R. Menges, Livyn O. Okorocha