Patents by Inventor Richard P. Fuchs

Richard P. Fuchs 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: 11413039
    Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners including a housing, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, surgical fasteners disposed in the elongated shaft, a firing system for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft, and a trigger coupled with the housing for activating the firing system. The firing system includes a firing rod disposed in the elongated shaft and an energy storing element disposed in the housing for building up energy for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Cohn, Michael Cardinale, Richard P. Fuchs, Matthew Rohr Daniel, Jeremy David Jarrett, Robert Nering, Anthony Miksza
  • Publication number: 20220218339
    Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft, surgical fasteners disposed in the elongated shaft, a firing system for dispensing the surgical fasteners, a firing rod disposed within the elongated shaft and movable within a first plane, and an advancer disposed within the elongated shaft and moveable within a second plane. An actuator is coupled with the advancer for moving the advancer back and forth between retracted and extended positions. A staging assembly at the distal end of the elongated shaft aligns a leading surgical fastener with the first plane. The staging assembly includes a biasing device that is configured to be deflected away from the first plane by the advancer when the advancer is in the extended position and the staging assembly is configured to spring back into alignment with the first plane when the advancer returns back to the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Simon Cohn, Michael Cardinale, Richard P. Fuchs, Matthew Rohr Daniel, Jeremy David Jarrett, Robert Nering, Anthony Miksza
  • Patent number: 10729433
    Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing having an actuator and an elongated shaft extending from the housing. The applicator instrument includes a top stamping disposed within the elongated shaft, and a bottom stamping disposed within the elongated shaft that opposes the top stamping. The applicator instrument has a firing system for dispensing at least one surgical fastener from the distal end of the elongated shaft. An end cap is assembled with the distal ends of the top stamping, the bottom stamping, and the elongated shaft for stabilizing the distal end of the applicator instrument. The end cap has a distal end face with castling for engaging an opposing surface such as surgical mesh overlying tissue. The castling prevents the distal end of the applicator instrument from sliding or moving relative to the opposing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Cohn, Robert Nering, Anthony Miksza, Matthew Rohr Daniel, Jeremy David Jarrett, Richard P. Fuchs, Michael Cardinale
  • Patent number: 10709437
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, at least one user input feature, an elongate shaft, a needle applier, and a motor. The needle applier includes a needle and a drive assembly coupled to the needle. The drive assembly is configured to drive the needle along an orbital path about a rotation axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, in response to an actuation of the user input feature. The motor is configured provide motion to the needle applier to thereby actuate the drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: David T. Martin, Daniel J. Mumaw, Daniel L. Geiger, Andrew C. Deck, Mark J. Bookbinder, Richard P. Fuchs, Michael D. Cronin, William J. White, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 10667824
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and an elongate shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Dario Vitali, Nicholas G. Molitor, Thomas W. Huitema, Robert L. Koch, Brian D. Bertke, Kevin A. Larson, Richard P. Fuchs, Mark A. Davison
  • Publication number: 20190200979
    Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners including a housing, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, surgical fasteners disposed in the elongated shaft, a firing system for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft, and a trigger coupled with the housing for activating the firing system. The firing system includes a firing rod disposed in the elongated shaft and an energy storing element disposed in the housing for building up energy for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Simon Cohn, Michael Cardinale, Richard P. Fuchs, Matthew Rohr Daniel, Jeremy David Jarrett, Robert Nering, Anthony Miksza
  • Publication number: 20180199932
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, at least one user input feature, an elongate shaft, a needle applier, and a motor. The needle applier includes a needle and a drive assembly coupled to the needle. The drive assembly is configured to drive the needle along an orbital path about a rotation axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, in response to an actuation of the user input feature. The motor is configured provide motion to the needle applier to thereby actuate the drive assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: David T. Martin, Daniel J. Mumaw, Daniel L. Geiger, Andrew C. Deck, Mark J. Bookbinder, Richard P. Fuchs, Michael D. Cronin, William J. White, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 9888914
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, at least one user input feature, an elongate shaft, a needle applier, and a motor. The needle applier includes a needle and a drive assembly coupled to the needle. The drive assembly is configured to drive the needle along an orbital path about a rotation axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, in response to an actuation of the user input feature. The motor is configured provide motion to the needle applier to thereby actuate the drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC
    Inventors: David T. Martin, Daniel J. Mumaw, Daniel L. Geiger, Andrew C. Deck, Mark J. Bookbinder, Richard P. Fuchs, Michael D. Cronin, William J. White, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Publication number: 20170319213
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and an elongate shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Dario Vitali, Nicholas G. Molitor, Thomas W. Huitema, Robert L. Koch, Brian D. Bertke, Kevin A. Larson, Richard P. Fuchs, Mark A. Davison
  • Publication number: 20170035417
    Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing having an actuator and an elongated shaft extending from the housing. The applicator instrument includes a top stamping disposed within the elongated shaft, and a bottom stamping disposed within the elongated shaft that opposes the top stamping. The applicator instrument has a firing system for dispensing at least one surgical fastener from the distal end of the elongated shaft. An end cap is assembled with the distal ends of the top stamping, the bottom stamping, and the elongated shaft for stabilizing the distal end of the applicator instrument. The end cap has a distal end face with castling for engaging an opposing surface such as surgical mesh overlying tissue. The castling prevents the distal end of the applicator instrument from sliding or moving relative to the opposing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Simon Cohn, Robert Nering, Anthony Miksza, Matthew Rohr Daniel, Jeremy David Jarrett, Richard P. Fuchs, Michael Cardinale
  • Publication number: 20160367243
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, at least one user input feature, an elongate shaft, a needle applier, and a motor. The needle applier includes a needle and a drive assembly coupled to the needle. The drive assembly is configured to drive the needle along an orbital path about a rotation axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, in response to an actuation of the user input feature. The motor is configured provide motion to the needle applier to thereby actuate the drive assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: David T. Martin, Daniel J. Mumaw, Daniel L. Geiger, Andrew C. Deck, Mark J. Bookbinder, Richard P. Fuchs, Michael D. Cronin, William J. White, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 9498211
    Abstract: A method of securing a prosthetic device to tissue includes providing an applicator instrument including a housing, a shaft, surgical fasteners, a firing rod for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the shaft, a trigger, and an energy storing element. The method includes positioning a prosthetic device over tissue, juxtaposing a distal end of the shaft with the prosthetic device, and compressing the trigger for piloting the firing rod toward the distal end of the elongated shaft at a first rate of speed. The method includes preventing the firing rod from moving distally while building up energy in the energy storing element, and further compressing the trigger for releasing the firing rod for distal movement and transferring the built up energy for moving the firing rod toward the distal end of the elongated shaft at a second rate of speed that is greater than the first rate of speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Cohn, Michael Cardinale, Richard P. Fuchs, Matthew David Daniel, Jeremy David Jarrett, Robert Nering, Anthony Miksza
  • Publication number: 20140379001
    Abstract: A method of securing a prosthetic device to tissue includes providing an applicator instrument including a housing, a shaft, surgical fasteners, a firing rod for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the shaft, a trigger, and an energy storing element. The method includes positioning a prosthetic device over tissue, juxtaposing a distal end of the shaft with the prosthetic device, and compressing the trigger for piloting the firing rod toward the distal end of the elongated shaft at a first rate of speed. The method includes preventing the firing rod from moving distally while building up energy in the energy storing element, and further compressing the trigger for releasing the firing rod for distal movement and transferring the built up energy for moving the firing rod toward the distal end of the elongated shaft at a second rate of speed that is greater than the first rate of speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Simon Cohn, Michael Cardinale, Richard P. Fuchs, Matthew David Daniel, Jeremy David Jarrett, Robert Nering, Anthony Miksza
  • Patent number: 8728099
    Abstract: A firing system for an applicator instrument adapted to dispense surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a firing rod disposed within the elongated shaft, a firing rod release engageable with the firing rod for preventing distal movement of the firing rod during at least one stage of a firing cycle, a trigger mounted to the housing, and a firing spring having a first end connected with the firing rod and a second end adapted for being sequentially coupled and decoupled from the trigger during the firing cycle. The firing cycle includes an initial stage in which the trigger is open and decoupled from the energy storing element, and the firing spring is at least partially compressed, and a piloting stage during which the firing rod release is disengaged from the firing rod for enabling distal movement of the firing rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Cohn, Michael Cardinale, Richard P. Fuchs, Matthew David Daniel, Jeremy David Jarrett
  • Patent number: 8728098
    Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, the elongated shaft having a proximal end coupled with the housing and a distal end remote therefrom, and a firing system for dispensing surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft. The firing system includes a firing rod disposed in the elongated shaft, the firing system having a firing cycle with a first stage for advancing the firing rod toward the distal end of the elongated shaft at a first rate of speed and a second stage for advancing the firing rod toward the distal end of the elongated shaft at a second rate of speed that is greater than the first rate of speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew David Daniel, Simon Cohn, Anthony Miksza, Robert Nering, Michael Cardinale, Richard P. Fuchs, Jeremy David Jarrett
  • Patent number: 8579920
    Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a firing rod disposed inside the elongated shaft and being movable within a first plane between a retracted position and an extended position, an advancer disposed inside the elongated shaft and being moveable within a second plane between a retracted position and an extended position, and a staging assembly located adjacent the distal end of the elongated shaft and being adapted to align surgical fasteners with a distal end of the firing rod. The staging assembly is held below the second plane by the advancer when the advancer is in the extended position and the staging assembly is adapted to move into at least partial alignment with the distal end of the firing rod when the advancer is in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nering, Simon Cohn, Michael Cardinale, Richard P. Fuchs, Matthew David Daniel, Jeremy David Jarrett, Race Eric Thornton, Carl Edward Griffin
  • Patent number: 8236012
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and an elongate shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas G. Molitor, Dario Vitali, Robert L. Koch, Jr., Thomas W. Huitema, Kevin A. Larson, Richard P. Fuchs
  • Patent number: 7918377
    Abstract: Circular stapling instruments for cutting and applying one or more surgical staples to tissue are disclosed. The instruments include various forms of feedback systems designed to provide at least one mode of feedback to the surgeon when the anvil has been attached to the device and/or when the anvil has been attached to the device and oriented in a firing position. Various types of feedback indicators are disclosed such as illumination devices, sound generating devices and vibration generation devices. In various embodiments, the feedback indicator comprises at least one illumination device mounted on the anvil which indicates that the anvil has been properly attached to the instrument and which can also serve to illuminate the surgical site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Measamer, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Chester O. Baxter, III, Richard P. Fuchs, Nicholas G. Molitor, Bennie Thompson, Mark Tsonton
  • Publication number: 20100292713
    Abstract: A firing system for an applicator instrument adapted to dispense surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a firing rod disposed within the elongated shaft, a firing rod release engageable with the firing rod for preventing distal movement of the firing rod during at least one stage of a firing cycle, a trigger mounted to the housing, and a firing spring having a first end connected with the firing rod and a second end adapted for being sequentially coupled and decoupled from the trigger during the firing cycle. The firing cycle includes an initial stage in which the trigger is open and decoupled from the energy storing element, and the firing spring is at least partially compressed, and a piloting stage during which the firing rod release is disengaged from the firing rod for enabling distal movement of the firing rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Cohn, Michael Cardinale, Richard P. Fuchs, Matthew David Daniel, Jeremy David Jarrett
  • Publication number: 20100292712
    Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a firing rod disposed inside the elongated shaft and being movable within a first plane between a retracted position and an extended position, an advancer disposed inside the elongated shaft and being moveable within a second plane between a retracted position and an extended position, and a staging assembly located adjacent the distal end of the elongated shaft and being adapted to align surgical fasteners with a distal end of the firing rod. The staging assembly is held below the second plane by the advancer when the advancer is in the extended position and the staging assembly is adapted to move into at least partial alignment with the distal end of the firing rod when the advancer is in the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nering, Simon Cohn, Michael Cardinale, Richard P. Fuchs, Matthew David Daniel, Jeremy David Jarrett