Patents by Inventor Rick P. Fuchs

Rick 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).

  • Method for delivering a plurality of fasteners
    Patent number: 7905893
    Abstract: A delivery device for delivering a plurality of individual surgical fasteners. The delivery device includes a drive mechanism having distal and proximal ends. The drive mechanism has a moving member and a fixed opposing member, wherein the moving member is moveable proximally and distally with respect to the delivery device. The moving member has a sharpened distal end for piercing tissue. The device includes at least one surgical fastener located between the first and the second members. Each of the at least one surgical fasteners has a proximal end and a distal end. The device also has an actuator having at least two sequential positions. A first position for moving the moving member distally and piercing tissue, and a second position for moving the moving member proximally, thereby deploying the distal end of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse J. Kuhns, Robert L. Koch, Bennie Thompson, Rick P. Fuchs, David K. Norvelle
  • Surgical instrument having a fastener delivery mechanism
    Patent number: 7485124
    Abstract: A delivery device for delivering a plurality of individual surgical fasteners. The delivery device includes a drive mechanism having distal and proximal ends. The drive mechanism has a moving member and a fixed opposing member, wherein the moving member is moveable proximally and distally with respect to the delivery device. The moving member has a sharpened distal end for piercing tissue. The device includes at least one surgical fastener located between the first and the second members. Each of the at least one surgical fasteners has a proximal end and a distal end. The device also has an actuator having at least two sequential positions. A first position for moving the moving member distally and piercing tissue, and a second position for moving the moving member proximally, thereby deploying the distal end of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse J. Kuhns, Robert L. Koch, Bennie Thompson, Rick P. Fuchs, David K. Norvelle
  • Surgical instrument having a fastener delivery mechanism
    Publication number: 20080243143
    Abstract: A delivery device for delivering a plurality of individual surgical fasteners. The delivery device includes a drive mechanism having distal and proximal ends. The drive mechanism has a moving member and a fixed opposing member, wherein the moving member is moveable proximally and distally with respect to the delivery device. The moving member has a sharpened distal end for piercing tissue. The device includes at least one surgical fastener located between the first and the second members. Each of the at least one surgical fasteners has a proximal end and a distal end. The device also has an actuator having at least two sequential positions. A first position for moving the moving member distally and piercing tissue, and a second position for moving the moving member proximally, thereby deploying the distal end of the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Jesse J. Kuhns, Robert L. Koch, Bennie Thompson, Rick P. Fuchs, David K. Norvelle
  • Surgical instrument having a fastener delivery mechanism
    Publication number: 20020068947
    Abstract: A delivery device for delivering a plurality of individual surgical fasteners. The delivery device includes a drive mechanism having distal and proximal ends. The drive mechanism has a moving member and a fixed opposing member, wherein the moving member is moveable proximally and distally with respect to the delivery device. The moving member has a sharpened distal end for piercing tissue. The device includes at least one surgical fastener located between the first and the second members. Each of the at least one surgical fasteners has a proximal end and a distal end. The device also has an actuator having at least two sequential positions. A first position for moving the moving member distally and piercing tissue, and a second position for moving the moving member proximally, thereby deploying the distal end of the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Jesse J. Kuhns, Robert L. Koch, Bennie Thompson, Rick P. Fuchs, David K. Norvelle