Patents by Inventor Robert B. Smith

Robert B. Smith 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: 10614949
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: a multilayered dielectric substrate including a plurality of dielectric layers; a planar magnetic device disposed on at least one internal dielectric layer of the plurality of dielectric layers; and an overlapping shield assembly including a first shield layer and a second shield layer separated by at least one of the plurality of dielectric layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Robert B. Smith, Daniel A. Friedrichs, Steven C. Rupp
  • Publication number: 20200100831
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes a power supply configured to output a DC waveform, a current or voltage source coupled to the power supply and a power converter coupled to the current or voltage source, the power converter including at least one power switching element and a power inductor having an inductance value during switching of the at least one power switching element. The electrosurgical generator further includes a zero voltage switching (ZVS) inducing circuit coupled to the power converter at a switching node, the ZVS inducing circuit including an inductor having an inductance which is greater than the inductance value of the power inductor of the at least one power switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Steven C. Rupp, Robert B. Smith, Daniel A. Friedrichs
  • Patent number: 10537377
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes: a power supply configured to output a direct current; an energy metering stage including at least one metering switching component operated by a metering switching waveform, the energy metering stage configured to generate a metered energy packet from the direct current; a power converter coupled to the energy metering stage, the power converter including at least one power switching element operated by a power switching waveform, the power converter configured to generate a radio frequency half cycle based on the metered energy packet; and a controller coupled to the power converter, the controller is configured to modulate the metering switching waveform and the power switching waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Daniel A. Friedrichs, Robert B. Smith, Steven C. Rupp
  • Patent number: 10537378
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes: a power supply configured to output a DC waveform; a current or voltage source coupled to the power supply and configured to output current; and a power converter coupled to the current source. The power converter includes at least one power switching element operated at a switching waveform and configured to generate a radio frequency waveform based on the energy from the current or voltage source. The radio frequency waveform includes at least one pulse having an overshoot peak. The electrosurgical generator further includes a clipper circuit coupled to the current source and the power converter, the clipper circuit configured to generate a clipping voltage to clip the overshoot peak; and a controller coupled to the power converter and configured to modulate the switching waveform to generate the radio frequency waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Robert B. Smith, Steven C. Rupp, Daniel A. Friedrichs
  • Patent number: 10492848
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes a power supply configured to output a DC waveform, a current or voltage source coupled to the power supply and a power converter coupled to the current or voltage source, the power converter including at least one power switching element and a power inductor having an inductance value during switching of the at least one power switching element. The electrosurgical generator further includes a zero voltage switching (ZVS) inducing circuit coupled to the power converter at a switching node, the ZVS inducing circuit including an inductor having an inductance which is greater than the inductance value of the power inductor of the at least one power switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Steven C. Rupp, Robert B. Smith, Daniel A. Friedrichs
  • Publication number: 20190216530
    Abstract: A surgical instrument end effector assembly includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The second jaw member includes an ultrasonic blade body and first and second electrodes disposed on either side of the ultrasonic blade body and extending longitudinally along a majority of a length of the ultrasonic blade body. The ultrasonic blade body is adapted to receive ultrasonic energy from an ultrasonic waveguide. The first and second electrodes taper in width proximally to distally and are adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. The first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: RACHAEL L. KABALA, ANTHONY B. ROSS, DAVID J. VAN TOL, ROBERT B. STODDARD, ROBERT B. SMITH
  • Patent number: 10154872
    Abstract: A medical device for treating tissue includes a tissue-contacting surface and a solid state heating element that is thermally coupled to the tissue-contacting surface. The solid state heating element is configured to generate heat to thermally treat tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Craig A. Keller, Robert B. Smith
  • Patent number: 10123460
    Abstract: A thermal management system and method for electronic devices is provided. The system includes an electronic device, a heat sink, and a thermally conducting and electrically insulating thermal bridge that is interposed between the electronic device and the heat sink. The thermal bridge thermally couples the electronic device to the heat sink and electrically isolates the electronic device from the heat sink. The electronic device, the heat sink, and the thermal bridge are mounted on a same planar surface of a printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LLP
    Inventors: Steven C. Rupp, Daniel A. Friedrichs, Robert B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20180042659
    Abstract: A generator is configured to output two or more waveforms at different frequencies. In particular, the generator is configured to provide an ultrasonic waveform, which may be suitable for driving a transducer of an ultrasonic surgical instrument, and electrosurgical radiofrequency energy, which may be suitable for electrosurgical instruments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: STEVEN C. RUPP, ROBERT B. SMITH, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS
  • Patent number: 9872723
    Abstract: A surgical system and method is provided generally including a portable surgical instrument, a battery assembly, and a battery charger. The battery assembly is removably coupled to the portable surgical instrument and is configured to wirelessly transfer electrical power to the portable surgical instrument. The battery assembly is also removably couplable to the battery charger and is configured to wirelessly transfer electrical power to the battery charger and wirelessly receive electrical power from the battery charger. The portable surgical instrument and the battery charger are configured for simultaneous bi-directional communication of data with the battery assembly via the transferred or received electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Robert B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170365398
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: a multilayered dielectric substrate including a plurality of dielectric layers; a planar magnetic device disposed on at least one internal dielectric layer of the plurality of dielectric layers; and an overlapping shield assembly including a first shield layer and a second shield layer separated by at least one of the plurality of dielectric layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: ROBERT B. SMITH, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS, STEVEN C. RUPP
  • Patent number: 9844404
    Abstract: An electrosurgical system for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided and includes an electrosurgical generator and a calibration computer system. The electrosurgical generator includes one or more processors and a measurement module including one or more log amps that are in operative communication with the processor. The calibration computer system configured to couple to a measurement device and is configured to measure parameters of an output signal generated by the electrosurgical generator. The calibration computer system is configured to compile the measured parameters into one or more data look-up tables and couple to the electrosurgical generator for transferring the data look-up table(s) to memory of the electrosurgical generator. The microprocessor is configured to receive an output from the log amp(s) and access the data look-up table(s) from memory to execute one or more control algorithms for controlling an output of the electrosurgical generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Robert J. Behnke, II, Donald W. Heckel, Robert B. Smith, James E. Krapohl
  • Publication number: 20170354455
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes: a power supply configured to output a direct current; a current source coupled to the power supply and configured to output source current based on the direct current, and a power converter coupled to the current source, the power converter including at least one power switching element operated at a switching waveform. The power converter is configured to generate a converted waveform based on the source current. The electrosurgical generator also includes a controller coupled to the power converter and configured to modulate the switching waveform and a snubber circuit coupled to the current source and the power converter. The snubber circuit is configured to return the voltage at the at least one power switching element to zero after the power converter generates at least a portion of the converted waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: ROBERT B. SMITH, STEVEN C. RUPP, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS
  • Publication number: 20170325873
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes a power supply configured to output a DC waveform, a current or voltage source coupled to the power supply and a power converter coupled to the current or voltage source, the power converter including at least one power switching element and a power inductor having an inductance value during switching of the at least one power switching element. The electrosurgical generator further includes a zero voltage switching (ZVS) inducing circuit coupled to the power converter at a switching node, the ZVS inducing circuit including an inductor having an inductance which is greater than the inductance value of the power inductor of the at least one power switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: STEVEN C. RUPP, ROBERT B. SMITH, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS
  • Publication number: 20170325837
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical instrument and a cooling module. The cooling module includes a fluid reservoir retaining a conductive cooling fluid, a pump configured to pump the conductive cooling fluid along a flowpath, first and second electrodes disposed at first and second positions along the flowpath and configured to sense an electrical property of the conductive cooling fluid at the first and second positions, and a controller configured to determine an impedance of the conductive cooling fluid between the first and second positions based upon the sensed electrical properties of the first and second electrodes. A method for cooling a surgical instrument includes detecting an electrical property of a conductive cooling fluid at first and second positions along a flowpath and determining an impedance of the conductive cooling fluid between the first and second positions based upon the detected electrical properties at the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: JAMES E. THOMPSON, ROBERT B. SMITH, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS
  • Publication number: 20170325872
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes: a power supply configured to output a direct current; an energy metering stage including at least one metering switching component operated by a metering switching waveform, the energy metering stage configured to generate a metered energy packet from the direct current; a power converter coupled to the energy metering stage, the power converter including at least one power switching element operated by a power switching waveform, the power converter configured to generate a radio frequency half cycle based on the metered energy packet; and a controller coupled to the power converter, the controller is configured to modulate the metering switching waveform and the power switching waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS, ROBERT B. SMITH, STEVEN C. RUPP
  • Publication number: 20170315155
    Abstract: A current sensor includes a current sense coil disposed about a conductive lead, the current sense coil configured to sense a current passing through the conductive lead. The current sense coil includes: a first outer coil configured to detect a first magnetic field generated by the current; a second outer coil configured to detect the first magnetic field, the second outer coil further configured to cancel an electrical field induced in the first outer coil; and an inner conductor disposed between the first outer coil and the second outer coil, the inner conductor configured to detect a second magnetic field generated by the current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventor: ROBERT B. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20170252090
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes: a power supply configured to output a DC waveform; a current or voltage source coupled to the power supply and configured to output current; and a power converter coupled to the current source. The power converter includes at least one power switching element operated at a switching waveform and configured to generate a radio frequency waveform based on the energy from the current or voltage source. The radio frequency waveform includes at least one pulse having an overshoot peak. The electrosurgical generator further includes a clipper circuit coupled to the current source and the power converter, the clipper circuit configured to generate a clipping voltage to clip the overshoot peak; and a controller coupled to the power converter and configured to modulate the switching waveform to generate the radio frequency waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: ROBERT B. SMITH, STEVEN C. RUPP, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS
  • Publication number: 20170164994
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a power supply, a surgical instrument, and a power and data interface assembly. The power and data interface assembly includes a transformer having a primary winding, to which a first modulator and a second demodulator are coupled, and a secondary winding, to which a second modulator and a first demodulator are coupled. The power supply provides a power signal to the first modulator. The first modulator is configured to modulate, according to a first type of modulation, the power signal based on first data. The modulated power signal is communicated by the first modulator to the first demodulator by way of the transformer. The second modulator is configured to modulate, according to a second type of modulation, a second signal based on second data. The modulated second signal is communicated by the second modulator to the second demodulator by way of the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventor: ROBERT B. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20170135744
    Abstract: A system and method for return electrode monitoring are provided. The system includes an isolation circuit, a first controller, a second controller, and a detection circuit. The isolation circuit includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The first controller is coupled to the primary winding. The second controller and the detection circuit are coupled to the secondary winding. The detection circuit includes an interrogation signal circuit, a resonant tank filter, and a current-to-voltage converter. The interrogation signal circuit provides an interrogation signal to at least one electrode pad. The resonant tank filter filters a response signal received from the electrode pad. The current-to-voltage converter generates a voltage signal based on a current value of the response signal. The second controller generates a digital impedance value based on the voltage signal, and provides the digital impedance value to the first controller by way of the isolation circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: ROBERT B. SMITH, STEVEN C. RUPP, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS