Patents by Inventor Robert H. Wham
Robert H. Wham 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).
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Publication number: 20250049497Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling delivery of electrosurgical energy to a vessel to seal the vessel, includes collecting data from an electrosurgical system including an instrument and energy source while the instrument is delivering electrosurgical energy from the energy source to a vessel, predicting by using a machine learning algorithm a burst pressure probability of the vessel based on the data, and determining if the vessel is adequately sealed based on the prediction. The data includes an electrical parameter associated with the delivery of the electrosurgical energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2024Publication date: February 13, 2025Inventors: Jing Zhao, Robert H. Wham, Christopher T. Brown, Anjali Dhiman
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Patent number: 12156691Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members. At least one of the first or second jaw members is movable about a pivot relative to the other from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position to grasp tissue between first and second opposed surfaces of the first and second jaw members, respectively. The electrosurgical instrument further includes an interface configured to provide a feedback related to a size of tissue grasped by the first and second jaw members. At least one of the first or second jaw members includes a touch sensor configured to sense a touch span where the tissue touches the at least one of the first or second opposed surfaces. The end effector assembly further includes an angle sensor configured to sense an angle ? about the pivot between the first and second opposed surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2021Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Amanda H. Lennartz, Daniel A. Joseph, Jennifer R. McHenry, Cornelia F. Twomey, David M. Garrison, Tyler J. Bagrosky, Robert H. Wham, Jing Zhao, Erin E. Wehrly
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Patent number: 12094061Abstract: A system for updating a three dimensional (3D) model based on a deformed or displaced anatomical structure in a body includes a first imaging device configured to capture an image inside of a body, a location sensor installed in the first imaging device and configured to identify a location of the first imaging device, a memory configured to store one or more programs and a 3D model of at least a portion of the body, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform the one or more programs to identify a location of an anatomical structure, which is captured in the image, in the body based on the location of the location sensor, and/or to identify a shape of the anatomical structure in the image. The controller updates, as necessary, the 3D model based on the location and/or the shape of the anatomical structure.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2021Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Robert H. Wham
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Publication number: 20240293166Abstract: A controller for an electrosurgical generator includes an RF inverter, a signal processor, a software compensator, a hardware compensator, and an RF inverter controller. The RF inverter generates an electrosurgical waveform and the signal processor outputs a measured value of at least one of a voltage, a current, or power of the electrosurgical waveform. The software compensator generates a desired value for at least one of the voltage, the current, or the power of the electrosurgical waveform, and the hardware compensator generates a phase shift based on the measured value and the desired value. The RF inverter controller generates a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal based on the phase shift to control the RF inverter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2024Publication date: September 5, 2024Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Edward L. Brannan, William D. Faulkner, Mark A. Johnston, Aaron G. Mattmiller, Donald L. Tonn
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Patent number: 12053231Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling delivery of electrosurgical energy to a vessel to seal the vessel, includes collecting data from an electrosurgical system including an instrument and energy source while the instrument is delivering electrosurgical energy from the energy source to a vessel, predicting by using a machine learning algorithm a burst pressure probability of the vessel based on the data, and determining if the vessel is adequately sealed based on the prediction. The data includes an electrical parameter associated with the delivery of the electrosurgical energy.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2020Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Jing Zhao, Robert H. Wham, Christopher T. Brown, Anjali Dhiman
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Patent number: 11969201Abstract: A controller for an electrosurgical generator includes an RF inverter, a signal processor, a software compensator, a hardware compensator, and an RF inverter controller. The RF inverter generates an electrosurgical waveform and the signal processor outputs a measured value of at least one of a voltage, a current, or power of the electrosurgical waveform. The software compensator generates a desired value for at least one of the voltage, the current, or the power of the electrosurgical waveform, and the hardware compensator generates a phase shift based on the measured value and the desired value. The RF inverter controller generates a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal based on the phase shift to control the RF inverter.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Robert H. Wham, Edward L. Brannan, William D. Faulkner, Mark A. Johnston, Aaron G. Mattmiller, Donald L. Tonn
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Patent number: 11903636Abstract: A tissue removal system includes an electrosurgical generator including an active electrode port and a return electrode port, an active electrode device configured to connect to the active electrode port, and a return tissue guard configured to connect to the return electrode port. Another tissue removal system includes an electrosurgical generator including an active electrode port and a return electrode port, an active electrode device configured to connect to the active electrode port, and a return specimen bag configured to connect to the return electrode port.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2018Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Thomas E. Drochner, James D. Allen, IV, Dylan R. Kingsley, Prakash Manley, Tony Moua, William E. Robinson, Robert H. Wham
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Patent number: 11832916Abstract: A method includes providing a graphical representation of a surgical site, grasping the tissue of the patient with first and second jaw members of an end effector including a location sensor, illuminating optical light into the grasped tissue at the first jaw member, receiving the optical light that has passed through the grasped tissue, at the second jaw member, processing the received light to identify a vessel, which is encompassed within the grasped tissue, receiving location information of the end effector from the location sensor, synchronizing a location of the identified vessel within the graphical representation based on the location information, and displaying the identified vessel at the synchronized location in the graphical representation.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2020Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Amanda H. Lennartz, Daniel A. Joseph, Cornelia F. Twomey, Erin E. Wehrly, David M. Garrison, Tyler J. Bagrosky, Robert H. Wham, Jing Zhao, Tracy J. Pheneger
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Publication number: 20230328344Abstract: A system includes a surgical instrument configured to perform a laparoscopic surgical operation, a location sensor configured to identify a spatial relationship between an anatomical structure and the surgical instrument, and a processor configured to receive a graphical representation of a patient, determine proximity of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument with the anatomical structure of the patient based on the spatial relationship, and generate a warning based on the determination of proximity.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Inventors: Amanda H. Lennartz, Daniel A. Joseph, Cornelia F. Twomey, Erin E. Wehrly, Pierre Gherardi, Tracy J. Pheneger, David M. Garrison, Tyler J. Bagrosky, Robert H. Wham, Jing Zhao
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Patent number: 11717339Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating tissue parameters, including mass of tissue to be treated and a thermal resistance scale factor between the tissue and an electrode of an energy delivery device, are disclosed. The method includes sensing tissue temperatures, estimating a mass of the tissue and a thermal resistance scale factor between the tissue and an electrode, and controlling an electrosurgical generator based on the estimated mass and the estimated thermal resistance scale factor. The method may be performed iteratively and non-iteratively. The iterative method may employ a gradient descent algorithm that iteratively adds a derivative step to the estimates of the mass and thermal resistance scale factor until a condition is met. The non-iterative method includes selecting maximum and minimum temperature differences and estimating the mass and the thermal resistance scale factor based on a predetermined reduction point from the maximum temperature difference to the minimum temperature difference.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Robert H. Wham
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Patent number: 11711596Abstract: A system includes a surgical instrument configured to perform a laparoscopic surgical operation, a location sensor configured to identify a spatial relationship between an anatomical structure and the surgical instrument, and a processor configured to receive a graphical representation of a patient, determine proximity of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument with the anatomical structure of the patient based on the spatial relationship, and generate a warning based on the determination of proximity.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Amanda H. Lennartz, Daniel A. Joseph, Cornelia F. Twomey, Erin E. Wehrly, Pierre Gherardi, Tracy J. Pheneger, David M. Garrison, Tyler J. Bagrosky, Robert H. Wham, Jing Zhao
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Publication number: 20230015369Abstract: A computer implemented method for controlling an ultrasonic surgical system includes activating an ultrasonic surgical system including an ultrasonic generator, an ultrasonic transducer, and an ultrasonic blade. The method further includes collecting data from the ultrasonic surgical system, communicating the data to a machine learning algorithm, determining the vessel size based on the data, using the machine learning algorithm, communicating the determined vessel size to a computing device associated with the ultrasonic generator, and controlling the activated ultrasonic surgical system in accordance with the vessel size. The data may include an electrical parameter associated with the activated ultrasonic surgical system. When the ultrasonic surgical system is activated, the ultrasonic generator produces a drive signal to drive the ultrasonic transducer which, in turn, produces ultrasonic energy that is transmitted to the ultrasonic blade for treating a vessel in contact with the ultrasonic blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2021Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Jing Zhao, Christopher T. Brown, Christopher Tschudy, Anjali Dhiman, Robert H. Wham, Kelly Goodman, David Van Tol, Kristen Bradley
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Publication number: 20220395344Abstract: A surgical system includes at least one audio sensor configured to sense audio during a surgical procedure and to output audio data based on the sensed audio. The surgical system further includes a computing device operably coupled to the at least one audio sensor and configured to receive the output audio data from the at least one audio sensor. The computing device includes a processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine at least one of a cause or a location of a sound based at least on the output audio data and to output an indication of the at least one of the cause or location of the sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2022Publication date: December 15, 2022Inventors: Robert H. Wham, William E. Robinson, James D. Allen, IV
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Patent number: 11497547Abstract: A jaw angle detection system for an end effector assembly includes a first electrical contact that connects to a first jaw member and connects to a generator. A sensor connects to a second jaw member (or an actuator) and connects to the generator, and configured to move relative to the first electrical contact upon movement of the second jaw member (or the actuator) when the first and second jaw members are moved to close about tissue disposed therebetween. Information relating to the position of the sensor relative to the first electrical contact is relayed back to the generator to determine an angle between the first and second jaw members.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2019Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Nicole McKenna, Robert H. Wham
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Publication number: 20210369324Abstract: A controller for an electrosurgical generator includes an RF inverter, a signal processor, a software compensator, a hardware compensator, and an RF inverter controller. The RF inverter generates an electrosurgical waveform and the signal processor outputs a measured value of at least one of a voltage, a current, or power of the electrosurgical waveform. The software compensator generates a desired value for at least one of the voltage, the current, or the power of the electrosurgical waveform, and the hardware compensator generates a phase shift based on the measured value and the desired value. The RF inverter controller generates a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal based on the phase shift to control the RF inverter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Edward L. Brannan, William D. Faulkner, Mark A. Johnston, Aaron G. Mattmiller, Donald L. Tonn
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Publication number: 20210330375Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members. At least one of the first or second jaw members is movable about a pivot relative to the other from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position to grasp tissue between first and second opposed surfaces of the first and second jaw members, respectively. The electrosurgical instrument further includes an interface configured to provide a feedback related to a size of tissue grasped by the first and second jaw members. At least one of the first or second jaw members includes a touch sensor configured to sense a touch span where the tissue touches the at least one of the first or second opposed surfaces. The end effector assembly further includes an angle sensor configured to sense an angle ? about the pivot between the first and second opposed surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Amanda H. Lennartz, Daniel A. Joseph, Jennifer R. McHenry, Cornelia F. Twomey, David M. Garrison, Tyler J. Bagrosky, Robert H. Wham, Jing Zhao, Erin E. Wehrly
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Publication number: 20210322085Abstract: The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical systems and methods for controlling electrical treatment energy in connection with electrical arcs. A method in accordance with the present disclosure includes providing electrical treatment energy to an instrument based on an indicated electrical energy level, accessing voltage signal values over time relating to voltage of the electrical treatment energy and/or current signal values over time relating to current of the electrical treatment energy, determining whether an arc generated by the instrument is an arc to be maintained or an arc to be extinguished based on a threshold value and at least one of the voltage signal values or the current signal values, and controlling the electrical treatment energy based on determining that the arc is an arc to be extinguished.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Robert H. Wham, William D. Faulkner, Donald L. Tonn
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Publication number: 20210290292Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical instrument configured for insertion into a surgical site, a sensor configured to sense at least one property of smoke at the surgical site, and a surgical generator including a controller and an energy output. The energy output is configured to supply energy to the surgical instrument for application to tissue at the surgical site to treat the tissue. The controller is configured to receive the at least one property, determine at least one parameter of smoke at the surgical site based upon the at least one property, and control the energy output based upon the at least one parameter and/or provide an output based upon the at least one parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Daniel A. Joseph, Jennifer R. McHenry, Cornelia F. Twomey, Erin E. Wehrly, Tracy J. Pheneger, David M. Garrison, Tyler J. Bagrosky, Robert H. Wham, Jing Zhao
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Publication number: 20210295990Abstract: A method of surgery includes inserting a surgical instrument into a surgical site, supplying energy from a surgical generator to tissue at the surgical site via the surgical instrument to treat the tissue, sensing at least one property of smoke at the surgical site, and determining at least one parameter of smoke at the surgical site based upon the at least one property. The method further includes controlling the supply of energy from the surgical generator based upon the at least one parameter and/or providing an output based upon the at least one parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Daniel A. Joseph, Jennifer R. McHenry, Cornelia F. Twomey, Erin E. Wehrly, Tracy J. Pheneger, David M. Garrison, Tyler J. Bagrosky, Robert H. Wham, Jing Zhao
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Publication number: 20210290297Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an end effector assembly and a sensor. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members each defining an electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface. At least one of the first or second jaw members is movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue between the tissue-contacting surfaces thereof. The electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces of the first and second jaw members are adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for conducting energy through tissue grasped therebetween to treat tissue. The sensor is configured to sense at least one property of smoke produced as a result of the conduction of energy through tissue grasped between the electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Amanda H. Lennartz, Daniel A. Joseph, Jennifer R. McHenry, Cornelia F. Twomey, Erin E. Wehrly, Tracy J. Pheneger, David M. Garrison, Tyler J. Bagrosky, Robert H. Wham, Jing Zhao