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).

  • Publication number: 20210228087
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20210234993
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 11045247
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, William D. Faulkner, Donald L. Tonn
  • Patent number: 11013548
    Abstract: A control system for use with an electrosurgical generator which delivers electrosurgical energy to tissue has a control module. The module includes a processor executing an algorithm. The algorithm has the steps of determining a sensed voltage value corresponding to a sensed voltage signal output by the electrosurgical generator and determining a sensed current value corresponding to a sensed current signal output by the electrosurgical generator. The algorithm has the steps of determining phase information corresponding to a phase shift between the voltage signal and the current signal and determining a characteristic related to the electrosurgical energy delivered to the tissue using the phase information, the sensed voltage value and the sensed current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN AG
    Inventors: Robert Behnke, Robert H. Wham
  • Patent number: 10980595
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Robert H. Wham
  • Publication number: 20210100606
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Jing Zhao, Robert H. Wham, Christopher T. Brown, Anjali Dhiman
  • Publication number: 20200265309
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for estimating tissue parameters, includes collecting data, from a surgical system including an instrument and an energy source, the data including at least one electrical parameter associated with delivering energy from the instrument to tissue, communicating the data to at least one machine learning algorithm, determining, using the at least one machine learning algorithm, a tissue parameter based upon the data, communicating the determined tissue parameter to a computing device associated with the energy source for use in formulating an energy-delivery algorithm for delivering energy from the instrument to tissue, and delivering energy from the instrument of the surgical system to tissue in accordance with the energy-delivery algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Jing Zhao
  • Patent number: 10653471
    Abstract: Controlling a level of electrosurgical energy provided to tissue based on detected arcing patterns or impedance changes. The drag force imposed on an electrode or blade of an electrosurgical instrument may be controlled by adjusting the level of electrosurgical energy based on the arcing patterns or impedance changes. The arcing patterns or impedance changes may be detected by sensing and analyzing voltage and/or current waveforms of the electrosurgical energy. The current and/or voltage waveform analysis may involve calculating impedance based on the voltage and current waveforms and calculating changes in impedance over time. The waveform analysis may involve detecting harmonic distortion using FFTs, DFTs, Goertzel filters, polyphase demodulation techniques, and/or bandpass filters. The waveform analysis may involve determining a normalized difference or the average phase difference between the voltage and current waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, James A. Gilbert, Craig A. Keller, Brian L. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20200100835
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: THOMAS E. DROCHNER, JAMES D. ALLEN, IV, DYLAN R. KINGSLEY, PRAKASH MANLEY, TONY MOUA, WILLIAM E. ROBINSON, ROBERT H. WHAM
  • Publication number: 20200100834
    Abstract: 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 clip 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 tissue harpoon configured to connect to the return electrode port. Another tissue removal system includes an active electrode device and a return electrode attachment configured to releasably engage the active electrode device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: THOMAS E. DROCHNER, JAMES D. ALLEN, IV, DYLAN R. KINGSLEY, PRAKASH MANLEY, TONY MOUA, WILLIAM E. ROBINSON, ROBERT H. WHAM
  • Publication number: 20190254736
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: ROBERT H. WHAM, WILLIAM D. FAULKNER, DONALD L. TONN
  • Publication number: 20190223942
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: NICOLE MCKENNA, ROBERT H. WHAM
  • Publication number: 20190125426
    Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods relate to detecting coupling or uncoupling of an external cable from an output port of an electrosurgical generator when a cable detection switch is unavailable or inoperable. The electrosurgical generator includes internal cabling having a first end portion connected to the output port and a second end portion. The disclosed technology includes supplying power from the electrosurgical generator, measuring current and voltage at the second end portion of the internal cabling within the electrosurgical generator, accessing one or more parameters associated with internal cable compensation corresponding to the internal cabling within the electrosurgical generator, and determining coupling or uncoupling of an external cable from the output port based on the measured current, the measured voltage, and the one or more parameters associated with internal cable compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: WILLIAM D. FAULKNER, ROBERT H. WHAM
  • Patent number: 10258407
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes an electrosurgical energy output configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to a bipolar end effector assembly in a conductive fluid environment for treating tissue. A controller having a processor is configured to control a waveform of the electrosurgical energy such that the waveform oscillates between a cut phase for initiating and sustaining tissue cutting, wherein the waveform includes a cut energy greater than the energy needed to create and sustain arcing, and a hemostasis phase, for desiccating/coagulating tissue, wherein the waveform includes a hemostasis energy less than the energy needed to sustain arcing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Arlen K. Ward, Joe D. Sartor, Robert H. Wham
  • Patent number: 10245104
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Nicole McKenna, Robert H. Wham
  • Publication number: 20190083168
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventor: ROBERT H. WHAM
  • Patent number: 10130412
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Robert H. Wham
  • Patent number: 10058374
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Robert H. Wham
  • Patent number: 9901385
    Abstract: The electrosurgical systems and methods of the present disclosure perform cable compensation using an electrosurgical generator that includes a plurality of sensors configured to sense voltage and current waveforms, a plurality of medium-band filters, a plurality of narrowband filters, and a signal processor. The plurality of medium-band filters and narrowband filters pass sensed voltage and current waveforms at a plurality of predetermined frequencies. The signal processor calculates medium-band RMS voltage and current values using the output from the plurality of medium-band filters, calculates narrowband phase and magnitude values using the output from the plurality of narrowband filters, calculates tissue impedance based on the medium-band RMS voltage and current values and the narrowband phase value, and generates a control signal to control the energy generated by the electrosurgical generator based on the calculated tissue impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Andrey Y. Belous, Alexander M. Waskiewicz, Anthony D. Ricke
  • Patent number: 9901386
    Abstract: The electrosurgical systems and methods of the present disclosure perform cable compensation using an electrosurgical generator that includes a plurality of sensors configured to sense voltage and current waveforms, a plurality of medium-band filters, a plurality of narrowband filters, and a signal processor. The plurality of medium-band filters and narrowband filters pass sensed voltage and current waveforms at a plurality of predetermined frequencies. The signal processor calculates medium-band RMS voltage and current values using the output from the plurality of medium-band filters, calculates narrowband phase and magnitude values using the output from the plurality of narrowband filters, calculates tissue impedance based on the medium-band RMS voltage and current values and the narrowband phase value, and generates a control signal to control the energy generated by the electrosurgical generator based on the calculated tissue impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Andrey Y. Belous, Alexander M. Waskiewicz, Anthony D. Ricke