Patents by Inventor Robert Weikel

Robert Weikel 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: 20080114264
    Abstract: A biopsy device and method are provided for obtaining a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample. The biopsy device may include an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, a side tissue port communicating with the cutter lumen, and at least one fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue port. The inner cutter may be advanced in the cutter lumen past the side tissue port to sever a tissue sample. After the tissue sample is severed, and before the inner cutter is retracted proximally of the side tissue port, the cutter may be used to alternately cover and uncover the fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Weikel, Lee Reichel, John Hibner, Michael Ludzack
  • Publication number: 20070239067
    Abstract: A biopsy device and method are provided for obtaining a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample. The biopsy device includes a disposable probe assembly with an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, and a cutter tube that rotates and translates past a side aperture in the outer cannula to sever a tissue sample. The biopsy device also includes a reusable handpiece with an integral motor and power source to make a convenient, untethered control for use with ultrasonic imaging. The reusable handpiece incorporates a probe oscillation mode to assist when inserting the distal piercing tip into tissue. The motor also actuates an attached sample revolver drum assembly in coordination with movement of the cutter tube to provide sequentially stored tissue samples in a sample storage bandolier that is rotated about a revolver cylindrical drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: John Hibner, Trevor Speeg, Bennie Thompson, Richard Nuchols, Wells Haberstich, Gavin Monson, Robert Weikel
  • Publication number: 20070050611
    Abstract: Representative of the various embodiments is a method for implementation during a computer's boot sequence to load a selected operating system (OS) of interest. For purposes of such a method the computer includes a system BIOS, a video BIOS, and a customary boot loader accessible from a pre-determined address pointed to by a system interrupt pointer. During system BIOS execution, the system interrupt pointer is redirected to an alternate address from which a replacement boot loader is accessible. The selected OS of interest is then loaded via the replacement boot loader rather than the customary boot loader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventor: Robert Weikel
  • Publication number: 20070032742
    Abstract: A biopsy device and method are provided for obtaining a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample. The biopsy device includes a disposable probe assembly with an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, and a cutter tube that rotates and translates past a side aperture in the outer cannula to sever a tissue sample. The biopsy device also includes a reusable hand piece with an integral motor and power source to make a convenient, untethered control for use with ultrasonic imaging. The reusable hand piece incorporates a probe oscillation mode to assist when inserting the distal piercing tip into tissue. External vacuum holes along the outer cannula (probe) that communicate with a vacuum and cutter lumen withdraw bodily fluids while a hemostatic disk-shaped ring pad around the probe applies compression to an external hole in the skin and absorbs fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: Gavin Monson, Trevor Speeg, Bennie Thompson, Robert Weikel, Michael Ludzack, John Hibner
  • Publication number: 20060200040
    Abstract: A biopsy device and method are provided for obtaining a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample. The biopsy device may include an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, a side tissue port communicating with the cutter lumen, and at least one fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue port. The inner cutter may be advanced in the cutter lumen past the side tissue port to sever a tissue sample. After the tissue sample is severed, and before the inner cutter is retracted proximally of the side tissue port, the cutter may be used to alternately cover and uncover the fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Weikel, Lee Reichel, John Hibner, Michael Ludzack
  • Publication number: 20060200042
    Abstract: A biopsy device and method are provided for obtaining a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample. The biopsy device may include an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, a side tissue port communicating with the cutter lumen, and at least one fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue port. The inner cutter may be advanced in the cutter lumen past the side tissue port to sever a tissue sample. After the tissue sample is severed, and before the inner cutter is retracted proximally of the side tissue port, the cutter may be used to alternately cover and uncover the fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Weikel, Gwendolyn Payne, John Andrisek
  • Publication number: 20060200041
    Abstract: A biopsy device and method are provided for obtaining a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample. The biopsy device may include an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, a side tissue port communicating with the cutter lumen, and at least one fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue port. The inner cutter may be advanced in the cutter lumen past the side tissue port to sever a tissue sample. After the tissue sample is severed, and before the inner cutter is retracted proximally of the side tissue port, the cutter may be used to alternately cover and uncover the fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Weikel, Gwendolyn Payne, John Andrisek