Patents by Inventor Ruth E. Costa

Ruth E. Costa 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).

  • Actuating and articulating surgical device
    Patent number: 8771260
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device, and in particular for performing various surgical procedures using an instrument having an end effector that can be articulated relative to an elongate shaft of the device. A decoupling member can isolate the actuation of the end effector from the articulation of the end effector. In certain embodiments, the end effector can also optionally rotate relative to the elongate shaft of the device, and/or the shaft can rotate relative to a handle of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Conlon, Rudolph H. Nobis, Frederick Q. Johnson, Steven P. Woodard, Ruth E. Costa
  • ACTUATING AND ARTICULATING SURGICAL DEVICE
    Publication number: 20090299143
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device, and in particular for performing various surgical procedures using an instrument having an end effector that can be articulated relative to an elongate shaft of the device. A decoupling member can isolate the actuation of the end effector from the articulation of the end effector. In certain embodiments, the end effector can also optionally rotate relative to the elongate shaft of the device, and/or the shaft can rotate relative to a handle of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Sean P. Conlon, Rudolph H. Nobis, Frederick Q. Johnson, Steven P. Woodard, Ruth E. Costa