Patents by Inventor Sean P. Conlon
Sean P. Conlon 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: 20200345389Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm movably coupled with the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly extends between the body and the end effector and includes an acoustic waveguide, a rotational driver, and a driver wrench. The rotational driver is configured to be received within the rotational drive channel and rotate the shaft assembly relative to the body. The acoustic waveguide includes a notch and the driver wrench includes a key, wherein the first notch of the acoustic waveguide is configured to receive the key.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2019Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Sean P. Conlon, Ellen Burkart, Guion Y. Lucas
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Publication number: 20200345880Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a reusable assembly having an inner tube and an ultrasonic blade positioned within the inner tube. The inner tube includes at least one opening to receive a sterilization fluid therethrough for sterilizing the ultrasonic blade within the inner tube. The surgical instrument further includes a sterilization detection system to determine whether the reusable assembly has been sterilized during a sterilization cycle. A seal is selectively couplable with the at least one opening of the inner tube to fluidly seal the at least one opening for inhibiting bodily fluid from entering the at least one opening during a surgical procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2019Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Stephen M. Leuck, Ellen Burkart, Diana M. Castillo Sanchez, Andrew W. Carroll, Sean P. Conlon, Rafael J. Ruiz Ortiz, Demetrius N. Harris, Patrick J. Minnelli
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Patent number: 10743903Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a body, an ultrasonic supported by the body, a shaft extending distally from the body and defining a shaft axis, a waveguide extending distally through the shaft, and an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade coupled to a distal end of the waveguide and having a primary blade treatment surface configured to treat tissue, and a clamp arm coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The shaft and the waveguide are selectively rotatable relative to one another about the shaft axis through a predefined range of angular motion between an assembly state and an operational state. In the assembly state, the clamp arm and the primary blade treatment surface are rotationally offset from one another. In the operational state, the clamp arm and the primary blade treatment surface are rotationally aligned.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Matthew C. Miller, Sean P. Conlon, Michael E. Boehm, Richard W. Flaker, Bryce Hansen, Rafael J. Ruiz Ortiz
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Publication number: 20200229817Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, and an end effector. The shaft extends distally from the body. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an active feature configured to operate on tissue. The body includes a drive feature operable to drive the active feature of the end effector. The body is operable to selectively couple with a variety of power sources such that the drive feature may receive electrical power form a battery or from a corded power source, based on a user's preference. The body may include a handpiece that has a socket configured to receive a battery or cable adapter. The body may removably receive various kinds of shaft assemblies to provide various operating modalities. The shaft assemblies may include user interface features.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Eitan T. Wiener, Robert A. Kemerling, James R. Giordano, Vincent P. Battaglia, JR., Daniel W. Price, Sean P. Conlon, Gregory W. Johnson, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Shan Wan, Kevin L. Houser, Foster B. Stulen, Jacob S. Gee, Jeffrey A. Bullock, John A. Hibner, William B. Weisenburgh, II
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Patent number: 10675027Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, and an end effector. The shaft extends distally from the body. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an active feature configured to operate on tissue. The body includes a drive feature operable to drive the active feature of the end effector. The body is operable to selectively couple with a variety of power sources such that the drive feature may receive electrical power form a battery or from a corded power source, based on a user's preference. The body may include a handpiece that has a socket configured to receive a battery or cable adapter. The body may removably receive various kinds of shaft assemblies to provide various operating modalities. The shaft assemblies may include user interface features.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Eitan T. Wiener, Robert A. Kemerling, James R. Giordano, Vincent P. Battaglia, Jr., Daniel W. Price, Sean P. Conlon, Gregory W. Johnson, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Shan Wan, Kevin L. Houser, Foster B. Stulen, Jacob S. Gee, Jeffrey A. Bullock, John A. Hibner, William B. Weisenburgh, II
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Publication number: 20200138472Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector portion, a data storage component, a reader, and a use control. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body and includes a support portion. The end effector portion is configured to selectively couple with the support portion of the shaft assembly. The data storage component is associated with the end effector portion and contains data uniquely associated with the end effector portion. The reader is adapted to read the data from the data storage component. The use control is adapted to enable operation of the end effector portion if the data meets at least one usage parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: Sean P. Conlon, Jeffrey A. Bullock, Eric Roberson, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Stephen M. Leuck
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Patent number: 10555750Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector portion, a data storage component, a reader, and a use control. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body and includes a support portion. The end effector portion is configured to selectively couple with the support portion of the shaft assembly. The data storage component is associated with the end effector portion and contains data uniquely associated with the end effector portion. The reader is adapted to read the data from the data storage component. The use control is adapted to enable operation of the end effector portion if the data meets at least one usage parameter.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2016Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Sean P. Conlon, Jeffrey A. Bullock, Eric Roberson, Jeffrey L. Aldridge
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Publication number: 20200008857Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a surgical instrument for cutting and sealing tissue. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, a shaft, and an end effector. The end effector may include: a blade that vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency, a shielded portion enclosing a back edge of the blade, a high-friction surface coupled to the shielded portion and positioned between the shielded portion and the back edge of the blade. A space is defined between the high-friction surface and the back edge of the blade when the end effector is in a cutting configuration. In a sealing configuration, the high-friction surface contacts the back edge of the blade, which generates heat based on ultrasonic vibrations of the blade rubbing against the high-friction surface. The shielded portion can coagulate bleeding tissue based on heat transfer from the high-friction surface to the shielded portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Sean P. Conlon, John B. Schulte, Thomas C. Gallmeyer, Kristen G. Denzinger, Jeffery T. Kirk
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Publication number: 20190350616Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp assembly. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the blade. The clamp assembly includes a clamp arm pivotable toward and away from the blade about a pivot axis, to clamp tissue between the clamp arm and the blade. A rotation feature may provide rotation of the blade relative to the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Alternatively, the rotation feature may provide rotation of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the longitudinal axis. The rotation feature may be driven based on pivotal positioning of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the pivot axis. The rotation feature may selectively lock and unlock the angular position of either the blade or the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis at any of a number of predetermined angular positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2019Publication date: November 21, 2019Inventors: Craig N. Faller, Elizabeth DeBenedictis, William D. Kelly, Michael R. Lamping, Timothy G. Dietz, Patrick A. Weizman, Jacob S. Gee, John B. Schulte, Tylor C. Muhlenkamp, Douglas J. Turner, Eric B. Smith, Sean P. Conlon, Richard W. Timm, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Brian D. Bertke
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Patent number: 10470792Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp assembly. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the blade. The clamp assembly includes a clamp arm pivotable toward and away from the blade about a pivot axis, to clamp tissue between the clamp arm and the blade. A rotation feature may provide rotation of the blade relative to the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Alternatively, the rotation feature may provide rotation of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the longitudinal axis. The rotation feature may be driven based on pivotal positioning of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the pivot axis. The rotation feature may selectively lock and unlock the angular position of either the blade or the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis at any of a number of predetermined angular positions.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2017Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Craig N. Faller, Elizabeth DeBenedictis, William D. Kelly, Michael R. Lamping, Timothy G. Dietz, Patrick A. Weizman, Jacob S. Gee, John B. Schulte, Tylor C. Muhlenkamp, Douglas J. Turner, Eric B. Smith, Sean P. Conlon, Richard W. Timm, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Brian D. Bertke
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Publication number: 20190321073Abstract: A cannula sleeve for a surgical trocar assembly. The cannula sleeve includes a hollow shaft, at least a portion of which is made of a rigid material, and a seal at the distal end of the hollow shaft, the seal being movable between a first open position and a second closed position. The shaft defines a proximal end, a distal end, a periphery, and a longitudinal axis. The shaft further includes a channel at the periphery substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the channel being in communication with the hollow shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: David B. Griffith, Sean P. Conlon, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Christopher J. Hess, Kempton K. Carroll, II
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Publication number: 20190290319Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly includes an outer tube, a proximal inner tube member, a distal inner tube member, and an acoustic waveguide. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. A first portion of the clamp arm is pivotably coupled with a distal end of the outer tube. A second portion of the clamp arm is pivotably coupled with a distal end of the distal inner tube member. The outer tube is configured to removably couple with the body and the distal inner tube member is configured to removably couple with the proximal inner tube member such that the outer tube, the distal inner tube member, and the clamp arm are configured to removably couple with the body and the remainder of the shaft assembly and end effector as a unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Sean P. Conlon, Ellen Burkart, Rafael J. Ruiz Ortiz, Matthew S. Corbin, Matthew C. Miller
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Publication number: 20190290267Abstract: A staple cartridge assembly comprising a tissue thickness compensator is disclosed. The tissue thickness compensator comprises a first fibrous, woven material and a second fibrous, woven material. The first fibrous, woven material comprises a density which is different than the density of the second fibrous, woven material. The tissue thickness compensator is configured to expand upon contact with a fluid in order to apply a compressive force to tissue captured within staples.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Chester O. Baxter, III, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Charles J. Scheib, Christopher W. Widenhouse, William B. Weisenburgh, II, John L. Stammen, Mark H. Ransick, Stephanie A. Mutchler, Gary W. Knight, Michael S. Cropper, Sean P. Conlon, Jeffrey S. Swayze
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Patent number: 10357303Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a surgical instrument for cutting and sealing tissue. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, a shaft, and an end effector. The end effector may include: a blade that vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency, a shielded portion enclosing a back edge of the blade, a high-friction surface coupled to the shielded portion and positioned between the shielded portion and the back edge of the blade. A space is defined between the high-friction surface and the back edge of the blade when the end effector is in a cutting configuration. In a sealing configuration, the high-friction surface contacts the back edge of the blade, which generates heat based on ultrasonic vibrations of the blade rubbing against the high-friction surface. The shielded portion can coagulate bleeding tissue based on heat transfer from the high-friction surface to the shielded portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Sean P. Conlon, John B. Schulte, Thomas C. Gallmeyer, Kristen G. Denzinger, Jeffery T. Kirk
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Patent number: 10327797Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly includes an outer tube, a proximal inner tube member, a distal inner tube member, and an acoustic waveguide. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. A first portion of the clamp arm is pivotably coupled with a distal end of the outer tube. A second portion of the clamp arm is pivotably coupled with a distal end of the distal inner tube member. The outer tube is configured to removably couple with the body and the distal inner tube member is configured to removably couple with the proximal inner tube member such that the outer tube, the distal inner tube member, and the clamp arm are configured to removably couple with the body and the remainder of the shaft assembly and end effector as a unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Sean P. Conlon, Ellen Gentry, Rafael J. Ruiz Ortiz, Matthew S. Corbin, Matthew C. Miller
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Patent number: 10314603Abstract: Rotational couplers for use with surgical devices that are actuated by semi-flexible actuators such as wires and the like. The couplers enable the actuators to apply various actuation motions to actuation features on the surgical device as well as other actuators to apply axial and rotational motions to the surgical device to manipulate the device into various orientations relative to an elongate shaft to which the device is movably attached.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2015Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventor: Sean P. Conlon
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Publication number: 20190167294Abstract: A method of forming a component of an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes accessing a file including a digital model representing the component. The component includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion includes a contact portion. The distal portion includes an ultrasonic blade. The contact portion is configured to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the ultrasonic blade when the component is acoustically coupled to a complementary portion of an acoustic waveguide of the ultrasonic surgical instrument. The file is used to fabricate the component via an additive manufacturing process. Once the component has been fabricated, the distal portion is secured to a distal end of the complementary portion of the acoustic waveguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2018Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventor: Sean P. Conlon
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Patent number: 10285723Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical blade with an improved heel portion is disclosed. The blade includes a solid body, a longitudinal portion having a proximal end configured to couple to an ultrasonic transmission waveguide and a transverse portion extending crosswise from the distal end of the longitudinal portion. At least one dissection edge and at least one hemostasis surface is provided on the blade. The transverse portion defines a hook having a free end configured to pull and dissect tissue. The blade further comprises a tissue plow comprising a plow edge and a distal-most vertex to increase the efficiency of heel dissection and tissue diversion.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Sean P. Conlon, Benjamin M. Boyd
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Publication number: 20190133635Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The acoustic waveguide is coupled with the transducer. The articulation section includes a collar that is located distal to a nodal portion of the waveguide and is operable to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section. The articulation drive assembly comprises at least one translating articulation driver coupled with the collar. The ultrasonic blade is operable to deliver ultrasonic vibrations to tissue even when the articulation section is in an articulated state.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: Foster B. Stulen, David A. Monroe, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Richard C. Smith, Ashvani K. Madan, Craig T. Davis, Barry C. Worrell, Benjamin D. Dickerson, Chad P. Boudreaux, Geoffrey S. Strobl, Thomas C. Gallmeyer, Amy L. Benchek, Tylor C. Muhlenkamp, Sean P. Conlon, John A. Hibner
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Patent number: 10258362Abstract: A method of forming a component of an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes accessing a file including a digital model representing the component. The component includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion includes a contact portion. The distal portion includes an ultrasonic blade. The contact portion is configured to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the ultrasonic blade when the component is acoustically coupled to a complementary portion of an acoustic waveguide of the ultrasonic surgical instrument. The file is used to fabricate the component via an additive manufacturing process. Once the component has been fabricated, the distal portion is secured to a distal end of the complementary portion of the acoustic waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2016Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventor: Sean P. Conlon