Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Balek
Stephen J. Balek 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: 20240105306Abstract: A surgical instrument operable to sever tissue includes a body assembly and a selectively coupleable end effector assembly. The end effector assembly may include a transmission assembly and an end effector. The body assembly includes a trigger and a casing configured to couple with the transmission assembly. An information transmission system transmits instrument information received from a sensor, for example, to a secure server via a secure gateway connected to the instrument. The instrument may be previously tested on a calibration kit to pre-determine and load surgeon-specific settings onto the instrument prior to use.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Cory G. Kimball, Daniel W. Price, William E. Clem, Amy L. Marcotte, Danius P. Silkaitis, John B. Schulte, Michael R. Lamping, Stephen J. Balek
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Publication number: 20240065721Abstract: Various example embodiments described herein are directed to articulating surgical instruments for treating tissue comprising an end effector and a shaft extending proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis. In certain embodiments, the shaft comprises a plurality of transverse spacer members as well as first and second rotatable members extending through at least a portion of the plurality of transverse spacer members. The first and second rotatable members may both be biased away from the longitudinal axis such that their respective directions of bias vary with rotation of the first rotatable member. When the respective directions of bias of the first and second rotatable members oppose one another, the shaft may be substantially straight. When the respective directions of bias of the first and second rotatable members are aligned with one another, the shaft may articulate away from the longitudinal axis in the direction of the alignment.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Michael P. Weir, Joseph B. Kraimer, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Stephen J. Balek, Zhifan F. Huang, Sora Rhee, Foster B. Stulen, Carl J. Draginoff, JR.
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Publication number: 20240050118Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises an ultrasonic transducer, an acoustic waveguide, and an ultrasonic blade. The blade includes a pair of obliquely extending edges. The obliquely extending edges diverge away from the longitudinal axis of the waveguide and away from each other along respective paths extending distally in relation to the waveguide. A distal portion of the blade is wider than a proximal portion of the blade along a plane. The blade further includes a curved distal edge and several laterally presented surfaces. The laterally presented surfaces may provide combinations of concave and convex curvatures. The laterally presented surfaces may be angled and/or curved along one or more orthogonal planes associated with the longitudinal axis of the waveguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventors: David A. Witt, Timothy G. Dietz, Stephen J. Balek, Benjamin M. Boyd, David C. Groene, Benjamin V. Vins, William C. Horton, III, Ashvani K. Madan
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Patent number: 11883055Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a transducer assembly with a housing having a conduit section and a base portion. A fluid passageway is defined through the conduit and base portion, an ultrasonic transducer including a plurality of piezoelectric elements and a plurality of electrodes are arranged in a stack configuration, where an electrode is located between each pair of piezoelectric elements. A first borehole is defined through the ultrasonic transducer and an end mass having a second borehole defined therethrough. A surface of the end mass is positioned adjacent a first end of the ultrasonic transducer, the end mass is configured to engage with the housing, and the conduit section of the housing is configured to pass through the second borehole of the end mass. The end mass is configured to compress the ultrasonic transducer against a surface of the housing when the end mass is engaged with the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Sora Rhee, Jacob S. Gee, Steven P. Smolik, Stephen J. Balek, William D. Dannaher
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Patent number: 11848093Abstract: A surgical instrument operable to sever tissue includes a body assembly and a selectively coupleable end effector assembly. The end effector assembly may include a transmission assembly and an end effector. The body assembly includes a trigger and a casing configured to couple with the transmission assembly. An information transmission system transmits instrument information received from a sensor, for example, to a secure server via a secure gateway connected to the instrument. The instrument may be previously tested on a calibration kit to pre-determine and load surgeon-specific settings onto the instrument prior to use.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Cory G Kimball, Daniel W. Price, William E. Clem, Amy L. Marcotte, Danius P. Silkaitis, John B Schulte, Michael R. Lamping, Stephen J. Balek
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Patent number: 11839352Abstract: The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein the cutting member is relatively movable with respect to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, one of the anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot which is configured to receive at least a portion of the cutting member and guide the cutting member as it is moved relative to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In these embodiments, the slot can define a path having linear and/or curved portions. In various embodiments, the path can include a curved portion having a first portion that extends away from the shaft axis and a second portion that extends toward the axis. In one embodiment, the path can include a curved portion defined by an arc corresponding to an angle greater than 90 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2018Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan, Stephen J. Balek
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Patent number: 11826069Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises an ultrasonic transducer, an acoustic waveguide, and an ultrasonic blade. The blade includes a pair of obliquely extending edges. The obliquely extending edges diverge away from the longitudinal axis of the waveguide and away from each other along respective paths extending distally in relation to the waveguide. A distal portion of the blade is wider than a proximal portion of the blade along a plane. The blade further includes a curved distal edge and several laterally presented surfaces. The laterally presented surfaces may provide combinations of concave and convex curvatures. The laterally presented surfaces may be angled and/or curved along one or more orthogonal planes associated with the longitudinal axis of the waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: David A. Witt, Timothy G. Dietz, Stephen J. Balek, Benjamin M. Boyd, David C. Groene, Benjamin V. Vins, William C. Horton, III, Ashvani K. Madan
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Patent number: 11717311Abstract: Various example embodiments described herein are directed to articulating surgical instruments for treating tissue comprising an end effector and a shaft extending proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis. In certain embodiments, the shaft comprises a plurality of transverse spacer members as well as first and second rotatable members extending through at least a portion of the plurality of transverse spacer members. The first and second rotatable members may both be biased away from the longitudinal axis such that their respective directions of bias vary with rotation of the first rotatable member. When the respective directions of bias of the first and second rotatable members oppose one another, the shaft may be substantially straight. When the respective directions of bias of the first and second rotatable members are aligned with one another, the shaft may articulate away from the longitudinal axis in the direction of the alignment.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Michael P. Weir, Joseph B. Kraimer, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Stephen J. Balek, Zhifan F. Huang, Sora Rhee, Foster B. Stulen, Carl J. Draginoff, Jr.
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Patent number: 11672559Abstract: A surgical instrument end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw, a staple cartridge, and a retention cap. The second jaw including an anvil having a plurality of staple forming pockets. The first and second jaws are operable to clamp and staple tissue positioned therebetween. The staple cartridge is configured for receipt within the first jaw. The staple cartridge includes a cartridge body, a lower tray, and a plurality of staples. The cartridge body and the lower tray are configured to couple together. The retention cap is configured to fasten to a proximal end of the cartridge body and to engage the lower tray. The retention cap is further configured to fix the position of the lower tray relative to the cartridge body.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Gregory G. Scott, Ryan W. McGhee, Patrick M. Schleitweiler, Stephen J. Balek, Thomas W. Lytle, IV, Bryan R. Keller, Mollie Casey
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Publication number: 20220415474Abstract: A surgical instrument operable to sever tissue includes a body assembly and a selectively coupleable end effector assembly. The end effector assembly may include a transmission assembly and an end effector. The body assembly includes a trigger and a casing configured to couple with the transmission assembly. An information transmission system transmits instrument information received from a sensor, for example, to a secure server via a secure gateway connected to the instrument. The instrument may be previously tested on a calibration kit to pre-determine and load surgeon-specific settings onto the instrument prior to use.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventors: Cory G. Kimball, Daniel W. Price, William E. Clem, Amy L. Marcotte, Danius P. Silkaitis, John B. Schulte, Michael R. Lamping, Stephen J. Balek
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Patent number: 11497519Abstract: A bone cutting surgical instrument includes features to mitigate heat generation during use. Excessive heat can be detrimental to bone health as well as to the instrument itself. In one example a liquid dispensing feature provides a flow of cooling liquid to an ultrasonic blade via a lumen in a waveguide of the instrument. In another example, the blade has a serrated edge with a plurality of teeth arranged in a pattern to provide dimension and space during cutting actions. In another example, the blade has an oversize distal portion that creates an oversize slot when cutting to avoid excessive contact between the cut bone and proximal portions of the blade. In another example the blade includes an irrigation slot and also a micro slot in a distal end of the blade that connects with the irrigation slot.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Ashvani K. Madan, David A. Witt, John A. Weed, III, Stephen J. Balek, Joseph Isosaki, Peter K. Shires, William D. Dannaher
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Patent number: 11350916Abstract: A surgical instrument particular suited to endoscopic use is disclosed. Various embodiments include an end effector that is sized to be inserted through a trocar. An elongated shaft assembly is coupled to the end effector and a control handle. The elongated shaft assembly has a distal portion that is adjacent to the effector for insertion into the trocar. The elongated shaft assembly further has a proximal portion that is remote from the distal portion such that the proximal portion protrudes from the trocar when the end effector and distal portion are inserted therethrough. The control handle is articulatably coupled to the proximal portion of said elongated shaft assembly to enable the surgeon to move the handle portion to a more ergonomically comfortable position while carrying out the endoscopic procedure. Various articulation joint embodiments and locking arrangements are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Stephen J. Balek, Eugene L. Timperman
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Patent number: 11278306Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a body assembly and an end effector. The body assembly includes a control module, an orientation sensor communicatively coupled to the control module, and an energy component. The energy component is operable to activate the end effector at a plurality of energy settings. A storage device is communicatively coupled to the control module and includes a plurality of gesture profiles and corresponding energy settings. The control module is configured to set the energy setting of the energy component to a corresponding energy setting in response to a correlation between the output of the orientation sensor and a gesture profile. In some versions, the control module modifies the energy setting based upon output from a force sensor that measures the force on the end effector. The control module may also decrease the energy setting in response to an anomalous acceleration or deceleration detected by an accelerometer.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Daniel W. Price, Sora Rhee, Cory G. Kimball, Timothy G. Dietz, Ashvani K. Madan, Donna L. Korvick, Jeffrey D. Messerly, William E. Clem, Jacqueline C. Aronhalt, William D. Dannaher, John B. Schulte, Danius P. Silkaitis, Stephen J. Balek, Michael R. Lamping
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Publication number: 20220061862Abstract: The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein the cutting member is relatively movable with respect to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, one of the anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot which is configured to receive at least a portion of the cutting member and guide the cutting member as it is moved relative to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In these embodiments, the slot can define a path having linear and/or curved portions. In various embodiments, the path can include a curved portion having a first portion that extends away from the shaft axis and a second portion that extends toward the axis. In one embodiment, the path can include a curved portion defined by an arc corresponding to an angle greater than 90 degrees.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan, Stephen J. Balek
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Publication number: 20210393287Abstract: A surgical instrument end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw, a staple cartridge, and a retention cap. The second jaw including an anvil having a plurality of staple forming pockets. The first and second jaws are operable to clamp and staple tissue positioned therebetween. The staple cartridge is configured for receipt within the first jaw. The staple cartridge includes a cartridge body, a lower tray, and a plurality of staples. The cartridge body and the lower tray are configured to couple together. The retention cap is configured to fasten to a proximal end of the cartridge body and to engage the lower tray. The retention cap is further configured to fix the position of the lower tray relative to the cartridge body.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2020Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Gregory G. Scott, Ryan W. McGhee, Patrick M. Schleitweiler, Stephen J. Balek, Thomas W. Lytle, IV, Bryan R. Keller, Mollie Casey
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Publication number: 20210236157Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a transducer assembly with a housing having a conduit section and a base portion. A fluid passageway is defined through the conduit and base portion, an ultrasonic transducer including a plurality of piezoelectric elements and a plurality of electrodes are arranged in a stack configuration, where an electrode is located between each pair of piezoelectric elements. A first borehole is defined through the ultrasonic transducer and an end mass having a second borehole defined therethrough. A surface of the end mass is positioned adjacent a first end of the ultrasonic transducer, the end mass is configured to engage with the housing, and the conduit section of the housing is configured to pass through the second borehole of the end mass. The end mass is configured to compress the ultrasonic transducer against a surface of the housing when the end mass is engaged with the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: Sora Rhee, Jacob S. Gee, Steven P. Smolik, Stephen J. Balek, William D. Dannaher
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Publication number: 20210228228Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises an ultrasonic transducer, an acoustic waveguide, and an ultrasonic blade. The blade includes a pair of obliquely extending edges. The obliquely extending edges diverge away from the longitudinal axis of the waveguide and away from each other along respective paths extending distally in relation to the waveguide. A distal portion of the blade is wider than a proximal portion of the blade along a plane. The blade further includes a curved distal edge and several laterally presented surfaces. The laterally presented surfaces may provide combinations of concave and convex curvatures. The laterally presented surfaces may be angled and/or curved along one or more orthogonal planes associated with the longitudinal axis of the waveguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2021Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: David A. Witt, Timothy G. Dietz, Stephen J. Balek, Benjamin M. Boyd, David C. Groene, Benjamin V. Vins, William C. Horton, III, Ashvani K. Madan
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Patent number: 10987123Abstract: Various example embodiments described herein are directed to articulating surgical instruments for treating tissue comprising an end effector and a shaft extending proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis. In certain embodiments, the shaft comprises a plurality of transverse spacer members as well as first and second rotatable members extending through at least a portion of the plurality of transverse spacer members. The first and second rotatable members may both be biased away from the longitudinal axis such that their respective directions of bias vary with rotation of the first rotatable member. When the respective directions of bias of the first and second rotatable members oppose one another, the shaft may be substantially straight. When the respective directions of bias of the first and second rotatable members are aligned with one another, the shaft may articulate away from the longitudinal axis in the direction of the alignment.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2016Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Michael P. Weir, Joseph B. Kraimer, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Stephen J. Balek, Zhifan F. Huang, Sora Rhee, Carl J. Draginoff, Jr.
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Publication number: 20210100578Abstract: Various example embodiments described herein are directed to articulating surgical instruments for treating tissue comprising an end effector and a shaft extending proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis. In certain embodiments, the shaft comprises a plurality of transverse spacer members as well as first and second rotatable members extending through at least a portion of the plurality of transverse spacer members. The first and second rotatable members may both be biased away from the longitudinal axis such that their respective directions of bias vary with rotation of the first rotatable member. When the respective directions of bias of the first and second rotatable members oppose one another, the shaft may be substantially straight. When the respective directions of bias of the first and second rotatable members are aligned with one another, the shaft may articulate away from the longitudinal axis in the direction of the alignment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2020Publication date: April 8, 2021Inventors: Michael P. Weir, Joseph B. Kraimer, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Stephen J. Balek, Zhifan F. Huang, Sora Rhee, Foster B. Stulen, Carl J. Draginoff, JR.
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Patent number: 10966744Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a transducer assembly with a housing having a conduit section and a base portion. A fluid passageway is defined through the conduit and base portion, an ultrasonic transducer including a plurality of piezoelectric elements and a plurality of electrodes are arranged in a stack configuration, where an electrode is located between each pair of piezoelectric elements. A first borehole is defined through the ultrasonic transducer and an end mass having a second borehole defined therethrough. A surface of the end mass is positioned adjacent a first end of the ultrasonic transducer, the end mass is configured to engage with the housing, and the conduit section of the housing is configured to pass through the second borehole of the end mass. The end mass is configured to compress the ultrasonic transducer against a surface of the housing when the end mass is engaged with the housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Sora Rhee, Jacob S. Gee, Steven P. Smolik, Stephen J. Balek, William D. Dannaher