Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Blinn
Stephen M. Blinn 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: 20210298744Abstract: A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a needle driver at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the needle driver is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the needle driver, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: John C. Meade, Douglas M. MacArthur, Stephen M. Blinn, Christopher Saulnier, Brian R. Edwards, Gerald I. Brecher
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Patent number: 11033262Abstract: A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a needle driver at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the needle driver is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the needle driver, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2017Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: John C. Meade, Douglas M. MacArthur, Stephen M. Blinn, Christopher Saulnier, Brian R. Edwards, Gerald I. Brecher
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Patent number: 10556042Abstract: A method of modifying the surface of a medical device to release a drug in a controlled way by providing a barrier layer on the surface of one or more drug coatings. The barrier layer consists of modified drug material converted to a barrier layer by irradiation by an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam. Also medical devices formed thereby.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2017Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Exogenesis CorporationInventors: Sean R. Kirkpatrick, Richard C. Svrluga, Stephen M. Blinn
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Publication number: 20190336657Abstract: A method of modifying the surface of a medical device to release a drug in a controlled way by providing a barrier layer on the surface of one or more drug coatings. The barrier layer consists of modified drug material converted to a barrier layer by irradiation by an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam. Also medical devices formed thereby.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Richard C. Svrluga, Sean R. Kirkpatrick, Stephen M. Blinn
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Patent number: 10383622Abstract: A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a needle driver at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the needle driver is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the needle driver, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: ENDOEVOLUTION, LLCInventors: John C. Meade, Douglas M. MacArthur, Stephen M. Blinn, Christopher Saulnier, Brian R. Edwards, Gerald I. Brecher
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Patent number: 10342900Abstract: A method of modifying the surface of a medical device to release a drug in a controlled way by providing a barrier layer on the surface of one or more drug coatings. The barrier layer consists of modified drug material converted to a barrier layer by irradiation by an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam. Also medical devices formed thereby.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2012Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: EXOGENESISInventors: Richard C. Svrluga, Sean R. Kirkpatrick, Stephen M. Blinn
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Publication number: 20190171098Abstract: An apparatus and method provides a drug layer formed on a surface region of a medical device, the drug layer comprised of a drug deposition and a carbonized or densified layer formed from the drug deposition by irradiation on an outer surface of the drug deposition, wherein the carbonized or densified layer does not penetrate through the drug deposition and is adapted to release drug from the drug deposition at a predetermined rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2019Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventors: Sean R. Kirkpatrick, Richard C. Svrluga, Stephen M. Blinn
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Patent number: 10307155Abstract: A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a needle driver at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the needle driver is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the needle driver, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: ENDOEVOLUTION, LLCInventors: John C. Meade, Douglas M. MacArthur, Stephen M. Blinn, Christopher Saulnier, Brian R. Edwards, Gerald I. Brecher
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Publication number: 20180153541Abstract: A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a needle driver at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the needle driver is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the needle driver, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: John C. Meade, Douglas M. MacArthur, Stephen M. Blinn, Christopher Saulnier, Brian R. Edwards, Gerald I. Brecher
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Patent number: 9986997Abstract: A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a needle driver at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the needle driver is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the needle driver, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2017Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: EndoEvolution, LLCInventors: John C. Meade, Douglas M. MacArthur, Stephen M. Blinn, Christopher Saulnier, Brian R. Edwards, Gerald I. Brecher
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Patent number: 9962156Abstract: A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a drive mechanism at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the drive mechanism is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the drive mechanism, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: EndoEvolution, LLCInventors: John C. Meade, Douglas M. MacArthur, Stephen M. Blinn, Christopher Sauliner, Brian R. Edwards, Gerald I. Brecher
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Publication number: 20180116655Abstract: A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a needle driver at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the needle driver is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the needle driver, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: John C. Meade, Douglas M. MacArthur, Stephen M. Blinn, Christopher Saulnier, Brian R. Edwards, Gerald I. Brecher
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Publication number: 20180085115Abstract: A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a needle driver at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the needle driver is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the needle driver, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: John C. Meade, Douglas M. MacArthur, Stephen M. Blinn, Christopher Saulnier, Brian R. Edwards, Gerald I. Brecher
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Publication number: 20180085114Abstract: A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a needle driver at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the needle driver is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the needle driver, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: John C. Meade, Douglas M. MacArthur, Stephen M. Blinn, Christopher Saulnier, Brian R. Edwards, Gerald I. Brecher
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Publication number: 20180090295Abstract: An apparatus and method provided a drug layer formed on a surface region of a medical device, the drug layer comprised of a drug deposition and a carbonized or densified layer formed from the drug deposition by irradiation on an outer surface of the drug deposition, wherein the carbonized or densified layer does not penetrate through the drug deposition and is adapted to release drug from the drug deposition at a predetermined rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Sean R. Kirkpatrick, Richard C. Svrluga, Stephen M. Blinn
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Publication number: 20170333032Abstract: A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a needle driver at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the needle driver is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the needle driver, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: John C. Meade, Douglas M. MacArthur, Stephen M. Blinn, Christopher Sauliner, Brian R. Edwards, Gerald I. Brecher
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Patent number: 9808344Abstract: A method of preparing a preformed bone shape for implantation provides irradiating at least a portion of a preformed bone shape by a Neutral Beam derived from a GCIB, and the preformed bone shape so irradiated.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Inventors: Joseph Khoury, Laurence B. Tarrant, Sean R. Kirkpatrick, Richard C. Svrluga, Stephen M. Blinn
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Patent number: 9795719Abstract: In one embodiment, a drug delivery system and method provide a member including a combination of a drug substance and a polymer or other material, and an encapsulating layer formed in an outer surface of the member by gas cluster ion beam irradiation of the outer surface of the member, which encapsulating layer is adapted to determine one or more characteristics of the drug delivery system.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Inventors: Stephen M. Blinn, Richard C. Svrluga
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Publication number: 20170290960Abstract: A method of modifying the surface of a medical device to release a drug in a controlled way by providing a barrier layer on the surface of one or more drug coatings. The barrier layer consists of modified drug material converted to a barrier layer by irradiation by an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam. Also medical devices formed thereby.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Applicant: Exogenesis CorporationInventors: Sean R. Kirkpatrick, Richard C. Svrluga, Stephen M. Blinn
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Publication number: 20170049442Abstract: A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a drive mechanism at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the drive mechanism is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the drive mechanism, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2016Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: John C. MEADE, Douglas M. MACARTHUR, Stephen M. BLINN, Christopher SAULINER, Brian R. EDWARDS, Gerald I. BRECHER