Patents by Inventor Terry M. Duffin

Terry M. Duffin 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).

  • Patent number: 11806068
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a movable handle movable relative a housing to manipulate an end effector assembly, and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a latch arm including a latch post, and a latch track defining an entry path, a latching path, a saddle, an un-latching path, and a return path. The latch post moves through the entry path, the latching path, and into the saddle upon movement of the movable handle from an un-actuated position to an over-actuated position and back to an actuated position to lock the movable handle. The latch post moves from the saddle through the un-latching path and the return path upon movement of the movable handle from actuated position to the over-actuated position and back to the un-actuated position. The return path includes a ramped surface configured to inhibit reverse travel of the latch post into the return path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Stephen J. Stamm, Purvishkumar H. Soni, Benjamin R. Arts, Alyssa M. Sawyer, Jessica E. C. Olson, Amir Roomi, Scott N. Lacosta, Terry M. Duffin, Mark E. Renner, John A. Hammerland, III, Michelle Esponda
  • Publication number: 20230255655
    Abstract: An surgical enclosure includes electronics including at least one visual indicator and at least a first casing component enclosing the electronics therein. The first casing component is formed from a substantially transparent material and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is treated to define a first finish that reduces transparency of the first portion. The second portion defines a greater transparency relative to the first portion to enable visualization of the at least one visual indicator therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Titus C. Horton, Jeremy P. Green, Weng-Kai K. Lee, Daniel A. Simmons, Terry M. Duffin
  • Patent number: 11666357
    Abstract: An enclosure configured to hermetically seal electronics of a surgical instrument therein includes a first casing component defining a first weld deck about a perimeter thereof, a second casing component defining a second weld deck about a perimeter thereof, and an energy director extending from the first weld deck and configured to facilitate ultrasonic welding of the first and second weld decks of the first and second casing components, respectively, with one another to establish a weld seam hermetically sealing the first and second casing components. The first weld deck lies in multiple planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Titus Horton, Jeremy P. Green, Weng-Kai K. Lee, Daniel Simmons, Terry M. Duffin
  • Publication number: 20220183745
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing and a trigger assembly. The trigger assembly includes a trigger including a drive portion and a manipulation portion, a rocker, a linkage, and a slider. The trigger is pivotably coupled to the housing such that the drive and manipulation portions are moved in different directions in response to actuation of the trigger. The drive portion of the trigger is pivotably coupled to the rocker. The linkage is pivotably coupled to the rocker and the housing at opposing end portions thereof. The slider is pivotably coupled to the rocker and operably coupled to the deployable component. Actuation of the manipulation portion of the trigger moves the drive portion of the trigger distally to thereby urge the rocker distally, pivot the linkage about the second end portion thereof, and slide the slider distally to deploy the deployable component distally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen J. Stamm, Purvishkumar H. Soni, Benjamin R. Arts, Alyssa M. Sawyer, Jessica E.C. Olson, Amir Roomi, Scott N. Lacosta, Terry M. Duffin, Mark E. Renner, John A. Hammerland, III, Michelle Esponda
  • Publication number: 20220183746
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector assembly at a distal end portion of the shaft, and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a movable handle, a carriage operably coupled to the movable handle, an inner drive operably coupled to the end effector assembly, and a spring assembly operably coupling the carriage and the inner drive. The spring assembly includes inner and outer coil springs arranged in a nested configuration. Initial actuation of the movable handle slides the carriage such that the spring assembly transfers the sliding of the carriage into translation of the inner drive to apply a jaw force by the end effector assembly. Subsequent actuation of the movable handle slides the carriage to compress the spring assembly to substantially maintain a position of the inner drive, thereby controlling the jaw force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen J. Stamm, Purvishkumar H. Soni, Benjamin R. Arts, Alyssa M. Sawyer, Jessica E.C. Olson, Amir Roomi, Scott N. Lacosta, Terry M. Duffin, Mark E. Renner, John A. Hammerland, III, Michelle Esponda
  • Publication number: 20220183744
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a movable handle movable relative a housing to manipulate an end effector assembly, and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a latch arm including a latch post, and a latch track defining an entry path, a latching path, a saddle, an un-latching path, and a return path. The latch post moves through the entry path, the latching path, and into the saddle upon movement of the movable handle from an un-actuated position to an over-actuated position and back to an actuated position to lock the movable handle. The latch post moves from the saddle through the un-latching path and the return path upon movement of the movable handle from actuated position to the over-actuated position and back to the un-actuated position. The return path includes a ramped surface configured to inhibit reverse travel of the latch post into the return path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen J. Stamm, Purvishkumar H. Soni, Benjamin R. Arts, Alyssa M. Sawyer, Jessica E.C. Olson, Amir Roomi, Scott N. Lacosta, Terry M. Duffin, Mark E. Renner, John A. Hammerland, III, Michelle Esponda
  • Publication number: 20210077141
    Abstract: An enclosure configured to hermetically seal electronics of a surgical instrument therein includes a first casing component defining a first weld deck about a perimeter thereof, a second casing component defining a second weld deck about a perimeter thereof, and an energy director extending from the first weld deck and configured to facilitate ultrasonic welding of the first and second weld decks of the first and second casing components, respectively, with one another to establish a weld seam hermetically sealing the first and second casing components. The first weld deck lies in multiple planes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: TITUS HORTON, JEREMY P. GREEN, WENG-KAI K. LEE, DANIEL SIMMONS, TERRY M. DUFFIN
  • Patent number: 10231772
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes a housing including an elongated shaft. A stationary actuation member is axially disposed within the elongated shaft and includes a cam pin. An actuating mechanism is operably coupled to the elongated shaft and is moveable relative to the housing to selectively cause movement of the elongated shaft. An end effector includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members operably coupled about a common pivot. One or both of the jaw members includes a camming slot configured to engage the cam pin. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. A knife blade is supported in the elongated shaft and moveable in a longitudinal direction to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members. A wire retention unit is supported within the housing and includes a plurality of wire clasps and a plurality of guide ribs configured to define at least one wire path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Terry M. Duffin, John R. Twomey, Jessica E. C. Olson, Grant T. Sims, Kenneth E. Netzel, Monte S. Fry, Daniel Mercier
  • Publication number: 20150088126
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes a housing including an elongated shaft. A stationary actuation member is axially disposed within the elongated shaft and includes a cam pin. An actuating mechanism is operably coupled to the elongated shaft and is moveable relative to the housing to selectively cause movement of the elongated shaft. An end effector includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members operably coupled about a common pivot. One or both of the jaw members includes a camming slot configured to engage the cam pin. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. A knife blade is supported in the elongated shaft and moveable in a longitudinal direction to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members. A wire retention unit is supported within the housing and includes a plurality of wire clasps and a plurality of guide ribs configured to define at least one wire path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: TERRY M. DUFFIN, JOHN R. TWOMEY, JESSICA E.C. OLSON, GRANT T. SIMS, KENNETH E. NETZEL, MONTE S. FRY, DANIEL MERCIER
  • Publication number: 20040115296
    Abstract: An insert retention apparatus for use with an insert mold tool includes an actuator having a power system, a drive assembly and a control unit. The retention apparatus also includes an insert mold tool and a retention post operably connected to the drive assembly of the actuator. The retention post is preferably configured for movement through the insert mold tool between a first position wherein the retention post engages and maintains a stamping in fixed position within the insert mold tool while a liquid resin is injected into the insert mold tool to a second position wherein the retention post is disengaged and moved relative to the stamping prior to the resin completely curing. The invention also relates to a method of forming an overmold on a stamping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventor: Terry M. Duffin