Patents by Inventor Thomas Plaven

Thomas Plaven 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: 9368004
    Abstract: An assembly for use with a surgical device includes an enclosure defining a passageway extending from an interior to an exterior thereof and a visual indicator mounted within the interior of the enclosure adjacent the passageway. The visual indicator is configured to emit light. The passageway is partially defined by a concave surface of the enclosure and/or a chamfered portion of the enclosure to facilitate the passage of light emitted by the visual indicator through the passageway and to the exterior of the enclosure to increase the external viewing angle of the light emitted from the visual indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Thomas Plaven
  • Patent number: 8944834
    Abstract: A universal contact port for receiving contacts of various cross-sectional dimensions and cross-sectional profiles of an electrosurgical component is provided. The universal contact port includes a plurality of rollers each defining a corporal axis, the corporal axes being at least substantially parallel to one another; and a plurality of shafts eccentrically supporting a respective roller, each shaft defining a longitudinal axis, wherein each corporal axis is spaced a radial distance from a respective longitudinal axis and wherein the rollers are rotatable about the longitudinal axes. The rollers define an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is expandable and constrictable upon rotation of the rollers about the longitudinal axes, whereby the contact port can accommodate receipt of contacts, from electrosurgical components, of varying cross-sectional diameter therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Thomas Plaven, Robert L. Lohe
  • Publication number: 20140104070
    Abstract: An assembly for use with a surgical device includes an enclosure defining a passageway extending from an interior to an exterior thereof and a visual indicator mounted within the interior of the enclosure adjacent the passageway. The visual indicator is configured to emit light. The passageway is partially defined by a concave surface of the enclosure and/or a chamfered portion of the enclosure to facilitate the passage of light emitted by the visual indicator through the passageway and to the exterior of the enclosure to increase the external viewing angle of the light emitted from the visual indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: THOMAS PLAVEN
  • Publication number: 20110318948
    Abstract: A universal contact port for receiving contacts of various cross-sectional dimensions and cross-sectional profiles of an electrosurgical component is provided. The universal contact port includes a plurality of rollers each defining a corporal axis, the corporal axes being at least substantially parallel to one another; and a plurality of shafts eccentrically supporting a respective roller, each shaft defining a longitudinal axis, wherein each corporal axis is spaced a radial distance from a respective longitudinal axis and wherein the rollers are rotatable about the longitudinal axes. The rollers define an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is expandable and constrictable upon rotation of the rollers about the longitudinal axes, whereby the contact port can accommodate receipt of contacts, from electrosurgical components, of varying cross-sectional diameter therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Plaven, Robert L. Lohe
  • Patent number: 8025660
    Abstract: A universal contact port for use in an electrosurgical generator is provided and includes a ring gear having a circular rim formed therein and defines a central rotational axis. The rim includes a series of teeth formed therearound. A plurality of spur gears are operatively engaged with the rim of the ring gear, each spur gear defining a longitudinal axis which is at least substantially parallel with the central rotational axis; and a plurality of rollers operatively associated with a respective spur gear, each roller defining a corporal axis. The corporal axis of each roller is parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of the respective spur gear. The rollers define an opening therebetween. The opening is constricted by rotation of the ring gear in a first direction about the central rotational axis and expanded by rotation of the ring gear in a direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Thomas Plaven, Robert L. Lohe
  • Publication number: 20100068949
    Abstract: A universal contact port for use in an electrosurgical generator is provided and includes a ring gear having a circular rim formed therein and defines a central rotational axis. The rim includes a series of teeth formed therearound. A plurality of spur gears are operatively engaged with the rim of the ring gear, each spur gear defining a longitudinal axis which is at least substantially parallel with the central rotational axis; and a plurality of rollers operatively associated with a respective spur gear, each roller defining a corporal axis. The corporal axis of each roller is parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of the respective spur gear. The rollers define an opening therebetween. The opening is constricted by rotation of the ring gear in a first direction about the central rotational axis and expanded by rotation of the ring gear in a direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Plaven, Robert L. Lohe
  • Patent number: 7628786
    Abstract: A universal contact port for receiving contacts of various cross-sectional dimensions and cross-sectional profiles of an electrosurgical component is provided. The universal contact port includes a plurality of rollers each defining a corporal axis, the corporal axes being at least substantially parallel to one another; and a plurality of shafts eccentrically supporting a respective roller, each shaft defining a longitudinal axis, wherein each corporal axis is spaced a radial distance from a respective longitudinal axis and wherein the rollers are rotatable about the longitudinal axes. The rollers define an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is expandable and constrictable upon rotation of the rollers about the longitudinal axes, whereby the contact port can accommodate receipt of contacts, from electrosurgical components, of varying cross-sectional diameter therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Thomas Plaven, Robert Lohe
  • Publication number: 20060079871
    Abstract: A universal contact port for receiving contacts of various cross-sectional dimensions and cross-sectional profiles of an electrosurgical component is provided. The universal contact port includes a plurality of rollers each defining a corporal axis, the corporal axes being at least substantially parallel to one another; and a plurality of shafts eccentrically supporting a respective roller, each shaft defining a longitudinal axis, wherein each corporal axis is spaced a radial distance from a respective longitudinal axis and wherein the rollers are rotatable about the longitudinal axes. The rollers define an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is expandable and constrictable upon rotation of the rollers about the longitudinal axes, whereby the contact port can accommodate receipt of contacts, from electrosurgical components, of varying cross-sectional diameter therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Plaven, Robert Lohe