Patents by Inventor Timothy Graham Frank

Timothy Graham Frank 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: 10383536
    Abstract: A medical instrument has a tubular shaft, a handle at a proximal end of the shaft and a movable working part at a distal end of the shaft, the shaft includes a shaft section having a curvature and being arranged between the distal end and the proximal end of the shaft. The handle and the working part are operatively connected via a force transmission element extending through the shaft. The force transmission element has a section arranged within the curved shaft section of the shaft, the section being guided on an inner surface of the shaft and having a plurality of interconnected single elements arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction of the shaft. The single elements are pairwise connected by a pin forming a hinged joint, such that each of the pins defines a rotation axis oriented substantially perpendicular relative to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: University of Dundee
    Inventors: Timothy Graham Frank, Stuart Coleman
  • Patent number: 8882800
    Abstract: A medical instrument with a shank consisting of pivotable jaw parts and a handle, the two jaw parts of the tool are pivotable relative to each other independently via the handle and each of the pivotable jaw parts is actuated via a separate drive. One drive is designed as a grip part mounted pivotably on the handle and is connected to one jaw part via a first push/pull element mounted in an axially displaceable manner in the shank, and the other drive is an adjusting wheel rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the shank and is connected to the other jaw part of the tool via a second push/pull element mounted in an axially displaceable manner in the shank. The push/pull element is designed as a push/pull rod, and the push/pull element which is coupled to the adjusting wheel is designed as a push/pull tube coaxially surrounding the push/pull rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: University of Dundee
    Inventor: Timothy Graham Frank
  • Patent number: 8882799
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical instrument for grasping an object, in particular a surgical needle holder, with two jaw parts arranged at a distal end of a shaft, at least one of the jaw parts being pivotable with respect to the other one of the jaw parts between a grasp state for grasping the object between the jaw parts and a release state for releasing the object, and with a latching mechanism comprising at least one latching element, wherein the latching element has an elongated opening to accommodate a connection pin for connecting the at least one pivotable jaw part with the latching element, and wherein the elongated opening is divided in several sections along its length by periodical projections, such that the at least one pivotable jaw part pivots stepwise from one stable latched position to another stable latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: University of Dundee
    Inventor: Timothy Graham Frank
  • Publication number: 20130158526
    Abstract: A medical tubular shaft instrument comprises a tubular shaft, a handle at a proximal end of the shaft and a movable working part at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the shaft comprises a shaft section having a curvature and being arranged between the distal end and the proximal end of the shaft, wherein the handle and the working part are operatively connected via a force transmission element extending through the shaft and being movable in a longitudinal direction of the shaft, wherein the force transmission element has a section arranged within the curved shaft section of the shaft which is guided on an inner surface of the shaft and which comprises a plurality of interconnected single elements arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction of the shaft. The single elements are pairwise connected by means of a pin forming a hinged joint, wherein each of the pins defines a rotation axis oriented substantially perpendicular relative to the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Timothy Graham Frank, Stuart Coleman
  • Publication number: 20120289999
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical instrument for grasping an object, in particular a surgical needle holder, with two jaw parts arranged at a distal end of a shaft, at least one of the jaw parts being pivotable with respect to the other one of the jaw parts between a grasp state for grasping the object between the jaw parts and a release state for releasing the object, and with a latching mechanism comprising at least one latching element, wherein the latching element has an elongated opening to accommodate a connection pin for connecting the at least one pivotable jaw part with the latching element, and wherein the elongated opening is divided in several sections along its length by periodical projections, such that the at least one pivotable jaw part pivots stepwise from one stable latched position to another stable latched position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventor: Timothy Graham Frank
  • Patent number: 8231611
    Abstract: A shaft rotating device for rotating a shaft of a medical instrument about its longitudinal axis relative to a handle of the medical instrument comprises an operating element for rotating the shaft. The operating element is arranged at a proximal portion of the shaft and it is in driving connection with the shaft such that the shaft is rotatable relative to the handle against frictional forces. The shaft rotating device further comprises a frictional element with a surface. The surface of the frictional element is in frictional contact with the surface of a counterpart for keeping the shaft and the handle rotationally stationary with respect to each other and movable against the frictional forces. The operating element and the frictional element are in operational connection with respect to one another such that a torque applied to the operating element decreases the frictional forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: University of Dundee
    Inventor: Timothy Graham Frank
  • Publication number: 20120179197
    Abstract: A medical instrument with a shank consisting of pivotable jaw parts and a handle, the two jaw parts of the tool are pivotable relative to each other independently via the handle and each of the pivotable jaw parts is actuated via a separate drive. One drive is designed as a grip part mounted pivotably on the handle and is connected to one jaw part via a first push/pull element mounted in an axially displaceable manner in the shank, and the other drive is an adjusting wheel rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the shank and is connected to the other jaw part of the tool via a second push/pull element mounted in an axially displaceable manner in the shank. The push/pull element is designed as a push/pull rod, and the push/pull element which is coupled to the adjusting wheel is designed as a push/pull tube coaxially surrounding the push/pull rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventor: Timothy Graham Frank
  • Patent number: 7896900
    Abstract: A medical instrument for grasping an object, in particular a surgical needle holder, including an elongated shaft, two jaw parts arranged at a distal end of the shaft, at least one of the jaw parts being pivotable with respect to the other of the jaw parts between a grasp state for grasping the object between the jaw parts and a release state for releasing the object. A handle is arranged at a proximal end of the shaft and has at least one operating element for moving the at least one pivotable jaw part between the grasp state and the release state via an axially movable force transmission element operatively connected with the at least one operating element and with the at least one pivotable jaw part via an articulated joint. The instrument further includes a latching mechanism for immobilizing the at least one pivotable jaw part in the grasp state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: University of Dundee
    Inventors: Timothy Graham Frank, J. Duncan S. Martin, Ian Rutherford, Stuart I. Brown, James Gove, Leslie Kelly
  • Patent number: 7833243
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical grasping and holding instrument with a handle consisting of two handgrips and with a holding portion that consists of at least two jaw members and can be activated by the handle. The jaw members of the holding portion can be locked by means of a spring element both in an end position that releases the holding portion and in an end position that locks the holding portion. In order to create a medical grasping and holding instrument that is of simple construction, can be operated with just one hand, and is easy to clean, it is proposed with this invention that the spring element, configured as a flat spring, for locking the jaw members in their end positions is mounted between the handgrips of the handle so as to connect the two handgrips to one another in such a way that the spring element can be moved by way of a bearing point of a handgrip at the spring element between two end positions that release the spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Timothy Graham Frank, James Gove
  • Patent number: 7699868
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical gripping and/or cutting instrument with an instrument shaft (1), with a handle (3) that can be fixed movably on the instrument shaft (1), and with a tool (2) mounted on the distal end of the instrument shaft (1) and consisting of two jaw member (2a, 2b), where at least one jaw member (2a or 2b) of the tool (2) can move in relation to the other jaw member (2b or 2a). In order to provide a medical instrument that, along with good cleaning properties and compact structure, also ensures simple and safe operation, the invention proposes that the handle (3) should include a coupling mechanism both to fix the handle (3) to the instrument shaft (1) and also to operate the at least one movable jaw member (2a or 2b) of the tool (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: University of Dundee
    Inventors: Timothy Graham Frank, Stuart I. Brown, Ian Rutherford
  • Publication number: 20090177039
    Abstract: A shaft rotating device for rotating a shaft of a medical instrument about its longitudinal axis relative to a handle of the medical instrument comprises an operating element for rotating the shaft. The operating element is arranged at a proximal portion of the shaft and it is in driving connection with the shaft such that the shaft is rotatable relative to the handle against frictional forces. The shaft rotating device further comprises a frictional element with a surface. The surface of the frictional element is in frictional contact with the surface of a counterpart for keeping the shaft and the handle rotationally stationary with respect to each other and movable against the frictional forces. The operating element and the frictional element are in operational connection with respect to one another such that a torque applied to the operating element decreases the frictional forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventor: Timothy Graham Frank
  • Patent number: 7487563
    Abstract: A device for supporting at least one arm of an operating person during a surgical or medical operation comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the at least one arm of the operating person, the supporting element being arranged at a carrying structure for carrying the at least one supporting element. The carrying structure is configured such that the at least one supporting element can be lowered or raised for adjusting the height of the operating person's arm. The carrying structure comprises a control system which comprises a hydraulic circuit for lowering or raising the at least one supporting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: University of Dundee
    Inventors: Ian Rutherford, Leslie Kelly, Stuart Brown, Timothy Graham Frank, Alfred Cuschieri
  • Publication number: 20090036738
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for creating a free transcutaneous access to an endoscopic operating area, in particular to a hollow internal body organ, which device has a conical inset that is to be inserted into an incision. A device for creating a transcutaneous access that combines simple construction with good handling qualities for several medical instruments is, according to the invention, characterized in that several medical instruments can be inserted simultaneously into the operating area by way of the conical inset, so that the individual medical instruments are positioned in the conical inset at a secured angle to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Alfred Cuschieri, Timothy Graham Frank, Stuart I. Brown, James Gove, Leslie Kelly, Duncan J. Martin, Ian Rutherford
  • Patent number: 7470278
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical gripping and/or retaining instrument, in particular a needle holder, with a handle consisting of at least two handgrips and a retaining part that consists of at least two jaw members and can be activated by the handle. To create a gripping and/or retaining instrument which ensures that at least one part of a jaw member of the retaining part is mounted so that it can rotate with respect to at least another jaw member working with this jaw member around the longitudinal axis of the jaw member and/or can be displaced in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the jaw member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Timothy Graham Frank
  • Patent number: 7461423
    Abstract: A device for supporting at least one arm of an operating person during a surgical or medical operation comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the at least one arm of the operating person, the supporting element being arranged at a carrying structure for carrying the at least one supporting element, wherein the carrying structure is configured such that the at least one supporting element can be lowered or raised for adjusting the height of the operating person's arm. The carrying structure comprises at least one carrying arm, which is pivotable about at least one at least approximately horizontal pivot axis such that pivoting of the carrying arm raises or lowers the at least one supporting element. The carrying structure further comprises a mechanical control system acting on the pivotability of the at least one carrying arm in the upward direction differently from the downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: University of Dundee
    Inventors: Ian Rutherford, Leslie Kelly, Stuart Brown, Timothy Graham Frank, Alfred Cuschieri
  • Patent number: 7458966
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument, in particular an endoscopic instrument, with an instrument shaft, a tool positioned on the distal end of the instrument shaft, and a handle, which can be secured on the instrument shaft so that it can be moved in an axial extension of the instrument shaft. In order to create an instrument which makes possible a comfortable, safe, and reliable handling even with the most varied application purposes, it is proposed with the invention that the handle can be secured on the instrument shaft so that it can be moved by at least one degree of freedom with respect to the instrument shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: University of Dundee
    Inventors: Timothy Graham Frank, Alfred Cuschieri, Duncan Martin, James Gove
  • Publication number: 20080188891
    Abstract: A medical instrument for grasping an object, in particular a surgical needle holder, including an elongated shaft, two jaw parts arranged at a distal end of the shaft, at least one of the jaw parts being pivotable with respect to the other of the jaw parts between a grasp state for grasping the object between the jaw parts and a release state for releasing the object. A handle is arranged at a proximal end of the shaft and has at least one operating element for moving the at least one pivotable jaw part between the grasp state and the release state via an axially movable force transmission element operatively connected with the at least one operating element and with the at least one pivotable jaw part via an articulated joint. The instrument further includes a latching mechanism for immobilizing the at least one pivotable jaw part in the grasp state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Timothy Graham Frank, J. Duncan S. Martin, Ian Rutherford, Stuart I. Brown, James Gove, Leslie Kelly
  • Publication number: 20080140102
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument for removing objects from narrow passages, having a shaft and an actuation element that is mounted in the shaft and on whose distal end a hook-shaped angled piece can be configured so that the distal end of the actuation element can be converted by a handle between an essentially extended form and a form that comprises the hook-shaped angled piece. It is proposed with the invention that the handle should be configured as consisting of at least two gripping members configured at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the instrument, so that at least one gripping member can rotate with respect to the at least one other gripping member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Stuart I. Brown, Timothy Graham Frank, Leslie Kelly, Rodney Mountain, Ian Rutherford
  • Patent number: 7326228
    Abstract: A medical instrument especially suited for the HALS operating technique that can be entirely inserted together with one of the surgeon's hands into the operating area for operating purposes and includes a housing [(1)] and at least one tool [(2)] arranged in the housing [(1)], where the tool [(2)] can be moved between a rest position arranged in the housing [(1)] and a working position extending out of the housing [(1)].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alfred Cuschieri, Timothy Graham Frank
  • Patent number: D679020
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alfred Cuschieri, Timothy Graham Frank, Leslie B. Kelly, Jochen Stefan