Patent Applications published on May 2, 2019

Explore the 8,199 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 18th week of 2019, including 6,436 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.

Featured patent applications from May 2, 2019

Published: 2019-05-02 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
US20190125344A1
Human necessities
Application 20190125344, fig. 01

Cartridge body design with force reduction based on firing completion

A surgical instrument includes a sled and an end effector. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw, an anvil, and a cartridge channel. The staple cartridge includes a proximal end, a distal end, a cartridge body, and staples supported in the cartridge body, wherein the sled is movable to deploy the staples from the cartridge body against tissue captured between the staple cartridge and the anvil. The cartridge channel is configured to removably retain the staple cartridge, wherein a load is required to remove the staple cartridge from the cartridge channel, and wherein the sled is configured to reduce the cartridge removal load.

Published: 2019-05-02 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
US20190125365A1
Human necessities
Application 20190125365, fig. 01

Methods for closed loop control of motor velocity of a surgical stapling and cutting instrument

A method of adjusting velocity in a motorized surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument comprises a displacement member configured to translate within the surgical instrument over a plurality of predefined zones, a motor coupled to the displacement member to translate the displacement member, a control circuit coupled to the motor, a position sensor coupled to the control circuit, the position sensor configured to measure the position of the displacement member and a timer circuit coupled to the control circuit, the timer circuit configured to measure elapsed time. The method includes setting a directed velocity of the displacement member; determining an actual velocity of the displacement member; determining an error between the directed velocity of the displacement member and the actual velocity of the displacement member; and controlling the actual velocity of the displacement member based on the magnitude of the error.

Published: 2019-05-02 Assignee: Cllag GmbH International.
US20190125361A1
Human necessities
Application 20190125361, fig. 01

Method for operating a powered articulating multi-clip applier

A method for adjusting control parameters of a clip applier using a surgical hub is disclosed. The method comprises gathering data during a first surgical procedure, evaluating the gathered data to determine the appropriate operation of a clip applier in a subsequent surgical procedure, gathering data during the operation of the clip applier in the subsequent surgical procedure, determining if the operation of the clip applier needs to be adjusted based on the data gathered during the subsequent surgical procedure, and adjusting the operation of the clip applier based on the data gathered during the subsequent surgical procedure.

Published: 2019-05-02 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
US20190125380A1
Human necessities
Application 20190125380, fig. 01

Articulation features for surgical end effector

A surgical instrument includes an articulation joint and end effector extending distally from the articulation joint, wherein the end effector comprises a drive pin movable between a first position and a second position. Furthermore, the surgical instrument includes a shaft extending proximally from the articulation joint, and an articulation driver configured to move the drive pin from the first position to the second position to transition the end effector from an unarticulated configuration to an articulated configuration. Also, the surgical instrument includes a pin slot extending from the articulation driver, wherein the pin slot is configured to movably accommodate the drive pin in the unarticulated configuration, and wherein the pin slot is configured to tightly accommodate the drive pin in the articulated configuration.

Published: 2019-05-02 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
US20190125454A1
Human necessities
Application 20190125454, fig. 01

Method of hub communication with surgical instrument systems

A method for adjusting the operation of a clip applier using machine learning in a surgical suite is disclosed. The method comprises gathering data during surgical procedures, wherein the surgical procedures include the use of a clip applier comprising a crimping drive configured to be mechanically advanced through a crimping stroke. The method further comprises analyzing the gathered data to determine an appropriate operational adjustment of the clip applier and adjusting the operation of the clip applier to improve the operation of the clip applier.

Published: 2019-05-02 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
US20190125457A1
Human necessities
Application 20190125457, fig. 01

Method for communicating with surgical instrument systems

A method for adjusting the operation of a surgical instrument using machine learning in a surgical suite is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of gathering data during surgical procedures, wherein the surgical procedures include the use of a surgical instrument, analyzing the gathered data to determine an appropriate operational adjustment of the surgical instrument, and adjusting the operation of the surgical instrument to improve the operation of the surgical instrument.

Published: 2019-05-02 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
US20190125459A1
Human necessities
Application 20190125459, fig. 01

Method of hub communication with surgical instrument systems

A method for adjusting the operation of a surgical suturing instrument using machine learning in a surgical suite is disclosed. The method comprises gathering data during surgical procedures, wherein the surgical procedures include the use of a surgical suturing instrument comprising a suturing needle configured to be mechanically advanced through a suturing stroke, analyzing the gathered data to determine an appropriate operational adjustment of the surgical suturing instrument, and adjusting the operation of the surgical suturing instrument to improve the operation of the surgical suturing instrument.

Published: 2019-05-02 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
US20190125455A1
Human necessities
Application 20190125455, fig. 01

Method of hub communication with surgical instrument systems

A method for adjusting the operation of a surgical instrument using machine learning in a surgical suite is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of gathering data during surgical procedures, wherein the surgical procedures include the use of a surgical instrument, analyzing the gathered data to determine an appropriate operational adjustment of the surgical instrument, and adjusting the operation of the surgical instrument to improve the operation of the surgical instrument.

Published: 2019-05-02 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
US20190125390A1
Human necessities
Application 20190125390, fig. 01

Surgical instruments comprising a system for articulation and rotation compensation

A surgical instrument is disclosed comprising a shaft and an end effector rotatably connected to the shaft about an articulation joint. The surgical instrument comprises a plurality of rotation joints which can be simultaneously operated to maintain the alignment of a portion of the surgical instrument relative to the patient tissue.

Published: 2019-05-02 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
US20190125458A1
Human necessities
Application 20190125458, fig. 01

Method for producing a surgical instrument comprising a smart electrical system

A method for producing a surgical instrument is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a handle, wherein the handle comprises a distal end comprising a shaft interface surface and a first set of magnetic elements. The method further comprises obtaining a shaft, wherein the shaft comprises a proximal end comprising a handle interface surface, a second set of magnetic elements, and a third set of magnetic elements. The method further comprises attaching the shaft to the handle, wherein the shaft interface surface is configured to engage the shaft at the handle interface surface, wherein an attractive magnetic force is configured to pull the handle towards the shaft when the first set of magnetic elements interact with the second magnetic elements, and wherein a repulsive magnetic force is configured to repel the handle from the shaft when the first set of magnetic elements interacts with the third set of magnetic elements.