David L Witt

US Patent:

6454781, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

May 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/573650

Inventors:

David A. Witt - Maineville OH
Jerome R. Morgan - Norwood OH
Foster B. Stulen - Mason OH
James R. Giordano - Milford OH

Assignee:

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

A61B 1732

US Classification:

606169

Abstract:

A temperature or impedance sensing device monitors the tissue temperature or impedance at the end-effector of a therapeutic ultrasonic cutting and coagulating instrument as the tissue is being heated with ultrasonic vibrations from the end-effector. One or more sensors are located at the end-effector, preferably on a clamping member. The signals from the sensors provide feedback to control circuitry and a device for selecting a function of the instrument for either cutting mode or coagulating mode.

US Patent:

6458142, Oct 1, 2002

Filed:

Oct 5, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/412996

Inventors:

Craig N. Faller - Milford OH
David A. Witt - Maineville OH

Assignee:

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. - Somerville NJ

International Classification:

A61B 1700

US Classification:

606169, 604 22

Abstract:

The present invention relates, in general, to ultrasonic surgical clamping instruments and, more particularly, to an improved force limiting mechanism for an ultrasonic surgical clamping instrument. An ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus is described including a housing, an actuator, an outer tube having a proximal end joined to the housing, and a distal end. An actuating element is reciprocably positioned within the outer tube and operatively connected to the actuator. An ultrasonic waveguide is positioned within the outer tube, with an end-effector extending distally from the distal end of the outer tube. A clamp arm is pivotally mounted on the distal end of the outer tube for pivotal movement with respect to the end-effector for clamping tissue between the clamp arm and the end-effector. The clamp arm is operatively connected to the actuating element so that reciprocal movement of the actuating element pivots the clamp arm. There is an actuation mechanism within the housing, connected between the clamp arm and the actuator.

US Patent:

6958070, Oct 25, 2005

Filed:

Oct 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/982744

Inventors:

David A. Witt - Maineville OH, US
Chester O. Baxter - Loveland OH, US

International Classification:

A61B017/32

US Classification:

606169, 606205, 606 51

Abstract:

The present invention relates to ultrasonic surgical clamping instruments and, more particularly, to a curved clamp arm tissue pad attachment for use with ultrasonic surgical instruments. A curved clamp arm for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument is described. The curved clamp arm includes a proximal end and a distal end, with a top surface extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the curved clamp arm. The top surface comprises at least one hole. The clamp arm includes a bottom surface opposite the top surface, with the bottom surface extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the clamp arm. The bottom surface includes at least one engaging surface, where the hole in the top surface extends from the top surface to the engaging surface of the clamp arm. One embodiment of the curved clamp includes a plurality of the holes in the top surface, and a plurality of the engaging surfaces in the bottom surface, wherein each hole in the top surface extends through the curved clamp arm, terminating at a corresponding engaging surface on the bottom surface. The plurality of holes may also be staggered laterally from the proximal end of the clamp arm to the distal end of the clamp arm.

US Patent:

7108695, Sep 19, 2006

Filed:

Jul 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/197794

Inventors:

David A. Witt - Maineville OH, US
Jerome R. Morgan - Norwood OH, US
Foster B. Stulen - Mason OH, US
James R. Giordano - Milford OH, US

Assignee:

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

A61B 18/18
A61B 17/32

US Classification:

606 41, 606167

Abstract:

A temperature monitoring device and/or method which control the tissue temperature at the end-effector of a therapeutic ultrasonic cutting and coagulating instrument as the tissue is being heated with ultrasonic vibrations from the end-effector. One or more temperature sensors are located at the end-effector, preferably on a clamping member. The temperature sensors measure the temperature of the tissue engaged by the end-effector either directly or indirectly. An alternate method and apparatus provides an electrical tissue impedance measure in combination with an ultrasonic cutting and coagulating instrument to provide active feedback control of an ultrasonic generator.

US Patent:

D617163, Jun 8, 2010

Filed:

Aug 26, 2009

Appl. No.:

29/342473

Inventors:

Matthew C. Miller - Cincinnati OH, US
David A. Witt - Maineville OH, US
Joseph E. Young - Loveland OH, US
Stephen E. Eichmann - Cincinnati OH, US
William D. Dannaher - Cincinnati OH, US

Assignee:

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

0805

US Classification:

D 8 24

US Patent:

7780663, Aug 24, 2010

Filed:

Sep 22, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/534326

Inventors:

David C. Yates - West Chester OH, US
Phillip Q. Shuster - Maineville OH, US
Kenneth V. Moran - Loveland OH, US
David A. Witt - Maineville OH, US
James R. Giordano - Milford OH, US
Jesse J. Kuhns - Cincinnati OH, US

Assignee:

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

A61B 18/18
A61B 17/08

US Classification:

606 51, 606151

Abstract:

An electrosurgical stapling instrument includes an end effector capable of applying bipolar RF energy into tissue. The end effector has a first pole electrode and a second pole electrode for forming an RF contact circuit with tissue. At least one of the electrodes may have a dielectric coating thereon to create a RF circuit with tissue. The dielectric coating can cover one of the electrodes to create a capacitive coupling circuit with tissue, or can have at least one open passageway extending through the dielectric coating to enable tissue contact with the electrode and the passage of RF energy therethrough. The dielectric coating on the electrode can be masked to create passageways through the dielectric, or the dielectric coating can be locally removed with a variety of techniques to form passageways. The dielectric coating may provide a barrier to prevent shorting between the dielectrically coated electrode and a conductive fastener embedded within tissue. Alternately, a cartridge coating can be used to reduce an electric surface sheet charge on the cartridge thermoplastic that can occur during the application of RF energy to tissue.

US Patent:

8002782, Aug 23, 2011

Filed:

Sep 23, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/234714

Inventors:

David A. Witt - Maineville OH, US

Assignee:

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

A61B 17/32
A61B 17/00
A61B 18/18

US Classification:

606169, 606205, 606 51

Abstract:

The present invention relates to ultrasonic surgical clamping instruments and, more particularly, to a curved clamp arm tissue pad attachment for use with ultrasonic surgical instruments. A curved clamp arm for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument is described. The curved clamp arm includes a proximal end and a distal end, with a top surface extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the curved clamp arm. The top surface comprises at least one hole. The clamp arm includes a bottom surface opposite the top surface, with the bottom surface extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the clamp arm. The bottom surface includes at least one engaging surface, where the hole in the top surface extends from the top surface to the engaging surface of the clamp arm. One embodiment of the curved clamp includes a plurality of the holes in the top surface, and a plurality of the engaging surfaces in the bottom surface, wherein each hole in the top surface extends through the curved clamp arm, terminating at a corresponding engaging surface on the bottom surface. The plurality of holes may also be staggered laterally from the proximal end of the clamp arm to the distal end of the clamp arm.

US Patent:

8114104, Feb 14, 2012

Filed:

May 22, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/751741

Inventors:

Joseph E. Young - Loveland OH, US
David A. Witt - Maineville OH, US
Reginald D. Fortson - Cincinnati OH, US
Thomas E. Adams - Maineville OH, US
William D. Dannaher - Blue Ash OH, US

Assignee:

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

A61B 17/32

US Classification:

606169

Abstract:

An ultrasonic clamp coagulator system that is configured to permit selective cutting, coagulation and clamping of tissue during surgical procedures. An elongated portion of the instrument can be configured for endoscopic applications and has an outside diameter of less than 6 mm. The system includes a one-piece torque wrench that is provided with cantilever arms aligned in an annular fashion about the centerline of the torque wrench. The cantilever arms include teeth in an inward perpendicular fashion in relation to cantilever arms. The clamp coagulator includes an outer tube retainer that includes spline gears projecting in a perpendicular fashion along the outer circumference of retainer. Torque is transmitted through the cantilever arms to the spline gears for attaching a handpiece to the clamp coagulator.