John W Cummings

US Patent:

20020111624, Aug 15, 2002

Filed:

Jan 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/055534

Inventors:

David Witt - Maineville OH, US
Craig Faller - Milford OH, US
Chester Baxter - Loveland OH, US
John Cummings - Madeira OH, US

International Classification:

A61B018/14

US Classification:

606/051000

Abstract:

A bipolar electrosurgical instrument having a pair of relatively moveable jaws, each of which includes a tissue contacting surface. The tissue contacting surfaces of the jaws are in face-to-face relation with one another, and adjacent each of the tissue contacting surfaces are first and second spaced-apart electrodes that are adapted for connection to the opposite terminals of a bipolar RF generator so as to generator a current flow between the electrodes. The first and second electrodes of one jaw are in offset opposed relation, respectively, with the first and second electrodes of the other jaw. A cutting portion is provided between the jaws. The cutting portion is moveable to provide the instrument with a scissors-like capability or a grasper-like capability, depending on the position of the cutting portion. A tissue dam is included on at least one jaw to help contain tissue within the desired coagulation area, and thereby help contain current density between the electrodes, thereby decreasing lateral tissue thermal damage and increasing hemostasis.

US Patent:

20050004569, Jan 6, 2005

Filed:

Apr 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/832615

Inventors:

David Witt - Maineville OH, US
Craig Faller - Milford OH, US
Chester Baxter - Loveland OH, US
John Cummings - Madeira OH, US

International Classification:

A61B018/14

US Classification:

606051000

Abstract:

A bipolar electrosurgical instrument having a pair of relatively moveable jaws, each of which includes a tissue contacting surface. The tissue contacting surfaces of the jaws are in face-to-face relation with one another, and adjacent each of the tissue contacting surfaces are first and second spaced-apart electrodes that are adapted for connection to the opposite terminals of a bipolar RF generator so as to generator a current flow between the electrodes. The first and second electrodes of one jaw are in offset opposed relation, respectively, with the first and second electrodes of the other jaw. A cutting portion is provided between the jaws. The cutting portion is moveable to provide the instrument with a scissors-like capability or a grasper-like capability, depending on the position of the cutting portion. A tissue dam is included on at least one jaw to help contain tissue within the desired coagulation area, and thereby help contain current density between the electrodes, thereby decreasing lateral tissue thermal damage and increasing hemostasis.

US Patent:

20080081948, Apr 3, 2008

Filed:

Oct 3, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/542060

Inventors:

William B. Weisenburgh - Maineville OH, US
Robert P. Gill - Mason OH, US
Christopher J. Hess - Cincinnati OH, US
John F. Cummings - Madeira OH, US

International Classification:

A61B 1/12

US Classification:

600121, 600157

Abstract:

A first apparatus for cleaning a distal end of a medical scope includes an annular sheath surroundingly attachable to the scope wherein the distal scope end is in fluid communication with the distal end of a lumen of the attached sheath with the proximal lumen end fluidly connectable to an irrigation fluid source and/or vacuum source. A second apparatus includes a motor-driven rotatable cannula having a closed distal end. A third apparatus includes an annular sheath and a lens which closes off the sheath, wherein the scope is insertable into the sheath, and wherein the lens is exposed to a distal lumen end of a lumen of the attached sheath. A fourth apparatus includes an annular sheath and a transparent shield rotatable attachable to the sheath to seal the distal sheath end. A fifth apparatus includes a sleeve attachable to and slidable along a scope.

US Patent:

20120010616, Jan 12, 2012

Filed:

Jul 8, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/832345

Inventors:

Zhifan F. Huang - Mason OH, US
David A. Witt - Maineville OH, US
Raymond M. Banks - Cupertino CA, US
Timothy G. Dietz - Terrace Park OH, US
Mary E. Mootoo - Cincinnati OH, US
Gregory W. Johnson - Milford OH, US
Jeffrey S. Swayze - Hamilton OH, US
Jason L. Harris - Mason OH, US
Foster B. Stulen - Mason OH, US
Prasanna Malaviya - Mason OH, US
Richard W. Timm - Cincinnati OH, US
John V. Hunt - Cincinnati OH, US
Suzanne E. Thompson - West Chester OH, US
Gavin M. Monson - Oxford OH, US
Robert J. Laird - Morrow OH, US
Omar J. Vakharia - Cincinnati OH, US
Christopher J. Schall - Cincinnati OH, US
Cory G. Kimball - Cincinnati OH, US
Al Mirel - Redwood City CA, US
John F. Cummings - Madeira OH, US
Andrew T. Beckman - Cincinnati OH, US

Assignee:

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

A61B 18/18

US Classification:

606 52

Abstract:

An electrosurgical instrument can comprise a handle, a shaft, and an end effector, wherein the end effector can be rotatably coupled to the shaft by an articulation joint. The instrument can further comprise a drive member and the articulation joint can comprise flexible support members which can be configured to support the drive member. The instrument can further comprise supply wires electrically coupled to electrodes in the end effector and a wire tensioning device configured to prevent the supply wires from accumulating slack within the articulation joint. The drive member can comprise a plurality of flexible layers wherein some of the layers can be comprised of an electrically insulative material and other layers can be comprised of an electrically conductive material which is in electrical communication with a cutting member in the end effector and/or electrodes positioned within the end effector.