Patrick R Flanagan

US Patent:

8631992, Jan 21, 2014

Filed:

Oct 21, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/603521

Inventors:

Bernard A. Hausen - Redwood City CA, US
Bryan D. Knodel - Flagstaff AZ, US
Patrick Flanagan - San Diego CA, US
Bennie Thompson - Cincinnati OH, US

Assignee:

Cardica, Inc. - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

A61B 17/10

US Classification:

2271791, 2271751, 2271761, 2271811, 227 19, 606219, 606139, 411457, 411920

Abstract:

An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt; at least one staple including a crown fixed to and frangibly separable from the feeder belt, the crown having a first width, and a free end extending from the crown; and at least one pad wider than the first width, wherein each pad is associated with a corresponding crown. An exemplary surgical method using that exemplary apparatus may include placing the feeder belt in proximity to tissue; penetrating the free end of at least one staple into tissue, such that tissue is positioned between the free end and the crown; compressing the free end of at least one staple toward the crown, such that a compressive force is exerted toward the crown; distributing the compressive force across the pad of at least one staple; and shearing at least one staple from the feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include at least one feeder belt having two lateral edges; staples, where each staple includes a first end frangibly connected to a corresponding feeder belt and a second free end; and where the staples form at least one row, each row including at least two staples; and at least one pad, where each pad is located along a corresponding free end of a corresponding staple.

US Patent:

20120205419, Aug 16, 2012

Filed:

Jan 13, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/350512

Inventors:

David Weir - Emerald Hills CA, US
Kevin Durant - Alameda CA, US
Patrick Flanagan - Santa Clara CA, US
David Robinson - Mountain View CA, US

Assignee:

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B 17/068
A61B 19/00

US Classification:

227 2, 2271751

Abstract:

Systems and methods are provided for detecting failure in clamping of a material and/or firing of a staple into a clamped material and indicating such failure to a user on a user interface. The system and methods are particularly suited for use with end effectors having closing and/or firing mechanisms coupled to an actuator. By monitoring a driving parameter of an actuator that effects the clamping and/or firing, the systems and methods provide an indication of failure in response to the monitored drive parameter. In some embodiments, an indication of failure is output when the monitored drive parameter is outside an acceptable range of desired driving parameters during clamping and/or firing. The disclosed systems and methods are particularly beneficial when used for minimally invasive surgery.

US Patent:

20120209314, Aug 16, 2012

Filed:

Jan 13, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/350502

Inventors:

David Weir - Emerald Hills CA, US
Grant Duque - San Jose CA, US
Kevin Durant - Alameda CA, US
Patrick Flanagan - Santa Clara CA, US
Maggie Nixon - San Jose CA, US
David Robinson - Mountain View CA, US
John Zabinski - Fremont CA, US

Assignee:

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B 17/28

US Classification:

606205

Abstract:

End effectors with closing mechanisms, and related tools and methods are disclosed. The disclosed end effectors may be particularly beneficial when used for minimally invasive surgery. An example surgical tool comprises a first and second jaw movable between a closed grasped or clamped configuration and an open configuration. The tool further comprises a soft grip mode for grasping the tissue at a first force during which a separation parameter between the jaws is measured, and a therapeutic clamping mode in which the jaws clamp on the body tissue at a force greater than the grasping force. The methods comprise grasping the body tissue between jaw members, measuring the separation parameter between jaws, indicating on a user interface the separation parameter for comparison to a desired separation parameter, and then releasing the body tissue for repositioning or therapeutically clamping the body tissue in response to the separation parameter indication.

US Patent:

20120248167, Oct 4, 2012

Filed:

May 15, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/472431

Inventors:

Patrick FLANAGAN - Santa Clara CA, US
David W. Weir - Emerald Hills CA, US

Assignee:

INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B 17/068

US Classification:

227 2

Abstract:

Systems and methods are provided for detecting misfire of a surgical staple cartridge and for indicating such misfire to a user on a user interface. An actuation force applied to a staple cartridge is measured and compared to a threshold actuation force. In response to the comparison, a controller determines if there has been a misfire of the surgical staple cartridge. A determination that misfire has occurred is made when the measured actuation force is greater than a maximum threshold force or less than a minimum threshold force, and under such circumstances, the controller terminates the staple firing sequence.

US Patent:

20130105552, May 2, 2013

Filed:

Oct 26, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/662385

Inventors:

Kevin Durant - Alameda CA, US
William Burbank - Sandy Hook CT, US
Patrick Flanagan - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B 17/068

US Classification:

2271801, 2271761

Abstract:

Surgical systems and related methods verify the presence of an unfired surgical cartridge mounted to a surgical instrument. The cartridge includes an input that is actuated in a firing direction to operate the cartridge. An actuation input that is limited to less than or equal to a predetermined magnitude is generated. The actuation input includes at least one of a torque or a force. The actuation input is transferred to an output of a surgical instrument to attempt to actuate the output opposite to the firing direction by a predetermined amount. The output is drivingly coupled with the cartridge input when the cartridge is mounted to the surgical instrument. The resulting actuation of the output is measured and compared with a threshold actuation amount. A determination is made that the cartridge is present and unfired when the resulting actuation of the output is less than the threshold actuation amount.

US Patent:

20220296264, Sep 22, 2022

Filed:

Jun 10, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/837436

Inventors:

- Sunnyvale CA, US
David Robinson - Mountain View CA, US
Pushkar Hingwe - Los Altos CA, US
Patrick Flanagan - Santa Clara CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 17/29
A61B 18/14
A61B 17/072

Abstract:

Surgical instruments and assemblies for sealing and cutting tissue monitor jaw angle and/or jaw clamping force to provide feedback to an operator of the surgical instrument indicative of whether the tissue is suitable clamped for sealing and/or cutting. A surgical instrument or assembly includes a jaw operable to clamp tissue, a sealing mechanism, a cutting mechanism, an actuation monitoring assembly, and a feedback assembly. The actuation monitoring assembly monitors jaw angle and/or clamping force. The feedback assembly outputs feedback to the operator, based on the jaw angle and/or clamping force, as to whether the current clamping angle and/or jaw angle is suitable for sealing and/or clamping tissue.

US Patent:

20220183687, Jun 16, 2022

Filed:

Mar 1, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/684326

Inventors:

- Sunnyvale CA, US
Gabriel F. Brisson - Livermore CA, US
William A. Burbank - Sandy Hook CT, US
Patrick Flanagan - San Diego CA, US
Pushkar Hingwe - Los Altos CA, US
David W. Weir - San Carlos CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 17/072
A61B 34/10
A61B 34/30
A61B 34/00
A61B 34/35
A61B 17/00
A61B 90/00

Abstract:

A computer-assisted device include an actuator and one or more processors. The computer-assisted device is configured to support an instrument having an end effector located at a distal end. To perform an operation with the instrument, the one or more processors are configured to operate the end effector according to a state machine having a first state and a second state. In the first state a velocity set point of the actuator is set to a first velocity. In the second state the velocity set point of the actuator is set to a second velocity lower than the first velocity. The state machine transitions from the first state to the second state when a force or torque applied by the actuator is above a first threshold and transitions from the second state to the first state when the force or torque applied by the actuator is below a second threshold.

US Patent:

20230098860, Mar 30, 2023

Filed:

Nov 28, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/994512

Inventors:

- Pleasanton CA, US
Patrick Ryan Flanagan - Pleasanton CA, US

Assignee:

Blackhawk Network, Inc. - Pleasanton CA

International Classification:

G06Q 20/36
G06Q 20/32
G06Q 30/06
G06Q 20/20
G06Q 20/34
G06Q 20/28

Abstract:

A system and method of transacting a prepaid product with an electronic mobile device that is used to electronically interface with a code, such as a QR code, bar code, RF signal or NFC signal, representing a prepaid product. The codes of multiple prepaid products of multiple prepaid product providers are grouped together on a single structure or in a single computer displayed in a shopping area. The electronic mobile device subsequently electronically interfaces with a point of sale device after electronically interfacing with said code to provide prepaid product information.