Robert L Sharp

US Patent:

7270664, Sep 18, 2007

Filed:

May 5, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/418876

Inventors:

Kristin D. Johnson - Louisville CO, US
Gary M. Couture - Longmont CO, US
Jeff Unger - Superior CO, US
Robert Sharp - Boulder CO, US
David M. Garrison - Longmont CO, US
Sean T. Dycus - Broomfield CO, US
David Hixson - Longmont CO, US
Craig Weinberg - Denver CO, US

Assignee:

Sherwood Services AG - Schaffhausen

International Classification:

A61B 18/18

US Classification:

606 51, 606 45

Abstract:

An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface connected to an electrosurgical energy source. At least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within an insulator defined in the jaw member. A rigid structural support is included which is configured to support the electrically conductive tissue sealing surface and includes at least one flow channel defined therein.

US Patent:

7276068, Oct 2, 2007

Filed:

Sep 2, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/932612

Inventors:

Kristin Johnson - Louisville CO, US
Gary M. Couture - Boulder CO, US
Jeff Unger - Boulder CO, US
Robert Sharp - Boulder CO, US

Assignee:

Sherwood Services AG - Schaffhausen

International Classification:

A61B 18/18

US Classification:

606 51, 606 45

Abstract:

An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes a pair of spaced apart electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces which each have an insulator disposed therebetween, the conductive surfaces are connected to an electrosurgical energy source. The first jaw member includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator which extends towards the second tissue contacting surface to create a gap therebetween. The cutting element is inactive during the sealing process while the two pairs of electrically conductive surfaces are activated to seal tissue. During the cutting process, the cutting element is energized to a first potential and at least one electrically conductive tissue contacting surface is energized to a different potential to effect a tissue cut through the tissue held between the jaw members along the already formed tissue seal.

US Patent:

7837685, Nov 23, 2010

Filed:

Jul 13, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/180949

Inventors:

Craig Weinberg - Denver CO, US
Robert Sharp - Boulder CO, US
Gary M. Couture - Longmont CO, US
Darren Odom - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Covidien AG - Neuhausen am Rheinfall

International Classification:

A61B 18/14

US Classification:

606 42, 606 41, 606 51, 606 32, 606 1

Abstract:

Various safe switching mechanisms are provided for use with electrosurgical instruments which prevent arcing between the high-energy contacts as the high-energy source is activated. The switching mechanisms generally include a pair of high-energy contacts and a pair of activation contacts. An actuator is provided which initially engages the high-energy contacts in advance of engagement of the activation contacts to prevent arcing and subsequently disengages the activation contacts in advance of the high-energy contacts as the energy source is deactivated. A method of switching power to an electrosurgical instrument while avoiding damage to high-energy contacts is also disclosed.

US Patent:

8162940, Apr 24, 2012

Filed:

Sep 5, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/899298

Inventors:

Kristin D. Johnson - Louisville CO, US
Gary M. Couture - Longmont CO, US
Jeff Unger - Superior CO, US
Robert Sharp - Boulder CO, US

Assignee:

Covidien AG

International Classification:

A61B 18/14

US Classification:

606 51, 606 45

Abstract:

An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes a pair of spaced apart electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces which each have an insulator disposed therebetween, the conductive surfaces are connected to an electrosurgical energy source. The first jaw member includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator which extends towards the second tissue contacting surface to create a gap therebetween. The cutting element is inactive during the sealing process while the two pairs of electrically conductive surfaces are activated to seal tissue. During the cutting process, the cutting element is energized to a first potential and at least one electrically conductive tissue contacting surface is energized to a different potential to effect a tissue cut through the tissue held between the jaw members along the already formed tissue seal.

US Patent:

8192433, Jun 5, 2012

Filed:

Aug 21, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/894354

Inventors:

Kristin D. Johnson - Louisville CO, US
Gary M. Couture - Longmont CO, US
Jeff Unger - Superior CO, US
Robert Sharp - Boulder CO, US
David M. Garrison - Longmont CO, US
Sean T. Dycus - Broomfield CO, US
David Hixson - Longmont CO, US
Craig Weinberg - Denver CO, US

Assignee:

Covidien AG

International Classification:

A61B 18/14

US Classification:

606 51, 606 46

Abstract:

An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface connected to an electrosurgical energy source. At least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within an insulator defined in the jaw member. A rigid structural support is included which is configured to support the electrically conductive tissue sealing surface and includes at least one flow channel defined therein.

US Patent:

D670808, Nov 13, 2012

Filed:

Oct 1, 2010

Appl. No.:

29/376124

Inventors:

Tony Moua - Broomfield CO, US
Thomas Meiser - Lakewood CO, US
Ryan C. Artale - Boulder CO, US
Luke Waaler - Longmont CO, US
Robert M. Sharp - Boulder CO, US
Mark J. Huseman - Broomfield CO, US
Jeffrey M. Roy - Boulder CO, US
Roland Jeffrey Wyatt - Bozeman MT, US
Dylan R. Kingsley - Broomfield CO, US
Cynthia M. Perry - Golden CO, US
Andrew P. Roussell - Broomfield CO, US
Meghan Collins Long - Centennial CO, US

Assignee:

TYCO Healthcare Group LP - Mansfield MA

International Classification:

2402

US Classification:

D24144

US Patent:

8333765, Dec 18, 2012

Filed:

Jun 4, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/488093

Inventors:

Kristin D. Johnson - Louisville CO, US
Gary M. Couture - Longmont CO, US
Jeffrey R. Unger - Longmont CO, US
Robert M. Sharp - Boulder CO, US
David M. Garrison - Longmont CO, US
Sean T. Dycus - Zurich, CH
David Hixson - Longmont CO, US
Craig Weinberg - Denver CO, US

Assignee:

Covidien AG

International Classification:

A61B 18/14

US Classification:

606 51, 606 52

Abstract:

An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface connected to an electrosurgical energy source. At least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within an insulator defined in the jaw member. A rigid structural support is included which is configured to support the electrically conductive tissue sealing surface and includes at least one flow channel defined therein.

US Patent:

20100179543, Jul 15, 2010

Filed:

Jan 20, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/690726

Inventors:

Kristin D. Johnson - Louisville CO, US
Gary M. Couture - Longmont CO, US
Jeff Unger - Superior CO, US
Robert Sharp - Boulder CO, US

International Classification:

A61B 18/14
H01R 43/00

US Classification:

606 45, 29825

Abstract:

An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes a pair of spaced apart electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces which each have an insulator disposed therebetween, the conductive surfaces are connected to an electrosurgical energy source. The first jaw member includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator which extends towards the second tissue contacting surface to create a gap therebetween. The cutting element is inactive during the sealing process while the two pairs of electrically conductive surfaces are activated to seal tissue. During the cutting process, the cutting element is energized to a first potential and at least one electrically conductive tissue contacting surface is energized to a different potential to effect a tissue cut through the tissue held between the jaw members along the already formed tissue seal.