Craig E Weinberg, 5322856 Solitude Ln, Golden, CO 80401

7594916, Sep 29, 2009

Nov 22, 2005

11/285432

Craig Weinberg - Denver CO, US

Covidien AG - Neuhausen Am Rheinfall

A61B 18/18

606 51, 606 45, 606 50, 606 52

An electrosurgical bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue is disclosed. The forceps includes one or more shaft members having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes two jaw members movable from a first position to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive surface adapted to connect to a first energy source which communicates electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween. The forceps also include an energy-based cutting element adapted to connect to a second energy source and disposed between the jaw members. The energy-based cutting element is moveable from a first configuration when said jaw members are in the first position to a second configuration wherein the energy-based cutting element is disposed at an angle between the jaw members.

7731717, Jun 8, 2010

Aug 8, 2006

11/500688

Darren Odom - Longmont CO, US
Craig Weinberg - Denver CO, US
Amy Denham - Boulder CO, US

Covidien AG - Neuhausen am Rheinfall

A61B 18/18

606 51, 606 41, 606 52

An electrosurgical system for sealing tissue is disclosed which includes an electrosurgical forceps having a shaft member and a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members including a sealing plate which communicates electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween. The jaw members are adapted to connect to an electrosurgical generator. The system also includes one or more sensors which determine a gap distance between the sealing plates of the jaw members and a microprocessor which is adapted to communicate with the sensor and measure an initial gap distance between the sealing plates as well as to generate a desired gap distance trajectory based on the initial gap distance. The microprocessor is further adapted to communicate with the at least one sensor in real time to adjust output level of the electrosurgical generator as a function of the measured gap distance during the sealing process.

7837685, Nov 23, 2010

Jul 13, 2005

11/180949

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

Covidien AG - Neuhausen am Rheinfall

A61B 18/14

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

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.

7931649, Apr 26, 2011

Feb 14, 2007

11/706029

Gary M. Couture - Longmont CO, US
Craig Weinberg - Denver CO, US
Philip M. Tetzlaff - Lafayette CO, US

TYCO Healthcare Group LP - Boulder CO

A61B 18/14

606 51, 606 45

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. At least one channel is included in the insulator which is configured to deliver fluid between the jaw members.

7972328, Jul 5, 2011

Jan 24, 2007

11/657170

Robert H. Wham - Boulder CO, US
Rebecca Coulson - Lyons CO, US
Kari Leidich - Golden CO, US
David A. Schechter - Montara CA, US
Chelsea Shields - Portland OR, US
Thomas A. Sturm - Erie CO, US
Craig Weinberg - Denver CO, US

Covidien AG - Neuhausen am Rheinfall

A61B 18/18

606 34, 606 51, 606 52, 606 32

An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes impedance sensing circuitry which measures impedance of tissue, a microprocessor configured to determine whether a tissue reaction has occurred as a function of a minimum impedance value and a predetermined rise in impedance, wherein tissue reaction corresponds to a boiling point of tissue fluid, and an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue.

8034049, Oct 11, 2011

Aug 8, 2006

11/500687

Darren Odom - Longmont CO, US
Craig Weinberg - Denver CO, US
Amy Denham - Boulder CO, US

Covidien AG - Neuhausen am Rheinfall

A61B 18/18

606 34, 606 38, 606 42, 606 51

An electrosurgical system and method are disclosed. The system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The generator is further adapted to supply an electrical signal having at least one substantially constant value to tissue to determine initial tissue impedance response. The generator includes sensor circuitry adapted to continuously monitor initial tissue impedance response, wherein the initial tissue impedance response includes one of an initial impedance, an impedance drop, an impedance minimum and a first impedance rise. The generator also includes a microprocessor adapted to generate at least one tissue parameter based as a function of the initial impedance, the impedance drop, the impedance minimum and the first impedance rise. The system also includes an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue for treatment.

8128624, Mar 6, 2012

May 30, 2006

11/442849

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

Covidien AG

A61B 18/18

606 51, 606 50

An electrode sealing assembly is designed for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue and includes first and second jaw members each having an insulative housing and being movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive sealing member disposed within the respective insulative housing. At least one of the insulative housings includes at least one tissue engaging surface configured to extend beyond the electrically conductive sealing member of one of the jaw members. The tissue engaging surface of the insulative housing cooperates with the opposing insulative housing of the opposing jaw member to both pinch and spread tissue when the jaw members are moved to the second position to decrease extraneous energy transmittance to tissue surrounding the jaw members.

8192433, Jun 5, 2012

Aug 21, 2007

11/894354

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

Covidien AG

A61B 18/14

606 51, 606 46

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.