The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 20, 2017
Filed:
May. 31, 2012
William E. Clem, Bozeman, MT (US);
William D. Dannaher, Suzhou, CN;
Daniel W. Price, Loveland, OH (US);
Cory G. Kimball, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Foster B. Stulen, Mason, OH (US);
Eitan T. Wiener, Cincinnati, OH (US);
John B. Schulte, West Chester, OH (US);
Danius P. Silkaitus, Seattle, WA (US);
Stephen J. Balek, Springboro, OH (US);
Michael R. Lamping, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Jacqueline C. Aronhalt, Loveland, OH (US);
William E. Clem, Bozeman, MT (US);
William D. Dannaher, Suzhou, CN;
Daniel W. Price, Loveland, OH (US);
Cory G. Kimball, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Foster B. Stulen, Mason, OH (US);
Eitan T. Wiener, Cincinnati, OH (US);
John B. Schulte, West Chester, OH (US);
Danius P. Silkaitus, Seattle, WA (US);
Stephen J. Balek, Springboro, OH (US);
Michael R. Lamping, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Jacqueline C. Aronhalt, Loveland, OH (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC, Guaynabo, PR (US);
Abstract
An apparatus includes an end effector, an energy component, a control module, and a directional force sensor assembly associated with the energy component and control module. The directional force assembly can include a piezoelectric disc, a piezoresistive element, an accelerometer, and/or a Hall Effect sensor. The end effector of the apparatus can include ultrasonic blade, an RF electrode, or a staple driving assembly. In some versions, the energy component includes an ultrasonic transducer. The control module may be configured to operate the energy component at a first energy setting in response to a first detected force and at a second energy setting in response to a second detected force. The apparatus may also include an activation feature to be operated by a user. In some versions the piezoelectric disc may include a plurality of segments and may be configured to induce movement in at least part of the energy component.