US Patent Issued to Covidien on May 13 for "Gas-enhanced energy-based surgical instrument, system, and method for minimally-invasive surgical procedures" (Colorado Inventor)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,295,636, issued on May 13, was assigned to Covidien LP (Mansfield, Mass.).

"Gas-enhanced energy-based surgical instrument, system, and method for minimally-invasive surgical procedures" was invented by Kenlyn S. Bonn (Lafayette, Colo.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A surgical instrument includes a housing, an elongated shaft assembly extending from the housing, and an end effector extending from the elongated shaft assembly. An inner shaft of the assembly defines proximal and distal portions and a longitudinal lumen. The proximal portion inhibits passage of gas while the distal portion permits passage of gas. An intermediate collar is di...