Customizing Surgical Dissectors Using 3D Printing
This patent describes a surgical tool's working tip, called an end effector, which has two jaws whose gripping features can be custom-made using 3D printing for specific surgical needs.
Original patent title: “Surgical dissectors and manufacturing techniques”
This patent describes a surgical tool's working tip, called an end effector, which has two jaws whose gripping features can be custom-made using 3D printing for specific surgical needs. Granted to Ethicon in 2021 with 29 claims and 354 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2038.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a surgical end effector, which is the working tip of a surgical instrument, featuring two jaw members that can open and close. The key innovation is that at least one specific 'feature' on these jaws can be chosen by a user and created using an 'additive manufacturing process' (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). This means a surgeon or manufacturer can design unique patterns or shapes on the gripping surfaces of the jaws, such as a 'tooth' on one jaw and a complementary 'void' on the other (Claim 4), or even use different materials for different features (ClaimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → 5, 6). For example, a surgeon could specify a unique symmetrical pattern of protrusions on one jaw and a complementary pattern on the other for a specialized tissue grip (Claim 7), then have it 3D printed.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Surgical instruments that do not include two jaw members that are independently movable relative to each other (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- End effectors where neither the first feature of the first jaw member nor the first feature of the second jaw member is selected by a user in an additive manufacturing process (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Manufacturing methods for the jaw features that are not additive manufacturing, such as traditional molding or machining (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Surgical tools where the jaw members do not pivot about a joint between an open and closed configuration (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Dissectors where the features on the jaws are fixed and cannot be customized or varied by a user during manufacturing.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in integrating user-selected, additive manufacturing (like 3D printing) directly into the design and production of specific functional features on surgical jaw members. This allows for on-demand, customized surgical implements rather than relying solely on mass-produced, generic tool designs.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Custom surgical dissectors for specific tissue types
Specialized grasping tools for delicate or unusually shaped organs
Instruments for minimally invasive surgery requiring unique geometries
3D-printed medical devices with tailored gripping surfaces
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is significant because it enables the creation of highly specialized surgical tools. By using additive manufacturing, instruments can be tailored precisely for unique patient anatomies or specific surgical tasks, potentially improving precision and outcomes. The assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, Ethicon LLC, is a major medical device company, indicating a strategic focus on advanced manufacturing for personalized surgical solutions.
Filed
August 24, 2018
Granted
March 30, 2021
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Ethicon LLC, as the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is actively developing and utilizing advanced manufacturing techniques for surgical instruments. Other major medical device manufacturers such as Medtronic, Stryker, and Zimmer Biomet are also heavily investing in 3D printing for custom implants and specialized instruments. A growing number of startups focused on personalized medicine and on-demand 3D printing services for healthcare are also active in this space.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the growing trend of personalized medicine by enabling the creation of highly specialized surgical tools. It could lead to more efficient surgeries and better patient outcomes by providing instruments precisely adapted to individual needs, rather than requiring surgeons to adapt generic tools. It also underscores the increasing adoption of additive manufacturing in the medical device industry, allowing for rapid prototyping and production of complex, customized geometries.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a surgical end effector, which is the working tip of a surgical instrument, featuring two jaw members that can open and close. The key innovation is that at least one specific 'feature' on these jaws can be chosen by a user and created using an 'additive manufacturing process' (Claim 1). This means a surgeon or manufacturer can design unique patterns or shapes on the gripping surfaces of the jaws, such as a 'tooth' on one jaw and a complementary 'void' on the other (Claim 4), or even use different materials for different features (Claims 5, 6). For example, a surgeon could specify a unique symmetrical pattern of protrusions on one jaw and a complementary pattern on the other for a specialized tissue grip (Claim 7), then have it 3D printed.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in integrating user-selected, additive manufacturing (like 3D printing) directly into the design and production of specific functional features on surgical jaw members. This allows for on-demand, customized surgical implements rather than relying solely on mass-produced, generic tool designs.
What it does not cover
- Surgical instruments that do not include two jaw members that are independently movable relative to each other (Claim 1).
- End effectors where neither the first feature of the first jaw member nor the first feature of the second jaw member is selected by a user in an additive manufacturing process (Claim 1).
- Manufacturing methods for the jaw features that are not additive manufacturing, such as traditional molding or machining (Claim 1).
- Surgical tools where the jaw members do not pivot about a joint between an open and closed configuration (Claim 1).
- Dissectors where the features on the jaws are fixed and cannot be customized or varied by a user during manufacturing.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
19/20
Very broad protection
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$1.3M – $4.1M
Midpoint $2.6M · 12.0 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
29 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
IV, F. E. S., III, C. O. B., & Harris, J. L. (2021). Customizing Surgical Dissectors Using 3D Printing (U.S. Patent No. 10,959,744). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10959744/surgical-dissectors-and-manufacturing-techniques
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Customizing Surgical Dissectors Using 3D Printing cover?
This patent describes a surgical tool's working tip, called an end effector, which has two jaws whose gripping features can be custom-made using 3D printing for specific surgical needs.
Who owns patent US 10959744?
Ethicon owns this patent, granted in 2021.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on August 24, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10959744 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 354 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is significant because it enables the creation of highly specialized surgical tools. By using additive manufacturing, instruments can be tailored precisely for unique patient anatomies or specific surgical tasks, potentially improving precision and outcomes. The assignee, Ethicon LLC, is a major medical device company, indicating a strategic focus on advanced manufacturing for personalized surgical solutions.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Surgical instruments that do not include two jaw members that are independently movable relative to each other (Claim 1).
Patent monitoring