The EPO published patent application EP3685766A1 for Ethicon LLC on March 25, 2026. The invention relates to staple forming pocket arrangements in surgical stapling devices, with Gregory J. Bakos and Frederick E. Shelton IV listed as inventors. The patent is designated for all major European contracting states including DE, FR, GB, IT, ES, NL, BE, PT, and 21 additional states.

This is a patent grant publication rather than a regulatory compliance requirement. Medical device companies developing surgical stapling equipment should conduct freedom-to-operate analyses to assess potential infringement risks. Competitors in the surgical stapler market may need to design around the claimed technology or consider licensing arrangements with Ethicon LLC.