Bolder Surgical, LLC recently secured a major technological breakthrough with the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 12773254. This patent, titled ‘Low-power tissue sealing device and method’, introduces an advanced electrosurgical instrument designed to safely effectuate an action on tissue positioned between a pair of jaws. Invented by Jenifer Kennedy, Dale Schmaltz, David Schechter, Joel Helfer, and David Ross, this system utilizes a highly controlled power supply to seal tissue in three seconds or less without relying on excessive voltage or current.
MASSACHUSETTS PATENT OF THE MONTH – NOVEMBER 2026
Swanson Reed granted this invention the Patent of the Month for the state of Massachusetts for November 2026 due to its substantial contribution to patient safety and surgical precision in operating rooms. The invention is innovative because it features a sophisticated power delivery system, including a buck-boost converter and an H-bridge circuit, that limits power to under 35 Watts and voltage to no more than 80 Volts RMS. By maintaining strict control over the energy output and reducing the current to less than 2 Amps RMS, the device ensures a highly secure tissue seal while significantly minimizing the risk of collateral thermal damage to surrounding tissues during delicate procedures.
R&D Tax Credit Eligibility in the USA
The practical applications of this patent present strong eligibility for the R&D tax credit in the USA. Developing an electrosurgical device that safely and rapidly seals tissue at such low power parameters requires extensive mechanical engineering, electrical circuit design, and iterative testing to resolve complex technical uncertainties. The systemic process of designing, prototyping, and validating the precise delivery of radiofrequency energy, optimizing the H-bridge circuitry, and ensuring reliable tissue seals across various vessel sizes constitutes a qualified research activity. Companies undertaking such technical experimentation to improve the performance, reliability, and safety of their surgical instruments can claim this tax incentive to offset the costs of engineering labor, prototype supplies, and technological development.
