Applied Medical Resources Corporation

Arkadiusz A Strokosz

Scott V Taylor

Henry Kahle

Gary M Johnson

John R Brustad

Kimball B McGinley

Steven Eric Decker

David T Okihisa

Eric S Reindel

Kyle R Fast

Phillip DeAlday

Phillip De Alday

Javid E Hovaida

John Stout

McGinley B Kimball

Phillip Dealday

Kimball B Mcginley

Surgical tools that can be used in single port laparoscopic procedures can include a low-profile handle assembly to minimize tool interference adjacent the incision site. For example, a handle assembly for a surgical instrument can have a generally in-line configuration extending linearly along a central longitudinal axis of an elongate shaft of the instrument. A linkage mechanism including a trigger, an actuation link, and an actuation shaft can be positioned within the in-line handle. The linkage mechanism can be pivoted between an open position in which end effectors of the instrument are open and a toggle position in which the end effectors are locked closed. A locking mechanism such as a ratchet mechanism can also be used to lock the end effectors. A surgical dissector can include gripping jaws having a curved profile or an angled elongate shaft to minimize tool interference and maximize visibility within a procedure site.

Single port instruments

A surgical instrument is provided having an actuator mechanism with an integrated extension element. The surgical instrument comprises a handle assembly, an elongate shaft, and an end effector. The end effector can comprise a jaw assembly having atraumatic pads positioned thereon to reduce force on grasped tissue. An actuator is movable within the elongate shaft to actuate jaws of the jaw assembly responsive to movement of a movable handle of the handle assembly. The actuator can have an integrated extension element that allows the actuator to translate within the elongate shaft upon application of a relatively low force and translate and extend upon application of a relatively higher force to the actuator to limit the force applied by the jaw assembly. The actuator is also able to utilize force stored with the integrated extension element to provide a dynamic amount of force used to grasp the tissue in scenarios where the tissue volume decreases while in the jaws.

Laparoscopic grasper with force-limiting grasping mechanism

A surgical access system comprises a trocar, an insufflating optical obturator slidably insertable into the trocar, and a laparoscope slidably insertable into the obturator. A distal end of the obturator comprises a tip, at least a portion of which comprises a wall with a generally uniform thickness comprising a transparent material. At least one vent hole disposed at the obturator tip is fluidly connected to a gas flow channel defined by an interior surface of the obturator and the laparoscope, which is fluidly connected to an insufflation gas inlet disposed at a proximal end of the trocar. Improved optical characteristics of the trocar system permit precise and accurate visual placement thereof into a body cavity. Accordingly the access system is suitable as a first entry surgical access system. Embodiments of the trocar access are also useful for drug delivery, and/or for fluid and/or tissue aspiration.

First-entry trocar system

A surgical instrument is provided having an actuator mechanism with an integrated extension element. The surgical instrument comprises a handle assembly, an elongate shaft, and an end effector. The end effector comprises a jaw assembly having atraumatic pads to reduce force on grasped tissue. An actuator is movable within the elongate shaft to actuate jaws of the jaw assembly responsive to a movable handle of the handle assembly. The actuator can have an integrated extension element that allows the actuator to translate within the elongate shaft upon application of a relatively low force and translate and extend upon application of a relatively higher force to the actuator to limit the force applied by the jaw assembly. The actuator also utilizes forces stored with the integrated extension element to provide a dynamic amount of force used to grasp the tissue when the tissue volume decreases while in the jaws.

The invention is directed to a bladeless trocar obturator to separate or divaricate body tissue during insertion through a body wall. In one aspect, the obturator of the invention comprises a shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end; and a bladeless tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft and having a generally tapered configuration with an outer surface, the outer surface extending distally to a blunt point with a pair of side sections having a common shape and being separated by at least one intermediate section, wherein each of the side sections extends from the blunt point radially outwardly with progressive positions proximally along the axis, and the shaft is sized and configured to receive an optical instrument having a distal end to receive an image of the body tissue. With this aspect, the tapered configuration facilitates separation of different layers of the body tissue and provides proper alignment of the tip between the layers. The side sections include a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion of the side sections being twisted radially with respect to the proximal portion of the side sections. The intermediate section includes a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion of the intermediate section being twisted in a first radial direction and the proximal portion of the intermediate section being twisted in a second radial direction opposite the first radial direction.

Bladeless optical obturator

The invention is directed to a bladeless trocar obturator to separate or divaricate body tissue during insertion through a body wall. In one aspect, the obturator of the invention includes a shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end; and a bladeless tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft and having a generally tapered configuration with an outer surface, the outer surface extending distally to a blunt point with a pair of side sections having a common shape and being separated by at least one intermediate section, wherein each of the side sections extends from the blunt point radially outwardly with progressive positions proximally along the axis, and the shaft is sized and configured to receive an optical instrument having a distal end to receive an image of the body tissue. With this aspect, the tapered configuration facilitates separation of different layers of the body tissue and provides proper alignment of the tip between the layers. The side sections include a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion of the side sections being twisted radially with respect to the proximal portion of the side sections. The intermediate section includes a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion of the intermediate section being twisted in a first radial direction and the proximal portion of the intermediate section being twisted in a second radial direction opposite the first radial direction.

A surgical access device comprising a tissue separating obturator suitable for connection with a cannula is disclosed. The obturator includes an elongate shaft having a transparent distal tip. The elongate shaft extends along a longitudinal axis and defines a lumen. The transparent distal tip has a tapered configuration and includes an inner surface and an outer surface adapted for penetrating tissue. The lumen is sized and configured to receive an optical instrument such as a laparoscope. The surgical access device further includes a scope lock at the proximal end of the shaft portion. The lock includes a multi-fingered collet coaxial with the lumen. The inner diameter of the collet is smaller than an outer diameter of the optical instrument and the fingers of the collet provide frictional engagement with the outer diameter of the optical instrument that is inserted into the lumen of the obturator.

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Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, United States of America

Arkadiusz A Strokosz