Covidien LP

Covidien Ag

Tyco Healthcare Group LP

Sherwood Services Ag

David M Garrison

Duane E Kerr

Daniel A Joseph

Robert M Sharp

Jeffrey R Unger

Sean T Dycus

Edward M Chojin

James D Allen, Iv

James S Cunningham

Peter Michael Mueller

Patrick L Dumbauld

Glenn A Horner

Dylan R Kingsley

Paul B Guerra

Jason T Sanders

Keir Hart

Kim V Brandt

Sean T O'Neill

Darion R Peterson

Gary M Couture

Dylan M Hushka

Jeffrey R Townsend

Paul Hermes

William H Nau, Jr

Jessica E C Olson

Kathy E Rooks

Amanda H Lennartz

Jing Zhao

Tyler J Bagrosky

Erin E Wehrly

Cornelia F Twomey

Robert H Wham

Jeffrey M Roy

David Hixson

John R Twomey

Ryan C Artale

Tony Moua

Tracy J Pheneger

Kristin D Johnson

Russell D Hempstead

Dennis W Butcher

Craig Weinberg

Jennifer R McHenry

Pierre Gherardi

Joanna Ackley

Chelsea Shields

Allan J Evans

Jeff Unger

Geneva Ladtkow

Jennifer S Harper

Jeremy S James

Michael R Warzecha

Sean T ONeill

Joe Don Sartor

Ronald J Podhajsky

David Nichols Heard

Grant T Sims

Gene H Arts

John J Kappus

Arlan James Reschke

Michael Hogan

Purvish Soni

J Bruce Dunne

Richard J Otten

Marcelo Bergquist

Eric G Kinne

Chase Collings

Jeffry S Nixon

Blake Randolph

Brandon Risk

Colin P Carr

Leif Cook

Jeffrey D Ipsen

Casey D Dalla Betta

J Cody Bumgarner

Dylan Kingsley

Brady C Walters

Casey D Betta

Jeffrrey R Unger

Sean T O'Neil

Bradley C Walters

A system includes a surgical instrument configured to perform a laparoscopic surgical operation, a location sensor configured to identify a spatial relationship between an anatomical structure and the surgical instrument, and a processor configured to receive a graphical representation of a patient, determine proximity of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument with the anatomical structure of the patient based on the spatial relationship, and generate a warning based on the determination of proximity.

System and methods for determining proximity relative to an anatomical structure

An electrosurgical system includes an end effector assembly and a sensor. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members each defining an electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface. At least one of the first or second jaw members is movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue between the tissue-contacting surfaces thereof. The electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces of the first and second jaw members are adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for conducting energy through tissue grasped therebetween to treat tissue. The sensor is configured to sense at least one property of smoke produced as a result of the conduction of energy through tissue grasped between the electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces.

Surgical instruments and systems configured to detect, analyze, and/or distinguish smoke and steam during a surgical procedure

A jaw assembly includes an electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure, a jaw member including a support base, and a non-electrically conductive member including a first portion configured to engage the electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure and a second portion configured to engage the support base of the jaw member. The non-electrically conductive member adapted to electrically isolate the electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure from the jaw member. The electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure and the non-electrically conductive member cooperatively define a longitudinally-oriented knife channel therethrough.

Jaw assemblies for electrosurgical instruments and methods of manufacturing jaw assemblies

An electrosurgical instrument includes an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members. At least one of the first or second jaw members is movable about a pivot relative to the other from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position to grasp tissue between first and second opposed surfaces of the first and second jaw members, respectively. The electrosurgical instrument further includes an interface configured to provide a feedback related to a size of tissue grasped by the first and second jaw members. At least one of the first or second jaw members includes a touch sensor configured to sense a touch span where the tissue touches the at least one of the first or second opposed surfaces. The end effector assembly further includes an angle sensor configured to sense an angle α about the pivot between the first and second opposed surfaces.

Surgical system and methods for treating tissue

A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.

Surgical instrument with resilient driving member and related methods of use

A forceps includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.

Apparatus for performing an electrosurgical procedure

An electrosurgical system includes an end effector assembly, a display, and a controller. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members each defining a tissue-treating surface. At least one of the first or second jaw members is movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue between the tissue-treating surfaces thereof. At least one of the first or second jaw members includes a sensor. The controller is configured to receive sensor data from the sensor, generate a tissue indication based upon the sensor data, and output the tissue indication to the display. The display is configured to display the tissue indication. The tissue indication indicates a location along the first jaw member at which tissue is grasped between the tissue-treating surfaces of the first and second jaw members.

Electrosurgical forceps including tissue indication

A method includes providing a graphical representation of a surgical site, grasping the tissue of the patient with first and second jaw members of an end effector including a location sensor, illuminating optical light into the grasped tissue at the first jaw member, receiving the optical light that has passed through the grasped tissue, at the second jaw member, processing the received light to identify a vessel, which is encompassed within the grasped tissue, receiving location information of the end effector from the location sensor, synchronizing a location of the identified vessel within the graphical representation based on the location information, and displaying the identified vessel at the synchronized location in the graphical representation.

System and methods for identifying vessels within tissue

A surgical instrument includes a housing, an energizable member, and a deployment mechanism. The energizable member is movable relative to the housing between a storage position and a deployed position. The deployment mechanism includes a first actuator member movable relative to the housing from a first un-actuated position to a first actuated position to move the energizable member from the storage position to the deployed position and a second actuator member movable relative to the housing from a second un-actuated position to a second actuated position to move the energizable member from the deployed position to the storage position. Movement of the first actuator member from the first un-actuated position to the first actuated position effects movement of the second actuator member from the second actuated position to the second un-actuated position and vice versa.

Deployment mechanisms for surgical instruments

An endoscopic forceps includes an elongate shaft defining an instrument axis. An end effector includes first and second jaw members each supporting an opposed sealing surface for clamping tissue. At least one of the jaw members is movable relative to the instrument axis such that the jaw members are movable between a first spaced-apart configuration and a second closed configuration for grasping tissue. A cutting instrument includes a reciprocating blade translatable relative to the sealing surfaces to sever tissue clamped between the jaw members. The reciprocating blade contacts an undersurface of at least one of the jaw members when the jaw members are in the second configuration to define a gap distance between the sealing surfaces. A handle adjacent the proximal end of the elongate shaft is operable to induce motion in the jaw members, and an actuator is operable to selectively translate the reciprocating blade.

Jaw, blade and gap manufacturing for surgical instruments with small jaws

An endoscopic forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members. One of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from an open position, to a clamping position. One of the first and second jaw members includes one or more cam slots defined therein and configured to receive a cam member that upon movement thereof rotates the movable jaw member from the open position to the clamping position. A resilient member is operably coupled to the jaw member that includes the one or more cam slots. The resilient member is configured to provide a camming force to the cam slot and to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position.

An end effector assembly suitable for use with a forceps includes opposing first and second jaw members pivotably mounted with respect to one another. The first jaw member includes one or more pivot holes defined therein configured to receive a portion of a pivot pin therein. The end effector assembly also includes an electrically-insulative hinge configured to electrically isolate the first and second jaw members from one another including one or more pivot-hole locators having an aperture defined therein. The electrically-insulative hinge is attached to the first jaw member such that the one or more pivot-hole locators align with the one or more pivot holes of the second jaw member.

Electrically-insulative hinge for electrosurgical jaw assembly, bipolar forceps including same, and methods of jaw-assembly alignment using fastened electrically-insulative hinge

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Longmont, CO, United States of America

David M Garrison