Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Ethicon, Gmbh

Cilag International Gmbh

Donna L Korvick

Frederick E Shelton, IV

Jerome R Morgan

Jeffrey David Messerly

Jeffrey S Swayze

Ashvani K Madan

Richard William Timm

Bret William Smith

Charles J Scheib

Kevin L Houser

Shailendra Kumar Parihar

Timothy G Dietz

Joshua R Uth

Mark S Ortiz

Geoffrey C Hueil

Ronald John Kolata

Aron O Zingman

Thomas W Huitema

Kyle P Moore

Kevin Ross Doll

Patrick A Weizman

William David Kelly

John W Willis

William Bruce Weisenburgh, Ii

Foster B Stulen

Daniel W Price

Jeffrey L Aldridge

Cory G Kimball

Katherine J Schmid

Mark H Ransick

Chester O Baxter, Iii

Taylor W Aronhalt

Steven G Hall

Galen C Robertson

Prasanna Malaviya

Douglas B Hoffman

Andrew M Zwolinski

Scott A Woodruff

Dean B Bruewer

Sora Rhee

Randall J Tanguay

Anil K Nalagatla

William D Dannaher

John B Schulte

Amy L Marcotte

Gregory B Blair

David C Yates

Michael J Stokes

Daniel J Mumaw

Gavin Martin Monson

William Eugene Clem

Wells D Haberstich

David Keith Norvell

Kevin D Felder

Daniel F Dlugos, Jr

Patrick J Swindon

Eugene L Timperman

Lauren S Weaner

Stephen J Balek

Rocco Crivelli

Michael R Lamping

Eric W Thompson

Danius P Silkaitis

Richard L Leimbach

Sean P Conlon

David A Witt

Craig N Faller

Bennie Thompson

Alec Ginggen

Randal T Byrum

Christopher J Schall

Mark Tsonton

Chunlin Yang

Michael D Cronin

Toralf Bork

Douglas J Turner

Rebecca J Mollere

Venkataramanan Mandakolathur Vasudevan

Jason L Harris

Michael J Vendely

Rao S Bezwada

Barry C Worrell

Matthew C Miller

James Walden Voegele

John V Hunt

Michael S Cropper

Christopher W Widenhouse

Zhifan F Huang

Tamara S Widenhouse

David James Cagle

Trevor J Barton

Paul B Guerra

David N Plescia

Cortney E Henderson

Joseph Henry Contiliano

James A Woodard, Jr

Thomas E Adams

Eric N Johnson

Mary E Mootoo

Iksoo Chun

An implantable layer for use with a surgical stapler is disclosed. The implantable layer includes a first layer including a first side, wherein the first side includes an opening. The implantable layer further includes a second layer including a second side, wherein the second side extends at least partially through the opening to hold the second layer relative to the first layer, and wherein a pocket is defined between the first layer and the second layer. The implantable layer further includes a bioabsorbable material in the pocket.

Implantable layer comprising a plurality of layers

In various embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can include a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, wherein the shaft defines an axis, and a disposable loading unit which is assembled to the shaft in a direction which is transverse to the shaft axis. Such a connection between the disposable loading unit and the shaft can prevent, or at least inhibit, the disposable loading unit from being unintentionally displaced proximally and/or distally relative to the shaft of the surgical instrument. The surgical stapling instrument and/or disposable loading unit can further include a threaded collar and/or detent assembly configured to hold the disposable loading unit in place. In various embodiments, a disposable loading unit can include a lockout feature which can prevent, or at least inhibit, an expended disposable loading unit from being reassembled to the elongated body of the surgical instrument.

End effector coupling arrangements for a surgical cutting and stapling instrument

A system includes a medical device and a charging device. A sterile barrier may be interposed between the medical device and the charging device. The medical device includes an integral power source and an active element. The charging device is configured to charge the integral power source. The charging device may charge the integral power source through direct contact between features of the charging device and features the medical device. The charging device may alternatively charge the integral power source wirelessly, such as through inductive coupling. The medical device may include conductive prongs that are retained by the charging device. The charging device may physically couple with the medical device via magnets. The medical device and the charging device may be provided together in a sterile package as a kit. The kit may also include a reclamation bag to facilitate reclamation of electrical components.

Sterile medical instrument charging device

Biomarkers are collected and used to determine biological propensities of a patient, to determine the efficacy of medical devices, to select and administer therapeutic agents, to select medical devices, to make adjustments to medical devices, and/or to adjust surgical techniques. An apparatus includes a port to draw a biological fluid (e.g., a mist) from a surgical site. The apparatus includes a sensor having a cantilevered beam. The beam includes substances selected to attract certain biomarkers as the fluid is communicated across the beam. The same apparatus or another apparatus is used to administer a therapeutic agent based at least in part on collected biomarker data. The therapeutic agent delivery apparatus may include a device that is also used to create a wound at a surgical site. For instance, a harmonic surgical instrument may be used to both collect biomarkers and administer a therapeutic agent (e.g., gene therapy using sonoporation).

Use of biomarkers and therapeutic agents with surgical devices

A surgical instrument comprises a body assembly and an end effector. The body assembly includes a control module, an orientation sensor communicatively coupled to the control module, and an energy component. The energy component is operable to activate the end effector at a plurality of energy settings. A storage device is communicatively coupled to the control module and includes a plurality of gesture profiles and corresponding energy settings. The control module is configured to set the energy setting of the energy component to a corresponding energy setting in response to a correlation between the output of the orientation sensor and a gesture profile. In some versions, the control module modifies the energy setting based upon output from a force sensor that measures the force on the end effector. The control module may also decrease the energy setting in response to an anomalous acceleration or deceleration detected by an accelerometer.

Surgical instrument with orientation sensing

A surgical system comprises an end effector including an ultrasonic blade and a capturing arm, wherein the capturing arm is movable to capture tissue against the ultrasonic blade. In addition, the surgical system includes a transducer configured to generate ultrasonic energy for transmission to the ultrasonic blade and a clamping member removably coupled to the end effector, the clamping member configured to clamp the captured tissue.

Mechanical fasteners for use with surgical energy devices

A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge deck, a firing member, and a longitudinal slot within the staple cartridge and configured to receive the firing member is disclosed. The firing member moves within the staple cartridge during a firing stroke. The staple cartridge further comprises staple cavities defined in the deck, staples removably stored in the staple cavities, staple drivers configured to support the staples within the staple cavities, and a firing drive comprising a plurality of ramps configured to engage the staple drivers and a cutting edge. The staple cartridge further comprises a tissue thickness compensator configured on the cartridge deck. The tissue thickness compensator comprises protrusions extending upwardly from the tissue thickness compensator in areas which overlay the staple cavities.

Staple cartridge including a tissue thickness compensator

A surgical apparatus comprises an instrument body, an end effector, and a control module. The end effector is in communication with the handle assembly. The end effector is operable for use in a surgical procedure. The control module is in communication with the end effector. The end effector with the control module is able to deliver surgical energy as well as nerve excitation energy to a surgical site. A surgeon may detect stimulation of nervous tissue by visually observing the tissue twitch, and may adjust surgical technique accordingly. A sensor may be used to detect excitation of nervous tissue based on excitation caused by the nerve excitation energy.

Surgical instrument with nerve detection feature

A surgical instrument includes a first power source and a second power source. The first power source is configured to deliver power to a surgical instrument at a first rate of discharge. The second power source is configured to deliver power to the first power source at a second rate of discharge. The first power source and the second power source are positioned within the surgical instrument. The first power source and the second power source are further configured to communicate with a control module. The control module may rely on power from the first power source to drive an end effector of the surgical instrument. The end effector may comprise a harmonic/ultrasonic blade, RF electrosurgical electrodes, powered cutting/stapling features, and/or various other types of components.

Surgical instrument with charging devices

A surgical stapling assembly comprising a firing member, an end effector, a closure member, and a shaft including an attachment interface is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly is configured to be attached to a surgical instrument interface by way of the attachment interface. The end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, and a staple cartridge comprising staples configured to be ejected by the firing member. The second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw between an open position, a fully-clamped position, and a collapsed position. The end effector further comprises an interconnection between the first jaw and the second jaw defining a rotational axis about which the second iaw is movable relative to the first iaw. The rotational axis is shiftable toward and away from the first iaw as the second iaw is moved between the open position, the fully-clamped position, and the collapsed position.

A surgical tool for use with a surgical instrument including a handle assembly and an elongated body defining a longitudinal axis and a drive system is disclosed. The surgical tool comprises a carrier removably couplable to the elongated body, an anvil movably supported for selective movement relative to the carrier in response to drive motions from the drive system, a tissue thickness measuring member movably supported in the carrier and configured to move toward and away from an underside of the anvil in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a sensor arrangement supported between the tissue thickness measuring member and the carrier. The sensor arrangement is configured to interface with an indicator member to provide an indication of a thickness of tissue clamped between the anvil and the tissue thickness measuring member at a location that is proximal to the anvil when in use.

Interchangeable tools for surgical instruments

A surgical stapling assembly comprising a staple cartridge carrier, an anvil, an outer surface, a closure member, a staple cartridge, and a firing system is disclosed. The anvil is rotatable between a first position and a second position. The closure member is slideable along the outer surface to hold the anvil in the second position. The closure member comprises a clearance opening. The staple cartridge is positioned within the staple cartridge carrier. The staple cartridge comprises staples removably stored therein. The staple cartridge and the anvil define a tissue gap therebetween when the anvil is in the second position. The clearance opening is aligned with the tissue gap when the anvil is in the second position. The firing system is configured to eject the staples from the staple cartridge during a staple firing stroke. The firing system engages the staple cartridge carrier and the anvil during the staple firing stroke.

Surgical stapling apparatus with control features operable with one hand

A surgical end effector includes a cutting member, a first jaw, and a second jaw. The first jaw includes a first uninterrupted electrically conductive region. The second jaw includes an elongate slot extending longitudinally along a length of the second jaw member, the elongate slot defining a longitudinal axis aligned with the elongate slot. The second jaw also includes a second electrode surface extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the second electrode surface including a proximal interrupted electrically conductive region, a plurality of non-conductive stop members disposed on the proximal interrupted electrically conductive region, and a distal uninterrupted electrically conductive region distal to the proximal interrupted electrically conductive region.

Distal sealing end effector with spacers

Growing community of inventors

Maineville, OH, United States of America

Donna L Korvick