Arthrocare Corporation

Applied Medical Resources Corporation

Edward E Dolendo

Emil Karapetian

Norman S Gordon

George William White

David Trottingwolf Aldridge

David Kent Gregoire

Tri Nguyen

Michael L Jones

Jonathan M Sackier

Russell E Ahlberg

Vincent C Tangherlini

Steven R Anderson

Russel E Ahlberg

In repairing soft tissue with a bone anchoring instrument (such as reattaching a tendon of a torn rotator cuff), the bone anchoring instrument may be used to anchor the soft tissue to a region of bone. The anchors inserted into the underlying bone may have one or more lengths of suture or wire attached thereto which may be tensioned independently of one another to affix the soft tissue to the bone by having a selector mechanism selectively engage and disengage ratcheted tensioning wheels from one another. Suture loading mechanisms may be employed for passing suture lengths into and/or through the anchors prior to deployment into the bone where such mechanisms may employ suture snares which are configured to reconfigure from an expanded shape through which suture lengths may be easily passed to a low-profile shape which secures the suture lengths within the snare.

Independent suture tensioning and snaring apparatus

A surgical clip applier includes a train of clips disposed in a plane with a single clip removed from the train of clips and disposed in a staging position. A pair of jaws are adapted to receive the single clip from the staging position by operation of a jaw loader moveable outside the plane of the train of clips. In an associate method, a handle assembly is provided which is moveable in an open stroke and a closed stroke. A source of surgical clips are provided along with a pair of jaws which are adapted to receive one of the clips as the handle assembly is moved in an open stroke, the jaws are open to receive the clip. Following the opening of the jaws, a jaw loader is extended to a position between the jaws to move the clip into the jaws. The handle assembly is moveable in a closed stroke during which the jaws are closed to crimp the clip. Prior to this closing of the jaws, the jaw loader is retracted from the position between the jaws leaving the clip in the jaws.

Multiple clip applier apparatus and method

A surgical clamp combination includes a clamp movable between a free state and operable state, the clamp including a pair of jaws which can be operated to occlude a body conduit. A clamp applier is adapted to releasably engage the clamp in the free state and to operate the clamp in the operable state to close the jaws. The applier has a housing disposed at a proximal end and a tube operable state. A first shaft is disposed within the tube and movable between an extended position to releasably hold the clamp in the operable state. With the clamp in the operable state, a second shaft is movable by operation of a handle, to alternatively move a pin in opposite directions, along a line normal to an axis of the second shaft, to open and close the jaws of the clamp.

Laparoscopic surgical clamp

A surgical clamp includes a first jaw having a proximal end and a distal end, and a pawl secured to the first jaw near the proximal end. The pawl is biased in a proximal direction via a leaf spring. The surgical clamp further includes a second jaw having a proximal end and a distal end. The second jaw is adapted for being pivotally secured to the first jaw, and includes a ratchet disposed proximally relative to the pawl and in mesh with the pawl when the second jaw is secured to the first jaw. The surgical clamp further includes a movable member secured to the first jaw, which is adapted for contacting and moving the pawl in a distal direction against the bias of a leaf spring to thereby move the pawl out of mesh with the ratchet. The first jaw and the second jaw are movable from a closed state to an open state when the pawl is moved in the distal direction by the movable member. The pawl is adapted to be biased back into mesh with the ratchet when the movable member is removed from contact with the pawl.

A surgical clamp combination includes a clamp movable between a free state and operable state, the clamp including a pair of jaws which can be operated to occlude a body conduit. A clamp applier is adapted to releasibly engage the clamp in the free state and to operate the clamp in the operable state to close the jaws. The applier has a housing disposed at a proximal end and a tube extending distally and configured to receive the clamp in the operable state. A shaft is disposed within the tube and movable between an extended position to engage the clamp in the free state and a retracted position to releasibly hold the clamp in the operable state. With the clamp in the operable state, the shaft is rotatable by operation of a handle and aladdin screw, to alternatively rotate in opposite directions to open and close the jaws of the clamp.

Growing community of inventors

Mission Viejo, CA, United States of America

Edward E Dolendo