Covidien LP

Gen-probe, Inc.

Tyco Healthcare Group LP

Valleylab, Inc.

Coviden LP

The Larren Corporation

Glenn A Horner

Duane E Kerr

James D Allen, Iv

Robert Edwin Schneider

Robert J Smith

Edward M Chojin

Robert M Sharp

Kelly G Ammann

Ralph E Burns

Ernest V Hansberry

John E Kling

Cheryl A Jakub

Donald J Nieglos

Kim V Brandt

Peter Michael Mueller

Ryan C Artale

Russell D Hempstead

Daniel A Joseph

David M Garrison

Jessica E C Olson

Christina A Oliver

James S Cunningham

Jeffrey R Unger

Arlen James Reschke

Dennis W Butcher

William H Nau, Jr

Robert B Stoddard

Mark Joseph Huseman

Kathy E Rooks

Allan J Evans

John R Twomey

Jason T Sanders

Peter Donald Gadsby

Keir Hart

Dylan R Kingsley

Kristel L Ambrosius

Gary M Couture

Arlan James Reschke

Jeffrey R Townsend

Luke Waaler

Gus G Tseo

Victor K Appel

Shirley J Johnson

Paul R Hrenchir

Joanna Ackley

Sean T O'Neill

Joseph D Bucciaglia

Geneva Ladtkow

Monte S Fry

Jennifer S Harper

David Nichols Heard

Jeffrey M Roy

Warren Paul Heim

Patrick L Dumbauld

James L Brassell

Stephen K Guerrera

Elizabeth Goodrich

Scott A Miller

Sean T ONeill

Joesph D Bucciaglia

Larry K Blankenship

Richard W Petersen

James R Ladtkow

Christopher T Glaeser

Jose T De Castro

James D Allen

A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly is operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members that are movable relative to one another. A drive assembly operably couples to a handle assembly associated with the housing and is configured to impart movement of a respective jaw member when the handle assembly is actuated. A spring component operably associated with each of the jaw members is configured to provide a sealing force at the jaw members.

Apparatus for performing an electrosurgical procedure

An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a pair of opposing jaw members. One or more of the jaw members includes a support base, an electrical jaw lead, and a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead. The sealing plate has a stainless steel layer and one or more piezo electric sensors. The jaw member also includes an insulative plate disposed between the support base and the sealing plate.

Method of constructing a jaw member for an end effector assembly

A forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members movable between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. A knife assembly having a cutting blade disposed at a distal end thereof is also provided. The knife assembly is translatable relative to the end effector assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the cutting blade extends between the jaw members to cut tissue grasped therebetween. The knife assembly includes a proximal component and a first distal component that includes the cutting blade. The proximal and first distal components are removably coupled to one another to facilitate replacement of the first distal component. Methods of preparing such forceps for reuse are also provided.

Surgical forceps

A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members. A jaw insert is operably associated with the first and second jaw members. The jaw insert includes one or more cam slots defined therein configured to receive a cam pin that upon movement thereof rotates the first and second jaw members from an open position to a clamping position and an opening defined therein configured to securely house a pivot pin that provides a point of pivot for the first and second jaw members. The jaw insert is manufactured from an insulative medium to dielectrically isolate the first and second jaw members.

A surgical instrument includes an active electrode coupled to a source of electrosurgical energy. The active electrode includes a tissue-contacting surface on an exterior surface of the instrument such that the tissue-contacting surface of the active electrode may intimately engage tissue. A replacement electrode includes a tissue-contacting surface, and is located in an interior cavity of the instrument. A seal is formed between the active electrode and the interior cavity of the instrument such that the tissue-contacting-surface of the replacement electrode is isolated from contamination exposed to the exterior of the instrument. The active electrode is removable from the instrument to expose the tissue-contacting surface of the replacement electrode, and the replacement electrode is connectable to the source of electrosurgical energy when the active electrode is removed.

Surgical instrument with dispensable components

A surgical instrument configured to facilitate access to interior components thereof for cleaning and refurbishment purposes includes a housing assembly, an elongated shaft assembly and an end effector. The housing assembly includes an actuator, and the elongated shaft assembly includes an interior control member operatively coupled to the actuator. The elongated shaft assembly also includes outer cover including first and second cover members and a hinge coupling the first and second cover members to one another such that the outer cover may be selectively moved between a closed configuration wherein the interior control member is enclosed within the outer cover and an open configuration wherein the interior control member is exposed. The end effector is supported at a distal end of the elongated shaft assembly, and is operatively associated with the interior control member.

Surgical instruments with structures to provide access for cleaning

A method for manufacturing an end effector assembly includes providing first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another about a pivot between a first, spaced-apart position and a second, approximated position. One of the first and second jaw members includes a cavity defined therein and the other of the first and second jaw members includes a stop member configured to be inserted into the cavity. A gap-setting gauge is grasped between the first and second jaw members to define a gap-distance between the jaw members equivalent to a thickness of the gap-setting gauge. The first and second jaw members are set such that the jaw members are prevented from approximation beyond the gap-distance.

Surgical tissue sealer

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Glenn A Horner