International Business Machines Corporation

Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Other

Lexmark International, Inc.

James A Craft

David Stefanchik

James J Molloy

Gregory J Bakos

Omar J Vakharia

Duane Linenkugel

Kurt R Bally

Gary Lee Long

David L Hamann

James Philip Harden

Steven L Applegate

Charles S Aldrich

Douglas N Ladd

James Charles Rogers

J Renee Lupton

John B Flege, Jr

Steven Robert Komplin

William Freeman

James P Wang

Bernard L Wilzbach

David T Shadwick

Frank Marion Hughes

William L Dollenmayer

Gerald B Lammers

William A Abell, Jr

Selahattin A Okcuoglu

Michael Lewis Pawley

Terry Lee King

David Scott Little

Michael L Morris

Paul S Bach

Thomas G Twardeck

Praful M Shah

William S Rousey

Earl D Ward Ii

A medical apparatus and method useful for suturing tissue is disclosed. The medical apparatus can include a curved needle and an apparatus suitable for providing endoscopic suturing. The apparatus can include a needle drive for driving the curved needle about a generally arcuate path. The curved needle can be deformed to form a closed needle structure.

Suturing device

A guide system for use with an endoscope, and a method of use is disclosed. The guide system can include a track, in the form of a rail, and a mating member for engaging the rail. The guide system can also include an accessory, such as an accessory guide tube through which a medical instrument can be carried external of the endoscope. An end cap can be provided to support the track relative to the distal end of the endoscope.

Endcap for use with an endoscope

Medical apparatus for use with an endoscope

Method of guiding medical devices

An apparatus and method for providing a biopsy device at the distal end of a medical device, such as an endoscope, are disclosed. The apparatus can include a device attached to an endoscope to guide the position of the end of the instrument, such as by constraining the instrument to bend in a predetermined manner, or otherwise guide the distal end of the instrument extending from the distal end of the instrument channel.

Biopsy forceps device and method

An apparatus for guiding an instrument inserted through an endoscope's instrument channel is provided. The apparatus can attach to an endoscope to guide the position of the end of the instrument, such as by constraining the instrument to bend in a predetermined manner, or otherwise guide the distal end of the instrument extending from the distal end of the instrument channel. The apparatus can be used to assist in positioning the instrument to perform useful work on tissue adjacent the perimeter of the endoscope. The apparatus can also be used to provide cooperation between instruments inserted either through or alongside the endoscope.

Apparatus for guiding an instrument used with an endoscope

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a surgical device for attaching a first hollow organ to a second hollow organ and creating a passageway therebetween. The device includes a first member comprising a first prong for entering a wall of the first hollow organ and a second prong for entering a wall of the second hollow organ. The prongs each have a proximal end which attaches to the first member and a distal end extending therefrom. The device further includes a second member having a plow for incising at least one of the hollow organs so as to create a passageway between the hollow organs. The second member further includes a plurality of needle paths on either side of the plow for guiding a needle through the walls of the hollow organ on either side of the passageway. The device further includes a means for driving a needle, having a suture attached thereto, so as to attach the hollow organs together. Lastly, the device includes a frame for coupling the first member and the second member together in operational engagement.

Surgical anastomosis instrument

An electrophotographic printer (11) having a base (13) and a top (12), the top (12) being pivotable about an axis (23) between a closed position and an open position. The printer (11) receives a supply cartridge (14) on a shelf (22) which is pivotable about the same axis (23) as the top (12) of the printer (11). A counterbalance spring (34) helps to support the shelf (22) and the cartridge (14) below the top (12) of the printer (11) and above the printer base (13) when the top (12) of the printer (11) is in its open position. When the top (12) of the printer (11) is closed, the cartridge (14) is urged into a position adjacent the printer base (13) and locked into an operative position.

Electrophotographic printer and cartridge arrangement

A developer apparatus (29) for use in an electrostatic reproduction apparatus includes a large reservoir of toner (34, 44). The toner is located in a supply chamber (39) and is metered to a developer roller chamber (35) from which it is carried by a developer roller (31) past a doctor blade (36) to a photoconductor drum (19) for image development. A toner metering roller (41) rotates with the developer roller (31) to provide a continuous supply of toner from the supply chamber (39) to the developer chamber (35). Once an equilibrium level (65) is reached, the toner metering roller (41) acts to remove toner (34) from the developer chamber (35) to the supply chamber (39) to insure proper operation of the developer roller (31).

Toner metering apparatus

When cover (8) of the laser printer (3) is closed, absence of the replaceable cartridge (15) or the shroud assembly (9) will activate both an electrical and a mechanical interlock. A moveable switch actuator (16) on the shroud assembly will be absent if the assembly is omitted and will not find a guide ramp (46) if the cartridge is absent, thereby assuring power to the light source remains off. A shutter (13) also blocks the normal light path and is moved aside by a pin (14) on the cartridge, and therefore blocks light unless a cartridge is installed. Walls (31) on the cartridge surround the shutter during normal use to form a protective light baffle. The laser printhead (2) is fixed within the shroud so that separation requires a necessary electrical cable (72, 74) to be disconnected.

Laser printer with light-exposure prevention

Cartridge for an electrophotographic printer

A symmetrical printer ribbon cartridge which is refillable. An internal, continuous drive belt (15) provides tension to push studs (33, 35) of the supply spool (23) and of a take-up spool (29) to the ends of notches (31, 32) in cartridge wall 1. When the original supply spool is emptied, a new spool need only be moved into place and the free end of the ribbon pulled from the new spool, directed through the ribbon path in the cartridge, and attached to the remaining spool.

Reloadable ribbon cartridge

Member (9) has a tension arm (13) over which ribbon (3) feeds. Biasing arm (17) presses member (9) toward brake surface (7), with slot (21) moved until it encounters stud (23). At low tension of ribbon (3), brake surfaces (11) and (7) press and hold ribbon (3). As feed tension increases tension arm (13) forces member (9) back until stud (23) encounters the opposite end of slot (21), after which slightly higher force further opens the brake and arm (13) continues to provide feed tension. The mechanism is small, efficient, smooth functioning, and suited to incorporation as part of a ribbon cartridge.

Ribbon feed tension mechanism

A ribbon cartridge having a supply spool (3) and a take-up spool hub (27) to receive ribbon (1). A section (49) of a wire (32) extends from the mounting post (33), with its pointed end resting against the take-up hub (27). Movement in the take-up direction causes a sliding action. Attempted unwinding causes the end to dig into the take-up hub (27) so that the wire section (49) immediately prevents unwinding.

Ribbon cartridge with back check

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, KY, United States of America

James A Craft