University of Massachusetts

Smith + Nephew

Matsushita Home Appliance Corporation of America

Other

Sunbeam Products, Inc.

American Industrial Design Co., Inc.

Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Javier Verdura

Maureen E Carroll

Richard M Beane

Edward I Stamm, Jr

Steve Ek

Randall J Hasslinger

Allison C Niemann

Maureen Carroll

Steven E Ek

Kirk William Charles

David S Rowley

Steven Gamper

Mark P Callery

Steven W Ek

George J Sikora

Phillip Jack Snoke

Babs R Soller

Michael J Mark

Gary McCarthy

William C Meyers

Kevin A Nagatani

Russell F Stahl

Bill Davis

Alison C Niemann

A device for retracting edges of an incision in a surface to form an opening including: a flexible, tubular skirt having an upper end, a lower end, and a channel therebetween; a ring connected to the lower end of the skirt for maintaining the lower end in an open configuration and defining an exit opening to the channel; and an inflatable collar connected to the skirt and surrounding the upper end. The ring is designed to fit through the incision and remain under the surface when it is oriented parallel to surface. The collar, when inflated, maintains the upper end in an open configuration and defines an entry opening to the channel. During use, the ring is inserted through the incision and the collar is inflated while remaining outside of the incision, thereby drawing the skirt against the edges of the incision and retracting the edges of the incision to form the opening. The retracting device can be included in a surgical access port, which further includes a flexible sleeve connected to at least one of the inflatable collar and the skirt, extending the channel from the exit opening of the skirt to an open end of the flexible sleeve distal to the skirt. The device can include a light source in the vicinity of the exit opening.

Surgical access port

Surgical access port and laparoscopic surgical method

The present invention encompasses tools and a tool-holding retractor assembly. The retractor assembly spreads an incision and holds the incision open. At least one extension device, having a tool holder on one end, attaches to the assembly. The holder includes a selectively locking multi-axis adjustable mounting element adapted to grip a tool shaft. The mounting element acts as a universal mounting providing rotational and sliding movement of the tool shaft. The extension device adjusts to position the tool holder peripherally of the surgical field. Once the retractor is placed, the extension device provides full access to regions below the incision. The extension device allows the surgeon to chose the insertion point and insertion angle of the tool shaft.

Minimally invasive surgical apparatus

Systems, methods, and miniature instruments are disclosed for minimally invasive surgical procedures. A miniature surgical instrument can be inserted directly into a body cavity through a cannula in a way that a surgeon can insert his or her hand into the cavity through a separate minimal incision and use the miniature instruments. A miniature surgical system can include: a cannula having a hollow body configured to receive a miniature surgical instrument and a tether connected to the instrument; and a plunger sized to engage a proximal end of the body and including a conduit therethrough for receiving the tether. The system can also include the tether and the instrument. During use, the instruments can be quickly and safely removed from the body cavity to enable the surgeon to use his or her fingers, e.g., to manipulate tissue.

Systems methods and instruments for minimally invasive surgery

Systems, methods, and instruments for minimally invasive surgery

Surgical access port and method for accessing a patient's body cavity

The invention is a series of minimally invasive, miniature surgical instruments mounted directly on a surgeon's fingertips in a way that the surgeon can insert his or her hand into a patient through a minimal incision to perform surgical procedures, and also to use his or her fingers to manipulate tissues. The invention enables the surgeon to perform the procedures with all the benefits of minimally invasive surgery, but with much greater tactile sense, control, and ease of manipulation, than enabled by known minimally invasive surgical instruments.

Fingertip-mounted minimally invasive surgical instruments and methods of

Device, surgical access port, and method of retracting an incision into

Upright extractor

Upright appliance handle

A portable power tool light for mounting to a portable power tool and method of using the portable power tool light are provided and preferably include a belt shaped to detachably mount to and surround a distal portion of a portable power tool. A portable power tool preferably has a power tool main body and a handle connected to and extending outwardly from the main body. The belt includes a fastener for securely fastening the belt to the outer surface of a distal portion of a portable power tool. Flexible lighting means preferably is connected to the belt and extends outwardly therefrom toward a distal portion of a power tool for flexibly positioning a light source to direct radiation from the light source toward an object for using the power tool thereon to thereby illuminate the object for increasing visibility of the object to the user of the power tool. The flexible lighting means preferably includes a base connected to the belt, an elongate, flexible arm connected to the base and extending outwardly therefrom, and a light head connected to the flexible arm for casting light onto an object for using the power tool thereon.

Portable power tool light, accessory mounting belt, and method of using

Stand mixer

Growing community of inventors

Marietta, GA, United States of America

Javier Verdura