Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Ethicon, Gmbh

Novus Partners, LLC

Other

Jeffrey J Vaitekunas

Scott D Wampler

James W Wampler

Jesse J Kuhns

Narinderjit S Sambi

Warren D Sheffield

Navneet T Sharma

George Bromfield

David C Yates

Kevin L Houser

Craig N Faller

Geoffrey C Hueil

Trevor W V Speeg

Mary E Mootoo

Sarah A Noschang

Ronald D Adams

Steven K Neuenfeldt

Thomas F Charlebois

Richard VanZandt

Louis F Cosentino

Ryan Niezgoda

Vance V Van Drake, Iii

Steven Neuenfeldt

An ultrasonic-surgical-shears tissue pad has a tissue-pad body including a base material and at least one filler material. An alternate ultrasonic-surgical-shears tissue pad has a tissue-pad body having adjoining first and second regions, wherein the first region includes a first material and wherein the second region includes a second material. An ultrasonic surgical shears includes an ultrasonic surgical blade and a clamping arm which is operable to open and close toward the blade and which has a transversely and resiliently flexible distal tip. An alternate ultrasonic surgical shears includes an ultrasonic surgical blade, a clamping arm operable to open and close toward the blade, and a tissue pad attached to the clamping arm and having a clamping surface, wherein at least a portion of the tissue pad is resiliently flexible in a direction substantially perpendicular to the clamping surface.

Ultrasonic surgical shears and tissue pad for same

Methods and devices that provide ultrasonic energy used to cause one or more nerves to become dysfunctional. A nerve to be treated is placed in the focal zone of ultrasonic energy emitted by ultrasound transducer. A first level of ultrasonic energy is provided to the nerve using the ultrasound transducer, the first level sufficient to stimulate the nerve. A verification is made that the desired nerve is being stimulated by the first level of ultrasonic energy. For example, the patient may be asked to confirm that the ultrasonically stimulated nerve corresponds to the pain that is affecting the patient. Subsequent to verifying the stimulated nerve is the nerve desired for the reduction of pain, a second level of ultrasonic energy is delivered to the nerve using the ultrasound transducer, the second level of ultrasonic energy sufficient to cause nerve dysfunction.

Focused ultrasound for pain reduction

A method for billboard advertising is disclosed. An advertising billboard device for use with the present invention comprises a server and a display controller adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from the server. At least one content display unit is in communication with the display controller, wherein the content display unit visually displays the information from the dynamic-content. The advertising billboard display controller may also comprise a timing means, the display controller altering the visual display of the content display unit as a function of the time from the timing means. The display controller may be adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from a plurality of servers, wherein the display controller comprises a heirarchical control scheme, the heirarchical control scheme adapted to select dynamic-content from one server of the plurality of servers for display on the content display unit. The advertising billboard device may also comprise a plurality of display controllers in communication with a plurality of content display units, each display controller from the plurality of display controllers having a type identifier, wherein each of the display controllers selects dynamic-content for display on its content display unit as a function of the type identifier.

Advertising method for dynamic billboards

A business method for billboard advertising is disclosed. An advertising billboard device for use with the present invention comprises a server and a display controller adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from the server. At least one content display unit is in communication with the display controller, wherein the content display unit visually displays the information from the dynamic-content. The advertising billboard display controller may also comprise a timing means, the display controller altering the visual display of the content display unit as a function of the time from the timing means. The display controller may be adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from a plurality of servers, wherein the display controller comprises a heirarchical control scheme, the heirarchical control scheme adapted to select dynamic-content from one server of the plurality of servers for display on the content display unit. The advertising billboard device may also comprise a plurality of display controllers in communication with a plurality of content display units, each display controller from the plurality of display controllers having a type identifier, wherein each of the display controllers selects dynamic-content for display on its content display unit as a function of the type identifier.

Business method for billboard advertising

A dynamic device for billboard advertising is disclosed. An advertising billboard device in accordance with the present invention comprises a server and a display controller adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from the server. At least one content display unit is in communication with the display controller, wherein the content display unit visually displays the information from the dynamic-content. The advertising billboard display controller may also comprise a timing means, the display controller altering the visual display of the content display unit as a function of the time from the timing means. The display controller may be adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from a plurality of servers, wherein the display controller comprises a heirarchical control scheme, the heirarchical control scheme adapted to select dynamic-content from one server of the plurality of servers for display on the content display unit. The advertising billboard device may also comprise a plurality of display controllers in communication with a plurality of content display units, each display controller from the plurality of display controllers having a type identifier, wherein each of the display controllers selects dynamic-content for display on its content display unit as a function of the type identifier.

Dynamic device for billboard advertising

The present invention relates, in general, to electrosurgical instruments and, more particularly, to a feedback light used in cooperation with an electrosurgical instrument. The present invention further comprises first and second moveable jaws. A first electrode is housed within the first moveable jaw and a second electrode is housed within the second moveable jaw, where the electrodes are connectable to a power source for providing an electric current between the electrodes. The present invention further comprises a feedback light connectable to a first lead and a second lead in order to form a second circuit, where the second circuit is adjacent to the first circuit in order to facilitate capacitive coupling between the first and second circuits in order to light a feedback light.

Feedback light apparatus and method for use with an electrosurgical instrument

A method of repairing a defect in tissue includes the steps of placing a prosthetic over a tissue defect and against surrounding tissue. The prosthetic is then embedded into the surrounding tissue by an application of pressure and ultrasonic energy to the prosthetic and the surrounding tissue on at least one location on the prosthetic and surrounding tissue. The embedded prosthetic is then welded into surrounding tissue by an application of pressure and ultrasonic energy on the same location. The second application of energy is at a different energy intensity than the first application of energy.

Method for repairing tissue defects using an ultrasonic device

With the advent of laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery, the patient is benefiting from shorter hospitalization, less pain, and generally better outcomes. However, the minimization of the size of incision a surgeon uses in these procedures has created some unique challenges. Large tissue masses, such as fibroid tissue masses, are traditionally excised during the surgical procedure and removed intact from the patient through the surgical incision. One common procedure for reducing the size of large tissue masses is generally referred to as morcellation. In the present invention, a method of morcellating tissue is described that includes the steps of: inserting a ballistic specimen bag through a cannula; opening the ballistic specimen bag; inserting tissue into the ballistic specimen bag; closing the ballistic specimen bag around a ultrasonic surgical instrument; and cutting or debulking the tissue with the ultrasonic surgical instrument. The present invention is further directed to a method as described above wherein the specimen bag is constructed of a ballistic material having a V.sub.50 attribute greater than or equal to 1225 feet per second. The present invention is also directed to a method as described above wherein the ballistic specimen bag is coated or impregnated with a sealant material such as silicone.

Method of tissue morcellation using an ultrasonic surgical instrument

A prosthetic for placement over a defect in tissue includes at least one collagen pad for placement on tissue surrounding the defect. A patch is placeable over the defect and the collagen pad wherein the collagen pad, the patch and the tissue are adhereable to each other upon an application of pressure and energy. Alternatively, the prosthetic can consist of a patch with at least one collagen pad integrally formed with the patch. Another alternative prosthetic includes a patch made of collagen throughout.

Prosthetic with collagen for tissue repair

A therapeutic ultrasonic instrument is provided for hemostatic cutting and/or cauterizing of tissue. A preferred embodiment provides an end effector which grasps tissue while a cutting element energized by ultrasonic energy is passed through the tissue to cut and cauterize the tissue while it is being held by the tissue grasping portion of the end effector. One embodiment further includes staples which are applied to the tissue as well.

Ultrasonic hemostatic and cutting instrument

Bone anchors, after insertion into bone, are designed to remain in place and provide a platform for holding tissue. A method of ultrasonically embedding bone anchors into bone without pre-drilling an anchor receiving hole into the bone has been developed. Also described is an improved bone anchor embedding method utilizing ultrasonic energy to reduce insertion force, whereby the bone anchor and embedding device can be formed very small, (e.g. on the order of 2 to 5 millimeters in diameter). In an embodiment of the present invention, a method of bone anchor embedding utilizing ultrasonic energy is used to insert a bone anchor into a pre-drilled hole, wherein the hole in the bone may be smaller in diameter than the diameter of the bone anchor.

Method of ultrasonically embedding bone anchors

Bone anchors, after insertion into bone, are designed to remain in place and provide a platform for holding tissue. An ultrasonic bone anchor is described, comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a body between the proximal end of the bone anchor and the distal end of the bone anchor. There is an outer surface on the body of the bone anchor which may include at least one protrusion extending from the outer surface of the bone anchor body. A coupling element is located at the proximal end of the bone anchor. The ultrasonic bone anchor is adapted to reciprocate at an ultrasonic frequency with an excursion of 50 to 300 micrometers. An embodiment of the present invention includes an ultrasonic bone anchor wherein the coupling element includes threads formed in a right-hand screw pattern, and the protrusion is formed in a left-hand screw pattern. Alternately the threads may be formed in a left-hand pattern and the protrusion formed in a right-hand pattern.

Ultrasonic bone anchor

With the advent of laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery, the patient is benefiting from shorter hospitalization, less pain, and generally better outcomes. However, the minimization of the size of incision a surgeon uses in these procedures has created some unique challenges. Large tissue masses, such as fibroid tissue masses, are traditionally excised during the surgical procedure and removed intact from the patient through the surgical incision. One common procedure for reducing the size of large tissue masses is generally referred to as morcellation. In the present invention, a ballistic specimen bag is described for use with ultrasonic surgical instruments. The ballistic specimen bag comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and an opening at the proximal end. A sheet surrounds the opening, extending from the proximal end and enclosing the distal end. The sheet comprises cloth woven from a material having ballistic characteristics. The ballistic specimen bag may be manufactured from a sheet having a V.sub.50 attribute greater than or equal to approximately 1225 feet per second.

Ballistic specimen bag for use with ultrasonic devices

A method for repairing a defect in tissue includes the steps of placing at least one collagen pad on the tissue surrounding a tissue defect. A prosthetic is then placed over the defect and the collagen pad. Pressure and energy are then applied to the prosthetic at the collagen pad until the tissue and the collagen pad adhere to each other.

Energy-base method applied to prosthetics for repairing tissue defects

A surgical device in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of transducer assemblies carried by the housing and a plurality of end effectors. Each end effector is operatively coupled to one of the transducer assemblies. One method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of providing a plurality of end effectors, each end effector being driven by a transducer assembly. The method further includes the steps of placing the end effectors in close proximity to the tissue of a patient, energizing the plurality of end effectors to vibrate at a predetermined frequency, and contacting the tissue with the end effectors.

Growing community of inventors

West Chester, OH, United States of America

Jeffrey J Vaitekunas