Other

Innerdyne, Inc.

Tyco Healthcare Group LP

Innderdyne, Inc.

John E Carlson

Craig K Tsuji

William Richard Dubrul

Kyle L Baltz

Steven P Masterson

Michael J Orth

Thomas J Palermo

Robert K Deckman

Andrew James Mackenzie

Steve Masterson

Tellis Hartridge

Andrew Lee

Mike Orth

Andrew J Mackenzie

A camera system and method provide a trailing motion blur effect without the use of a flash. In one embodiment, a variable light-transmissive filter is positioned in front of an image sensor. While the light-transmissive property of the filter is lower, the blurred image of the object in motion is produced. The light-transmissive property of the filter is increased during the exposure in order to produce a clearer image of the object. In a method, a plurality of images taken in rapid succession are combined to produce a clear image of the object with a trailing blurred image of the object.

Camera and image processing method

The present disclosure relates to surgical seal, or valve, of the type adapted to releasably receive a surgical object. The seal disclosed herein defines an aperture that is configured to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal with the surgical object upon its insertion, and includes at least one cable member connected to the seal that facilitates maintenance of the substantially fluid-tight seal during subsequent lateral manipulation of the surgical object.

Self-conforming surgical seal

An apparatus and method for forming and enlarging percutaneous penetrations comprises an elongate dilation member which receives an elongate expansion member in an axial lumen thereof. The dilation tube includes a tubular braid which usually comprises a mesh of non-elastic filaments which are radially expandable from a small diameter configuration to a large diameter configuration and which is optionally covered by a removable sheath. The dilation tube is percutaneously introduced to a target site within a patient's body, usually within the abdomen in a laparoscopic procedure. The sheath (if present) is then removed, and the tubular braid thereafter radially expanded by axial insertion of the expansion member through its lumen. The tubular braid is anchored by axial shortening of the mesh and remains in place to permit subsequent exchange of dilation members to provide for different diameter access lumens. Trocar valves may be removably attached to the proximal end of the expansion member to permit the apparatus to be used as a trocar system in laparoscopic procedures where the patient's abdomen has been insufflated. An anchoring means may optionally be provided at the distal end of the expansion member.

Trocar system having expandable port

Systems, kits, and methods for establishing vascular access are described. A system may include a needle, a radially expandable sleeve and a dilator. The methods include creating an initial tissue tract to a target blood vessel with a radially expandable sleeve mounted on a needle. Upon removal of the needle, the dilator is then passed through the radially expandable sleeve to effect radial expansion of the sleeve. Use of the sleeve reduces the risk of injuring tissue surrounding the tissue tract by lessening the axial forces imparted to the tissue. Kits comprise at least the radially expandable sleeve together with instructions for use.

System and method for establishing vascular access

An apparatus and method for forming and enlarging percutaneous penetrations comprises an elongate dilation member which receives an elongate expansion member in an axial lumen thereof. The dilation tube includes a tubular braid which usually comprises a mesh of non-elastic filaments which are radially expandable from a small diameter configuration to a large diameter configuration and which is optionally covered by a removable sheath. The dilation tube is percutaneously introduced to a target site within a patient's body, usually within the abdomen in a laparoscopic procedure. The sheath (if present) is then removed, and the tubular braid thereafter radially expanded by axial insertion of the expansion member through its lumen. The tubular braid is anchored by axial shortening of the mesh and remains in place to permit subsequent exchange of dilation members to provide for different diameter access lumens. Trocar valves may be removably attached to the proximal end of the expansion member to permit the apparatus to be used as a trocar system in laparoscopic. procedures where the patient's abdomen has been insufflated. An anchoring means may optionally be provided at the distal end of the expansion member.

Devices and methods for providing access to a body cavity without substantial loss of inflation gas therein. The device comprises an access assembly 10 that may have a tubular member 12, at least one sleeve 16 coaxially disposed over the tubular member, a pneumostasis valve 13 attached to the tubular member, and an obturator 11 removably received in the tubular member. Sleeve 16 comprises expandable region 19 capable of forming an anchor 30 upon axial compression. A method to provide access using assembly 10 comprises insertion of the assembly 10 into the body cavity, expanding region 19, and insufflating the cavity with gas. Expandable region 19 on assembly 10 is axially compressed to form anchor 30 to seal against an interior wall of the body cavity. The method may further comprise either a second expanded anchor 50 or a non-expanding anchor 40 which clamps against an exterior wall of the body cavity to securely position and seal the access assembly 10.

Device and method for accessing a body cavity

An access system comprises a radially expandable sleeve, a pneumoperitoneum needle, a cannula assembly, and an obturator. Methods for reconstructing and reusing the access system comprise replacing the radially expandable sleeve and cannula valve cap components of the system, both of which are disposable. All remaining system components may be sterilized and reused one or more times. The pneumoperitoneum needle can be separated into tubular needle body and needle stylet components, which may be separately replaced or sterilized and reused. Similarly the cannula comprises both a cannula hub and a cannula tube, where the hub and tube may be separately replaced or sterilized.

Radially expandable access system having disposable and reusable

An adjustable pnemostasis valve and method for providing a fluid seal around the periphery of endoscopic viewing scopes and instruments having a wide variety of cross-sectional sizes. The valve (8) comprises a first valve member (50) having an opening for receiving an elongated object, such as a percutaneous access device, viewing scope or an endoscopic instrument, and a flexible membrane (60) defining an aperture substantially aligned with the opening in the first valve member. A second valve member (40) is coupled to the flexible membrane for moving the membrane relative to the first valve member. As the membrane is moved by the second valve member, the size of the aperture varies so that the membrane can accommodate various sized instruments.

Adjustable introducer valve

Methods and systems for introducing articles and surgical instruments to target body cavities utilize conformable sleeves which are percutaneously positioned within the cavity. Articles may then be passed directly through the conformable sleeve, without use of a rigid cannula, either by pushing the articles inwardly through the sleeve using an introducer or pulling the articles inwardly through the sleeve using a tapered carrier. Surgical instruments are also passed directly inwardly through the sleeve. Such systems and methods may be used in a variety of minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Method and apparatus employing conformable sleeve for providing

A rotating disc-shaped carrier upon which have been recorded audio, video or computer data in holographic form, a method for forming such a carrier, and an apparatus for reading such a carrier is disclosed. A beam of coherent radiation is spatially modulated in a prescribed way, this beam then illuminating one radial of a rotating carrier upon which has been recorded a series of holograms in the form of a spiral track or series of concentric tracks. The holograms are elongated in a direction perpendicular to movement of the rotating carrier and overlap in directions both parallel and perpendicular to such movement, the amount of overlap in the perpendicular direction being inversely proportional to the amount of overlap in the parallel direction such that data storage density remains constant across the surface of the rotating carrier. The sequentially illuminated holograms generate a series of signal images which vary in amplitude, width, spatial frequency, azimuth or position relative to a centerline. Detection of the signal images and extraction of uncorrelated noise resulting from a coded reference beam multiplexing procedure are accomplished by means of a differential photodetection system. Toleration of lateral misalignment between signal images and the photodetection means is accomplished by elongation of signal images in a direction substantially perpendicular to the signal image path, or by employment of point-source-type signal images which are detected by a transversely-positioned array of differentially-operating pairs of photosensors.

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

John E Carlson