Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Ethicon, Gmbh

Cilag International Gmbh

Michael S Cropper

Frederick E Shelton, IV

William Bruce Weisenburgh, Ii

Christopher J Hess

Christopher W Widenhouse

Charles J Scheib

Richard F Schwemberger

Jeffrey S Swayze

Sean P Conlon

James Walden Voegele

Katherine J Schmid

Jerome R Morgan

Chester O Baxter, Iii

David Keith Norvell

Taylor W Aronhalt

David C Yates

Jason L Harris

Gregory J Bakos

John P Measamer

Michael A Murray

Barry Thomas Jamison

Jeffrey L Aldridge

Gregory W Johnson

Robert Perrin Gill

Mark S Ortiz

Jeffrey David Messerly

Mark S Zeiner

Richard William Timm

John L Stammen

Stephanie A Mutchler

Mark D Overmyer

Michael J Stokes

Michael E Setser

Andrew M Zwolinski

Cortney E Henderson

Paul T Franer

Thomas Edward Albrecht

Sudhir B Patel

John R Dugan

Brian James Thompson

Tamara S Vetro Widenhouse

Kevin L Houser

Gary Lee Long

Thomas W Huitema

Steven G Hall

John V Hunt

Galen C Robertson

David T Martin

Jonathan A Coe

Prasanna Malaviya

Mark H Ransick

Richard C Smith

Daniel F Dlugos, Jr

James A Woodard, Jr

Chunlin Yang

Alessandro Pastorelli

Bradley A Arnold

Nicholas D Courtwright

Jane A Sheetz

Paul G Ritchie

Chad Paul Boudreaux

Foster B Stulen

Bret William Smith

Eugene L Timperman

Gary W Knight

Christopher C Miller

Geoffrey C Hueil

Lauren S Weaner

Aaron C Voegele

Randal T Byrum

Joseph Henry Contiliano

Robert J Dunki-Jacobs

Robert Mason Trusty

Bradley E White

Salvatore G Caldarise

Michael J Vendely

Richard L Leimbach

Rao S Bezwada

Barry C Worrell

Shailendra Kumar Parihar

Daniel J Mumaw

David A Witt

Kyle P Moore

Joshua R Uth

Donna L Korvick

Patrick A Weizman

Scott A Woodruff

Christopher J Schall

Joshua M Broehl

Amy L Marcotte

Ryan Scott Crisp

Venkataramanan Mandakolathur Vasudevan

Johnny H Alexander, Iii

Michael J Andreyko

Mark Tsonton

Michael D Cronin

Michael P Weir

Iksoo Chun

Thomas A Gilker

Daniel H Duke

A method of creating a tissue thickness compensator is disclosed. The method comprises dispensing oxidized regenerated cellulose onto a cover sheet, folding the cover sheet to at least partially capture the oxidized regenerated cellulose therein, and creating the tissue thickness compensator by applying a seal to the folded cover sheet.

Layer of material for a surgical end effector

A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument can include a first jaw, a second jaw, and a jaw closure lockout system. The first jaw can comprise a pivot pin slot and a slide pin slot. The second jaw can comprise an anvil and, in addition, a mounting portion comprising a pivot pin, which can be movably positioned in the pivot pin slot. A shiftable guide can be movably positioned in the first jaw and can comprise a body and a barrier wall. The body can comprise a slide pin movably positioned in the slide pin slot. The barrier wall can be aligned with a portion of the pivot pin slot when the slide pin is positioned within a range of positions in the slide pin slot, and the barrier wall can be offset from the pivot pin slot when the slide pin is positioned outside the range of positions.

Closure lockout systems for surgical instruments

A tissue thickness compensator comprising a first compensation layer, a second compensation layer, and a pocket situated between the compensation layers can be positioned in the end effector of a surgical instrument. A fastener cartridge positioned in the end effector can comprise a fastener moveable between an initial position and a fired position. When the fastener is moved from the initial position to the fired position, the fastener can move through the pocket and can compress a portion of the tissue thickness compensator. A support can be positioned between the first and second compensation layers. When the fastener compresses the tissue thickness compensator, at least one of the support, first compensation layer and second compensation layer can be deformed. The tissue thickness compensator can also comprise a tab and/or a limiting plate to control deformation of the compensation layers and/or the support.

Tissue thickness compensator comprising a plurality of layers

A staple cartridge assembly comprising a tissue thickness compensator is disclosed. The tissue thickness compensator comprises a first fibrous, woven material and a second fibrous, woven material. The first fibrous, woven material comprises a density which is different than the density of the second fibrous, woven material. The tissue thickness compensator is configured to expand upon contact with a fluid in order to apply a compressive force to tissue captured within staples.

A surgical stapler includes first and second elongate members, a clamp member, and a firing assembly. The second elongate member is configured to receive a staple cartridge. The clamp member is operable to releasably clamp the first elongate member against the second elongate member. The firing assembly is translatable to fire the staple cartridge. The firing assembly includes a slider and an actuator configured to be selectively actuated by a user. The slider includes inner and outer engagement features. The actuator includes inner and outer engagement features. The inner engagement feature of the actuator is configured to engage with the inner engagement feature of the slider at a first interface when the actuator moves relative to the slider. The outer engagement feature of the actuator is configured to engage the outer engagement feature of the slider at a second interface when the actuator moves relative to the slider.

Actuator support structure for surgical stapler

Various devices are provided for allowing multiple surgical instruments to be inserted through a single surgical access device at variable angles of insertion, allowing for ease of manipulation within a patient's body while maintaining insufflation. Safety shields and release mechanisms are also provided for use with various surgical access devices.

Surgical access device

A staple cartridge comprising a tissue thickness compensator is disclosed. The tissue thickness compensator comprises an uncompressed height, a compressed height, an outer encasement, and tubular structures aligned along the longitudinal axis. The tubular structures are configured to collapse when pressure is applied to the tissue thickness compensator by tissue during the firing motion.

A surgical stapler includes a first elongate member, a second elongate member, a clamp member, and a firing assembly. The first elongate member includes a distal portion that supports an anvil surface that includes a plurality of staple forming pockets. The second elongate member includes a distal portion that is configured to receive a staple cartridge. The clamp member is operable to releasably clamp the first elongate member against the second elongate member. The firing assembly is translatable from a first longitudinal position to a second longitudinal position to fire the staple cartridge. The firing assembly includes a slider and an actuator. The slider includes a first coupling feature. The actuator is configured to be selectively actuated by a user. The actuator includes a second coupling feature that is configured to generally surround the first coupling feature of the slider when the actuator moves relative to the slider.

Actuator retainer for surgical stapler

An apparatus comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, a first handle, and a second handle. The second jaw is pivotally coupled with the first jaw. The first jaw and the second jaw are configured to grasp tissue. The jaws provide offset electrode surfaces that are operable to deliver bipolar RF energy to tissue grasped between the jaws. The apparatus is further operable to sever tissue. A lockout feature selectively prevents tissue severing, based on an energization state of the jaws.

Bipolar electrosurgical hand shears

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Edgewood, KY, United States of America

Michael S Cropper