Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Michael T Mather

Richard F Schwemberger

Michael L Kruszynski

Michael A Parker

Frederick E Shelton, IV

Mark S Ortiz

James Walden Voegele

Wells D Haberstich

Donna L Korvick

William David Kelly

Ronald John Kolata

Peter Michael Wukusick

Dean L Garner

Margaret M D'Aversa

John Wesley Sheets, Jr

Craig F Forester

Kristin Nicole Werner Dawson

Georgette A Belair

An articulating surgical stapler having a proximal end and a distal end includes a handle at the proximal end and an end effector at the distal end for selective articulation to improve access to tissue requiring treatment and ease of use of the present linear surgical stapler. A support shaft connects the handle to the end effector. An articulation mechanism is positioned between the support shaft and the end effector permitting selective movement of the end effector relative to the support shaft.

Articulating curved cutter stapler

A multiple use adhesive dispenser facilitates precise, extended dispensing for a surgical procedure by sequentially positioning an ampoule containing a flowable material, such as a polymerizable monomer compound such as a cyanoacrylate adhesive. In one version particularly suited to an open surgical procedure, the ampoules are affixed to a tape substrate that is unreeled from an internal storage reel and transported proximate to an ampoule gripping mechanism with an underlying tape substrate peeled away and internally stored as each ampoule is positioned for dispensing. Actuating an ampoule advancement handle positions the next ampoule and squeezing a movable handle toward a fixed handle effects dispensing. Another version has an elongate shaft that internally augers each ampoule in succession into a pair of spaced jaws that are pinched together by actuating rods to dispense adhesive.

Surgical multiple use adhesive applier

A rotating surgical stapler having a proximal end and a distal end includes a handle at the proximal end and an end effector at the distal end for selective rotation to improve access to tissue requiring treatment and ease of use of the present linear surgical stapler. A support shaft connects the handle to the end effector and includes a longitudinal axis. The end effector is coupled to the support shaft for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the stapler.

Rotating curved cutter stapler

A surgical instrument is adapted for applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue. The surgical instrument includes an anvil and a cartridge housing containing a plurality of surgical fasteners. The cartridge housing and anvil are relatively movable between a first spaced apart position and a second closed position. A firing mechanism is associated with the cartridge housing for ejecting the surgical fasteners from the cartridge housing to be driven against the anvil. A lockout mechanism interacts with the cartridge housing for activation and deactivation; the lockout mechanism preventing movement of the cartridge housing to its second closed position but permitting relative reapproximation movement of the cartridge housing and anvil, whereby reapproximation provides an indicator that the instrument is not malfunctioning.

Closure plate lockout for a curved cutter stapler

A surgical instrument is adapted for applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue. The surgical instrument includes a frame having a proximal end and a distal end, with a handle positioned at the proximal end and an end effector positioned at the distal end. The end effector is shaped and dimensioned for supporting a cartridge housing and an anvil, the cartridge housing and anvil being relatively movable by actuation of a closure mechanism. The surgical instrument further includes a firing mechanism associated with the end effector and the cartridge housing for selective actuation of the surgical fasteners features. The surgical instrument also includes a retaining pin for enclosing tissue between the anvil and the cartridge housing. The retaining pin is moved by actuation of the closure mechanism from an open first position to a closed second position. A manual actuator is associated with the retaining pin for moving from the second position back to the first position and alternatively moving the retaining pin from the first position to the second position.

Retaining pin lever advancement mechanism for a curved cutter stapler

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Mason, OH, United States of America

Michael T Mather