Ethicon, Gmbh

Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Senmed, Inc.

Narinderjit S Sambi

Gregory D Bishop

James J Bedi

Robert G Rothfuss

Livyn O Okorocha

Mark S Ortiz

John A Hibner

Sean P Conlon

Salvatore Privitera

Michael V Sherrill

Edward A Rhad

Federico Bilotti

Jack E Smith

Jeffrey J Vaitekunas

Mark A Burdorff

Thomas J Sierocuk

Joseph F Paraschac

J David Hughett

Michel A Paul

Navneet T Sharma

Eugene David Allen

Robert L Koch, Jr

Dale R Schulze

John P Measamer

Randy R Stephens

Mary E Mootoo

George E Selecman

Hector Chow

John M Collins

Jorge N Gutierrez

J Charles Hueil

Ronald R Van Overloop

Randall Sword

A laparoscopic surgical scissors for cutting tissue is disclosed. The laparoscopic surgical scissors has a handle body assembly having an actuation member moveable toward and away from the handle body assembly. An elongated shaft having a proximal and a distal end that define a longitudinal axis is connected to the handle body assembly at the proximal end of said shaft. A pair of cutting blades have a first blade member and a second blade member that are co-operably connected about a common pivot member adjacent to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The common pivot member defines a common pivot axis perpendicular to the elongated shaft. The first blade member has a first cutting edge and the second blade member has a second cutting edge facing the first cutting edge. The blade members have a single point of blade contact translating proximally and distally as the blade members open and close in response to movement of the actuation member away from and toward the handle body assembly. Each of the blade members defines a curvature along the shaft longitudinal axis and each of the curvatures has a proximal end and a distal end. A proximal arc of curvature and a distal arc of curvature define the curvature of each of the blade members.

Curved laparoscopic scissor having arcs of curvature

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

A surgical stapler is provided which is insertable through an endoscopic tube to enable a surgeon to staple a hernia patch to tissue inside a body cavity. The endoscopic surgical stapler includes a staple cartridge pivotally mounted on the distal end of a support tube extending from a handle provided with an actuator mechanism for actuating a staple forming mechanism inside the staple cartridge to fasten staples to the tissue. The staple cartridge is adjustable to different angular orientations relative to the support tube. The staple actuator mechanism is operable to actuate the staple cartridge in any of the angular orientations. The support shaft is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the handle to adjust the rotational orientation of the support shaft and the staple cartridge. The staple cartridge is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the support shaft to adjust the rotational position of the staple cartridge relative to the support shaft. Separate actuator mechanisms are provided on the handle to control the pivotal movement of the staple cartridge, the rotation of the support shaft, and the rotation of the staple cartridge relative to the support shaft.

Endoscopic surgical stapling instrument with pivotable and rotatable

Various mechanisms, and a method of operating them, are provided for use in a surgical instrument. A shaft and an engaged lost motion operating knob are provided for rotation relative to a handle portion. A latch system prevents rotation of the shaft unless the shaft is rotated by means of the knob. A cartridge is provided for rotation at the distal end of the shaft. Engaging structures are provided for preventing rotation of the cartridge relative to the shaft when axial forces are applied to the cartridge. A loading tool is provided for engaging the cartridge to install the cartridge on the instrument. The cartridge includes a washer for engaging a carrier on which the cartridge is mounted so as to prevent rotation of the washer. The washer is adapted to engage a fastener advancing member in a first angular orientation and is disengaged when the cartridge is rotated to establish a second relative angular orientation. In the first angular orientation, the fastener advancing member is restrained against longitudinal movement to assist in installation of the cartridge onto the instrument. The distal end of the instrument can be articulated, and a helical gear operator is provided for effecting the articulation. The helical gear pitch decreases in a direction such that the mechanical advantage is increased as the articulation angle increases. A trigger actuating system includes a trigger lever with a cam channel, a pin in the cam channel, and a link connected at one end to the pin and at the other end to a reciprocatable driver. A frame is provided with a guide channel for guiding an end of the pin. The trigger lever is pivotally mounted to the frame and biased to a normally unactuated position.

Surgical instrument and method

Various mechanisms, and a method of operating them, are provided for use in a surgical instrument. A shaft and an engaged lost motion operating knob are provided for rotation relative to a handle portion. A latch system prevents rotation of the shaft unless the shaft is rotated by means of the knob. A cartridge is provided for rotation at the distal end of the shaft. Engaging structures are provided for preventing rotation of the cartridge relative to the shaft when axial forces are applied to the cartridge. A loading tool is provided for engaging the cartridge to install the cartridge on the instrument. The cartridge includes a washer for engaging a carrier on which the cartridge is mounted so as to prevent rotation of the washer. The washer is adapted to engage a fastener advancing member in a first angular orientation and is disengaged when the cartridge is rotated to establish a second relative angular orientation. In the first angular orientation, the fastener advancing member is restrained against longitudinal movement to assist in installation of the cartridge onto the instrument. The distal end of the instrument can be articulated, and a helical gear operator is provided for effecting the articulation. The helical gear pitch decreases in a direction such that the mechanical advantage is increased as the articulation angle increases.

Method for operating a surgical instrument

A unique hernia repair stapler is described which allows the forming of staples to attach prosthetics to tissue, or to approximate herniated tissue. The staple is useful in endoscopic operations and may be rotatable or stationary. The stapler has a unique forming and ejecting mechanism; as well, there is the availability of a loading mechanism useful for both cartridges and magazines of staples. An improved staple shape allows for better staple alignment, especially in a multiple load device.

Multiple fire endoscopic stapling mechanism

A unique hernia repair stapler is described which allows the forming of staples to attach prosthetics to tissue, or to approximate herniated tissue. The staple is useful in endoscopic operations and may be rotatable or stationary. The stapler has a unique forming and electing mechanism; as well, there is the availability of a loading mechanism useful for both cartridges and magazines of staples. An improved staple shape allows for better staple alignment, especially in a multiple load device.

A pneumatic stapler which contains a mechanism for manual or automatic retaining pin placement. The automatic retaining pin is connected to a set of linkage plates actuable by a series of inflation of bladders in order to create instrument closure on tissue compression and simultaneously create pin placement. An optional manual, curved retaining pin is used in place of the automatic pin system. Further, because this instrument has a ramped anvil mechanism, adjustable staple height is derived. Controlled closure of the mechanism is provided with a detent spring and constant force springs. Upon stapling, the staple encounters an anvil with reduced size, which is kept closed by a latched retaining pin system to allow for reduced width of the anvil so that the stapling head becomes more versatile. Finally, after firing the staples, the mechanism is capable of rapid depressurization and simultaneous instrument opening by a spring return mechanism. A shaft connects the head to the handle allowing rotation and articulation in an universal joint or in two discrete locations, both with a locking system enabling the operator to choose angles at which to insert the instrument.

Pneumatically actuated linear stapling device

Trocar assembly devices that include trocar tubes of different diameters to accommodate small and large diameter implements for providing communication into an anatomical cavity and a unique method of utilizing such devices. The trocar assembly devices include an outer or larger diameter trocar tube and an inner or smaller diameter trocar tube. A distal end portion of the inner trocar tube is tapered and extends distally beyond a distal end portion of the outer trocar tube. The tapered end portion is provided with threads formed on an outer surface thereof to facilitate insertion of the device through the skin and into an anatomical cavity

Trocar method and apparatus

A disposable linear surgical stapler includes a handle, anvil, staple cartridge and flexible shaft attaching the handle to the cartridge and transmitting a firing force exerted at the handle to the distant cartridge for sequentially implanting, forming and clinching staples in two staggered staple lines. A flexible cable in the flexible shaft pulls a firing wedge across a plurality of staple drivers in the cartridge. The anvil is adjustable to vary the gap between the anvil and staple cartridge.

Disposable linear surgical stapler

Growing community of inventors

Maineville, OH, United States of America

Narinderjit S Sambi