Tyco Healthcare Group LP

Covidien LP

United States Surgical Corporation

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

Richard D Gresham

Scott E Manzo

Keith L Milliman

Bruce K Jankowski

Robert C Smith

Ernest Aranyi

Thomas Wenchell

Robert J Geiste

Russell S Heinrich

William A Burbank

Kevin S Sniffin

Peter W Hinchliffe

Robert DeSantis

Martin J Nohilly

Joseph Orban, Iii

Douglas J Cuny

Justin Krom

Kenneth L Gong

Anthony Dato

Kenneth Blier

Kurt Azarbarzin

Marc J Theroux

James Correia

Timothy O VanLeeuwen

Miguel Moreno

Miquel A Moreno

Frank J Viola

David A Nicholas

Paul A Scirica

David C Racenet

Kenneth H Whitfield

Michael J Bettuchi

Henry E Holsten

David M Farascioni

Earl M Zergiebel

Philip C Roy

Lisa W Heaton

Thomas R Hessler

Michael A Soltz

Stephen R Paul

Hanspeter Robert Bayer

Megan L Prommersberger

Danny Berry

Patrick Flanagan

Patrick Helfrich

Ken Blier

Paul Merten

Joseph Sapiente

Robert J DeSantis

Peter Wj Hinchliffe

Robert De Santis

Robert J Desantis

Kenneth M Blier

Joseph P Orban Iii

Jospeh Sapiente

L Milliman Keith

Michael D Switzer

An electrically energized medical instrument uses one or more drive cables to both actuate mechanical components of a wrist mechanism or an effector and to electrically energize the effector. Electrical isolation can be achieved using an insulating main tube through which drive cables extend from a backend mechanism to the effector, an insulating end cover that leaves only the desired portions of the effector exposed, and one or more seals to prevent electrically conductive liquid from entering the main tube. Component count and cost may be further reduced using a pair of pulleys that are shared by four drive cables.

Medical instrument electrically energized using drive cables

A cover for an electrosurgical instrument having a wrist structure and an end effector is provided. The cover includes a hollow elongated structure, which includes a tip cover portion and a base cover portion integrally connected to the tip cover portion. The tip cover portion has a distal end with an opening therethrough sized to receive the end effector of the electrosurgical instrument and is composed of a first, electrically insulative material having a flexibility sufficient to allow the end effector to be manipulated while the end effector is received in the opening. The base cover portion is composed of a second material having a higher tear strength than the first material. The tip cover portion and the base cover portion overlap at an overlap region configured to receive the wrist structure of the electrosurgical instrument when the end effector is received in the opening.

Electrosurgical tool cover

This application is directed to a surgical stapling device for performing circular anastomoses. The surgical stapling device includes a handle portion, an elongated body portion and a head portion including an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. A tactile indication mechanism is also provided for notifying a surgeon that the device has been fired and for notifying a surgeon that the anvil head has been unapproximated a distance sufficient to permit the anvil head to tilt.

Surgical stapling device for performing circular anastomoses

A staple is provided having a backspan and a first and second legs extending distally from the backspan. Each of the first and second legs includes a bend dividing each leg into a traversing leg portion and a substantially linear clenching leg portion. A staple plate is positionable over the first and second legs between the backspan and the first and second clenching leg portions. An anvil assembly has first and second movable members which move toward to one another to engage outer surfaces of the first and second clenching leg portions. There is further disclosed a method of forming the staple through tissue.

Method of forming a staple for use in surgical procedures

Medical instrument electronically energized using drive cables

A surgical instrument including a tool member cover and a cover deployment device are disclosed. The cover is supported adjacent to or on the tool assembly of the surgical instrument and is movable from a first position in which the tool assembly is uncovered to a second position in which the tool assembly is at least partially encompassed by the cover. The deployment device is provided for moving the cover from the first position to the second position.

Tool member cover and cover deployment device

A surgical portal assembly provides access to underlying tissue. The surgical portal has a seal which includes a gel layer and a fabric layer. The seal includes internal surfaces defining a passage for reception and passage of a surgical object in substantial sealed relation therewith.

Surgical portal with gel and fabric seal assembly

The present disclosure relates to a sheath system for enabling access through an opening in the body of a patient is provided. The sheath system includes a dilation assembly having a radially expandable tubular sheath defining a lumen having a first cross-sectional area when in a non-expanded condition, and a handle assembly operatively coupled to a proximal end of tubular sheath, the handle assembly defining an aperture formed therein, and a first thread defined on the handle in the aperture thereof. The sheath system further includes an expansion assembly including a tubular member defining a lumen having a second cross-sectional area which is larger than the first cross-sectional area of the tubular sheath of the dilation assembly and having an outer surface defining a second thread, the second thread being arranged for engaging the first thread.

Sheath introduction apparatus and method

A seal assembly for use with an access device during a surgical procedure includes a housing having a passageway therethrough dimensioned to permit passage of a surgical instrument and being adapted for mounting to a trocar device, and a seal comprising a gel material and being mounted to the housing across the passageway. The seal includes inner seal portions defining an access channel dimensioned to form a substantial sealing relation with an object therethrough and substantially close in the absence of the surgical instrument. The seal preferably comprises a second material having a hardness greater than a hardness of the gel material. The gel material may be selected from the group consisting of urethane gel, silicon gel.

Gel seal for a surgical trocar apparatus

A surgical access system includes a tubular member defining a longitudinal axis and having an axial lumen. The tubular member includes a braided material adapted to expand from a first initial condition having a first cross-sectional dimension to a second expanded condition having a second-cross sectional dimension greater than the first cross-sectional dimension. The tubular member defines an oblique end surface. An access housing is mounted to the tubular member. The access housing is dimensioned for engagement by the user. A process for manufacturing a surgical access device is also disclosed.

Surgical access device and manufacture thereof

Growing community of inventors

Guilford, CT, United States of America

Richard D Gresham