Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Ethicon, Gmbh

C. R. Bard, Inc.

Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

P Tech, LLC

Marctec, Llc.

Robert C Allman

Stephen C Evans

Fernando Alvarez De Toledo

Oscar R Carrillo, Jr

James Yearick

Norman C May

James E Windheuser

M Joshua Tolkoff

Michael Ciannella

Peter M Bonutti

Lawrence Crainich

Kevin Allaire

Chester O Baxter, Iii

James J Bedi

Kelly J Christian

Gene W Kammerer

Kenneth Arden Eliasen

Fernando A De Toledo

Ronald D Adams

Donald James Jones

Bryan J White

Larry Crainich

Robert N Gailey

Randy J Embertson

George R Muise

Chester O Baxter Iii

A suture and a suture retainer are positioned relative to body tissue. Ultrasonic vibratory energy is utilized to heat the suture retainer and effect a bonding of portions of the suture retainer to each other and/or to the suture. Portions of the body tissue may be pressed into linear apposition with each other and held in place by cooperation between the suture and the suture retainer. The suture retainer may include one or more portions between which the suture extends. The suture retainer may include sections which have surface areas which are bonded together. If desired, the suture may be wrapped around one of the sections of the suture retainer. The suture retainer may be formed with a recess in which the suture is received. If desired, the suture retainer may be omitted and the sections of the suture bonded to each other.

Method and device for securing body tissue

An insertion tool for use in inserting a guide wire into a guide wire lumen of a catheter for use in a lumen of an endoscope. The insertion tool includes a main body having a main lumen and a funnel-shaped extension connected to and disposed atop the main body. The funnel-shaped extension having a funnel lumen. The funnel lumen has a top opening and a bottom opening. The funnel lumen tapering from the top opening to the bottom opening. The bottom opening positioned and sized to communicate with the guide wire lumen of the catheter such that, when the catheter is disposed in the main lumen, the guide wire may be easily inserted into the top opening of the funnel lumen and into the guide wire lumen of the catheter.

Guide wire insertion and re-insertion tools and methods of use

A suturing apparatus for the continuous application of a suture includes a suturing head shaped and dimensioned for attachment to a distal end of a support member. The suturing head includes a track shaped and dimensioned for receiving a needle for movement about the track. A support arm includes first and second lateral arms connected by a central connecting member supporting the track. The support arm includes a longitudinal axis and the track lies in a transverse plane. Angular orientation of the support arm relative to the track is achieved by positioning the transverse plane of the track at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the support arm such that operators are provided with improved access to the surgical site. A drive assembly is coupled to the needle for controlled movement about the track.

Suturing device with angled head

A single operator exchange biliary catheter having a common distal lumen. The biliary catheter includes an elongate shaft having a proximal portion defining an ancillary lumen and a distal portion defining a common guidewire and ancillary lumen. The common distal lumen reduces the profile of the distal portion of the shaft. The elongate shaft also includes a proximal guidewire port disposed between the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the shaft to facilitate single operator use. A seal may be disposed adjacent the proximal guidewire port to thereby seal the port. Preferably, the shaft includes a single lumen distal portion and a bi-lumen proximal portion. The single lumen distal portion of the shaft may be curved and may include a tapered or spherically shaped distal tip.

Rapid exchange catheter with detachable hood

An insertion tool and method for easily inserting a guide wire into a guide wire lumen of a catheter, particularly a rapid exchange catheter, for use in an endoscope. The insertion tool includes a main body having a main lumen and a funnel-shaped extension having a funnel lumen that merges with the main lumen. The funnel lumen has a first large opening and a second smaller opening aligned with the guide wire lumen of the catheter such that, when the catheter is disposed in the main lumen, the guide wire may be easily inserted into the large opening of the funnel-shaped extension and into the guide wire lumen of the catheter. Also, a re-insertion tool and method for re-inserting a guide wire into a channel of a catheter. The re-insertion tool is particularly useful in combination with an endoscope and an SOE catheter disposed therein.

An insertion tool and method for easily inserting a guide wire into a guide wire lumen of a catheter, particularly a rapid exchange catheter, for use in an endoscope. The insertion tool includes a main body having a main lumen and a funnel-shaped extension having a funnel lumen that merges with the main lumen. The funnel lumen has a first large opening and a second smaller opening aligned with the guide wire lumen of the catheter such that, when the catheter is disposed in the main lumen, the guide wire may be easily inserted into the large opening of the funnel-shaped extension and into the guide wire lumen of the catheter. The insertion tool may include a tongue or key disposed in the main lumen that is sized to fit in a slot of the catheter to thereby maintain alignment between the funnel lumen and the slot of the catheter. The insertion tool may alternatively include a non-round surface disposed in the main lumen that engages a non-round surface on the exterior of the catheter to thereby maintain alignment between the funnel lumen and the slot of the catheter. The insertion tool may further include a longitudinal slot in the funnel-shaped extension and/or main body to allow removal of the guide wire from the insertion tool while the guide wire remains in the guide wire lumen of the catheter.

A single operator exchange biliary catheter having a common distal lumen. The biliary catheter includes an elongate shaft having a proximal portion defining an ancillary lumen and a distal portion defining a common guidewire and ancillary lumen. The common distal lumen reduces the profile of the distal portion of the shaft. The elongate shaft also includes a proximal guidewire port disposed between the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the shaft to facilitate single operator use. A seal may be disposed adjacent the proximal guidewire port to thereby seal the port. Preferably, the shaft includes a single lumen distal portion and a bitumen proximal portion. The single lumen distal portion of the shaft may be curved and may include a tapered or spherically shaped distal tip.

Single operator exchange biliary catheter with common distal lumen

A catheter connection system is defined by a rigid, tubular stem attached at a proximal end thereof to a medical device. The stem has a plurality of comparably configured engagement barbs encircling and radially, outwardly extending on an exterior surface of the stem. A locking barb also encircles and radially, outwardly extends on the surface of the stem between the medical device and the engagement barbs. A rigid first locking sleeve is provided for inwardly compressing a portion of a body wall of a silicone catheter against the locking barb on the stem when the stem is received in the lumen of the silicone catheter to create a mechanical joinder and liquid-tight seal between the silicone catheter and the stem. In the alternative, a compression sleeve housed within a rigid second locking sleeve is provided for compressing a body wall of a polyurethane catheter against the engagement barbs on the stem to create a mechanical joinder and liquid-tight seal between the polyurethane catheter and the stem.

Dual-type catheter connection system

An applicator for applying a sheet of surgical material, e.g., a surgical mesh, to internal body tissue includes a delivery tube, a deployment tube slidably received within the delivery tube, and a shaft or irrigation tube slidably received within the deployment tube. An expandable spreader tip is connected between the distal ends of the shaft and the deployment tube. The spreader tip is collapsed and inserted in the delivery tube with the surgical mesh. The applicator is inserted through a trocar tube into a body cavity and the spreader tip is exposed by retracting the delivery tube relative to the deployment tube and shaft. The applicator has a first actuator for urging the spreader tip and surgical mesh into engagement with the tissue as the deployment tube is retracted and a second actuator for advancing the deployment tube relative to the shaft to expand the spreader tip to apply the surgical mesh to the tissue. The spreader tip includes a plurality of flexible strips each having its opposite ends pivotally connected to the distal ends of the shaft and the deployment tube. The applicator includes a return spring to bias the deployment tube proximally relative to the shaft to normally maintain the spreader tip collapsed.

Surgical mesh applicator

A catheter, such as an angioplasty catheter is provided with a distal tip segment having a helical slit. The helical slit has a proximal end and a distal end that extends fully to and intersects the rim of the tip segment that defines the distal outlet orifice. The helically slit tip segment can be unrolled partly or fully from its helical configuration and may be attached directly to an indwelling guidewire at any location along the exposed length of the guidewire. The catheter includes a guidewire lumen thereby enabling the catheter to be placed on a guidewire in conventional or in monorail fashion. Additionally, when placed on a guidewire in monorail fashion, the guidewire lumen of the catheter may be used to infuse liquids, take pressure measurements or the like.

Catheter having a tip connector for rapid catheter exchanges

A tissue manipulator is provided which is insertable through an endoscopic tube to enable a surgeon to manipulate tissue inside a body cavity. The endoscopic tissue manipulator includes an expandable tissue manipulating frame adapted to expand transversely through a longitudinal slot in a support tube to provide a spatula-shaped platform which can be manipulated by rotation of the support tube about its longitudinal axis to engage and displace large body organs away from a desired surgical site in a body cavity. The frame consists of a plurality of flexible frame members or wires adapted to flex laterally outward through the longitudinal slot in the support tube into a bow-shaped configuration overlapping the other frame members or wires of the spatula-shaped platform. The instrument can be provided with a single tissue manipulating frame or a pair of frames which are expandable through separate longitudinal slots in the support tube to provide a pair of spatula-shaped platforms to engage the tissue. The pair of frames of the dual frame embodiment may be actuated together or independently.

Growing community of inventors

Wakefield, MA, United States of America

Robert C Allman