Covidien LP

Tyco Healthcare Group LP

International Business Machines Corporation

Robert DeSantis

Russell S Heinrich

Frank J Viola

Gregg C Krehel

Michael A Soltz

Henry E Holsten

Gene A Stellon

Thomas Wingardner

Richard D Gresham

Stanislaw Z Marczyk

Marc Bessler

Thomas Wenchell

Kenneth Blier

Michael Ingmanson

Guido Pedros

David M McCuen

Philip J Irka

Paul A Scirica

Michael A Zemlok

Matthew D Cohen

Brian Joseph Cuevas

Michael Prescott

Anthony Ceniccola

Scott T Depierro

Frank R Schiretz

Jason Sung

Henry P Holsten

A surgical apparatus has a clamp and a stapling mechanism. The clamp has a first jaw and a second jaw to clamp on a body tissue at a desired location for a stapling operation. The stapling mechanism is controlled by a trigger handle or a switch assembly. The surgical apparatus has a controller for providing a delay between clamping and actuating of the firing mechanism of the stapling mechanism. The delay provides for a desired amount of time for tissue compression producing a more uniform staple formation. The surgical apparatus also has an indicator. The indicator provides feedback about the status of the stapling mechanism and also displays a time of tissue compression by the clamp.

Surgical stapler with timer and feedback display

A method of performing a bariatric procedure through a natural body orifice is disclosed. The method comprises the step of providing a surgical instrument, comprising a handle portion, an elongated portion extending distally from the handle portion, and an end effector disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated portion. The method also comprises the steps of inserting the surgical instrument through a natural body orifice of a patient such that the end effector is adjacent a portion of the patient's stomach, and using the surgical instrument to perform a surgical task.

Natural orifice bariatric procedure and apparatus for use therewith

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

A safety handle assembly for use with a surgical instrument having an operative distal end portion is disclosed. The handle assembly includes a handle housing and a drive element movably mounted within the handle housing and connected to an associated operative distal end portion. A drive assembly is positioned within the handle housing and is engageable with the drive element to move the drive element within the handle housing. An actuator is movably mounted on the handle housing and an adjustable force-limiting mechanism is interposed between the drive assembly and the actuator. A force-limiting mechanism releasably connects the actuator to the drive assembly. The force-limiting mechanism is adjustable to preset the force at which the actuator separates or breaks away from the drive assembly.

Method and force-limiting handle mechanism for a surgical instrument

An access device includes a body, a first tube, a second tube, and a mechanism. The first and second tubes extend through the body. The mechanism operably couples the first and second tubes such that at least one tube is pivotable about an axis with respect to the other tube. The body may form a substantially fluid-tight seal at the incision. In another embodiment, the access device further includes a third tube extending through the body and the mechanism operably couples the tubes together such that at least two tubes are pivotable about the axis with respect to the remaining tube.

Multi-lumen access port

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an endoscopic surgical device is provided and includes a handle assembly; a tube assembly operatively supported on and extending from the handle assembly, the tube assembly defining a longitudinal axis; an articulation assembly operatively supported on and extending from a distal end of the tube assembly; and a tool assembly operatively supported on and extending from a distal end of the articulation assembly. In use, a rotation of the handle assembly about the longitudinal axis results in a concomitant rotation of the tool assembly; an actuation of the handle assembly in a particular manner results in a concomitant actuation of the tool assembly; and a pivoting of the handle assembly in any off-axis direction relative to the longitudinal axis results in a concomitant articulation of the tool assembly via the articulation assembly.

Endoscopic surgical devices

A method of retracting and/or manipulating tissue is provided. The method includes providing access to a body cavity, providing a retractor including a elongated body portion, a needle formed on a proximal end of the elongated body portion and an anchor means formed on a distal end of the elongated body portion, directing the needle of the retractor through a section of tissue to be retracted, drawing the retractor though the tissue until the anchor means engages the tissue, and pulling the body portion of the retractor to manipulate the tissue.

Tissue retractor and method of use

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

Staple for use in surgical procedures

Growing community of inventors

Redding, CT, United States of America

Robert DeSantis