Covidien LP

International Business Machines Corporation

Robert J Desantis

Frank J Viola

Paul A Scirica

Michael A Zemlok

Russell S Heinrich

Henry E Holsten

Gregg C Krehel

Michael A Soltz

Robert Kickhofel

Jia Yuan Ni

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

The present invention relates to a method and system for amending a display property of a grid element. The method for amending a display property of a grid element comprises: receiving a command to amend the display property of at least one grid element; searching grid elements associated with said grid element; amending the display property of said grid elements and said associated grid elements. The present invention improves the operation of adjusting the display property of the grid, and enhances the operational efficiency and feasibility.

Amending the display property of grid elements

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

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Robert J Desantis