Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Ethicon, Gmbh

Cilag International Gmbh

Scott B Killinger

Chad Paul Boudreaux

Mark A Davison

Kevin Michael Fiebig

Barry C Worrell

Jason R Lesko

Eric N Johnson

Carl J Draginoff, Jr

Kris Eren Kallenberger

David C Yates

Jeffrey L Aldridge

Gavin Martin Monson

Aaron C Voegele

Jeffrey David Messerly

Foster B Stulen

Eitan T Wiener

Daniel W Price

Matthew C Miller

James R Giordano

Gregory A Trees

Robert L Koch, Jr

William Eugene Clem

Randall Scott Koplin

David Keith Norvell

John P Measamer

Kevin D Felder

Daniel J Abbott

Barry Thomas Jamison

Robert J Laird

Jeffrey P Wiley

Mark Tsonton

John Eric Hein

Jonathan T Batross

Nicholas G Molitor

Joseph Allen Brotz

Wai Ngai Chin

Robert A Kemerling

Mark E Tebbe

Christopher A Papa

Bingshi Wang

Nathaniel Francis Barbera

Robert L Koch

Eitan T Weiner

Jr Carl J Draginoff

Wai N Chin

Various exemplary methods and devices for actuating surgical instruments are provided. In general, a surgical device can include one or more actuation shafts configured to facilitate actuation of the device. In an exemplary embodiment, the device can include four actuation shafts, two actuation shafts to facilitate articulation of the device, one actuation shaft to facilitate opening and closing of jaws at a distal end of the device, and one actuation shaft to facilitate moving a cutting element of the device. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the one or more actuation shafts can include a distal elongate member and a proximal elongate member having a proximal end attached to a distal end of the distal elongate member. The proximal elongate member can be rigid, and the distal elongate member can be flexible.

Methods and devices for actuating surgical instruments

Methods for assembling surgical instruments

A generator is disclosed to generate a drive signal to a surgical device. The generator includes an ultrasonic generator module to generate a first drive signal to drive an ultrasonic device, an electrosurgery/radio frequency (RF) generator module to generate a second drive signal to drive an electrosurgical device, and a foot switch coupled to each of the ultrasonic generator module and the electrosurgery/RF generator module. The foot switch is configured to operate in a first mode when the ultrasonic device is coupled to the ultrasonic generator module and the foot switch is configured to operate in a second mode when the electrosurgical device is coupled to the electrosurgery/RF generator module. The generator further includes a user interface to provide feedback in accordance with the operation of any one of the ultrasonic device and the electrosurgical device in accordance with a predetermined algorithm.

Surgical generator for ultrasonic and electrosurgical devices

In accordance with various embodiments, methods for controlling electrical power provided to tissue via a surgical device may comprise providing a drive signal. A power of the drive signal may be proportional to a power provided to the tissue via the surgical device. The methods may also comprise periodically receiving indications of an impedance of the tissue and applying a first composite power curve to the tissue, wherein applying the first composite power curve to the tissue comprises. Applying the first composite power curve to the tissue may comprise modulating a first predetermined number of first composite power curve pulses on the drive signal; and for each of the first composite power curve pulses, determining a pulse power and a pulse width according to a first function of the impedance of the tissue The methods may also comprise applying a second composite power curve to the tissue. Applying the second composite power curve to the tissue may comprise modulating at least one second composite power curve pulse on the drive signal; and for each of the at least one second composite power curve pulses, determining a pulse power and a pulse width according to a second function of the impedance of the tissue.

In accordance with various embodiments, methods to control electrical power provided to tissue via first and second electrodes may comprise providing a drive signal to the tissue via the first and second electrodes and modulating a power provided to the tissue via the drive signal based on a sensed tissue impedance according to a first power curve. The first power curve may define, for each of a plurality of potential sensed tissue impedances, a first corresponding power. The methods may also comprise monitoring a total energy provided to the tissue via the first and second electrodes. When the total energy reaches a first energy threshold, the methods may comprise determining whether an impedance of the tissue has reached a first impedance threshold. The methods may further comprise, conditioned upon the impedance of the tissue failing to reach the first impedance threshold, modulating the power provided to the tissue via the drive signal based on the sensed tissue impedance according to a second power curve. The second power curve may define, for each of the plurality of potential sensed tissue impedances, a second corresponding power.

In accordance with various embodiments, methods for controlling electrical power provided to tissue via a surgical device may comprise providing a drive signal to a surgical device; receiving an indication of an impedance of the tissue; calculating a rate of increase of the impedance of the tissue; and modulating the drive signal to hold the rate of increase of the impedance greater than or equal to a predetermined constant.

A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue may comprise a handle, a trigger, an electrical input, and a shaft extending from the handle. The surgical instrument may comprise an end effector. The end effector may comprise a cammed compression surface. The end effector may comprise an electrode comprising a tapered tissue contacting surface. Some surgical instruments may comprise an overload member.

Surgical instrument with jaw member

Circular stapling instruments for cutting and applying one or more surgical staples to tissue are disclosed. The instruments include various forms of anvil locking systems designed to selectively prevent the anvil from moving axially relative to the stapling head of the stapling instrument. One embodiment employs an elongated gear rack that is selectively engagable with locking gears to prevent axial motion of the elongated gear rack and an adjustment shaft used to axially position the anvil. Other embodiments employ a gear assembly that cooperates with the elongated gear rack. A locking member is movably supported by a handle assembly that houses the gear assembly and elongated gear rack. The locking member is configured for selective meshing engagement with the gear assembly to ultimately prevent axial movement of the gear rack and adjustment shaft.

Circular surgical stapling instrument with anvil locking system

Growing community of inventors

Madeira, OH, United States of America

Scott B Killinger