Tyco Healthcare Group LP

Covidien LP

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Scott Cunningham

David C Racenet

Hanspeter Robert Bayer

Michael Linley Fripp

Frank J Viola

Stephen Michael Greci

Gregory Sorrentino

John C Gano

Jean-Marc Lopez

William Powers

Anibal Rodrigues

Stanislaw Z Marczyk

Russell S Heinrich

Tim Nolan

Patrick Helfrich

Stanisiaw Z Mareczyk

It is sometimes desirable to differentially regulate fluid flow in a subterranean formation using autonomous inflow control devices (AICDs), but they are not readily configurable in the field at present. Wellbore systems providing adjustable flow control may comprise: a wellbore pipe having a flow control assembly fixedly coupled thereto, the wellbore pipe having an interior space, an outer surface, and one or more AICDs establishing a fluid connection between the interior space and the outer surface of the wellbore pipe, and the flow control assembly comprising one or more flow chambers defined on the outer surface about the one or more AICDs, one or more inlets being fluidly connected to the one or more flow chambers; wherein the one or more inlets are configured to accept a plug for occluding fluid flow therethrough, so as to limit access of a fluid to an entry location of the AICDs.

Wellbore systems with adjustable flow control and methods for use thereof

Disclosed are wellbore flow control devices that allow on-site field adjustments to flow characteristics. One autonomous inflow control device (AICD) assembly includes a base pipe defining one or more flow ports and an interior, at least one AICD arranged on the base pipe and having at least one fluid inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with one of the one or more flow ports, and a plug configured to be arranged in at least one of the at least one fluid inlet and the outlet of the at least one AICD by a well operator on-site.

Internal adjustments to autonomous inflow control devices

A surgical device for applying a plurality of surgical staples is provided. The device includes a staple fastening assembly attached to a surgical instrument. The staple fastening assembly includes a pair of cooperating jaws, a jaw operating mechanism, and a gap sensor. A staple magazine having a plurality of staples and an anvil member having a plurality of staple pockets are attached to the jaws. The staple magazine includes a staple crimping cam and a staple dimpling cam that are operatively coupled to the surgical instrument. The jaw operating mechanism is operatively connected to a drive assembly in the surgical instrument for moving the jaws for automatically setting a tissue gap between the cooperating jaws. The gap sensor cooperates with the jaw operating mechanism for controlling staple formation.

Apparatus for forming variable height surgical fasteners

In accordance with the present disclosure a cartridge for use with a surgical stapler is disclosed. The cartridge has a plurality of individual directionally biased surgical staples therein and associated pushers for ejecting the staples from the cartridge, each of the staples being supported within the cartridge in spaced relation from adjacent staples and each of the staples comprising a backspan, and a pair of deformable legs depending from the backspan. The legs are configured to come into contact with anvil pockets for formation of the staple. Each of the staples has a substantially uniform cross-section along substantially the entire length of each leg, the cross-section includes a shape that is selected from the group consisting of a trapezoid, a triangle and a semicircle.

Directionally biased staple and method of manufacturing

This invention relates to wellbore equipment utilized in conjunction with operations performed in subterranean wells and, in particular, sand control screen assemblies providing secondary flow capabilities. Once sand control screen assembly includes a base pipe having an exterior surface and defining one or more perforations therein, a screen jacket disposed about the exterior surface of the base pipe and having a primary screen axially adjacent a secondary screen, and at least one relief valve configured to open upon experiencing a predetermined fluid pressure, wherein, once opened, the at least one relief valve diverts fluid flow from the primary screen and provides the fluid flow to the secondary screen.

Wellbore screens and methods of use thereof

An anvil assembly having a tissue contact surface and a plurality of staple pockets formed in the tissue contact surface. Each of the plurality of staple pockets including first and second staple forming cups, each of the first and second staple forming cups having an outside portion and an inside portion, the inside portion of the first and second staple forming cups being positioned in close relation to each other and the outside portion of the first and second staple forming cups being positioned in spaced relation to each other. Each of the first and second staple forming cups being defined by sidewalls and an elongated base surface, wherein upper portions of the sidewalls intersect the tissue contact surface at a line of intersection, and wherein the line of intersection is curved along a majority of its length between the outside portion and the inside portion of each of the staple forming cups.

Directionally biased staple and anvil assembly

An anvil assembly for use with a surgical stapler having a tissue contact surface and a plurality of staple pockets formed in the tissue contact surface. Each of the plurality of staple pockets including first and second staple forming cups, each of the first and second staple forming cups having an outside portion and an inside portion, the inside portion of the first and second staple forming cups being positioned in close relation to each other and the outside portion of the first and second staple forming cups being positioned in spaced relation to each other. Each of the first and second staple forming cups being defined by sidewalls and an elongated base surface, wherein upper portions of the sidewalls intersect the tissue contact surface at a line of intersection, and wherein the line of intersection is curved along a majority of its length between the outside portion and the inside portion of each of the staple forming cups.

In accordance with the present disclosure a directionally biased staple is provided for use in all types of surgical staplers having anvil structure against which the staple is formed. The directionally biased staple may be constructed in a wide variety of cross-sectional configurations including rectangular, elliptical, trapezoidal, etc. All of the configurations are distinguished by having a bending region requiring more force to twist or malform the staple than is required to properly form the staple. Preferably, these staples have Moment of Inertia Ratios on the order of between about 1.1 to about 3.0. The staple preferably corresponds in other respects to conventional formed staples, i.e. having at least a pair of leg members interconnected by a crown portion wherein the leg members are formed by direct contact with the anvil. An anvil assembly is also provided for minimizing the malformation of staples.

Directionally biased staple and anvil assembly for forming the staple

A surgical needle includes an elongated needle body defining a longitudinal y-axis along which the needle body extends and transverse x and z-axes. The needle body includes a central shaft portion, a first suture end portion for attachment to a suture and a second needled end portion for penetrating tissue. The needled end portion has three sides which intersect to define three cutting edges and terminate at a needle point. At least one side includes a pair of planar surface portions arranged in oblique relation to define a general concave appearance to the one side. The needled end portion further defines an enlarged transition portion adjacent the central shaft portion with at least an x-dimension greater than a corresponding x-dimension of the central shaft portion.

Surgical cobra head suture needle

A surgical needle includes an elongated needle body defining a longitudinal axis, and having a main shaft, a needle end adjacent the main shaft, and a needle tip extending from the needle end and having an extreme needle point. The needle end includes a plurality of concave surfaces extending from the needle tip to the main shaft. The needle tip includes a plurality of concave surfaces extending from the needle point to intersect the concave surfaces of the needle end. The concave surfaces of the needle end are obliquely arranged relative to the longitudinal axis at a first angle. The concave surfaces of the needle tip are obliquely arranged relative to the longitudinal axis at a second angle greater than the first angle. The elongated needle body includes cutting edges disposed along lines of intersection of the concave surfaces of the needle end with the concave surfaces of the needle tip. The needle end includes four intersecting concave surfaces and defines a generally diamond-shape in cross-section along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. The needle end defines a maximum cross-sectional dimension greater than a corresponding maximum cross-sectional dimension of the main shaft. The needle tip may include four intersecting concave surfaces and define a general diamond shape cross-section.

Sharpoint needle

A surgical needle is disclosed and includes an elongated needle body defining a longitudinal axis The surgical needle has a first end for attachment to a suture and a second needled end for penetrating tissue. The needled end includes lower and upper opposed surfaces and a pair of side surfaces extending between the lower and upper surfaces and being contiguous therewith. The upper surface and side surfaces extend to a pointed tip. The lower surface extends to a cutting edge, which is defined at the intersection of the side surfaces and proximal of the pointed tip. The cutting edge extends in oblique relation relative to the longitudinal axis and terminates at the pointed tip.

Surgical suture needle

A linear surgical needle is provided having a body portion including a proximal end section; a central section; and a distal end section. The distal end section has a substantially parabolic configuration for producing a substantially uniform stress profile along a length thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Cheshire, CT, United States of America

Scott Cunningham