Medtronic, Inc.

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Greatbatch Ltd.

Ams Research Corporation

Scanlan International, Inc.

Medtronics, Inc.

Enpath Medical, Inc.

Scott Eric Jahns

James R Keogh

David E Francischelli

Michael R S Hill

Christopher P Olig

Raymond W Usher

Jon M Ocel

Matthew David Bonner

Paul A Pignato

Cynthia T Clague

Karen Pilney Montpetit

Gary W Guenst

Katherine S Jolly

Thomas Daigle

Paul T Rothstein

Philip Jon Haarstad

David Lipson

Roderick E Briscoe

Douglas H Gubbin

Donald N Jensen

Gary A Rocheleau

Gregory J Henkel

Michael F Hoey

Rahul Mehra

Kent D Anderson

Paul V Trescony

Kenneth P Rundle

Daniel N Kelsch

Tom P Daigle

Richard H Comben

William G O'Neill

Michael A Colson

Roger Barraclough Fell

Alison Lutterman

Robert M Pearson

Glen Holmberg

James L Mellor

Dave S Erickson

Vincent A Fischer, Iii

Gregory P Werness

Michael R Ujhelyi

Victor T Chen

David E Euler

Stephen J Roddy

Prasanga D Hiniduma-Lokuge

Jean Elvira Daavettila

Nancy J Rakow

Gary S Oehme

Greg P Werness

Vincent A Fischer

Mark T Marshall

Eduardo N Warman

Jeffrey D Sandstrom

James R Skarda

Steven C Christian

Jack Goodman

Mark R Bilitz

Elisabeth Lacy Belden

Michael J Hobday

Daniel Charles Haeg

Asha Shrinivas Nayak

Bernard Frank Heller, Jr

Brian Ross

Dale A Wahlstrom

David J S Kim

Robert Reetz

Adam Podbelski

Eric Meyer

Shiva P Moosai

Adam A Podbeliski

Ana R Buhr

Russell Robert Paul

David Jin Sung Kim

Steve Christian

Justin A Harder

Michael Rs Hill

Jams R Keogh

A retractor in accordance with embodiments of the invention comprises a retractor element and a retractor arm releasably connectable to the retractor element. A first connector structure on the retractor arm includes a first end portion having a first edge, a first pin slot extending into the first end portion from the first edge, and a first lock well in the first pin slot. A second connector structure on the element includes an end portion having an aperture, the end portion configured to receive the first connector structure at a connected position with the aperture aligned with the first lock well of the first connector structure. The lock includes a first cam and is rotatable between a release position and a lock position. The cam is configured such that (1) when the lock is in the release position the end portion of the second connector structure can be moved to the connected position with respect to the first connector structure with the first cam passing through the first pin slot and into the first lock well of the first connector structure, and (2) when the lock is in the lock position the first cam engages the first end portion of the first connector structure to resist withdrawal of the first end portion of the first connector structure from the second connector structure.

Spinal retractor with releasable arms

A retractor in accordance with embodiments of the invention includes an adapter and an arm that can be releasably connected to the adapter. An end portion of the arm includes first and second legs and a lock well between the legs. The adapter includes a tubular channel having side walls configured to receive the end portion of the arm, and a lock having a cam in the channel that is rotatable between a release position and a lock position. The lock is configured such that (1) when the lock is in the release position the end portion of the arm can be inserted into the channel and removed from the channel with the cam passing to and from the lock well between the legs, and (2) when the lock is in the lock position the cam is in the lock well and engages the legs to urge the legs into engagement with the side walls of the channel.

Sternal retractor with releasable arms having cam locks

A dual poppet valve assembly for a pump assembly of an implantable penile prosthesis having a suction poppet engagable by a plurality of fingers allowing free travel of the poppet and to prevent vacuum lockup of the pump assembly. The suction poppet can also include an elongated shaft receivable within a corresponding bore of a cylinder poppet to prevent the suction poppet from becoming misaligned during the operation of the pump assembly.

Automated implantable penile prosthesis pump system

A device for temporarily sealing an opening in a blood vessel is provided. The device comprises a cutting mechanism for creating an opening in a blood vessel and a seal for sealing the opening in the blood vessel. The seal is delivered through an inner lumen of a tool body coupled to the cutting mechanism. Methods for using the device to construct an anastomosis between two vessels are also provided.

Vessel sealing devices

An ablation apparatus including a maneuvering mechanism, a conductive element attached to the apparatus, a sensor attached to the apparatus and an output device in communication with the sensor is provided. The sensor senses vibration during the ablation procedure and sends a signal to the output device to reduce power to the conductive element.

Vibration sensitive ablation device and method

An instrument including an elongated shaft and a non-conductive handle is disclosed. The shaft defines a proximal section and a distal section. The distal section forms an electrically conductive tip. Further, the shaft is adapted to be transitionable from a straight state to a first bent state. The shaft is capable of independently maintaining the distinct shapes associated with the straight state and the first bent state. The handle is rigidly coupled to the proximal section of the shaft. The instrument is useful for epicardial pacing and/or mapping of the heart for temporary pacing on a beating heart, for optimizing the placement of ventricular leads for the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure and ventricular dysynchrony and/or for use in surgical ablation procedures.

Cardiac mapping instrument with shapeable electrode

The invention provides a system and method for harvesting a vessel section. The system comprises a vessel support member, a handle, and a tubular cutting device. The vessel support member is introduced into the vessel section to be harvested. The tubular cutting device may comprise an outer tubular member or an outer and an inner tubular member. The outer tubular member carries at least one cutting element. The tubular member or members are advanced over the vessel section and vessel support member to core out the vessel section and tissue adjoining the vessel section.

Minimally invasive coring vein harvester

Methods and apparatus employed in surgery involving making precise incisions through body vessel walls, particularly coronary arteries. A body vessel cutting instrument comprises an elongated instrument shaft extending between a shaft proximal end adapted to be manipulated outside the patient's body and a shaft distal end and having a shaft axis and first and second cutting blades supported at the shaft distal end. The first cutting blade extends substantially orthogonally or laterally to the shaft axis and has a first cutting edge extending along a trailing side, a cutting tip at the first cutting blade free end, and an atraumatic blunt surface along the leading side. The second cutting blade has a second cutting edge extending along a leading side, whereby the first and second cutting edges face one another and are brought together to slit a vessel wall.

Methods and apparatus for making precise incisions in body vessels

Apparatus and methods for injecting biological agents into tissue. Devices are provided having elongate shafts and distal injection heads for transversely driving needles into tissue and injecting medical agents into the tissue through the needles. A longitudinal force directed along the shaft can be translated to a needle driving force transverse to the shaft. Some devices provide controllably variable needle penetration depth. Devices include mechanical needle drivers utilizing four link pantographs, rack and pinions, and drive yokes for driving a first needle bearing body toward a second tissue contacting body. Other devices include inflatable members for driving and retracting needles. Still other devices include magnets for biasing the needles in extended and/or retracted positions. The invention includes minimally invasive methods for epicardially injecting cardiocyte precursor cells into infarct myocardial tissue.

Devices and methods for interstitial injection of biologic agents into tissue

A system, method and apparatus for regulating vacuum applied to surgical suction devices allowing the use of a single vacuum regulator and associated canister to provide vacuum to two suction devices, such as a suction stabilizer and a suction retractor. Vacuum controllers may be placed in the vacuum lines provided to each of two or more suction devices, or may be placed only in the vacuum line of the suction device believed most likely to detach during the procedure. Each vacuum controller is provided with a primary vacuum line, coupling its associated suction device to the output of the vacuum regulator and a pilot passage, also coupling the suction device to the vacuum regulator. The controller closes a valve in the main vacuum line in response to loss of vacuum attachment, which valve remains closed until attachment is reestablished. Closure of the valve results in substantial or complete blockage of the main vacuum line. The pilot passage, which may be part of the valve or a separate vacuum line, serves to allow reestablishment of vacuum attachment while the valve is closed. The pilot passage is configured so that airflow through the pilot passage is low enough that the other suction device or devices coupled to the vacuum regulator can still maintain vacuum attachment.

System, method and apparatus for regulating vacuum supplied to surgical tools

Growing community of inventors

Hudson, WI, United States of America

Scott Eric Jahns