The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 09, 2019
Filed:
Aug. 26, 2015
Ethicon Endo-surgery, Llc, Guaynabo, PR (US);
Christopher J. Hess, Blue Ash, OH (US);
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US);
Ryan A. Bledsoe, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Monica L. Zeckel, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Jeffrey L. Savage, West Chester, OH (US);
Ethicon LLC, Guaynabo, PR (US);
Abstract
Surgical devices and methods are described. The loading devices can include an elongate shaft extending distally from a housing and a hinge can be disposed between the elongate shaft and an articulating distal portion. The articulating distal portion can hold an end effector to be loaded onto a surgical device. The loading device can have features for stabilizing and holding the distal portion at a particular angular position relative to the elongate shaft, such as washers having protrusions that seat in corresponding recesses formed in the hinge. During articulation of the distal portion, an articulation rack can be advanced which can deform the protrusions on the washers. The washers can rotate and seat in the recesses at the next angular position and change the degree of articulation. The deformable washer and corresponding recesses can apply a biasing force that holds the articulating distal portion in a desired angled position.