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:
Dec. 14, 2010
Filed:
Mar. 30, 2006
Rudolph H. Nobis, Mason, OH (US);
Kurt Bally, Lebanon, OH (US);
Christopher Paul Swain, London, GB;
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
Various methods and devices are provided for penetrating tissue. In one embodiment, a tissue-penetrating device is provided and includes a flexible elongate shaft and a flexible elongate wire extending through the elongate shaft and having a needle tip at a distal end thereof for penetrating tissue. The needle tip can be conductive and the elongate wire can be adapted to couple to an energy source for delivering energy to the needle tip to facilitate penetration of the needle tip through tissue. The device can also include a protective sheath disposed over at least a portion of the elongate shaft and movable relative to the elongate shaft between a distal position and a proximal position. The protective sheath is configured to either protect the needle tip or electrically isolate the needle tip after the needle tip is penetrated through tissue, thereby preventing unintentional penetration of adjacent tissue.