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:
Jan. 15, 2013
Filed:
Nov. 19, 2009
Chester O. Baxter, Iii, Loveland, OH (US);
John V. Hunt, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Danius P. Silkaitis, Mason, OH (US);
Jeffrey P. Wiley, Milford, OH (US);
Paul T. Franer, Cincinnati, OH (US);
John B. Schulte, West Chester, OH (US);
Daniel J. Abbott, Loveland, OH (US);
Chester O. Baxter, III, Loveland, OH (US);
John V. Hunt, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Danius P. Silkaitis, Mason, OH (US);
Jeffrey P. Wiley, Milford, OH (US);
Paul T. Franer, Cincinnati, OH (US);
John B. Schulte, West Chester, OH (US);
Daniel J. Abbott, Loveland, OH (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
Introducers for introducing a surgical circular stapler into a patient. Various embodiments comprise a hollow flexible sheath that has a distal end and an open proximal end that is sized to receive a stapling head portion of the circular stapler therein. A rigid cap assembly may be attached to the distal end of the hollow flexible sheath The rigid cap assembly may be configured to selectively move between a closed position wherein a distal face of the stapling head is covered and an open position wherein the distal face of the stapling head is exposed. A portion of the rigid cap assembly has a shape that substantially matches a perimetrical shape of a portion of the stapling head to enable the rigid cap assembly to pass proximally over the stapling head when the introducer is withdrawn from the patient.