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:
Feb. 19, 2013
Filed:
Mar. 30, 2007
Jonathan A. Coe, Cincinnati, OH (US);
James W. Voegele, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Gary L. Long, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Andrew M. Zwolinski, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Kyle P. Moore, Mason, OH (US);
Robert P. Gill, Mason, OH (US);
Jonathan A. Coe, Cincinnati, OH (US);
James W. Voegele, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Gary L. Long, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Andrew M. Zwolinski, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Kyle P. Moore, Mason, OH (US);
Robert P. Gill, Mason, OH (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for performing various procedures using interchangeable end effectors. In general, the methods and devices allow a surgeon to remotely and selectively attach various interchangeable surgical end effectors to a shaft located within a patient's body, thus allowing the surgeon to perform various procedures without the need to remove the shaft from the patient's body. In an exemplary embodiment, multiple end effectors can be introduced into a body cavity. The end effectors can be disassociated or separate from one another such that they float within the body cavity. A distal end of a shaft can be positioned within the body cavity and it can be used to selectively engage one of the end effectors. In particular, the device can be configured to allow each end effector to be remotely attached and detached from the distal end of the shaft. For example, a surgeon can actuate an actuation mechanism on the proximal end of the shaft to mate one of the end effectors to the distal end of the shaft without assistance from other tools and devices. After use of the end effector, the end effector can be released and another end effector can be remotely attached to the distal end of the shaft.