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:
Oct. 27, 2015
Filed:
Jun. 09, 2011
James A. Woodard, Jr., Mason, OH (US);
Frederick E. Shelton, Iv, Hillsboro, OH (US);
Jason R. Lesko, Harrison, OH (US);
Chester O. Baxter, Iii, Loveland, OH (US);
James A. Woodard, Jr., Mason, OH (US);
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US);
Jason R. Lesko, Harrison, OH (US);
Chester O. Baxter, III, Loveland, OH (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus comprises a shaft, a needle throwing arm, and a needle receiving arm. The arms are movable asynchronously along planes that are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the shaft. The arms selectively engage a surgical needle, such that the throwing arm may pass the surgical needle through tissue for receipt by the receiving arm, and the receiving arm may then pass the surgical needle back to the throwing arm for additional stitching. The arms may pivot about a common pivot. Such versions may include a single actuator for both arms or separate actuators for the arms. The arms may also pivot about their own respective axles, which may facilitate a forward reset motion for a needle, allowing the needle to continue travelling along a circular path in a single direction to create several stitches. The apparatus may also convert reciprocating movement of actuators into rotational motion.