Explore the 5,777 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 03rd week of 2011, including 3,879 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.
Motor driven surgical fastener device with mechanisms for adjusting a tissue gap within the end effector
A surgical fastener apparatus having a handle, an elongated shaft having a proximal end attached to the handle and a distal end extending therefrom. An end effector including a pair of jaws pivoted at a proximal end thereof and movable between an open and closed position. A cartridge containing a plurality of surgical fasteners, the cartridge attached to the end effector. An electrically powered actuator for deploying the surgical fasteners, the actuator including a power source and a motor. Means for electrically adjusting the amount of spacing between the jaws when the end effector is in the closed position.
Published: 2011-01-20 Assignee: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC..
Surgical stapling instrument with improved firing trigger arrangement
A surgical stapling instrument including an actuator knob which can be moved from one side of the stapling instrument to another side in order to reposition the actuator knob without having to reposition the stapling instrument within a surgical site. A stapling instrument can include a pusher bar, a housing having a first side and a second side, and an actuator knob rotatably mounted to the pusher bar wherein the actuator knob can be configured to be rotated between a first position in which the actuator knob can be moved along the first side of the housing and a second position where the actuator knob can be moved along a second side of the housing. Alternatively, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise one or more actuator knobs which can be operably engaged and disengaged with a pusher bar in order to selectively utilize the actuator knobs.
Published: 2011-01-20 Assignee: NEW YORK UNIVERSITY.
ANASTOMOSIS DEVICE
The present invention is directed to a circular anastomosis surgical stapler and methods of use. The circular anastomosis surgical stapler includes an operator control assembly, a tubular shaft having a distal end that is associated with a head portion, and an actuating head portion. The actuating head portion includes a detachable anvil portion with an axially extending stem portion. The anvil portion is engagable with the remainder of the head portion, which receives an array of staples. The head portion also includes an associated stapling portion with a stapling mechanism for firing an array of staples against the anvil portion. The anvil portion and the head portion matingly engage along a mating edge. The mating edge is defined by locations around the stem portion spaced from a particular position on the axis of the stem portion at axially and/or radially varying distances.
Published: 2011-01-20 Assignee: Covidien LP.
Mechanical cycling of seal pressure coupled with energy for tissue fusion
An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue includes one or more elongated shafts having an end effector assembly attached at a distal end thereof that includes a pair of opposing jaw members movable by an actuator from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue. One or both jaw members are adapted to connect to an electrical energy source such that electrosurgical energy can be supplied to tissue disposed therebetween. A controller is coupled to the actuator for regulating a closing pressure between the jaw members and a sensor is configured to provide feedback to the controller regarding a seal pressure of tissue disposed between the jaw members.
Published: 2011-01-20 Assignee: ALCATEL LUCENT.
Methods and entities using IPSec ESP to support security functionality for UDP-based traffic
Methods in OMA SEC_CF for providing security services to traffic over UDP between a client and a server and the relevant entities are provided. A pre-shared key is pre-shared between the client and the server. A pair of IPSec ESP SAs between the client and the server is established without shared key negotiation, wherein traffic data cryptographic algorithms are determined. Traffic data security keys are derived from the pre-shared key via the determined traffic data cryptographic algorithms. Then, data of the traffic can be provided with security services with the traffic data security keys through use of IPSec ESP.
Published: 2011-01-20 Assignee: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC..
Rotating transducer mount for ultrasonic surgical instruments
In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a handpiece housing that operably supports an electrical contact assembly therein that is in electrical communication with a signal source. An acoustic assembly is supported within the handpiece housing in rotatable contact with the electrical contact assembly. In various embodiments, the signal source produces at least one of an ultrasonic signal and a radio frequency signal.
Published: 2011-01-20 Assignee: E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY DUPONT (UK) LIMITED, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company Dupont (UK) Limited.
Aluminum thick film composition(s), electrode(s), semiconductor device(s), and methods of making thereof
The present invention is directed to a thick film conductor composition comprised of (a) aluminum-containing powder; (b) one or more glass frit compositions; dispersed in (c) organic medium wherein at least one of said glass frit compositions has a softening point of less than 400° C.
Published: 2011-01-20 Assignee: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC..
Ultrasonic surgical instruments
In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to a surgical instrument that can supply mechanical energy and electrical energy to an end effector of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may be operated in a first operating mode in which a transducer of the surgical instrument produces mechanical energy, or vibrations, that are transmitted to the end effector and a second operating mode in which electrical energy, or current, can flow through the end effector to perform electrosurgery. In another general aspect, the surgical instrument may comprise a clamp, or jaw, which can be moved into a closed position to hold tissue against a waveguide, or blade, of the end effector. In the second operating mode of the surgical instrument, current can flow from a power source, through the waveguide, and return to the power source through a path comprising the jaw.
Published: 2011-01-20 Assignee: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC..
Impedance monitoring apparatus, system, and method for ultrasonic surgical instruments
In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to a surgical instrument that can supply mechanical energy and electrical energy to an end effector of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument comprises an ultrasonic generator module coupled to an ultrasonic drive system, which comprises an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a waveguide and an end effector coupled to the waveguide. The ultrasonic drive system is configured to resonate mechanically at a resonant frequency to generate a first ultrasonic drive signal. An electronic circuit is coupled to the ultrasonic generator module to monitor an electrical characteristic of the ultrasonic drive system. A processor is coupled to the electronic circuit to control the ultrasonic drive signal in response to the monitored electrical characteristic of the ultrasonic drive system.
Published: 2011-01-20 Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation.
Transapical delivery system for heart valves
A delivery system for delivering a prosthetic heart valve to the aortic valve annulus. The system includes a delivery catheter having a steering mechanism thereon for delivering a balloon-expandable prosthetic heart valve to the aortic annulus in an antegrade fashion through an introducer passing into the left ventricle through its apex. The introducer may have a more floppy distal section than a proximal section to reduce trauma to the heart wall. The delivery catheter includes a deflecting segment just proximal to a distal balloon to facilitate positioning of the prosthetic heart valve in the proper orientation within the annulus. A trigger in a catheter handle may be coupled to a deflection wire that actuates the deflecting segment, while a slider in the handle controls retraction of a valve pusher. A pre-dilation valvuloplasty procedure may also be utilized.