Staple buttress retention system

A surgical stapling instrument is provided having systems for securing buttress material to the anvil and staple containing cartridge associated with the surgical instrument. The system includes a retainer configured to engage the anvil or the staple containing cartridge and capture the buttress material between the retainer and the anvil or staple containing cartridge. The disclose retainer engages the anvil or staple containing cartridge in snap fit or friction fit fashion. The buttress material includes a circumferential perforation line enabling the center of the buttress material to be stapled to tissue while the remainder of the buttress material remains with the anvil or staple containing cartridge.

Adaptor for anvil delivery

An adaptor includes a body having a first end and a second end. The first end is configured to be releaseably secured to an anvil shaft of an anvil assembly. The second end is configured to be securely received within a flexible tube to releaseably secure the anvil assembly to the flexible tube. The adaptor and flexible tube assembly facilitates placement of the anvil assembly within the stomach during the performance a minimally invasive gastric bypass procedure.

Locking shipping wedge

A locking shipping wedge is provided and generally includes a body portion having an elongate transverse member projecting from the body portion which is engageable with a drive assembly of a loading unit. A locking mechanism is provided on the body portion of the shipping wedge which is engageable with locking structure movably mounted within the loading unit.

Surgical Stapler with Direct Sled to Staple Contact

An exemplary surgical stapler may include a staple holder, staples positioned within the staple holder, and at least one structure slidable within the staple holder to contact directly at least one staple, where that direct contact deploys at least one staple from the staple holder. Another exemplary surgical stapler may include a staple holder, an anvil movably connected to the staple holder, staples positioned within the staple holder; and a sled slidable within the staple holder to contact directly at least one staple, where that direct contact urges at least one staple out of the staple holder and against the anvil.

Jaw roll joint

A surgical instrument includes a handle, and an elongated shaft extending from the handle. An end effector extending from the elongated shaft is in communication with a source of electrosurgical energy and defines an end effector axis. A roll joint couples the end effector to the elongated shaft and includes a first tubular structure extending distally from the elongated shaft and a second tubular structure rotatably coupled to the first tubular structure. The second tubular structure supports the end effector such that the end effector is rotatable about the end effector axis. A cable wrap volume may be disposed within one of the first and second tubular structures, and a conductor for supplying the end effector with electrosurgical energy is coiled about the end effector axis within the cable wrap volume such that rotation of the end effector about the end effector axis in a first direction unwinds the conductor.

Surgical stapler having cartridge with adjustable cam mechanism

A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising a cartridge section having a cartridge containing a plurality of fasteners and an anvil section having an anvil for receiving the fasteners when advanced from the cartridge. The cartridge and anvil sections clamp tissue therebetween. A cam member is slidable within the cartridge section to fire the fasteners, and is movable from a first position defining a first distance from the anvil to a second position defining a second different distance from the anvil. A cam adjusting member is operably associated with the cam member and moves the cam member from the first position to the second position in response to a thickness of tissue clamped between the anvil and cartridge sections.

Coaxial drive

A surgical instrument includes a handle and an elongated shaft that defines a longitudinal axis. An end effector extends from the elongated shaft and defines an end effector axis. The elongated shaft includes an articulating portion that both pivotally and rotationally movable with respect to the longitudinal axis. The end effector is rotationally movable with respect to the end effector axis. A drive mechanism includes at least one actuator disposed on the handle that is operable to move the end effector in at least three independent modes relative to the longitudinal axis or the end effector axis. The three modes include an articulation mode wherein the articulating portion of the elongated shaft pivots relative to the longitudinal axis, a shoulder roll mode wherein the articulating portion of the elongated shaft rotates about the longitudinal axis, and a wrist roll mode wherein the end effector rotates about the end effector axis.

Portable Power Supply Device

A portable power supply device comprises a stackable battery housing locating a plurality of batteries therein and an inverter housing locating an inverter therein which is arranged to convert the direct current from the batteries to an alternating current. The inverter housing is readily separable from the battery housing such that one or more battery housings can be readily interchangeable to provide a constant supply of power and to allow a variety of charging configurations of the batteries. First electrical connectors on the battery housing and second electrical connectors on the inverter housing automatically connect the inverter to the batteries upon stacking of the inverter housing on the battery housing. Furthermore charging terminals are mounted externally on the inverter housing for ready access to connect to a charging device in a convenient manner without requiring the housings to be opened or separated form one another.

Medical device comprising alignment systems for bringing two portions into alignment

The invention is a medical device comprising an insertion shaft having an articulation section located near its distal end. The medical device comprises one or more alignment systems to assist in bringing two portions of the insertion shaft that are located on opposite sides of the articulation section into alignment. The alignment systems are selected from the following: a) a mechanical system comprising one or more alignment pins or screws and two or more locking screws located in one of the portions and a corresponding number of funnels and receptacles into which the alignment pins and the locking screws can be inserted or advanced respectively located in the other of the portions; b) an ultrasound system comprising an ultrasound reflecting mirror having one or more steps located on one of the portions and a ultrasound transmitter/receiver located on the other of the portions; and c) an optical system comprising one or more light sources that emit light from one of the portions and an image sensor located on the other of the portions.

Semiconductor Device and Manufacturing Method Thereof

An object is to provide a semiconductor device of which a manufacturing process is not complicated and by which cost can be suppressed, by forming a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor film typified by zinc oxide, and a manufacturing method thereof. For the semiconductor device, a gate electrode is formed over a substrate; a gate insulating film is formed covering the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film is formed over the gate insulating film; and a first conductive film and a second conductive film are formed over the oxide semiconductor film. The oxide semiconductor film has at least a crystallized region in a channel region.