Explore the 6,538 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 44th week of 2012, including 4,517 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.
Circular stapler and staple line reinforcement material
A surgical stapling instrument comprises a staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of rows of staple receiving slots, an anvil assembly having an anvil member defining a plurality of rows of staple forming recesses, the staple cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly, or both, having one or more attachment members; and a staple line reinforcement material attached to the attachment members by ultrasonic welding. The staple line reinforcement material can be attached to an anvil assembly utilizing a retainer.
Published: 2012-11-01 Assignee: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC..
Surgical stapling instrument having a medical substance dispenser
In various embodiments, an assembly of a surgical instrument is disclosed. The assembly includes a housing, a cutting member relatively movable with respect to the housing, and an agent cartridge connected to the housing. The agent cartridge houses a medical agent. The assembly is configured to deliver the medical agent proximate a cutting surface of the cutting member.
Published: 2012-11-01 Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP, Covidien LP.
Surgical instrument having a plastic surface
A surgical instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, a movable handle, a tool assembly, a drive beam and a closure apparatus is disclosed. At least one of the closure apparatus and a contact surface of the tool assembly include a plastic surface. The body portion extends distally from the handle portion. The movable handle is located on the handle portion and is in mechanical cooperation with a drive member. The tool assembly includes an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a contact surface. The drive beam includes a proximal engagement portion and is configured to engage a portion of the drive member. The closure apparatus is configured to engage the contact surface of the tool assembly. At least a partial actuation of the movable handle moves the closure apparatus distally into engagement with the contact surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly.
Published: 2012-11-01 Assignee: Covidien LP.
Powered surgical instrument
A surgical instrument including a housing, an endoscopic portion, a shaft portion and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The shaft portion is selectively connectable to a distal end of the endoscopic portion. The end effector is selectively connectable to a distal end of the shaft portion.
Published: 2012-11-01 Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD..
System and methods for converting planar design to FinFET design
A method for generating a layout for a device having FinFETs from a first layout for a device having planar transistors is disclosed. The planar layout is analyzed and corresponding FinFET structures are generated in a matching fashion. The resulting FinFET structures are then optimized. Dummy patterns and a new metal layer may be generated before the FinFET layout is verified and outputted.
Published: 2012-11-01 Assignee: Covidien LP.
Surgical stapling device with captive anvil
A device for clamping tissue includes a first jaw having a distal portion for communicating with tissue and a proximal portion having a first wing and a second wing. The device also includes a second jaw having a distal portion for communicating with tissue and a proximal portion having a first slot and a second slot, the first slot disposed between a middle structure and a first lateral structure, the second slot disposed between the middle structure and a second lateral structure. The first jaw is rotatably coupleable to the second jaw with the first wing extending into the first slot and the second wing extending into the second slot.
Published: 2012-11-01 Assignee: Empire IP LLC, Ayalogic, Inc..
System and method for instant VoIP messaging
Methods, systems and programs for instant voice messaging over a packet-switched network are provided. A method for instant voice messaging may comprise receiving an instant voice message having one or more recipients, delivering the instant voice message to the one or more recipients over a packet-switched network, temporarily storing the instant voice message if a recipient is unavailable; and delivering the stored instant voice message to the recipient once the recipient becomes available.
Published: 2012-11-01 Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY.
Dexterous surgical manipulator and method of use
A surgical manipulator includes an internal working end having an internal joint, and an external control interface linked to the internal working end for controlling the internal working end. The external control interface includes at least one lever defining a grip volume for a surgeon's hand when gripping and operating the at least one lever, and an external joint linked to the internal joint for controlling the internal joint. The external joint is positioned substantially within the grip volume.
Published: 2012-11-01 Assignee: ZOLL CIRCULATION, INC., Zoll Circulation, Inc..
System and method for tracking and archiving battery performance data
An intelligent rechargeable battery pack having a battery management system for monitoring and controlling the charging and discharging of the battery pack is described. The battery management system includes a memory for storing data related to the operation of the battery, and the battery management system is also configured to communicate the data related to the operation of the battery to other processors for analysis.
Published: 2012-11-01 Assignee: ZOLL CIRCULATION, INC., Zoll Circulation, Inc..
Viral distribution of battery management parameters
A carrier, such as a battery, that queries a memory of a charger or charging circuit, or the memory of equipment or discharging circuit powered by the battery, to determine the relative date or version of data, operating parameters and/or software on both the battery and the equipment, and either provides updated data, operating parameters and/or software to the equipment, or retrieves later dated data, operating parameters and/or software from the equipment to update the memory of the battery and/or further distribute the updated data, operating parameters and/or software to other batteries or equipment.