Explore the 6,919 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 51st week of 2012, including 4,806 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.
Tissue stapler having a thickness compensator incorporating an anti-inflammatory agent
A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler. The assembly has a cartridge body having a support portion with a plurality of staple cavities with openings. There is also a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each the staple is removably stored within a the staple cavity. Each the staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration. The assembly also includes a compressible tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured within the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers the staple cavity openings. The compressed tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator comprising a lyophilized foam having a anti-inflammatory agent embedded therein.
Published: 2012-12-20 Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC.
Tissue stapler having a thickness compensator comprising incorporating a hemostatic agent
A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler. The assembly has a cartridge body having a support portion with a plurality of staple cavities with openings. There is also a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each the staple is removably stored within the staple cavity. Each the staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration. The assembly also includes a compressible tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured within the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers the staple cavity openings. The compressed tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator comprising a lyophilized foam having a hemostatic agent embedded therein.
Published: 2012-12-20 Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP, Covidien LP.
Surgical stapler
A surgical device is described herein that can be used to fire different types and sizes of disposable loading units. In a preferred embodiment, the device applies parallel rows of surgical fasteners to body tissue and concomitantly forms an incision between the rows of staples during an endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedure. The device can be utilized with disposable loading units configured to apply linear rows of staples measuring from about 15 mm in length to about 60 mm in length and can be used to fire disposable loading units containing surgical clips and individual staples.
Published: 2012-12-20 Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC.
Tissue stapler having a thickness compensator incorporating an oxygen generating agent
A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler. The assembly has a cartridge body having a support portion with a plurality of staple cavities with openings. There is also a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each the staple is removably stored within a the staple cavity. Each the staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration. The assembly also includes a compressible tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured within the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers the staple cavity openings. The compressed tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator comprising a lyophilized foam having an oxygen generating agent embedded therein.
Published: 2012-12-20 Assignee: Covidien LP.
Quick connect assembly for use between surgical handle assembly and surgical accessories
A hand-held electromechanical surgical device is provided and configured to selectively connect with a surgical accessory. The surgical device includes a device housing defining a connecting portion for selectively receiving a coupling assembly of the surgical accessory. The connecting portion includes an annular wall defining a cylindrical recess dimensioned to receive the coupling assembly of the surgical accessory; a collar slidably supported about the annular wall, wherein the collar is slidable between a first position and a second position; and at least one socket member interposed between the annular wall and the collar, wherein each socket member is slidably supported in the annular wall. Each socket member includes a first fixed state wherein each socket member projects into the cylindrical recess of the annular wall; and a second movable state wherein each socket member is free to not project into the cylindrical recess of the annular wall.
Published: 2012-12-20 Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP, Covidien LP.
Surgical stapling apparatus
A surgical stapling apparatus is provided and includes a housing having an actuator; an elongated member extending from the housing; an end effector disposed on an end of the elongated member, the end effector having a first jaw and a second jaw, the first jaw having a staple cartridge and the second jaw having a plurality of staple forming recesses; the staple cartridge having at least a first segment and a second segment, the first segment and the second segment each having a tissue contacting surface and staple receiving slots defined in the tissue contacting surface, the first segment and the second segment being biased toward the second jaw and movable; a biasing members for each of the first segment and the second segment; and a pressure sensor for each of the first segment and the second segment.
Published: 2012-12-20 Assignee: ESTECH, INC. (ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.).
Left atrial appendage treatment systems and methods
Embodiments of the present invention encompass systems and methods to prevent complications from atrial fibrillation by preventing or reducing the likelihood of blood flow out of the left atrial appendage, to eliminate a possible source of aberrant electrical circuits, or both. Accordingly, techniques are provided for delivering ligature loops or closure means to the left atrial appendage, and to other anatomical structures of a patient which may be desirable in other surgical procedures.
Published: 2012-12-20 Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation.
Prosthetic apparatus for implantation at mitral valve
Embodiments of prosthetics configured for implanting in at the native mitral valve region of the heart include a main body that is radially compressible to a radially compressed state and self-expandable from the compressed state to a radially expanded state. The prosthetic apparatus also comprises at least one ventricular anchor coupled to the main body and disposed outside of the main body with a leaflet-receiving space between the anchor and an outer surface of the main body to receive a native valve leaflet. Methods and apparatus for delivering and implanting the prosthetic valve are also described.
Published: 2012-12-20 Assignee: MICROSOFT CORPORATION.
DISPLAYING NOTIFICATIONS BASED ON IMPORTANCE TO THE USER
Embodiments prioritize notifications relating to received communication items for display to a user of a computing device. For each received communication item, the computing device searches for related user data items such as calendar data, contacts, emails, and the like. Each of the user data items has a priority value. The computing device calculates a priority score for the notification based on the priority values associated with the related user data items. The notification is displayed among other notifications based on the calculated priority score relative to the priority scores of the other notifications. In some embodiments, the notifications include an ordered set of notifications displayed as tiles on a user interface of a mobile computing device.
Published: 2012-12-20 Assignee: Yahoo! Inc..
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCATION BASED SOCIAL NETWORK
A first request for a creation of a social networking space is received, over a network, from a first user. The first request comprises a geospatial location, a start time, and an end time. A social networking space is creating, using a computing device, based on the request. The social networking space comprises facilities for posting messages visible to users signed into the social networking space. A second request is received, over the network, from second user to sign into the social networking space. The second request is transmitted from a mobile device associated with the second user. It is verified, using the computing device, that a first current time falls between the start time and the end time. It is further verified, using the computing device, that a first current geospatial position of the mobile device is within the geospatial location. In response to verifying the first current time and the first current geospatial position, the second user is signed into the social networking space.