Explore the 6,520 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 48th week of 2013, including 4,482 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.
Surgical instrument with firing actuator lockout
A surgical instrument system is disclosed. The surgical instrument system comprises an end effector movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration when a closing motion is applied to the end effector, a firing member configured to perform a staple firing stroke when a firing motion is applied to the firing member, and a handle comprising a closure actuator operable to generate the closing motion and a firing actuator. The surgical instrument system further comprises a motor configured to generate the firing motion, wherein the firing actuator is operable to operate the motor, a lockout configured to prevent the firing member from performing the staple firing stroke prior to the operation of the closure actuator, and a battery positioned in the handle.
Published: 2013-11-28 Assignee: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC., Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC.
Surgical instrument with automatically-returned firing member
A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a handle, a shaft comprising a proximal portion extending from the handle and a distal portion, and a firing member. The surgical instrument further comprises a motor, wherein the motor is configured to be operated in a first direction to advance the firing member toward the distal portion during a firing stroke, wherein the firing stroke comprises a firing stroke end, and wherein the motor is configured to be operated in a second direction to retract the firing member away from the distal portion. The surgical instrument further comprises a switch configured to detect when the firing member has reached the firing stroke end, wherein the motor is configured to be automatically operated in the second direction when the switch detects the firing stroke end.
Published: 2013-11-28 Assignee: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC., Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC.
Surgical stapling instrument having a medical substance dispenser
In various embodiments, a surgical system is disclosed. The surgical system comprises a medicament and a surgical instrument comprising a plurality of staples, a cavity configured to store the medicament, a delivery passage configured to convey the medicament from the cavity to tissue, and a firing system. The firing system comprises a movable member and a firing member, wherein the firing system is configured to cooperatively move the movable member and the firing member to concurrently fire the plurality of staples and deliver at least a portion of the medicament to the tissue owing to advancement of the firing member.
Published: 2013-11-28 Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership.
System, method, and apparatus for electronic patient care
A method implemented by an operative set of processor executable instructions configured for execution by a processor includes: determining if a monitoring client is connected to a base through a physical connection; establishing a first communications link between the monitoring client and the base through the physical connection; updating, if necessary, the interface program on the monitoring client and the base through the first communications link; establishing a second communications link between the monitoring client and the base using the first communications link; and communicating data from the base to the monitoring client using the second communications link.
Published: 2013-11-28 Assignee: Covidien LP.
Hand-held surgical devices
A surgical system is provided and includes an intelligent surgical device having a drive motor supported in the housing and being in electrical communication with the power source; and control circuitry. The control circuitry includes a feedback system for monitoring a condition of the surgical device during a use thereof and for changing an operative parameter of the surgical device when a change in the monitored condition occurs. The surgical system includes a non-intelligent loading unit for selective connection to the housing of the surgical device and which is actuatable by the drive motor, the loading unit having a first and a second condition. During operation, the drive motor actuates the loading unit from the first condition to the second condition; and when the loading unit achieves the second condition, a change in the at least one monitored condition occurs and an operative parameter of the surgical device is changed.
Published: 2013-11-28 Assignee: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC..
Surgical access device
Various devices are provided for allowing multiple surgical instruments to be inserted through a single surgical access device at variable angles of insertion, allowing for ease of manipulation within a patient's body while maintaining insufflation. Safety shields and release mechanisms are also provided for use with various surgical access devices.
Published: 2013-11-28 Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP, Covidien LP.
Surgical fastener applying apparatus including a knife guard
A surgical fastener applying apparatus includes a cartridge-receiving assembly and a cartridge assembly releasably engagable therewith. The cartridge assembly includes a housing and a knife assembly having a knife translatable from an initial position to a deployed position and a knife guard pivotable between a storage position, wherein the knife guard substantially encloses the knife member, and a use position, wherein the knife member is exposed for translation through the housing. The knife guard engages to the knife member such that translation of the knife member rotates the guard to the use position.
Published: 2013-11-28 Assignee: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP., OLYMPUS CORPORATION.
Multi-degree-of-freedom forceps
A multi-degree-of-freedom forceps includes a insertion portion that has a first bending portion and a second bending portion connected to each other at both ends via an operating member; a treatment portion that is attached to the first bending portion and is used for tissue treatment; and an operating portion that is attached to the second bending portion to bend the second bending portion to thereby bend the first bending portion. The operating portion has a handle body capable of being swung relative to the insertion portion with the second bending portion as an operation center. The handle body has a grip portion that is gripped by a user in use. The grip portion is provided around the operation center or closer to the insertion portion side than the operation center.
Published: 2013-11-28 Assignee: ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS, INC..
Rental/car-share vehicle access and management system and method
A rental/car-share (RCS) vehicle access and management system and method, in some embodiments, utilizes barcodes, QR codes (or NFC/RFID), GPS, and a mobile app coupled with a wireless network to enable customers to bypass the reservation desk and pickup and drop off reserved RCS vehicles using a mobile phone, tablet or laptop. The QR code, RFID, or NFC communication with the mobile application allows for identification of the vehicle by a mobile application, which, if authorized, can access the vehicle via a temporary access code issued by remote servers. The remote servers and/or mobile application communicates with a control module that plugs into the on-board diagnostics module of the rental/car-share (RCS) vehicle and includes a host processing unit with a processor, an accelerometer, data storage, a GPS with internal GPS antenna; a wireless modem with internal antenna, and CAN bus transceivers connected with the processor, and a USB programmable interface.
Published: 2013-11-28 Assignee: CERCACOR LABORATORIES, INC., MASIMO CORPORATION.
Contoured protrusion for improving spectroscopic measurement of blood constituents
A noninvasive physiological sensor for measuring one or more physiological parameters of a medical patient can include a bump interposed between a light source and a photodetector. The bump can be placed in contact with body tissue of a patient and thereby reduce a thickness of the body tissue. As a result, an optical pathlength between the light source and the photodetector can be reduced. In addition, the sensor can include a heat sink that can direct heat away from the light source. Moreover, the sensor can include shielding in the optical path between the light source and the photodetector. The shielding can reduce noise received by the photodetector.