Patent Applications published on Jun 12, 2014

Explore the 7,778 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 24th week of 2014, including 5,386 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.

Featured patent applications from Jun 12, 2014

Published: 2014-06-12 Assignee: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC..
US20140163549A1
Human necessities
Application 20140163549, fig. 01

Surgical instrument with feedback at end effector

An apparatus for operating on tissue includes a body, a lip in communication with the body, and at least one electrode also in communication with the body. The body is able to mechanically couple with a portion of an end effector, which may be controlled by a user through a handpiece. The lip is configured to grip a portion of the end effector. The at least one electrode is configured to provide sufficient electrical energy to weld at least a portion of tissue. In some versions, a temperature sensitive material may be positioned on a portion of the end effector. Additionally, in some versions, the handpiece of the end effector may comprise feedback features able to convey information to the user.

Published: 2014-06-12 Assignee: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC..
US20140158747A1
Human necessities
Application 20140158747, fig. 01

SURGICAL STAPLER WITH VARYING STAPLE WIDTHS ALONG DIFFERENT CIRCUMFERENCES

An apparatus for stapling tissue includes a head assembly, a handle actuator in communication with the head assembly, and a staple cartridge. The head assembly is operable to drive a plurality of staples in response to actuating the handle actuator. The staple cartridge is in communication with the head assembly. The staple cartridge comprises a first annular ring of apertures and a second ring of apertures. The first annular ring of apertures includes apertures having a different size than the second annular ring of apertures, such that the apertures accommodate staples having different crown lengths. The staples may include pledgets that are configured to provide a greater staple footprint.

Published: 2014-06-12 Assignee: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC., Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC.
US20140158741A1
Human necessities
Application 20140158741, fig. 01

Electrosurgical end effector with tissue tacking features

An apparatus is provided for operating on tissue. The apparatus includes an end effector having an upper jaw and lower jaw. The upper and lower jaws each include an electrode surface. The apparatus also includes a tissue tacking cartridge coupled to one of either the upper jaw or the lower jaw. The tissue tacking cartridge includes at least one fastener positioned outside of the electrode surfaces. The fastener is operable to be deployed from the tissue tacking cartridge. A tack loading cartridge may also be operable to load the end effector with at least one fastener.

Published: 2014-06-12 Assignee: Covidien LP.
US20140158742A1
Human necessities
Application 20140158742, fig. 01

Buttress and surgical stapling apparatus

Multilayer structures including a porous layer and a non-porous layer are useful as buttresses when associated with a surgical stapling apparatus.

Published: 2014-06-12 Assignee: Covidien LP.
US20140158746A1
Human necessities
Application 20140158746, fig. 01

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: 2014-06-12 Assignee: Covidien LP.
US20140158745A1
Human necessities
Application 20140158745, fig. 01

Surgical instrument with safety mechanism

A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, a safety mechanism, an elongated body portion and a head portion is disclosed. The handle assembly includes a stationary handle, an approximation mechanism, and a firing trigger. A lever of the safety mechanism is movable between a first position where the firing trigger is prevented from being actuated, and a second position where the firing trigger is able to be actuated. A first jaw member of the head portion is movable in relation to a second jaw member of the head portion between spaced and approximated positions. Movement of the first jaw member in relation to the second jaw member from the approximated position towards the spaced position causes the lever of the safety mechanism to move from its second position to its first position.

Published: 2014-06-12
US20140162598A1
Electricity
Application 20140162598, fig. 01

Customer-controlled instant-response anti-fraud/anti-identity theft devices (with true-personal identity verification), method and systems for secured global applications in personal/business e-banking, e-commerce, e-medical/health insurance checker, e-education/research/invention, e-disaster advisor, e-immigration, e-airport/aircraft security, e-military/e-law enforcement, with or without NFC component and system, with cellular/satellite phone/internet/multi-media functions

All-in-one wireless mobile telecommunication devices, methods and systems providing greater customer-control, instant-response anti-fraud/anti-identity theft protections with instant alarm, messaging and secured true-personal identity verifications for numerous registered customers/users, with biometrics and PIN security, operating with manual, touch-screen and/or voice-controlled commands, achieving secured rapid personal/business e-banking, e-commerce, accurate transactional monetary control and management, having interactive audio-visual alarm/reminder preventing fraudulent usage of legitimate physical and/or virtual credit/debit cards, with checks anti-forgery means, curtailing medical/health/insurance frauds/identity thefts, having integrated cellular and/or satellite telephonic/internet and multi-media means, equipped with language translations, GPS navigation with transactions tagging, currency converters, with or without NFC components, minimizing potential airport risks/mishaps, providing instant aid against school bullying, kidnapping, car-napping and other crimes, applicable for secured military/immigration/law enforcements, providing guided warning/rescue during emergencies and disasters.

Published: 2014-06-12 Assignee: Covidien LP.
US20140158743A1
Human necessities
Application 20140158743, fig. 01

Surgical fastener applying apparatus with controlled beam deflection

A surgical fastener applying apparatus including an anvil half-section having a distal end and a longitudinal axis; a cartridge receiving half-section having a distal end and operatively couplable with the anvil half-section such that the distal ends of the half-sections are in juxtaposed relation; and a deflection control system operatively engaged with and reinforcing the distal end of the anvil half-section when a force is applied to the distal end of the anvil half-section in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

Published: 2014-06-12 Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
US20140161841A1
Human necessities
Application 20140161841, fig. 02

Hybrid tissue scaffold for tissue engineering

A hybrid tissue scaffold is provided which comprises a porous primary scaffold having a plurality of pores and a porous secondary scaffold having a plurality of pores, wherein the secondary scaffold resides in the pores of the primary scaffold to provide a hybrid scaffold. The pores of the porous primary scaffold may have a pore size in a range of 0.50 mm to 5.0 mm, and the pores of the porous secondary scaffold may have a pore size in a range of 50 μm to 600 μm. The primary scaffold may provide 5% to 30% of a volume of the hybrid scaffold.

Published: 2014-06-12
US20140163664A1
Human necessities
Application 20140163664, fig. 01

Integrated system for the ballistic and nonballistic infixion and retrieval of implants with or without drug targeting

Described are coordinated apparatus and methods for drug targeting, clearing the lumen, placing implants within the wall of, and stenting, as necessary, any tubular anatomical structure with single luminal entry. Miniature balls, or miniballs, are introduced into the wall aeroballistically from within the lumen, or small arcuate bands called stays inserted through the outer tunic by means of a hand tool. When miniballs must be placed too closely together to be controlled by hand, a positional control system assists in discharge. Implantation within or proximal to diseased tissue targeting, and thus concentrating the medication in that tissue, miniballs and stays can be used to deliver and controllably release multiple drugs, a radionuclide, or an open or closed loop smart-pill, for example. A glossary of terms follows the specification. Balance of abstract appended to paragraph [0004].