Explore the 8,694 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 18th week of 2017, including 6,681 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.
Surgical stapler buttress assembly with features to interact with movable end effector components
A staple cartridge includes a plurality of staples and a deck defining a plurality of openings. Each opening of the plurality of openings is associated with a corresponding staple of the plurality of staples, such that each staple is configured to pass through a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings. The deck further includes a first mechanical coupling feature and a buttress assembly. The buttress assembly includes a buttress body and a second mechanical coupling feature. The second mechanical coupling feature is configured to engage the first mechanical coupling feature to releasably couple the buttress body to the deck.
Published: 2017-05-04 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
Fastener cartridges for applying expandable fastener lines
A staple cartridge is disclosed including a cartridge body including a longitudinal slot. A plurality of staple cavities are arranged in a plurality of rows. The plurality of rows includes a first row, a second row, and a third row positioned on a first side of the longitudinal slot. The first row includes a first staple obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal slot and is configured to rotate a first amount when stapled into tissue. The second row includes a second staple obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal slot and is configured to rotate a second amount when stapled into tissue. The third row includes a third staple obliquely-oriented relative to said longitudinal slot and is configured to rotate a third amount when stapled into tissue. The third amount is different than the first amount.
Published: 2017-05-04 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
Extensible buttress assembly for surgical stapler
A stretchable buttress assembly includes a planar fabric layer and a biocompatible adhesive layer. The planar fabric layer is configured to stretch along a stretch axis. The planar fabric layer includes extensible fibers and non-extensible fibers. The extensible fibers are arranged in a repeatable pattern. The extensible fibers are oriented along respective paths that are each parallel to the stretch axis. The non-extensible fibers are arranged in a repeatable pattern and engaged with the extensible fibers. The adhesive layer is applied to the planar fabric and is configured to removably adhere the planar fabric layer to an end effector of a surgical stapler.
Published: 2017-05-04 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
Fluid penetrable buttress assembly for a surgical stapler
An apparatus includes an end effector, a cartridge, and a buttress assembly. The end effector includes an anvil and a lower jaw. The anvil is configured to move toward and away from the lower jaw. The lower jaw is configured to receive the cartridge. The cartridge includes a housing, staples disposed in the housing, and a deck disposed over the staples. The buttress assembly is configured to be attached to either the anvil or the cartridge. The buttress assembly includes an adhesive layer, a film layer, and a buttress body. The adhesive layer is configured to adhere to either the anvil or the deck of the cartridge. The adhesive layer is attached to a first side of the film layer. The buttress body is attached to a second side of the film layer such that the film layer is interposed between the adhesive layer and the buttress body.
Published: 2017-05-04 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
Multi-layer surgical stapler buttress assembly
A surgical stapler end effector assembly includes a staple cartridge, an end effector, and a buttress assembly. The cartridge included a plurality of staples and a deck. The cartridge is operable to drive the staples through the deck. The anvil includes an underside having a staple forming surface configured to receive staples driven through the deck. The buttress assembly is sized and configured to be coupled with the deck of the staple cartridge or the underside of the anvil. The buttress assembly includes a buttress body, a first adhesive layer, and a second adhesive layer. The first and second adhesive layers are formed of different materials. The first adhesive layer is laid over the buttress body. The second adhesive layer is laid over the first adhesive layer such that the first adhesive layer is interposed between the second adhesive layer and the buttress body.
Published: 2017-05-04 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
Surgical stapler buttress assembly with gel adhesive retainer
An apparatus includes a buttress body, an adhesive material, and a containment sheet. The buttress body is sized to fit on an anvil or a staple cartridge deck of a surgical stapler. The adhesive material is disposed on the buttress body. The adhesive material is configured to flow across the buttress body in response to a temperature exceeding a melting temperature. The containment sheet is disposed on the adhesive material. The containment sheet is secured relative to the buttress body such that the containment sheet is configured to contain the adhesive material on the buttress body.
Published: 2017-05-04 Assignee: Covidien LP.
Surgical stapling device with triple leg staples
A surgical stapling device is described having a tool assembly including an anvil assembly and a staple cartridge having a series of tri-staples which are supported and configured to be rotatably ejected from the staple cartridge into the anvil assembly to suture tissue. The manner in which the staples are supported and ejected from within the staple cartridge facilitates the use of a tool assembly of reduced diameter that includes staples capable of suturing thicker tissues than would normally be associated with tool assemblies with such a reduced diameter. A tri-staple is also described that can be ejected from the surgical stapling device. In embodiments, the tri-staple includes three legs of different lengths. Each of the legs is configured to provide a different degree of compression when applied to tissue. In addition, each of the staple legs has a D-shaped configuration when deformed.
Published: 2017-05-04 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
Surgical stapler buttress applicator with data communication
A buttress applier cartridge includes a housing, a platform, a buttress assembly, and a data communication feature. The housing defines a gap that is configured to receive a portion of an end effector of a surgical stapler. A portion of the platform is exposed in the gap defined by the housing. The buttress assembly is positioned on the platform. The buttress assembly is exposed in the gap defined by the housing. The data communication feature is configured to provide communication of data relating to the cartridge. The data communication feature may communicate with a complementary data communication feature of the surgical stapler.
Published: 2017-05-04 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
Surgical stapler buttress assembly with adhesion to wet end effector
A buttress assembly is configured to temporarily adhere to a wet surgical stapler end effector. The buttress assembly includes a buttress body and a humidity tolerant adhesive material. The humidity tolerant adhesive material is applied to at least one side of the buttress body. The humidity tolerant adhesive material is configured to hold the buttress body to an underside of an anvil or a deck of a staple cartridge for at least five minutes in an environment of 100% relative humidity at approximately 37° C.
Published: 2017-05-04 Assignee: Zoox, Inc..
Calibration for autonomous vehicle operation
Various embodiments relate generally to autonomous vehicles and associated mechanical, electrical and electronic hardware, computer software and systems, and wired and wireless network communications to provide an autonomous vehicle fleet as a service. In particular, a method may include receiving data associated with a sensor measurement of a perceived object, determining a label associated with the perceived object based on an initial calibration, retrieving log file data associated with the label, determining a calibration parameter associated with the sensor measurement based on the retrieved log file data, and storing the calibration parameter in association with a sensor associated with the sensor measurement. Sensors may be calibrated on the fly while the autonomous vehicle is in operation using one or more other sensors and/or fused data from multiple types of sensors.