Explore the 6,664 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 45th week of 2017, including 5,046 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.
Stapling assembly
A stapling assembly configured to be operably attached to a surgical system comprises a carrier operably supporting a cartridge assembly therein and an anvil. The stapling assembly further comprises a housing removably attachable to the surgical system and an axial drive assembly. The stapling assembly further comprises a motor supported within the housing, wherein the motor is operable to selectively transmit a rotary motion to the axial drive assembly. The motor can only transmit the rotary motion to the axial drive assembly when the housing is coupled to the surgical system and a power source is selectively coupled with the motor.
Published: 2017-11-09 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
Surgical instrument system including replaceable end effectors
A surgical instrument system that includes a housing and a rotatable drive shaft, a motor operably coupled to the drive shaft, and a plurality of replaceable end effectors that can be connected to the housing. Each replaceable end effector includes a drive screw that is turned a fixed number of revolutions by the motor-driven rotatable drive shaft when the end effector is connected to the housing. Each end effector further comprises a firing member operably coupled with the drive screw of the end effector. The drive screw is configured to displace the firing member over a firing length as a result of the fixed number of revolutions. In certain embodiments, each replaceable end effector can include a drive screw with a thread pitch set to the firing length divided by the fixed number of revolutions.
Published: 2017-11-09 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
Stapling assembly
A surgical stapling assembly comprises a housing, wherein the housing comprises an engagement member for removably coupling the housing to a surgical system. The surgical stapling assembly further comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The surgical stapling assembly further comprises a drive member and a motor positioned in the housing, wherein the motor is operable to selectively move the drive member. The surgical stapling assembly further comprises at least one electrical contact supported by the housing, wherein the at least one electrical contact is operable to supply power from a power source to the motor only when the housing is operably attached to the surgical system.
Published: 2017-11-09 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
Surgical stapling instrument having a medical substance dispenser
An end effector for use with a surgical instrument includes a plurality of staples, an agent reservoir comprising a medical agent, a dispensing passage configured to convey the medical agent from the agent reservoir to tissue, and a firing system which includes a cutting member, a movable member, and a firing member, wherein the firing system is configured to cooperatively move the movable member and the firing member to simultaneously fire the plurality of staples and dispense at least a portion of the medical agent near the cutting member owing to the advancement of the firing member.
Published: 2017-11-09
ROBOTICALLY-CONTROLLED END EFFECTOR
The present invention is directed to a surgical instrument with a robotics system, a memory device and an end effector having an elongate channel, knife position sensor(s) and a firing bar coupled to a knife. In response to drive motions initiated by the robotics system, the firing bar may translate within the elongate channel As the firing bar translates, the sensor(s) transmit a signal to the memory device. The position of the knife may be determined from the output signals and may be communicated to the robotics system or instrument user. The sensors may be Hall Effect sensors.
Published: 2017-11-09 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
Surgical cutting and fastening instrument with apparatus for determining cartridge and firing motion status
A fastener cartridge comprising a cartridge body, a plurality of fasteners, a longitudinal knife slot defined in the cartridge body, and a circuit comprising a plurality of sub-circuits extending across the longitudinal knife slot is disclosed. The longitudinal knife slot is configured to receive a tissue cutting knife. The plurality of sub-circuits comprises a first sub-circuit and a second sub-circuit. The circuit produces a first voltage in response to an applied current when the first sub-circuit and the second sub-circuit are intact. The circuit produces a second voltage in response to the applied current as the tissue cutting knife is advanced distally through the longitudinal knife slot. The first voltage is different than the second voltage.
Published: 2017-11-09 Assignee: Covidien LP.
Surgical stapling device with firing indicator
A surgical stapling device (10) having an indicator mechanism that is movable between first, second and third positions. The first position of the indicator (26) indicates to a clinician that the jaws of the surgical stapling device (10) have yet to be approximated. The second position of the indicator (26) indicates to a clinician that the jaws of the surgical stapling device (10) are approximated. The third position of the indicator (26) indicates to a clinician that the surgical stapling device (10) has been fired and is depleted of staples.
Published: 2017-11-09 Assignee: Covidien LP.
Powered end effector assembly with pivotable channel
A powered surgical stapling device includes an end effector having a stationary anvil and a cartridge assembly that is supported for pivotal movement in relation to the anvil. In embodiments, the end effector includes a housing that supports an input shaft, an anvil fixedly supported on the housing, and a cartridge assembly pivotally supported in relation to the housing and the anvil. The cartridge assembly includes a channel that is pivotally supported on the housing. A lead screw is positioned within the channel and supports an internally threaded dynamic clamping member. The lead screw is secured to the input shaft by a universal joint such that rotation of the input shaft effects rotation of the lead screw and longitudinal translation of the dynamic clamping member along the lead screw. The universal joint facilitates the translation of the rotatable movement of the input shaft into rotation of the lead screw while allowing pivotal movement of the lead screw in relation to the input shaft.
Published: 2017-11-09
DEVICE FOR USE IN HYSTEROSCOPY
A hysteroscopy device with an image capturing structure located at a distal end of an elongated member and communicating video signals with a monitor. The elongated member and the image capturing structure being dimensioned for insertion into the patient's uterus through cervix.
Published: 2017-11-09 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
Medical device with a bilateral jaw configuration for nerve stimulation
Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a single surgical instrument configured to grasp, seal, and/or cut tissue through application of therapeutic energy, and also detect nerves through application of non-therapeutic electrical energy. A medical device may include two jaws at an end effector, used to apply therapeutic energy and to perform surgical procedures. The therapeutic energy may be in the form of ultrasonic vibrations or higher voltage electrosurgical energy. One of the jaws may be configured to cut tissue through application of the blade. In addition, one or both of the two jaws may be configured to apply nontherapeutic energy for nerve stimulation probing. The application of therapeutic energy may be disabled while the nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy is applied, and vice versa. The nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy may be applied to the use of one or more probes positioned near one or both of the jaws.