Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Rimas T. Lukas
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Patent number: 8308746Abstract: The invention relates to a tissue morcellator for minimally invasive surgery. The morcellator has a metallic cutting ring mounted on a visually transparent hollow cylinder, which in combination with a visually transparent outer morcellator tube enables a surgeon to visualize the inside of the morcellator shaft for detection of loose tissue fragments in the device. A tenaculum used with the morcellation device has a spacer for preventing contact with the blade. The cutting tube can oscillate, rather than rotate, along the longitudinal axis of the cutting tube. The morcellator utilizes an extendable tissue guide on the outer tube of the morcellator shaft for preventing the tissue from rotating along the longitudinal axis of the morcellator tube. This allows the tissue to be continuously rotated into the morcellator device for continuous peel. The tissue guide can also be fully retracted to allow for coring of the bulk tissue.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2008Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Applied Medical Resources CorporationInventors: Boun Pravong, Kennii Pravongviengkham, Matthew M. Becerra, Matthew A. Wixey, Haruyasu Yawata, Gary M. Johnson, Zoran Falkenstein, John R. Brustad, Charles C. Hart
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Patent number: 8308710Abstract: A high-flow low-pressure irrigation system for directing a fluid to and recovering the fluid from an area within a body, the irrigation system comprising a sheath defining a sheath lumen and a flexible catheter disposed in and through the sheath lumen. The catheter defines a catheter lumen and comprises a plurality of apertures at a distal portion that curls in a pigtail configuration. The fluid is directed and outputted to the body area through the catheter lumen and the apertures, and the outputted fluid is recovered and returned through the sheath lumen.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2002Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Applied Medical Resources CorporationInventors: Jaime Landman, Ralph V. Clayman, Richard C Ewers
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Patent number: 8282622Abstract: A ureteral access sheath adapted for insertion into a urethra includes an elongate tube extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A handle assembly is disposed at the proximal end and includes enlarged portions which inhibit migration of the sheath into the urethra. The enlarged portions are shaped like the bell of a horn with a concave, distally-facing outer surface and a convex, proximally-facing inner surface. The inner surface functions as a funnel while the outer surface is sized and configured to receive adjacent fingers of a user's hand held in its natural position. In an associated method, this shape of the handle assembly facilitates maintaining the sheath in a stationary position during insertion and removal of instrumentation. The handle assembly can be movable on the tube to facilitate variation of the sheath link in situ.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2007Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Applied Medical Resources CorporationInventors: Gary R. Dulak, Ralph V. Clayman
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Patent number: 8267952Abstract: The invention is directed to a bladeless trocar and obturator combination configured to separate body tissue. In one aspect, the obturator of the invention includes a rigid shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a closed, tapered distal end. The bladeless, closed and tapered tip is adapted to penetrate tissue. The shaft is sized and configured to receive an optical instrument having a distal end to receive an image of the body tissue. The shaft includes an ledge on the inner surface to provide proper positioning of the distal end of the optical instrument. The tapered configuration facilitates separation of different layers of the body tissue and provides proper alignment of the tip between the layers.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2011Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Applied Medical Resources CorporationInventors: Henry Kahle, Arkadiusz A. Strokosz, Kimball B. McGinley, Scott V. Taylor, Gary M. Johnson, John R. Brustad
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Patent number: 8152828Abstract: A surgical obturator is disclosed comprising an elongate shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end, and a bladeless tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft. The bladeless tip has a conical surface forming proximally into an outer surface, the outer surface extending distally to a blunt point and having a pair of side sections. The side sections extend from the blunt point radially outwardly with progressive positions proximally along the axis. The conical surface facilitates insertion of the obturator with a reduced penetration force and minimizes tenting of the body wall. The conical surface further facilitates separation of different layers of the body wall and provides proper alignment of the tip between the layers.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2010Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Applied Medical Resources CorporationInventors: Scott V Taylor, Matthew A Wixey
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Patent number: 8142467Abstract: A tamponade trocar includes an elongate balloon having a closed distal end and is adapted to expand from a small diameter to a large diameter. A cannula is positioned at a proximal portion within the balloon lumen. A rigid stylet is removably positioned within the balloon and cannula lumens. A distal end of the stylet supported balloon is inserted into a perforation in a body wall and advanced into a body cavity while the balloon is unexpanded. The balloon is expanded and the cannula is advanced to a distal portion of the balloon lumen and across the body wall. At this stage, the perforation is dilated and in compressive tamponade. The proximal portion of the balloon may be removed and a seal housing may be coupled to the proximal end of the cannula. The distal end of the balloon may be punctured and opened, making the trocar ready for use.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2008Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Applied Medical Resources CorporationInventors: Charles C. Hart, John R. Brustad
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Patent number: 8128590Abstract: An insufflating surgical instrument adapted for movement across an abdominal wall to insufflate an abdominal region of a patient is disclosed comprising a shaft having an insufflation channel adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure at the proximal end, a tip at the distal end of the shaft, and at least one vent hole formed at the tip or the shaft being in connection with the insufflation channel and being adapted to expel the fluid under pressure to insufflate the abdominal region. At least one of the tip and the shaft is translucent or transparent to facilitate visualization of the abdominal region. The shaft includes a lumen extending along the axis between the proximal end and the distal end to enable insertion of a laparoscope. The lumen and insufflation channel may be formed as separate channels or as one shared channel.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2010Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Applied Medical Resources CorporationInventors: Jeremy J. Albrecht, John R Brustad, Scott V Taylor, Gary M. Johnson, Nabil Hilal
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Patent number: 8075530Abstract: A surgical access device comprising an instrument access channel extending through an instrument seal and a shroud comprising an inverting region disposed distally of the instrument seal exhibits improved tear-resistance of the instrument seal from instrument manipulation, for example, instrument withdrawals. Some embodiments of the inverting region invert through the instrument seal on instrument withdrawal. Some embodiments of the inverting region induce at least a portion of the instrument seal itself to invert on instrument withdrawal.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2009Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Applied Medical Resources CorporationInventors: Scott V. Taylor, Kimball B. McGinley, Henry Kahle
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Patent number: 8028395Abstract: A method for forming a high flow insufflation needle stylet having distal, intermediate and proximal sections includes providing a flat sheet of metal and forming pilot holes in the sheet proximate opposed edges of the sheet. A profile of a flat pattern of the stylet is formed. The flat pattern has a proximal end, a distal end and a pair of substantially longitudinal edges. At least one support tab is positioned between the flat pattern and the sheet. The intermediate and the proximal sections of the stylet are progressively formed into a partial cylindrical shape with the proximal end being open and the longitudinal edges in the intermediate and proximal sections being positioned between about 90° and 180° apart. The distal section is progressively formed into a substantially cylindrical shape having a closed distal end. The stylet is trimmed from the sheet by cutting the at least one support tab.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2007Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Applied Medical Resources CorporationInventors: Scott V. Taylor, Paul Balschweit, Matthew A. Wixey
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Patent number: 7947058Abstract: The invention is directed to a bladeless trocar obturator to separate or divaricate body tissue during insertion through a body wall. In one aspect, the obturator of the invention comprises a shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end; and a bladeless tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft and having a generally tapered configuration with an outer surface, the outer surface extending distally to a blunt point with a pair of side sections having a common shape and being separated by at least one intermediate section, wherein each of the side sections extends from the blunt point radially outwardly with progressive positions proximally along the axis, and the shaft is sized and configured to receive an optical instrument having a distal end to receive an image of the body tissue. With this aspect, the tapered configuration facilitates separation of different layers of the body tissue and provides proper alignment of the tip between the layers.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2004Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Applied Medical Resources CorporationInventors: Henry Kahle, Arkadiusz A. Strokosz, Kimball B. McGinley, Scott V. Taylor, Gary M. Johnson, John R. Brustad
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Patent number: 6700653Abstract: Systems and methods for laser capture microdissection are disclosed. An inverted microscope includes an illumination/laser beam delivery system that is adapted to both illuminate a sample and provide energy for laser capture microdissection of the sample. The systems and methods provide the advantages of increased speed and much lower rates of contamination.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2002Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Arcturus Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Baer, Mark A. Enright, David F. Head, Christopher E. Todd
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Patent number: 6690470Abstract: Systems and methods for automated laser capture microdissection are disclosed. High throughput microdissection is provided by using cell procurement and multi-imaging tools for pre-selecting cells of interest. Novel methods of computer-controlled cap transfer along with automated multi-slide and multi-cap placements, automated slide and cap detection are provided. The systems and methods provide the advantages of increased speed and much lower rates of contamination.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2000Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Arcturus Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Baer, Norbert Hagen, Bruce J. Richardson, David R. Brewer, III, Lisa Reese
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Patent number: 6639657Abstract: Systems and methods for laser capture microdissection are disclosed. An inverted microscope includes a translation stage joystick subsystem. The systems and methods provide the advantages of increased speed and much lower rates of contamination.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1998Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Arcturus Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Baer, Mark A. Enright, David F. Head, Christopher E. Todd