Patents Assigned to Aesculap
  • Patent number: 8920460
    Abstract: In order to provide a surgical instrument which is particularly simple to manipulate and enables force to be transmitted particularly directly to at least two tool elements wherein the surgical instrument comprises said at least two tool elements which are movable relative to one another and are arranged at a distal end of a guide device of a surgical instrument, and also comprises a force transmission device for transferring an actuating force from a proximal end of the force transmission device to a distal end of the force transmission device for the purposes of moving at least one of the at least two tool elements relative to the guide device, it is proposed that the surgical instrument should comprise a coupling device for selectively coupling the force transmission device directly or indirectly to at least one of the at least two tool elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Tom Schweitzer, Rupert Mayenberger
  • Publication number: 20140371743
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument including a jaw part made up of mutually movable instrument legs which have facing sides on which one or more electrode areas are arranged/formed in each case, the movement of the instrument legs relative to each other being able to be limited by at least one first spacer acting on proximal end portions of the instrument legs and at least one second spacer acting on distal end portions of the instrument legs. At least one of the spacers on at least one electrode is manufactured from an electrically conductive material and is connected to the electrode in electroconductive fashion. Furthermore, the spacer cooperates with a local spacer abutment surface which is made of a non-conductive material and arranged in electrically insulating manner on at least one opposing electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Christoph Rothweiler, Eugen Herner, Christian Huber
  • Publication number: 20140358182
    Abstract: A polyaxial pedicle screw includes a threaded shaft portion for anchoring the pedicle screw in a vertebra, the pedicle screw having one axial end provided with a shaft head which is coupled to a mounting sleeve for a longitudinal beam in a rotatable and/or pivotable manner, including a fixing device for the selective positional fixation of the mounting sleeve with respect to the shaft portion. The fixing device includes a locking element as well as a counterforce part which is formed so as to be separate from the pedicle screw and counteracts the holding force of the locking element, preferably a grub screw or threaded nut, and is designed and/or retained in such a manner that the holding force of the locking element can be selectively released by means of the counterforce part, viz. is without any effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Aesculap AG
    Inventor: Andrea PUEKERT
  • Publication number: 20140350597
    Abstract: A surgical hand grip for a surgical tubular shaft instrument is provided. The hand grip includes a coupling device for coupling to a tubular shaft tool having a tubular shaft and a force transmission element movable back and forth relative thereto. The coupling device has a coupling element for coupling to the force transmission element and a connecting element for connecting to the tubular shaft. A gripping device is connected to the coupling element and is transferable from a non-actuating disposition into at least one actuating disposition and vice versa thereby changing the mutual relative spacing between the coupling element and the connecting element. The hand grip has a guiding device with a guiding body for guiding the coupling element during the transfer from the non-actuating position into the at least one actuating position along a grip axis independently of the disposition of the gripping device during the transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Christian Huber, Pedro Morales
  • Patent number: 8894666
    Abstract: In a surgical instrument for applying C-shaped ligating clips having two juxtaposed legs which are joined to each other by a bridge portion and are each divided by a longitudinal slot into two juxtaposed portions joined to each other at the free end of the legs, the surgical instrument comprising two juxtaposed clamping jaws with guiding surfaces facing each other for the legs of a ligating clip that lie against the guiding surfaces when the ligating clip is inserted between the clamping jaws, in order to improve the positioning of the ligating clip between the clamping jaws, it is proposed that there be arranged on at least one of the guiding surfaces of the clamping jaws an inwardly protruding projection which, when the ligating clip is advanced along the guiding surfaces, elastically enters the longitudinal slot of the ligating clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Peter Schulz, Pedro Morales, Dieter Weisshaupt
  • Patent number: 8888770
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with cauterizing and resecting tissue. A pair of electrodes are placed on opposed tissue surfaces, and radio frequency power is applied through the electrodes to cauterizing a tissue mass therebetween. After cauterization has been effected, the tissue may be resected along a plane within the cauterized region with minimum or no bleeding. The tissue mass may then be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Joseph Eder, Camran Nezhat, Benjamin Theodore Nordell, II
  • Publication number: 20140331818
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter describes a tubular shaft for a tubular shaft instrument having a hollow shaft component, an actuating rod arranged in the hollow shaft component and functional elements that are disposed at the distal ends of the shaft component and/or the actuating rod. The actuating rod is axially displaceable relative to the hollow shaft component to thereby move the distal segments of the functional elements toward one another, past one another and/or away from one another. The actuating rod has at least one area in which flexible segments and support segments alternate with one another and in which the actuating rod has a clearly lower bending resistance at least in one transverse direction than outside this at least one area. The hollow shaft component additionally has at least one area in which the wall of the shaft component features recesses and the shaft component has, at least in a transverse direction, a clearly lower bending resistance than that outside this at least one area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: AESCULAP AG
    Inventor: Bernhard KUPFERSCHMID
  • Publication number: 20140331812
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments describe a method for producing a bent tubular shaft for a tubular shaft instrument as well as a tubular shaft produced in such manner as well as a tubular shaft instrument with such a bent tubular shaft. The tubular shaft is produced by providing a hollow shaft component and an actuating rod. The actuating rod in this case has at least one bending area in which flexible segments and support segments alternate. The at least one bending area of the actuating rod is provided with a friction-reducing layer before it is inserted into the shaft component in order to create a tubular shaft. The tubular shaft is then bent in an area that corresponds to the at least one bending area of the actuating rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: AESCULAP AG
    Inventor: Bernhard KUPFERSCHMID
  • Patent number: 8870867
    Abstract: Embodiments of the technology provide an articulable electrosurgical instrument and methods of performing electrosurgery with an articulating capability. The electrosurgical instrument includes an elongated shaft having an end effector associated with a distal end thereof that is able to deliver energy to a target tissue site. An articulable joint is positioned between that shaft and the end effector. Articulation of the articulable joint is controlled by a stabilizable articulation actuator, which may include a rotatably stabilizable disk residing within a well. The end effector may take the form of forceps including an upper and a lower jaw; the jaws are configured to grasp target tissue and to deliver energy, such as radiofrequency energy. In some of these instruments, the end effector is adapted to seal tissue by the application of radiofrequency energy, and then to cut through the sealed tissue portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Erik Walberg, Lawrence Kerver, Brian Tang, Brandon Loudermilk
  • Publication number: 20140312196
    Abstract: A sterile display for a sterile container includes a thermally actuatable display apparatus for the display of a first and a second sterility condition of the sterile container. The display apparatus includes an adjustment mechanism having an actuator element which can be transferred, by means of external heating, from a first stress state in which the first sterility condition can be displayed, to a second stress state in which the second sterility condition can be displayed. The adjustment mechanism includes a thermo-bimetal element wherein, by means of its actuation, the actuator element of the adjustment mechanism can be transferred from the first stress state to the second stress state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Peter SCHULZ, Stefan SCHUSTER, Dieter WEISSHAUPT
  • Publication number: 20140309635
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes a proximal end and a distal end having a jaw member assembly at the distal end including a first jaw member and a second jaw member movable relative thereto. The jaw members can be transferred relative to each other from an opening position into a gripping position in which they are arranged to be closer to each other than in the opening position. Each jaw member has at least one electrode connectable to an electric power source and electrodes of both jaw members being adapted to interact for sealing body tissue held between the jaw members in the gripping position, actuating means for transferring the jaw members from the opening position into the gripping position and means for limiting the closing width of the jaw members, when they are transferred from the opening position into the gripping position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Theodor Lutze, Anton Keller, Dieter Weisshaupt, Stefan Eick, Christoph Rothweiler, Eugen Herner
  • Publication number: 20140309702
    Abstract: In order to provide the surgeon with means which allow the surgeon to use screws in a gentle and time-efficient manner, particularly in the setting of craniotomy, a surgical screw magazine is proposed comprising a holding device and a plurality of surgical screws, the holding device of said surgical screw magazine comprising a screw-receiving body which comprises for each of the screws a receiving opening in which the screws are at least substantially received, wherein the receiving openings are formed in the screw-receiving body spaced apart a predetermined distance from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Aesculap AG
    Inventor: Matthias Wand
  • Patent number: 8858972
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medicotechnical product having an antimicrobial finish of a complex material of metal nanoparticles and macromolecules, the macromolecules being formed at least partially from a polyamino acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Chau Hon Ho, Erich K. Odermatt, Rainer Bargon, Jörg Tiller
  • Publication number: 20140303664
    Abstract: The present application relates to an atraumatic sternal plate for haemostasis for a retractor with a pressure plate and a retaining device attached to the pressure plate. The pressure plate can be attached, by means of the retaining device, to either the blades of a retractor or to a sternal half of the patient, so that the pressure plate abuts the sagittal incision surface of a sternal half when spreading the sternum of a patient by means of a retractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: AESCULAP AG
    Inventors: Thomas Beck, Bernd Blender, Andreas Elisch, Theodor Lutze, Pedro Morales, Robert Vogtherr, Jürgen Wegmann, Dieter Weisshaupt
  • Publication number: 20140296858
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument comprising at least one movable tool element and at least one actuating element which is mounted such as to be pivotal about a pivotal axis and is coupled to the at least one tool element for the purposes of moving the tool element as a result of a pivotal movement of the actuating element, wherein, for the pivotal mounting of the at least one actuating element, there is provided a pivotal bearing comprising a bearing shaft holder and a bearing shaft which is held in the bearing shaft holder in a working position, wherein the at least one actuating element incorporates the bearing shaft or the bearing shaft holder, wherein the bearing shaft holder has an insertion opening and is insertable through the insertion opening into the bearing shaft holder in a direction that is transverse or substantially transverse to the pivotal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Aesculap AG
    Inventor: Wilhelm Seel
  • Publication number: 20140296740
    Abstract: In an implantable pressure measuring device, in particular for measuring an intracranial pressure, is provided. In order to simplify production, it is proposed that the pressure measuring device comprises an implant housing and a pressure measuring sensor, which is arranged in the implant housing, with one or more load cell(s). The implant housing has an opening. The pressure measuring sensor is provided with a coating applied directly to the load cell(s). The pressure measuring sensor is arranged in the implant housing in such a way that the opening provides direct access to the load cell(s) for a fluid surrounding the pressure measuring device and therefore the surrounding pressure acts directly on the coated load cell(s) of the pressure measuring sensor. The coating is produced from a para-xylylene-based polymer material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: AESCULAP AG
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Steinhilper, Olaf Hegemann, Anton Keller
  • Patent number: 8839954
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical clip carrier device for retention and/or mounting of at least one medical clip, in particular a ligature clip, comprising at least one clip receptacle in which a clip is retainable in a mounted position, and a securing device with at least one securing member for detachably securing a clip in the at least one clip receptacle. The clip receptacle comprises an insertion opening for insertion of a clip into the clip receptacle and removal of the clip therefrom. The at least one securing member is constructed in the form of a retaining projection which protrudes at least partially into the insertion opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventor: Alexander Disch
  • Publication number: 20140276892
    Abstract: An implant driver assembly includes an assembly for advancing a threaded implant over a wire. The assembly may include a driver tool with a proximal end, a distal end and a first engagement surface that has a first thread. The driver tool may also include a first wire passage. The assembly may further include a wire locking mechanism with a second engagement surface having a second thread. The second thread is engaged with the first thread to rotatably couple the wire locking mechanism with the driver tool. The wire locking mechanism may further include a second wire passage. The second wire passage may be substantially coaxially aligned with the first wire passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Peyman Pakzaban, Greg Nelson, Andrew Dauster, Tyler Haskins
  • Publication number: 20140277212
    Abstract: A surgical ratchet tool and system along with associated methods are disclosed. The surgical ratchet tool can include a relatively simple encompassing member that included a pawl extending into the opening for directly contacting a nut during surgery. The ratchet tool and system can be used for various types of surgery in which easy sterilization and a reduced profile for a ratchet tool is desired. For example, the ratchet tool can be used during surgery for adjustment of a spinal implant, where manipulation of a nut located on a downtube connected to a screw and/or spinal rod is desired. The encompassing member and pawl can be constructed/molded as a single piece unitary structure. A first handle and possibly a second handle can extend from an outer periphery of the encompassing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: AESCULAP IMPLANT SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Dauster
  • Patent number: 8828056
    Abstract: A cross connector for connecting elongated fixation elements, such as spinal fixation rods, includes a central body and one or more actuators. The rod to rod connector may include a first lever and a second lever coupled to the central body. The first lever may include a free end separated from the central body by a first channel. The second lever may include a free end separated from the central body by a second channel. The one or more actuators may be operable to pivot the first and second levers into a relatively closed position. When the first and second levers are in the relatively closed position, the free ends of the first and second levers are moved toward one another and toward the central body to contract the first and second channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Donald A. Buss, Tyler Haskins