Patents Assigned to MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7918784
    Abstract: An endoscopic tool utilizes a fiber optic system for illuminating and imaging ligaments or other tissue which are to be cut. Illumination and imaging is performed above a lateral opening at the distal end of a probe that is inserted into an incision point. Preferably, a two edged blade which can be moved in both the distal to proximal direction and the proximal to distal direction is selectively deployable from of the lateral opening at the distal end of the probe. The endoscopic tool is small in size, and preferably includes a pencil grip with a button actuator for deploying the two edged cutting blade. A wire actuator that fits into a slot in the bottom of the deployable blade, can be nested with the fiber optic cable such that the cross sectional area of the probe is reduced. Alternatively, a tube concentric with the fiber optic cable can be used as the mechanism for actuating the blade or other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Microaire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Wellborn, Clayton Peimer
  • Patent number: 7628798
    Abstract: A surgical instrument that includes a probe that is extended into a body cavity and a handle held by a surgeon outside the body cavity, where the surgical instrument includes both an optical system and surgical tool operable by the surgeon that passes through the handle and probe includes a connection configuration on its proximal end of the probe and elements within a bore of the handle which allows for securely locking the probe in at least two different orientations. In particular, the proximal end of the probe includes a pair of axial slots and a twist region which cooperate with inwardly projecting land regions in a bore of the handle. A locking mechanism is used to selectively move a locking member into and out of one or the other of said pair of axial slots so as to secure the probe on the handle in the desired orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Welborn
  • Patent number: 6949110
    Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting a surgical saw blade to a housing of a surgical instrument. The connector assembly allows a surgeon to align, insert and lock the surgical blade in the collet of the surgical instrument without any special tools, and further provides a stable and robust platform for mounting the surgical saw blade thereto. The connector assembly includes a cam lever assembly for allowing the user to apply a clamping force to the surgical saw blade with minimum actuation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Timmon Ark, Daniel L. McCombs
  • Patent number: 6817996
    Abstract: A cannula having a bore extending along a length thereof. The cannula includes a vent hole. A plug with an air passage may be inserted within the vent hole such that the air passage is in fluid communication with the bore of the cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Microaire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Fard, Christopher J. Hudson, Daniel L. McCombs
  • Patent number: 6638290
    Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting a surgical saw blade to a housing of a surgical instrument. The connector assembly allows a surgeon to align, insert and lock the surgical blade in the collect of the surgical instrument without any special tools, and further provides a stable and robust platform for mounting the surgical saw blade thereto. The connector assembly includes a gripper having a centrally located bore and a pair of opposing shelves. A shaft having shoulders is slidably fitted within the bore of the gripper. The shoulders communicate with ledges of the shelves to prohibit movement of the finger gripper. This same mechanism also prevents movement of a surgical saw blade, once inserted within the slot of the shaft, from becoming dislodged or ejected from the connector assembly. A biasing spring biases the gripper in a first position, but the gripper can move between the first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Microaire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: John Pascaloff, Joseph Ventura
  • Patent number: 6302406
    Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting a surgical saw blade to a housing of a surgical instrument. The connector assembly allows a surgeon to align, insert and lock the surgical blade in the collet of the surgical instrument without any special tools, and further provides a stable and robust platform for mounting the surgical saw blade thereto. The connector assembly includes a tapered conical shaped sleeve which is positioned within the housing and rotatable in both a clockwise and counter-clock wise direction. A pair of grippers are mounted within the connector assembly and engage the surgical saw blade when the tapered conical shaped gripper sleeve is rotated in a first position. A sternum guard is also mounted to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Microaire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Ventura
  • Patent number: 6257351
    Abstract: A surgical instrument having a locking mechanism for preventing an output shaft of the surgical instrument from rotating and a further locking mechanism for mounting a battery pack to a distal end of a housing of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument further includes a clutch mechanism for limiting the torque of a drive shaft of the surgical instrument. The locking mechanism for preventing the output shaft from rotating includes a locking switch which mates with a locking cap disposed on the output shaft. The locking mechanism for mounting the battery pack to the housing includes a groove at the distal end of the housing and a retaining ring which engages the groove when the battery pack is mounted on the housing. The clutch mechanism includes a clutch plate that interfaces with both the output shaft and the drive shaft and prevents failure of the motor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Timmon Ark, Robert R. Humphris, Jr., Daniel McCombs
  • Patent number: 6258054
    Abstract: A power assisted liposuction/lipoinjection handpiece includes a handle (12) which provides power to reciprocate a cannula (10) back and forth during surgery. The cannula (10) can be connected to the handle (12) by a connector (24) that is affixed to, integrally formed with, or selectively joinable to a reciprocating member (14). Benefits in sterilization, distribution and surgical use can be realized when the cannula (10) and connector (24) are joined together, such that the surgeon merely needs to remove the cannula (10) from the package and connect it to a reciprocating member of a powered handle (12). The handle (12) may be configured such that the reciprocating member (14) is selectively detachable; thereby, allowing the handle (12) to be used for additional surgical procedures such as sawing or drilling. A vacuum hose (26) is connected to the cannula (10) such that vacuum pressure can be exerted through the cannula (10) for aspirating severed fat tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter G. Mozsary, Mike Fard, John Pascaloff
  • Patent number: 6220368
    Abstract: A surgical instrument having a locking mechanism for preventing an output shaft of the surgical instrument from rotating and a further locking mechanism for mounting a battery pack to a distal end of a housing of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument further includes a clutch mechanism for limiting the torque of a drive shaft of the surgical instrument. The locking mechanism for preventing the output shaft from rotating includes a locking switch which mates with a locking cap disposed on the output shaft. The locking mechanism for mounting the battery pack to the housing includes a groove at the distal end of the housing and a retaining ring which engages the groove when the battery pack is mounted on the housing. The clutch mechanism includes a clutch plate that interfaces with both the output shaft and the drive shaft and prevents failure of the motor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Timmon Ark, Robert R. Humphris, Jr., Daniel McCombs
  • Patent number: 6139518
    Abstract: A power assisted liposuction/lipoinjection handpiece includes a handle (12) which provides power to reciprocate a cannula (10) back and forth during surgery The cannula (10) can be connected to the handle (12) by a connector (24) that is affixed to, integrally formed with, or selectively joinable to a reciprocating member (14). Benefits in sterilization, distribution and surgical use can be realized when the cannula (10) and connector (24) are joined together, such that the surgeon merely needs to remove the cannula (10) from the package and connect it to a reciprocating member of a powered handle (12). The handle (12) may be configured such that the reciprocating member (14) is selectively detachable; thereby, allowing the handle (12) to be used for additional surgical procedures such as sawing or drilling. A vacuum hose (26) is connected to the cannula (10) such that vacuum pressure can be exerted through the cannula (10) for aspirating severed fat tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter G. Mozsary, Mike Fard, John Pascaloff
  • Patent number: D439666
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Ventura
  • Patent number: D439878
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Timmon Ark, Daniel McCombs
  • Patent number: D439978
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Timmon Ark, Daniel McCombs
  • Patent number: D508129
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Fard, Richard Davis
  • Patent number: D455490
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Microaire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: John Pascaloff
  • Patent number: D459805
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Microaire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: John Pascaloff
  • Patent number: D475457
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel L. McCombs
  • Patent number: D601869
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Microaire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey James Nelson
  • Patent number: D627464
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey James Nelson
  • Patent number: D419844
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel McCombs