Patents Assigned to Senmed, Inc.
  • Patent number: 4648542
    Abstract: A stapler having a pistol grip which can be entirely formed as a one-piece molding, without need for separate springs, connectors or other parts. The main springs are not stressed until the trigger is pulled for the first time. Staples of a special configuration are closed by a driver having a specially shaped forming end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Fox, William M. Mereness
  • Patent number: 4633861
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument suitable for performing a gastrointestinal anastomosis is provided. The stapling instrument incorporates a jaw clamping mechanism which applies clamping forces to its jaw members to resist the forces exerted on the anvil and staple cartridge carrying portions of the jaw members when the staples are formed. Preferably, the stapling instrument includes a pair of elongate jaw members, one of which supports a staple cartridge adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and the other provided with an anvil adapted to form the staples. A pusher bar and knife blade assembly is slidable longitudinally relative to the jaw members to sequentially drive the staples from the cartridge and form the staples against the anvil to produce a pair of laterally spaced rows in the tissue. The pusher bar and knife blade assembly includes a knife blade for cutting the tissue along a line between the longitudinal staple rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventors: Hector Chow, Hugh Melling, Denise S. Schieltz
  • Patent number: 4633874
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument suitable for performing a gastrointestinal anastomosis. The stapling instrument includes a pair of elongate jaw members, one of which supports a staple cartridge adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and the other provided with an anvil adapted to form the staples. A pusher bar and knife blade assembly is slidable longitudinally relative to the jaw members to sequentially drive the staples from the cartridge and form the staples against the anvil to produce a pair of laterally spaced rows of formed staples in tissue gripped between the jaw members and to cut the tissue along a line between the staple rows. A latching mechanism is operable to a partially latched position in which the jaw members are loosely connected together to permit the staple cartridge and anvil to be adjusted in position on the tissue without disconnecting the jaw members from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventors: Hector Chow, Hugh Melling, Denise S. Schieltz
  • Patent number: 4612933
    Abstract: A multiple-load cartridge assembly for use with a linear surgical stapling instrument of the type which, when actuated, simultaneously implants at least one row of staples in the tissue of a patient and forms or clinches the staples of the row against the instrument anvil. The cartridge assembly comprises a cartridge having a row of staple-containing forming pockets and a driver having a plurality of blades equal in number to the number of forming pockets and configured to drive the staples from the forming pockets through the tissue to be sutured and against the instrument anvil to be clinched, when the surgical stapling instrument is actuated. The cartridge has at least one row of storage pockets, equal in number to the forming pockets, and each containing at least one staple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Brinkerhoff, Rudolph H. Nobis
  • Patent number: 4610383
    Abstract: A disposable linear surgical stapler includes a handle, anvil, staple cartridge and flexible shaft attaching the handle to the cartridge and transmitting a firing force exerted at the handle to the distant cartridge for sequentially implanting, forming and clinching staples in two staggered staple lines. A flexible cable in the flexible shaft pulls a firing wedge across a plurality of staple drivers in the cartridge. The anvil is adjustable to vary the gap between the anvil and staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Rothfuss, Federico Bilotti, Hector Chow, J. Charles Hueil, Narinderjit S. Sambi
  • Patent number: 4608981
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument suitable for performing a gastrointestinal anastomosis is provided. The stapling instrument incorporates a staple height adjusting mechanism which enables the gap between its jaw members to be adjusted to select different staple heights to be produced when the staples are formed. Preferably, the stapling instrument includes a pair of elongate jaw members, one of which supports a staple cartridge adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and the other provided with an anvil adapted to form the staples. A pusher bar and knife assembly slidable longitudinally relative to the jaw members sequentially drives the staples from the cartridge and forms the staples against the anvil to produce a pair of laterally spaced rows in the tissue. The pusher bar and knife assembly includes a knife blade for cutting the tissue along a line between the longitudinal staple rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Rothfuss, David K. Kuhl
  • Patent number: 4605001
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument suitable for performing a gastrointestinal anastomosis is provided. The stapling instrument incorporates an improved staple actuator mechanism operable by separate control buttons to accomplish its stapling and cutting actions in two stages. The two stage operation of the stapling instrument reduces the maximum force required to operate the instrument. The improved actuator mechanism permits selection of different staple heights to be produced by the same instrument. In addition, the actuator mechanism is designed to stabilize the upper and lower jaw members by providing longitudinal and lateral support along substantially the entire length of the operative portions of the jaw members. Preferably, the actuator mechanism comprises an elongated, I-beam structure slidably mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the jaw members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Rothfuss, David K. Kuhl, Michael A. Murray
  • Patent number: 4596350
    Abstract: In a surgical stapler having a driver and an anvil for forming a staple in tissue, a four-bar linkage is driven by a drive cam which is at least partially curved. The curved cam provides, with the linkage, an increasing mechanical advantage for reducing forces required to operate the stapler and to form a staple. The drive minimizes the range of forces required to operate the stapler throughout an operating cycle. Cam and linkage relationships are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventors: George D. K. Smith, John W. Peter
  • Patent number: 4592354
    Abstract: A tissue retention spool is disposed on the anvil actuating rod of an intraluminal anastomotic surgical stapling instrument. Tubular tissue is gathered and held on the spool by a suture tie, thus eliminating the previously required purse-stringing procedure. The spool and rod are constructed to initially resist relative sliding motion as the spool is withdrawn into the staple carrier/cylindrical scalpel area prior to setting of staples and internal tissue excision. The combined spool and instrument serve to hold tubular tissue in an erect, closed condition, facilitating the use of closed surgical techniques, without purse-stringing, in limited access areas such as lower colon resections. Alternative spools and methods are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Rothfuss
  • Patent number: 4589582
    Abstract: An improved cartridge and driver assembly is provided for a surgical stapling instrument of the type which drives staples through tissue to be joined and against an anvil to form the staples. The cartridge has a forming pocket or slot for each staple to be driven by a single actuation of the surgical stapling instrument. Each forming pocket is of elongated, transverse, biconvex cross-section, terminating in ends adapted to frictionally receive the legs of a surgical staple. The driver comprises a tine for each forming pocket, shiftable within the forming pocket to engage the crown of the staple to drive the staple from its forming pocket. Each driver tine is of substantially biconvex transverse cross-sectional configuration. Each forming pocket of the cartridge is of matching biconvex configuration to slidably receive its respective driver tine so that the tine engages the staple crown including those portions thereof directly over the staple legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventor: Federico Bilotti
  • Patent number: 4572183
    Abstract: An improved clip feed system for a surgical ligating instrument of the type having first and second clip-clamping jaws at its forward end, a pair of handles to shift the jaws between open, clip-feeding and closed, clip-clamping positions, an elongated tube-like clip magazine containing a plurality of clips lying in a row, one behind the other, in the same plane and a feeder shoe to constantly urge the row of clips toward the forward end of the instrument and the forwardmost clip to a staging area in front of the magazine, a pusher track parallel to the clip magazine and extending to the forward ends of the jaws, and a pusher actuated by the handles between a retracted clip-receiving position when the handles and jaws are in their clip-clamping positions and an extended position locating a clip at the forward ends of the jaws when the handles and the jaws are in their clip-feeding positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Juska
  • Patent number: 4565199
    Abstract: A surgical ligator to locate and clamp a substantially U-shaped clip about a tubular member such as a blood vessel or the like, to close off the tubular member. The ligator comprises first and second handle elements pivoted in pliers-like fashion and terminating at their forward ends in clamping jaw portions. The first handle element has a longitudinal cavity formed therein comprising a magazine for a row of clips arranged in edge-to-edge relationship. The jaw portions of the first and second handle elements each have a locator stop for the forwardmost clip of the row to properly position the forwardmost clip for use. The longitudinal magazine of the first handle element has a spring actuated shoe therein to constantly urge and advance the row of clips forwardly to position the forwardmost clip of the row against the locator stops. The first and second handle elements and their jaw portions are pivotable between a normal open position and a closed clip-clamping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl T. Becht
  • Patent number: 4549544
    Abstract: An improved clip pusher and stop system for a surgical ligator of the type having first and second clip-clamping jaws, a pair of handles to actuate the jaws, a magazine of ligating clips, a pusher track extending to the forward ends of the jaws, a pusher to transfer a clip along the pusher track from the magazine to a forward position between the jaws, and a stop to prevent rearward movement of the clip in the pusher track during the clip-applying and clamping procedure. The improved stop comprises a substantially L-shaped resilient member having a long leg and a short leg. The long stop leg lies along a depression in the first jaw and is affixed near its free end to the first jaw. The short leg extends between the first and second jaws and is receivable in a perforation in the second jaw when the jaws are actuated to clamp a clip. The short leg has an intermediate clip-contacting portion normally extending across the pusher track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Favaron
  • Patent number: 4534351
    Abstract: A disposable ligator for applying clamping clips to veins, arteries and blood vessels. The ligator comprises a first handle terminating at its forward end in a first jaw and a second jaw and a second handle, both pivotally mounted on the first handle near the forward end thereof. The handles are shiftable between open and closed positions and shift the jaws between open and closed clip-clamping positions. A clip tube containing a plurality of clips and a spring biased feeder shoe to constantly urge the clips forwardly therein is mounted in the first handle. A pusher is mounted in the first handle parallel to the clip tube in a pusher track which extends to the forward ends of the jaws. The pusher is shiftable by the first and second handles between a retracted position when the handles are closed and an extended position to locate a clip in the pusher track at the forward ends of the jaws when the handles are open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Rothfuss, David K. Kuhl, Federico Bilotti, Hugh Melling, Earl J. Mills
  • Patent number: 4527724
    Abstract: A disposable linear surgical stapling instrument comprising a body with handle means and trigger means and, at its forward end, a fixed anvil-supporting jaw. A movable jaw comprising a staple cartridge is mounted on the body and is operatively connected to the handle means and trigger means. An adjustment bolt is slidably mounted in the body and is shiftable forwardly and rearwardly therein by an adjustment knob rotatively mounted at the rearward end of the body. The adjustment bolt, when shifted forwardly, shifts the handle means and trigger means forwardly and the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw, the staple cartridge approaching the anvil. A staple driver is connected to and shiftable by the trigger means to drive staples from the cartridge, through the tissue to be sutured and against the anvil over a range of distances between the anvil and the cartridge constituting the working gap of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventors: Hector Chow, Hugh Melling
  • Patent number: D279500
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence E. Spreckelmeier
  • Patent number: D279501
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Spreckelmeier, William K. Burtoft
  • Patent number: D284402
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventor: John V. Hunt
  • Patent number: D285836
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventors: John V. Hunt, Lawrence E. Spreckelmeier
  • Patent number: D287278
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Senmed, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence E. Spreckelmeier