Abstract: Block copolymers wherein the first block contains from about 40 to about 65 mole percent of repeating units derived from glycolide randomly combined with from about 60 to 35 mole percent of repeating units derived from lactide and the second block contains repeating units derived from glycolide and repeating units derived from lactide, the second block containing a higher proportion of repeating units derived from glycolide than the first block, with units derived from glycolide constituting from about 75 to about 95 mole percent of the entire block copolymer are useful in forming surgical articles, including sutures.

Abstract: A surgical device is described herein that can be used to fire different types and sizes of disposable loading units. In a preferred embodiment, the device applies parallel rows of surgical fasteners to body tissue and concomitantly forms an incision between the rows of staples during an endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedure. The device can be utilized with disposable loading units configured to apply linear rows of staples measuring from about 15 mm in length to about 60 mm in length and can be used to fire disposable loading units containing surgical clips and individual staples. A lockout mechanism is provided to disable the disposable loading units after firing.

Abstract: An apparatus for the radio-frequency (RF) thermal treatment of tissue, particularly, prostatic tissue is intended for use in conjunction with a conventional endoscope. The apparatus includes an elongate member having at least one passageway extending at least partially along its length, a delivery tube disposed within the passageway and having a memory portion comprised of a shape memory material, and being moveable within the passageway to extend the memory portion from the elongate member to permit the memory portion to assume a normal unstressed curved configuration, an electromagnetic probe disposed within the delivery tube and moveable within the delivery tube to extend a probe end portion beyond the delivery tube and within tissue. The electromagnetic probe has sufficient flexibility to follow the curved path defined by the memory portion of the delivery tube. The elongate member of the apparatus may further include a channel dimensioned to receive a conventional endoscope.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for mounting a surgical instrument to a base, which facilitates positioning a surgical instrument relative to the surgical site so that only the minimum portion of the instrument is positioned in the free space available around the surgical site. A surgical instrument is also provided which includes a handle, a tool member, and a segmented flexible articulating arm which operatively connects the handle and the tool member. Also provided is an instrumentation kit having a surgical instrument which includes an end effector connecting assembly disposed at the distal end portion of an articulating arm to facilitate the removal or attachment of and end effector from the distal end of the articulating arm. The surgical instrumentation kit also includes a number of interchangeable surgical tool end effectors each having a uniform connector portion for interchangeable engagement with the end effector connecting assembly of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus particularly suited for endoscopic procedures is described. The device includes a firing lockout assembly including a linearly movable plunger which is movable into operative engagement with a locking member to move the locking member from a first position obstructing longitudinal advancement of an actuation shaft to a second position permitting longitudinal advancement of the actuation shaft.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus for securing a needle extending therethrough includes a post having a channel therein mounted to a base. The post is positioned in operative alignment with the needle mounted on the base. A locking member is associated with the post in operative alignment with the needle. The locking member defines an opening therethrough to receive the needle, and the locking member is operable between a needle receiving position wherein the needle may be inserted or removed from the locking member and a needle retaining position wherein the needle is retained in at least one direction of movement.

Abstract: A system for drilling a bore in adjacent vertebrae to facilitate the insertion of a fusion implant includes a surgical retractor having a sleeve member with proximal and distal end portions and defining a longitudinal opening and a drill instrument positionable within the longitudinal opening of the surgical retractor. The retractor is configured for insertion at least partially into an intervertebral space between adjacent opposed vertebrae to distract the adjacent vertebrae to a desired predetermined distracted position. At least one anchoring member may be associated with the surgical retractor to facilitate mounting thereof to the vertebrae. The drill instrument includes an elongate member having a longitudinal passageway and defining at least one distal cutting surface and a drill member disposed within the elongate member and having a distal drill head.

Abstract: An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is disclosed having a handle assembly and an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly. A jaw assembly is mounted at a distal end portion of the elongated body portion and includes first and second jaws movable between an open position and a closed position. An actuator is disclosed which is slidable within the elongated body portion in response to actuation of the handle assembly. The actuator has camming structure at a distal portion thereof for moving the first and second jaws between the open position and the closed position. A loading unit is releasably mounted to the elongated body portion and stores a plurality of surgical clips therein. The loading unit includes a clip advancer having a portion engageable with the actuator and movable therewith for advancing a distalmost surgical clip and a ratchet assembly associated with the clip advancer to index progressive movement thereof.

Abstract: A surgical needle or surgical incision member is provided including a body portion defining first and second longitudinal ends, a radiused tissue penetrating portion adjacent at least one longitudinal end of the body portion having a radius of approximately 0.005 to 0.015 inches, suture attachment structure formed in the body portion and a suture attached to the suture attachment structure. A method of suturing is also provided wherein the surgical needle may be passed through tissue while minimizing trauma to adjacent bony structures or the like.

Abstract: A rotary suture cutting apparatus includes a base having an upper resilient layer, and a cutting assembly. The cutting assembly includes a frame and a rotary cutting tool having a disk shaped circular blade. The cutting tool is slidably mounted to the frame and when moved from one end to the other of the frame, cleanly slices suture material clamped between the base and the cutting assembly without brooming, fraying or otherwise disporting the cut suture tip.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the biopsy of tissue specimens and, more particularly, a single insertion multiple sample percutaneous biopsy apparatus and method are provided. A tip at a distal end of a vacuum support tube is introduced into a tissue mass. The vacuum support tube is retracted exposing a basket tube bounded by a front washer and a rear washer mounted thereabout forming a tissue basket. The basket tube is supported internally by a thrust tube which provides structure to the apparatus to allow it to penetrate tissue. The thrust tube and the basket tube are in fluid communication and are provided with suction to draw tissue inward. The tissue is then severed by rotating and advancing a knife edge at the distal end of the vacuum support tube. The tissue basket is withdrawn and the tissue sample is removed by rotating the vacuum support tube. The tissue sample is sliced longitudinally, and a stripper scrapes the tissue sample from an opening in the vacuum support tube.

Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus having tissue bolstering material releasably attached thereto for application of the material and staples to body tisuse is disclosed. The tissue bolstering material is preferably releasably held to surfaces of the stapling apparatus through pins, clips or similar securing structures. The tissue bolstering material can be either planar or tubular in configuration. Preferably, both the anvil portion and the fastener ejecting portion of the stapler are at least partially covered with the tissue bolstering material. In use, tissue is disposed between the anvil portion and the stapling portion of the instrument and the instrument is fired. The tissue bolstering material is thereby secured to the tissue and releasably detaches from the stapler upon withdrawal of the stapler from the surgical site.

Abstract: A clip cartridge for supporting a plurality of clips is provided. The clip cartridge includes a body defining a plurality of clip chambers each configured and dimensioned to receive a clip therein. Interlocking structure is provided on each end of the cartridge to facilitate attachment of a multiplicity of clip cartridges together. Clip cartridges housing different size clips have substantially identical external dimensions and internal dimensions which accommodate for the different size clips. The uniformity of the external dimensions of the cartridges housing different size clips facilitates attachment of the cartridges housing different size clips.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating wound closure of an opening in tissue includes a handle portion dimensioned to be gripped by the hand of a user, an elongate body portion connected to the handle portion and extending distally therefrom, a jaw mechanism including a stationary jaw affixed to the distal end portion of the elongate body portion and a movable jaw movably mounted to the distal end portion of the elongate body portion and movable between an initial closed position and a deployed open position, a suture assembly including a length of suture supported by the jaw mechanism, and being at least partially positionable within the opening in the tissue, first and second suture engaging members respectively operatively associated with the stationary jaw and the movable jaw, a deployment mechanism operable to move the movable jaw between the initial position and the deployed position, and an actuator mechanism operatively associated with the first and second suture engaging members and configured to move the fir

Abstract: A surgical apparatus for removing tissue, which includes a housing, an elongated body which extends from the housing and forms an opening at a distal end, the elongated body further forming a tissue receiving cavity in communication with the opening, a cutting member operatively associated with the housing and movable transverse to the elongated body in proximity to the opening, and a tissue retaining member positioned in proximity to the opening and the cutting member, the retaining member being selectively movable from a retracted position to a deployed position, wherein when positioned in the deployed position, the tissue retaining member obstructs at least a portion of the opening at the distal end of the elongated body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic dissection and coagulation system for surgical use is provided. The system includes an ultrasonic instrument, a control module, and a pedal actuator. The ultrasonic actuator has a housing and an elongated body portion extending from the housing. An ultrasonic transducer supported within the housing is operatively connected to a cutting blade by a vibration coupler. The vibration coupler conducts high frequency vibration from the ultrasonic transducer to the cutting blade. The cutting blade has a cutting surface which is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion and, thus, with respect to the axis of vibration. A clamp member having a tissue contact surface is positioned adjacent to the blade member and is movable from an open position in which the tissue contact surface is spaced form the cutting surface to a clamped position in which the tissue contact surface is in close juxtaposed alignment with the cutting surface to clamp tissue therebetween.

Abstract: A reusable cannula for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures is fabricated from a material such as a thermotropic liquid crystal polymer (LCP), e.g., a polymer synthesized from p-hydroxybenzoic acid and 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid monomers. The cannula is electrically non-conductive, radiolucent, and experiences an appearance change in response to sterilization by autoclaving. The cannula is fixedly or removably attached to a cannula housing which may have a valve system and/or desufflation port.

Abstract: A seal assembly is provided which includes a gimbal-like structure permitting rotation of a mounting member relative to the housing. The rotation of the mounting member allows the seal member to align with an instrument being inserted therethrough. The seal assembly is adapted to be detachably mounted to a cannula assembly for use in endoscopic surgery.

Abstract: A disposable apparatus is disclosed for applying latchless surgical clips to body tissue in endoscopic surgical procedures. The latchless clips are resiliently biased to a closed configuration. The apparatus includes a frame which is adapted to be gripped by hand, and an endoscopic section connected to the handle and capable of storing surgical clips in preparation for clipping arteries or other body tissue. The apparatus includes means for advancing each clip sequentially, temporarily opening the clip and advancing the clip further to a pair of distal jaws where the clip is positioned around the body tissue and closes around the tissue. Also included are means for closing the jaws about the clip. When the jaws are closed, the clip advancing means is simultaneously positioned to advance the next clip. The present apparatus also makes it possible to partially close a clip without interfering with the sequential movement of the clip advancing mechanism.