Abstract: A safety device to be used with a winged intravenous infusion assembly has a base that is adaptable to fit over the body of the infusion assembly. Attached to the base is a housing that is pivotable to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of the base for enveloping a needle extending from the infusion assembly when the housing is pivoted to the alignment position. Locking mechanisms may be provided in the housing for preventing movement of the housing relative to the needle once the needle is enveloped by the housing. The base can be configured to include a tubular portion that slidably fits over the front end of the infusion assembly or a pair of arms that intimately embrace the body of the infusion assembly. Alternatively, the safety device could be cast from the same mold as the IV infusion assembly so that the molded IV infusion assembly could have directly extending therefrom the safety device.

Abstract: A safety device to be used with a winged intravenous infusion assembly has a base that is adaptable to fit over the body of the infusion assembly. Attached to the base is a housing that is pivotable to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of the base for enveloping a needle extending from the infusion assembly when the housing is pivoted to the alignment position. Locking mechanisms may be provided in the housing for preventing movement of the housing relative to the needle once the needle is enveloped by the housing. The base can be configured to include a tubular portion that slidably fits over the front end of the infusion assembly or a pair of arms that intimately embrace the body of the infusion assembly. Alternatively, the safety device could be cast from the same mold as the IV infusion assembly so that the molded IV infusion assembly could have directly extending therefrom the safety device.

Abstract: A method for providing at least partial bypass of the heart to supplement the pumping function of the heart to thereby enable the surgeon to perform various surgical procedures thereon includes providing a circulatory assist system having a portable extracorporeal axial flow pump with a pump housing, a rotating pumping member disposed in the pump housing and inlet and outlet cannulated tubes respectively connected to inlet and outlet ports of the pump housing, accessing the patient's left atrium of the heart with the inlet cannulated tube, accessing the aorta with the outlet cannulated tube, actuating the rotating pumping member to draw oxygenated blood from the left atrium of the heart through the lumen of the inlet cannulated tube and into the inlet port of the pump housing whereby the pumping member imparts mechanical energy to the oxygenated blood passing through the pump housing and directs the oxygenated blood through the outlet port and through the lumen of the outlet cannulated tube to be transferred

Abstract: A self-contained powered surgical apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue is disclosed which includes a handle assembly, a gear motor assembly disposed within the handle assembly, a power source disposed within the handle assembly for energizing the motor assembly, an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly, a cartridge assembly detachably connected to a distal end portion of the elongated body, and an elongated drive shaft extending through the elongated body and detachably coupling the motor assembly to the cartridge assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for surgery is disclosed which includes a retractor having a substantially planar base defining an opening for overlying an operative site on a patient, and at least one retractor blade slidably mounted to the base. The base is positioned on the patient such that the opening therein overlies the operative site. The operative site is percutaneously accessed, and obstructing tissue is retracted by engaging the tissue with the retractor blade. A surgical instrument is provided which is engageable with the base and operable at the operative site through the opening in the base. A surgical procedure is carried out through the opening in the base with the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A surgical clip applicator having a housing, a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite sides of the housing, and a jaw blade assembly fixedly connected to the housing is provided. The jaw blade assembly includes a pair of jaws for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween and a clip carrier for supplying a series of clips to the jaws. A channel assembly is slidably mounted with respect to the housing and envelops the jaw blade assembly for camming the jaws closed upon closing of the handles. The clips are urged by a pusher bar which provides a biasing force to advance the clips to be retained by the jaws. A jaw clamp is provided to maintain the jaw assembly in abutting relation to a clip cover. The applicator housing is formed from a pair of housing half-sections that may be secured together using interlocking and/or snap-fit structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for pumping blood includes an elongated housing dimensioned to be at least partially positioned within the heart of a patient, a rotating member supported for rotational movement within the elongated housing and a drive mechanism for imparting rotational movement to the rotating member. The elongated housing includes an outer wall, a first inlet port for permitting blood to enter the elongated housing through a first end of the elongated housing and a second inlet port defined in the outer wall of the elongated housing for permitting blood to enter through the outer wall. The rotating member is rotatable to impart pumping energy to the blood entering through the first and second inlet ports to direct the blood through an outlet opening of the elongated housing. The rotating member preferably includes first and second blood pumping blade arrangements. The first blade arrangement is dimensioned to impart pump energy to the blood entering the elongated housing through the first inlet port.

Abstract: A self-contained powered surgical stapling device is provided which includes an elongate body and a disposable cartridge assembly detachably supported in a distal end portion of the body. The cartridge assembly includes a frame configured to engage the distal end portion of the body, a housing supported within the frame and containing a plurality of surgical fasteners, an anvil mounted for movement with respect to the housing, an actuation assembly configured to translate relative to the housing and the anvil to progressively move the anvil from an open position to a closed position and to sequentially eject the surgical fasteners from the housing to be formed against the anvil, and an axial drive screw mounted in the frame and threadably associated with the actuation assembly for effectuating the longitudinal translation thereof.

Abstract: A surgical clip applicator comprising a housing, a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite sides of said housing, and a jaw blade assembly fixedly connected to the housing. The jaw blade assembly includes a pair of jaws for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween and a clip carrier for supplying a series of clips to said jaws. A channel assembly is slidably mounted in the housing and envelops said jaw blade assembly. A forming cam is connected between and to said handles and said channel assembly for sliding said channel assembly in a distal direction in response to closing of said handles together to move said jaws towards each other. A feed cam bar slidably mounted in said channel assembly in overlying relation to said clip carrier, said bar having a nose at its distal end. A pusher bar sidably mounted in said channel assembly for advancing clips along said clip carrier.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier comprising a housing, a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite sides of the housing, and a jaw blade assembly fixedly connected to the housing. The jaw blade assembly includes a pair of jaws for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween and a clip carrier for supplying a series of clips to the jaws. A channel assembly is slidably mounted with respect to the housing and envelops the jaw blade assembly for camming the jaws closed upon closing of the handles. The clips may be fed to the jaws by a spring biased feed bar which operates upon closing of the handles, or may be urged by pusher bar which provides a biasing force to the clips to be retained by the jaws. The instrument may be used in conventional surgical procedures, or may be adapted for endoscopic and laparoscopic surgical procedures requiring the application of microsurgical clips.

Abstract: A surgical clip applicator comprising a housing, a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite sides of said housing, and a jaw blade assembly fixedly connected to the housing. The jaw blade assembly includes a pair of jaws for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween and a clip carrier for supplying a series of clips to said jaws. A channel assembly is slidably mounted in the housing and envelops said jaw blade assembly. A forming cam is connected between and to said handles and said channel assembly for sliding said channel assembly in a distal direction in response to closing of said handles together to move said jaws towards each other. A feed cam bar slidably mounted in said channel assembly in overlying relation to said clip carrier, said bar having a nose at its distal end. A pusher bar slidably mounted in said channel assembly for advancing clips along said clip carrier.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier comprising a housing, a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite sides of the housing, and a jaw blade assembly fixedly connected to the housing. The jaw blade assembly includes a pair of jaws for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween and a clip carrier for supplying a series of clips to the jaws. A channel assembly is slidably mounted with respect to the housing and envelops the jaw blade assembly for camming the jaws closed upon closing of the handles. The clips may be fed to the jaws by a spring biased feed bar which operates upon closing of the handles, or may be urged by pusher bar which provides a biasing force to the clips to be retained by the jaws. The instrument may be used in conventional surgical procedures, or may be adapted for endoscopic and laparoscopic surgical procedures requiting the application of microsurgical clips.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue. The apparatus has a handle assembly and an elongated body which extends distally from the handle assembly. A fastener applying assembly is operatively associated with a distal end of the elongated body and includes a cartridge housing a plurality of staples and an anvil movable between an open position and a closed position. An actuation assembly is configured to translate through the fastener applying assembly to effect progressive closure of the anvil and concomitantly effect sequential ejection of staples from the cartridge.

Abstract: A self-contained powered surgical stapling device is provided which includes an elongate body. A fastener applying assembly is operatively associated with a distal end of the elongate body and includes a cartridge housing a plurality of staples and an anvil actuable to move between an open position and a closed position. A motor assembly is disposed within the elongate body for driving an actuation assembly configured to translate through the fastener applying assembly to progressively close the anvil and sequentially eject staples from the cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical clip applicator comprising a housing, a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite sides of said housing, and a jaw blade assembly fixedly connected to the housing. The jaw blade assembly includes a pair of jaws for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween and a clip carrier for supplying a series of clips to said jaws. A channel assembly is slidably mounted in the housing and envelops said jaw blade assembly. A forming cam is connected between and to said handles and said channel assembly for sliding said channel assembly in a distal direction in response to dosing of said handles together to move said jaws towards each other. A feed cam bar slidably mounted in said channel assembly in overlying relation to said clip carrier, said bar having a nose at its distal end. A pusher bar slidably mounted in said channel assembly for advancing clips along said clip carrier.

Abstract: A surgical stapler for placing lateral lines of staples and making an incision, all through an endoscopic tube, includes an anvil member which is mounted to the distal end of an elongated housing. A tubular collar disposed around the arm of the anvil member is movable to a distal position to bias the anvil member and a cartridge assembly into cooperative alignment, thereby clamping body tissue to be fastened between the anvil member and cartridge assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue. The apparatus has a handle assembly and an elongated body which extends distally from the handle assembly. A fastener applying assembly is operatively associated with a distal end of the elongated body and includes a cartridge housing a plurality of staples and an anvil movable between an open position and a closed position. An actuation assembly is configured to translate through the fastener applying assembly to effect progressive closure of the anvil and concomitantly effect sequential ejection of staples from the cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus for stapling the plaque lining of an artery or vein to the wall of the artery or vein, which comprises first and second opposed cooperative elongated members pivotably associated with one another. The first and second elongated members have distal ends, and proximal ends forming handles. The first elongated member forms an anvil portion at its distal end which is configured for placement into an open end of a vein and/or an artery. A staple cartridge assembly is disposed on the distal end of the second elongated member and includes a staple magazine containing a multiplicity of staples longitudinally and sequentially aligned with the staple magazine. Actuating means are provided which are supported by the staple cartridge assembly for movement in a given direction therealong to drive the staples in the staple magazine toward a staple exit end.

Abstract: A surgical stapler for placing lateral lines of staples and making an incision, all through an endoscopic tube, includes an anvil member which is mounted to the distal end of an elongated housing. A tubular collar disposed around the arm of the anvil member is movable to a distal position to bias the anvil member and a cartridge assembly into cooperative alignment, thereby clamping body tissue to be fastened between the anvil member and cartridge assembly.

Abstract: A surgical stapler for placing lateral lines of staples and making an incision, all through an endoscopic tube, includes an anvil member which is mounted to the distal end of an elongated housing. A tubular collar disposed around the arm of the anvil member is movable to a distal position to bias the anvil member and a cartridge assembly into cooperative alignment, thereby clamping body tissue to be fastened between the anvil member and cartridge assembly.