Abstract: The invention relates to a instrument for laparoscopic surgery which permits the operating surgeon to irrigate or suction the operative area while performing electrocautery or laser hemostasis and dissection of body tissue with the same instrument.The invention also relates to a laparoscopic tool for evacuating free stones or blood clots from the operating area which are to large to be suctioned from the body cavity or to remove gallstones from a gallbladder which has been distended by stones and cannot be retrieved through an umbillical sheath.

Abstract: A fastening system device having dimensions of very small magnitudes for attaching a mesh prosthesis or tissue to body tissue. The device has a shaft member which has a continuous outer peripheral surface and so constructed such that the outer surface is a continuous surface and has a continuous curved cross-section where the center of curvature is in the radial direction of the longitudinal axis; the shaft has sufficient columnar resistance to bending to permit the shaft member to penetrate body tissue. A head member extends radially from the shaft member at a second end and is so dimensioned and proportioned to form a bearing surface for bearing against the mesh prosthesis. A resiliently collapsible anchor member is integrally fixed to the first end of the shaft and separately forms a conical distal tip.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydro-mechanical or electro-hydro-mechanical control system utilized for positioning a mechanical device. The control system incorporates a control valve for selectively controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to input ports of a power output transducer in response to a mechanically applied input signal. The power output transducer is then utilized to position a mechanical device. The control system is a closed loop circuit adapted to supply hydraulic fluid at a desired supply pressure to the control valve. The supply pressure is varied in relation to the absolute value of the pressure differential or load pressure exerted across the input ports of the power output transducer. A pressure regulating apparatus is provided for selectively regulating the supply pressure to a value that is nominally equal to the absolute value of the load pressure summed with a preselected supplemental pressure value across the regulating apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydro-mechanical or electro-hydro-mechanical control system utilized for positioning a mechanical device. The control system incorporates an open-center control valve for selectively controlling the differential pressure applied to and the differential flow between input ports of a power output transducer in response to a mechanically applied rotational inputs. The power output transducer is then utilized to position a mechanical device. The control system is a closed loop circuit adapted to supply hydraulic fluid at a desired supply pressure to the control valve. The supply pressure is varied in relation to the absolute value of the pressure differential or load pressure exerted across the input ports of the power output transducer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a instrument for laparoscopic surgery which permits the operating surgeon to irrigate or suction the operative area while performing electrocautery or laser hemostasis and dissection of body tissue with the same instrument.The invention also relates to a laparoscopic tool for evacuating free stones or blood clots from the operating area which are to large to be suctioned from the body cavity or to remove gallstones from a gallbladder which has been distended by stones and cannot be retrieved through an umbillical sheath.

Abstract: The invention relates to a instrument for laparoscopic surgery which permits the operating surgeon to irrigate or suction the operative area while performing electrocautery or laser hemostasis and dissection of body tissue with the same instrument.The invention also relates to a laparoscopic tool for evacuating free stones or blood clots from the operating area which are to large to be suctioned from the body cavity or to remove gallstones from a gallbladder which has been distended by stones and cannot be retrieved through an umbillical sheath.

Abstract: An instrument is set forth for pushing a knot formed extracorporeally through a trocar and into the operative region during endoscopic surgery. An elongated member having an axially extending groove at its distal end is dimensioned to permit the axial advance of a strand of suture material through the groove. A locking sleeve is carried by the elongated member at its distal end and adapted for rotation relative to the elongated member. The locking sleeve has an axially extending slit which in one position may be aligned with the groove for insertion of the suture strand. By rotating the sleeve to a second position, the suture strand is captively retained within the groove so as to permit axial advance of the suture strand as the knot is pushed through the trocar.

Abstract: A preload mechanism for use in a rotary control valve is disclosed. The preload mechanism mechanically interlocks input and output members of the control valve to inhibit relative rotation therebetween when steering torque applied to the input member is below a predetermined preload level. The preload mechanism includes a tension spring ring having at least one pair of elongated slots. Pins secured to each of the input and output members project through and are retained in the slots in an over-constrained manner whereby the preload force is bi-directionally exerted on both of the pins.

Abstract: A preload mechanism for use in a rotary control valve is disclosed. The preload mechanism mechanically interlocks input and output members of the control valve to inhibit relative rotation therebetween when steering torque applied to the input member is below a predetermined preload level. The preload mechanism includes a tension spring ring having at least one pair of elongated slots. Pins secured to each of the input and output members project through and are retained in the slots in an over-constrained manner whereby the preload force is bi-directionally exerted on both of the pins.

Abstract: An electronically controlled power steering system for motor vehicles is disclosed for steering dirigible wheels in response to an input torque applied to a steering wheel. The power steering system includes a mechanical steering gear mechanism coupled to the steering wheel for generating a mechanically derived steering force in response to the input torque. A power cylinder is coupled to the mechanical steering gear mechanism for producing a hydraulically derived steering force which augments the mechanically derived steering force. A control valve is provided which is in fluid communication with the power cylinder for generating differential pressure applied to the power cylinder. A first signal is generated which is indicative of the input torque applied to the steering wheel. A signal processing unit generates an output signal in response to the first signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydro-mechanical or electro-hydro-mechanical control system utilized for positioning a mechanical device. The control system incorporates an open-center control valve for selectively controlling the differential pressure applied to and the differential flow between input ports of a power output transducer in response to a mechanically applied rotational inputs. The power output transducer is then utilized to position a mechanical device. The control system is a closed loop circuit adapted to supply hydraulic fluid at a desired supply pressure to the control valve. The supply pressure is varied in relation to the absolute value of the pressure differential or load pressure exerted across the input ports of the power output transducer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a instrument for laparoscopic surgery which permits the operating surgeon to irrigate or suction the operative area while performing electrocautery or laser hemostasis and dissection of body tissue with the same instrument.The invention also relates to a laparoscopic tool for evacuating free stones or blood clots from the operating area which are to large to be suctioned from the body cavity or to remove gallstones from a gallbladder which has been distended by stones and cannot be retrieved through an umbillical sheath.

Abstract: A fastener system for utilizing an H-shaped fastener which is composed of a pair of shaft members having a diameter of approximately 1 mm that are interconnected by a bridge shaft resiliently joined to the shaft members to form the H-shape. The shaft members have sufficient columnar resistence to bending to permit a shaft member to be compressively inserted into body tissue. A fixation tool carries the fastener for injection into body tissue and has a housing with a needle tip of approximately 5 mm in length. The needle tip has a longitudinally extending slot into which the bridge shaft of the H-shaped fastener member is captively held by interference fit. A setting rod is extendible through the needle tip and bears against a shaft of the H-shaped fastener such that an external force applied to the setting rod will be transmitted to the fastener to drive it into the body tissue.

Abstract: A fastener system utilizes an H-shaped fastener which is composed of a pair of shaft members having a diameter of approximately 1 mm that are interconnected by a bridge shaft resiliently joined to the shaft members to form the H-shape. The shaft members have sufficient columnar resistence to bending to permit a shaft member to be compressively inserted into body tissue. A fixation tool carries the fastener for injection into body tissue and has a housing with a needle tip of approximately 5 mm in length. The needle tip has a longitudinally extending slot into which the bridge shaft of the H-shaped fastener member is captively held by interference fit. A setting rod is extendible through the needle tip and bears against a shaft of the H-shaped fastener such that an external force applied to the setting rod will be transmitted to the fastener to drive it into the body tissue.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing an improved control valve having input and return flow passages that are hydraulically-balanced by virtue of each having a similar flow configuration for fluid flow therethrough. The input and return flow passages are formed to define input and return flow control orifices, respectively, configured for minimizing the possibility of the jet flow issuing from either input or return flow control orifices from impinging upon a surface in juxtaposition to the flow control orifice itself. Thus, the possibility of partial "flow back" into the flow control orifice is eliminated which, in turn, also prevents any significant reduction in the flow control orifice area.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vehicular power steering system having an "open-center" control valve that has substantially zero hydraulic flow gain at zero input deflection angle and yet has minimal control orifice area. Improved valving arrangement is desirable in that it leads to rapid restoration of hydraulic flow gain at relatively small input deflection angles. The improved valving arrangement includes small transverse leakage slots formed in a valve spool that are positioned in parallel with either input or return flow distribution slots. The leakage slots are configured to form parasitic flow orifices which fluidically interconnect the output slots formed in the valve sleeve and which communicate with the fluid chambers formed on opposite sides of the piston in the power cylinder. Accordingly, a selectively variable leakage path is provided across the power cylinder.

Abstract: A tool for inserting a mesh prosthesis into the retroperitoneal space in the laparoscopic repair of inquinal and femoral herniae is set forth which includes a housing having an axially extending passageway therethrough and a carriage member slidingly and telescopically carried by the housing and extending into the passageway. The carriage member has a holding chamber adjacent its distal end for holding the mesh prosthesis in a radially overlapped wound position. An axially extending slot in the carriage member communicates with the holding chamber to permit radial unwinding and passage of the mesh prosthesis from the holding chamber into the retroperitoneal space. The carriage member is slidably and rotatably mounted to the housing to permit axial extension and retraction of the holding chamber from the passageway into and from the retroperitoneal space.

Abstract: An improved open-center improved valving sub-assembly of the type used for power steering systems for motor vehicles is disclosed. In particular, the improved open-center improved valving sub-assembly has a valve spool member with first and second sets of input slots and first and second sets of return slots, and a valve sleeve member with output slots and diversionary slots wherein only the output slots are coupled to a power cylinder member of a host power steering system. The output slots are linked fluidically to the first sets of input and return slots by input and return flow control orifices each comprising overlapping tangentially disposed areas therebetween. The diversionary slots are linked fluidically to the second sets of input and return slots by input and return flow selective control orifices each comprising overlapping tangentially disposed areas therebetween.