Abstract: A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and an elongate shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween.

Abstract: A tissue retrieval device comprises a tissue retrieval bag and resilient arms. The bag is releasably engaged with the resilient arms. One or two resilient arms expand the bag along a first plane to open the mouth of the bag. Another resilient arm expands the bag along a second plane to unfurl the bag. The first plane is substantially perpendicular to the second plane. The device further comprises a support tube having a passageway and a push/pull rod slidingly positioned within the passageway. The resilient arms are engaged with the push/pull rod such that the resilient arms and the push/pull rod travel uniformly relative to the longitudinal axis of the support tube. The arms collapse within the support tube and are resiliently biased to extend outwardly when the push/pull rod is translated distally relative to the support tube to expose the bag and arms.

Abstract: A tissue retrieval device includes an introducer tube and a tissue retrieval bag. The introducer tube is insertable into a patient through a trocar. The bag may be selectively exposed at the distal end of the introducer tube, receive a tissue specimen, and be withdrawn from the patient. The bag includes a plurality of folds allowing the bag to transition from a folded configuration to an unfolded configuration. The folds may extend along a length of the bag transverse to the introducer tube; or along a length of the bag parallel to the introducer tube. The folds may extend about a perimeter of the bag, such as a circumference of the bag, and may be spaced apart along a length of the bag transverse to the introducer tube. The folds may be formed by petals that provide the bag with a generally spherical configuration when the bag is unfolded.

Abstract: A tissue retrieval device includes an introducer tube and a tissue retrieval bag. The introducer tube is sized to be inserted into a patient through a trocar. The tissue retrieval bag may be selectively exposed at the distal end of the introducer tube within the patient. The tissue retrieval bag may receive a tissue specimen and be withdrawn from the patient. The tissue retrieval bag may include an inflatable portion. When inflated, the inflatable portion may extend the tissue retrieval bag from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration. The inflatable portion may substantially seal a tissue specimen within the tissue retrieval bag. The tissue retrieval bag may me formed of an environmentally sensitive material such that the size of the tissue retrieval bag expands when the tissue retrieval bag is exposed within the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus is operable to secure suture fasteners to sutures to eliminate the need to tie knots in the sutures. The apparatus comprises a shaft, an end effector disposed at the distal end of the shaft, and a suture fastener removably secured to the end effector. The end effector may include a pivoting jaw or a suture cutter. The suture fastener may be secured to one, two, or more strands of suture. The apparatus may include several suture fasteners and may secure those fasteners to one or more sutures in a serial fashion without having to remove the apparatus from the patient for reloading. A plurality of fasteners may be arranged within the apparatus in an end-to-end configuration. The suture fastener may include an inner fastener member and an outer fastener member, and may capture one or more strands of suture between the inner and outer fastener members.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and an elongate shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween.

Abstract: A surgical access port comprises a wound protector adapted for insertion into a wound in the abdominal wall of a patient. A resilient pad comprising a laminated structure with a plurality of layers of resilient materials is attached to the wound protector. The pad comprises an aperture adapted to receive and seal against a surgeon's arm or surgical instruments and is self-closing in the absence of a surgeon's arm or surgical instrument.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and an elongate shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween.

Abstract: A method and apparatus effectively bypasses flue gas through or around selected boiler convection heat transfer tube banks within a new or existing boiler flue. Heat transfer tubes are removed, or omitted in the design of a new boiler flue, forming one or more voids at one or more locations within the tube banks. A bypass flue or conduit is formed within each void, for example using steel plates, along with existing flue walls, or using an integral sleeve. A wall of the bypass flue may include water or steam-cooled tubes. Dampers may be installed at either end of or within the bypass flue to control the amount of flue gas directed through each bypass flue.

Abstract: A tissue retrieval device comprises a tissue retrieval bag and resilient arms. The bag is releasably engaged with the resilient arms. One or two resilient arms expand the bag along a first plane to open the mouth of the bag. Another resilient arm expands the bag along a second plane to unfurl the bag. The first plane is substantially perpendicular to the second plane. The device further comprises a support tube having a passageway and a push/pull rod slidingly positioned within the passageway. The resilient arms are engaged with the push/pull rod such that the resilient arms and the push/pull rod travel uniformly relative to the longitudinal axis of the support tube. The arms collapse within the support tube and are resiliently biased to extend outwardly when the push/pull rod is translated distally relative to the support tube to expose the bag and arms.

Abstract: A tissue retrieval device includes an introducer tube and a tissue retrieval bag. The introducer tube is insertable into a patient through a trocar. The bag may be selectively exposed at the distal end of the introducer tube, receive a tissue specimen, and be withdrawn from the patient. The bag includes a plurality of folds allowing the bag to transition from a folded configuration to an unfolded configuration. The folds may extend along a length of the bag transverse to the introducer tube; or along a length of the bag parallel to the introducer tube. The folds may extend about a perimeter of the bag, such as a circumference of the bag, and may be spaced apart along a length of the bag transverse to the introducer tube. The folds may be formed by petals that provide the bag with a generally spherical configuration when the bag is unfolded.

Abstract: A tissue retrieval device includes an introducer tube and a tissue retrieval bag. The introducer tube is sized to be inserted into a patient through a trocar. The tissue retrieval bag may be selectively exposed at the distal end of the introducer tube within the patient. The tissue retrieval bag may receive a tissue specimen and be withdrawn from the patient. The tissue retrieval bag may include an inflatable portion. When inflated, the inflatable portion may extend the tissue retrieval bag from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration. The inflatable portion may substantially seal a tissue specimen within the tissue retrieval bag. The tissue retrieval bag may me formed of an environmentally sensitive material such that the size of the tissue retrieval bag expands when the tissue retrieval bag is exposed within the patient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus effectively bypasses flue gas through or around selected boiler convection heat transfer tube banks within a new or existing boiler flue. Heat transfer tubes are removed, or omitted in the design of a new boiler flue, forming one or more voids at one or more locations within the tube banks. A bypass flue or conduit is formed within each void, for example using steel plates, along with existing flue walls, or using an integral sleeve. A wall of the bypass flue may include water or steam-cooled tubes. Dampers may be installed at either end of or within the bypass flue to control the amount of flue gas directed through each bypass flue.