With Means To Assemble Plural Pieces Of Work Patents (Class 227/19)
  • Patent number: 9675348
    Abstract: Electrically operated surgical instrument, comprising a handle having a power supply; a drive assembly having an electrical motor, a controller electrically connected to the power supply and motor, and a drive part selectively moved by the motor between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position; and a control assembly operably connected to the motor to control a rotation of the motor; an end effector having a tissue-cutting assembly comprising: a blade connected to the drive part to move between opposing compression surfaces over the course of a blade stroke to cut tissue compressed between the compression surfaces, the blade stroke being comprised of the drive part advancing the blade towards the tissue to an extended position and retreating proximally to a retracted position, the control assembly being operable to selectively cause the motor to automatically retreat the drive part to place the blade in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Derek Dee Deville, Carlos Rivera, Matthew A. Palmer
  • Patent number: 9675356
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a handle portion, an elongated portion defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from the handle portion, and first and second jaw members dimensioned to clamp tissue therebetween. The first jaw member has at least one row of fasteners arranged in a row substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. A pin is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first jaw member and is movable between a first position where the engagement section is spaced from the second jaw member and a second position where the engagement section engages the second jaw member. The pin has a non-circular cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Danyel Racenet, Dino Kasvikis
  • Patent number: 9668735
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical instrument for operating on tissue is provided. The surgical instrument includes an end effector including a first tissue engaging member and a second tissue engaging member in juxtaposed relation to the first tissue engaging member; a gap determination element operatively associated with each of the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member for measuring a gap distance between the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member; and a tissue contact determining element operatively associated with a respective tissue contacting surface of at least one of the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member. The present disclosure also relates to methods of using the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Robert J. Beetel
  • Patent number: 9668731
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, a first endoscopic portion, a motor, and a first end effector is disclosed. The first endoscopic portion is selectively connectable to a distal portion of the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The first endoscopic portion includes a housing adjacent its proximal portion and includes an actuation member. The motor is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the housing of the first endoscopic portion and is operatively connected to the actuation member for moving the actuation member substantially along the longitudinal axis. The first end effector is selectively connectable to a distal portion of the first endoscopic portion and is configured to perform a first stapling function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael A. Zemlok, David C. Racenet
  • Patent number: 9649109
    Abstract: Embodiments of a surgical instrument and its methods of use are disclosed. The disclosed embodiments of a surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly distally extending from the handle. The elongated shaft assembly may include an articulable portion. An articulation control may be associated with the elongated shaft assembly. The articulation control may be movable between a first position in which the elongated shaft assembly is arranged in a first articulation position and a second position in which the elongated shaft assembly is arranged in a second articulation position. The surgical instrument may include a fastener deployment system with a locking member. The articulation control may block movement of the locking member when the articulation control is located in the first position. The articulation control may also permit movement of the locking member when the articulation control is located in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ranucci, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix
  • Patent number: 9629676
    Abstract: A surgical tool includes first and second arms including a finger ring on the back section of each arm. A spring is positioned between the back sections of the arms, with the spring urging the back sections of the arms away from each other. First and second jaws are located on the front section of the first and second arms, with first and second electrodes on the first and second jaws. An irrigation port is located on the first arm connected to an irrigation line leading to one or more irrigation fluid outlets in or adjacent to the first or second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: City of Hope
    Inventor: Gagandeep Singh
  • Patent number: 9603599
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil selectively coupleable to a stapling head assembly and a trigger operable to fire staples into tissue compressed between the anvil and the stapling head assembly. In some versions, a lockout member may engage a securing feature to prevent actuation of the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly. For instance, a tab may engage a slot on an actuator, a screen door lock may provide frictional resistance or engage teeth on the actuator, a door may actuate into engagement with one or more recesses, geared teeth may mesh with teeth on the actuator, the lockout member may include a ratcheting assembly to engage actuator, and/or a push button may actuate into a recess while disengaging the lockout member. Alternatively, in some versions, the trigger actuation assembly may be disengaged prior to firing. An anvil position indicator may restrict engagement of the trigger actuation assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Miller, Edward G. Chekan, Johnny H. Alexander, III, John F. Cummings, Carl J. Shurtleff, Adam R. Dunki-Jacobs, Barry T. Jamison, Joseph E. Young, Cortney E. Henderson
  • Patent number: 9597083
    Abstract: A circular stapling instrument including a stapling forming assembly that is actuated independently from actuation of the cutting assembly is provided. The instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongate body extending from the handle assembly, a cartridge assembly mounted on a distal end of the elongate body. The cartridge assembly includes a pusher assembly and a knife assembly. The knife assembly is selectively fixed relative to the pusher assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Christopher Penna
  • Patent number: 9592056
    Abstract: A stapler is provided. The stapler includes a handle assembly and a shaft extending distally from the handle assembly. A tool assembly is configured to selectively couple to the shaft and includes a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a staple guide defining a tissue contacting surface. A resilient member operably positioned within the cartridge assembly is configured to bias the staple guide distally to provide a predetermined compressive force against tissue when the cartridge assembly and anvil are approximated toward one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Patrick Mozdzierz, Christopher Penna
  • Patent number: 9572575
    Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a handle assembly 80 made of paper pulp products or other eco-friendly material. The handle assembly and components of the staple mechanism housing are designed to account for the decreased material strength of the handle assembly. A new retainer clip 81 or handle retainer includes assembly ribs 82 which include interference fit ribs 96. The retainer clip 81 in combination with a raised circular boss 16 of the handle assembly facilities the use of lower strength materials, such as paper pulp products. An efficient staple housing mechanism includes the use of new staple carrier assembly fixture pin 86 and other disclosed components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: NEWGEN SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Robert N Chase, Paul Kardel
  • Patent number: 9566067
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device particularly suited for endoscopic procedures is described. The device includes a handle assembly and an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly. The distal end of the elongated body is adapted to engage a disposable loading unit. A control rod having a proximal end operatively connected to the handle assembly includes a distal end extending through the elongated body. A control rod locking member is provided to prevent movement of the control rod until the disposable loading unit is fully secured to the elongated body of the stapling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Keith L. Milliman, Frank J. Viola, Joseph P. Orban, Randolph F. Lehn
  • Patent number: 9554798
    Abstract: A surgical clip forming apparatus includes an unformed surgical clip having a head section including an upper portion and a lower portion separated from each other to define a first space therebetween in a first configuration, a left leg section including a proximal end and a distal end and a right leg section including a proximal end and a distal end. The surgical clip forming apparatus includes an anvil configured to engage the head section of the surgical clip and a pair of forming pins positioned adjacent the proximal ends of the left and right legs for securing the head section of the unformed surgical clip against the anvil. When a force is applied to the anvil, the upper portion compresses toward the lower portion. The unformed surgical clip transforms into a “T-shaped” clip or a formed clip in a second configuration, after the force has been applied to the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Justin Williams
  • Patent number: 9532782
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument includes a housing. The surgical instrument includes an elongated portion extending distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. An end effector operably couples to the elongated portion. A first pivoting member pivotably couples to a distal end of the elongated portion. The first pivoting member defines a first pivot axis intersecting the longitudinal axis when the first pivoting member is rotated. A distal mounting assembly pivotably couples to the first pivoting member and operably couples to the end effector. The distal mounting assembly defines a second pivot axis intersecting the first pivot axis and the longitudinal axis when the proximal mounting assembly is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Stanislaw Kostrzewski
  • Patent number: 9517063
    Abstract: A cutting blade for a surgical cutting and stapling instrument is disclosed therein. The cutting blade can include one or more features to direct or displace substances released from within the tissue thickness compensators used with the surgical instrument. The cutting blade may include a textured surface that can cause substances from the tissue thickness compensator to spread across the blade surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Swayze, Joshua R. Uth, Richard L. Leimbach, John L. Stammen, Samuel P. Tidwell, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 9498215
    Abstract: A surgical instrument having an elongated shaft having a shaft distal end and a shaft proximal end. An end effector is coupled to the shaft distal end and includes opposed jaws. A housing is included in one of the jaws, the housing having a housing proximal end, a housing distal end, an upper surface, a distal garage having lateral surfaces that extend above the upper surface, and a plurality of staple openings extending through the upper surface. A knife member is supported within the housing for movement distally. The knife member is moveable into a predetermined parked position such that a first portion of the cutting blade displaces below the upper surface and a second portion remains displaced above the upper surface. There is enough lateral clearance in the predetermined parked position between the lateral faces and the second portion to accommodate a dislodged staple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Grant Duque, Tom McNamara, Jeffrey A. Smith, Bennie Thompson, Ashley Wellman, Don Wilson
  • Patent number: 9463021
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongated portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, and an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion. The end effector includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member defines a first axis, which is transverse to the longitudinal axis. The first jaw member is pivotable about the first axis. At least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member is movable with respect to the other between a spaced-apart and an approximated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Stanislaw Kostrzewski
  • Patent number: 9456821
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for forming an anastomosis between adjacent sections of tissue is provided. The apparatus includes a body portion; an actuation assembly operatively supported at a proximal end of the body portion; an anvil assembly movably mounted at the distal end of the body portion for movement toward and away from the body portion; an approximation assembly extending between the body portion and the anvil assembly for moving the anvil toward and away from the tubular body portion; a dispersion assembly operatively associated with the approximation assembly, the dispersion assembly including at least one angled surface defining at least one channel interposed between the anvil assembly and the body portion and being configured to dispense a fluid therefrom; and at least one conduit for conducting wound treatment material to the dispersion assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael J. Bettuchi, Christopher J. Criscuolo
  • Patent number: 9433420
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a housing, an end effector, fasteners, and one or more surgical buttresses. The end effector is secured to the housing and has first and second jaw assemblies. The first jaw assembly defines slots and the second jaw assembly defines pockets. One or both of the first and second jaw assemblies define recesses. The fasteners are disposed in the slots of the first jaw assembly and are formed by the pockets of the second jaw assembly. The one or more surgical buttresses have a body that includes plugs that are integrally formed with the body for insertion into the recesses to secure the surgical buttress(es) to one or both of the first and second jaw assemblies. The body substantially overlies at least some of the slots of the first jaw assembly and/or at least some of the pockets of the second jaw assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Gerald N. Hodgkinson
  • Patent number: 9433418
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling the compression of tissue include clamping tissue between a first clamping member and a second clamping member by driving at least one of the clamping members with an electric motor toward a predetermined tissue gap between the clamping members and, during the clamping, monitoring a parameter of the electric motor indicative of a clamping force exerted to the tissue by the clamping members. The method and device include, during the clamping, controlling the electric motor, based on the monitored parameter, to limit the clamping force to a predetermined maximum limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, Donald Malinouskas, David Zeichner
  • Patent number: 9393014
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument including a handle assembly, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly, a head portion and an indicator. A firing trigger is movable between first and second positions. The head portion includes an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. The anvil assembly is movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions. The indicator is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the handle assembly and is movable between a first position and a second position in response to movement of the anvil assembly towards its approximated position. The indicator is movable between the second position and a third position in response to firing of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Keith L. Milliman
  • Patent number: 9370362
    Abstract: Surgical staplers include: (a) a stapler head having opposed first and second elongate jaws with opposing proximal and distal end portions; (b) a staple cartridge held in at least one of the first and second jaws, the stapler cartridge configured to concurrently deliver a plurality of parallel rows of staples; and (c) a tissue protection segment held in a proximal portion of at least one of the first and second jaws. The jaws are configured to close against target tissue and, at stapler firing, staples are delivered to a subset of tissue held inside the jaws so that tissue held by the tissue protection segment adjacent the proximal end portion of the stapler is not stapled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
    Inventors: John K. Petty, Lucas P. Neff
  • Patent number: 9326771
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument can include a staple cartridge, wherein the staple cartridge includes a cartridge body, a plurality of staples, a cutting member stored therein, and means for covering, enclosing, encasing, and/or protecting the cutting member. In various embodiments, the staple cartridge body can include a housing which can extend around and/or over the cutting member when the cutting member is in an unfired position. In various circumstances, the housing can protect a clinician as they assemble the staple cartridge to the surgical stapling instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC
    Inventors: Chester O. Baxter, III, James J. Bedi
  • Patent number: 9289209
    Abstract: A surgical fastener applying apparatus for applying fasteners to body tissue. The apparatus includes an anvil half-section having a distal anvil portion and a proximal handle portion and a cartridge receiving half-section having an elongated channel member. A firing assembly is releasably supported in the cartridge half-section and includes a locking member. A clamping lever having an engagement member engages a latch portion of the locking member to releasably retain the clamping lever in a clamped position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Aditya Nanditale Gurumurthy, Arvind Kumar Gupta, Kiran Garikipati, Nagaraju Dongala, Nikhil R. Katre
  • Patent number: 9277922
    Abstract: An apparatus for joining two hollow organ sections with an annular array of surgical staples includes a staple cartridge component, an anvil component, a buttress component and a fastening member. The staple cartridge component includes a plurality of surgical staples arranged in an annular array. The anvil component is movable relative to the staple cartridge component between spaced apart and approximated positions to adjustably clamp the organ sections between the staple cartridge and anvil components. The buttress components are configured and dimensioned to be positioned on a distal surface of the staple cartridge component and the proximal surface of the anvil component. In particular, the buttress component includes a buttress member and a plurality of circumferentially arranged tabs extending proximally from the buttress member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Sally Carter, Richard Stevenson
  • Patent number: 9265506
    Abstract: In order to further develop a surgical instrument with an energy-driven operating device, an energy storage device as well as a control device for driving the operating device as required and supplying it with energy from the energy storage device such that an optimum utilization of the capacity of the energy storage device is achieved without any risk for the surgeon or the patient, in particular in view of the different energy requirements of the individual operating processes, it is suggested that when a predetermined state of residual charge of the energy storage device is reached and/or it is fallen below for the first time the control device make its residual charge available for returning the tool into a rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Peter Schulz, Markus Nesper, Dieter Weisshaupt, Konstantin Faulhaber
  • Patent number: 9226749
    Abstract: A surgical stapler uses a sheath 1 to protect a handle assembly 80 made of paper pulp products or other eco-friendly material. The sheath includes seams 3 and grip tabs 2 and encloses the handle assembly while the handle assembly is attached to a staple mechanism housing 15. After surgical use or exposure to biohazards, the grip tabs 2 of the sheath may be pulled, uncovering the handle assembly, separating the handle assembly from the staple mechanism housing and allowing the protected handle assembly to be dropped into clean bin container for eco-friendly recycling. The handle assembly and components of the staple mechanism housing are designed to account for the decreased material strength of the recyclable handle assembly. After use, the fouled sheath and staple mechanism housing are disposed in traditional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: NEWGEN SURGICAL, INC
    Inventors: Robert N Chase, Paul Kardel
  • Patent number: 9226752
    Abstract: A surgical fastening instrument is provided. The surgical fastening instrument includes a handle portion and an elongate portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis along a length thereof. The surgical fastening instrument also includes an end effector assembly that includes an anvil and a cartridge supported adjacent a distal end of the elongate portion. Each of the anvil and the cartridge includes a tissue contacting surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. One or more independently movable pushers is configured to support one or more surgical fasteners. A thrust bar is operatively coupled to the elongate portion, wherein the thrust bar is movable over a predetermined stroke to effect sequential ejection of at least two surgical fasteners of the plurality of surgical fasteners from the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Stanislaw Marczyk, Dino Kasvikis
  • Patent number: 9198703
    Abstract: System for inserting an augmentation pin into an augmentation screw, comprising a pin inserter with an axial through-bore and a lateral opening, a pin-magazine with a pin-retainer for an augmentation pin, wherein the pin-magazine may be placed in the lateral opening of the pin-inserter and an augmentation pin in the pin-retainer may be aligned with the axial through-bore. The augmentation pin may be pushed by means of a pusher from the pin-magazine into an augmentation screw, when the augmentation screw is arranged in front of the pin-inserter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignees: Stryker Trauma GmbH, Woodwelding AG
    Inventors: Helge Giersch, Ingo Bauer, Jörg Mayer, Philipp Seiler
  • Patent number: 9193492
    Abstract: An improved fastener stock comprised of a pair of longitudinal and continuous side members which are coupled to a plurality of equidistantly spaced cross-pieces. The pair of longitudinal and continuous side members are extended in a parallel spaced relationship, and the series of cross-pieces are arranged at spaced intervals between the side members so as to connect the side members. Along at least one of the side members, a series of engagement notches are present at spaced intervals between each of the cross-pieces members, and the engagement notches are rectangular or square in shape. A method of applying a fastener to an article is provided. The method includes initially feeding substantially continuous fastener stock from a supply, engaging at least one engagement notch, urging the fastener stock forward, feeding the fastener stock to a needle assembly, cutting a fastener from the fastener stock, and inserting the fastener into an article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Cooper
  • Patent number: 9168040
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for applying fasteners during endoscopic surgery are provided. The apparatus generally comprises a handle portion, a triggering mechanism and a fastener applicator. One embodiment of the invention forms the fastener around a single focal point on an anvil. Another embodiment vertically stacks the fasteners in a fastener applicator which is readily detachable from the handle portion by virtue of a rotational locking system and which may be replaced with a new fastener applicator having a fresh load of vertically stacked fasteners. The various embodiments may be variously combined together in a single device. The methods generally include the following steps: forming a fastener by placing it over a single focal point anvil and pressing the fastener against the single focal point anvil using a slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventors: Helmut L. Kayan, James E. Jervis
  • Patent number: 9168039
    Abstract: One example of a surgical apparatus may include a staple holder; at least one feeder belt fixed to the staple holder; and staples integral with and frangibly separable from the feeder belt; where at least one of the staples is sized differently from at least one other staple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Cardica, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan D. Knodel
  • Patent number: 9125651
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a removable insert including a measurement indicator, and an end effector positioned at a distal end of the body. The end effector has a distal interior surface facing a proximal end of the body. The end effector is configured to receive the insert. An actuation feature is in communication with the end effector and the insert when the insert is received in the end effector. The actuation feature is configured to advance the insert distally toward the distal interior surface of the end effector. The measurement indicator of the removable insert is configured to determine the thickness of tissue positioned between the removable insert and the distal interior surface of the end effector. Based on the measured tissue thickness, a user selects a cartridge configured to at least staple (and perhaps also sever) the measured tissue. The cartridge is received within the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkataramanan Mandakolathur Vasudevan, Steven G. Hall
  • Patent number: 9038881
    Abstract: One example of a surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt, a plurality of staples frangibly connected to the feeder belt, and at least one pull tab extending laterally from the feeder belt. An example of a surgical method of treating tissue within the body of a patient may include providing at least one feeder belt and staples frangibly connected thereto, and at least one wedge movable relative to the feeder belt; moving at least one wedge in a first direction to contact and thereby form and shear at least one staple from at least one feeder belt; and moving at least one wedge in a second direction to engage and advance the feeder belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Cardica, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Schaller, Philipe R. Manoux
  • Patent number: 9038880
    Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a shaft defining a lumen therein; articulation bands extending through and slidable generally longitudinally within the lumen of the shaft; an end effector affixed to the articulation bands; and generally annular segments positioned about the articulation bands along at least a portion of the length of the articulation bands to define an articulated region, where the segments laterally constrain the articulation bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Cardica, Inc.
    Inventor: Brendan M. Donohoe
  • Patent number: 9033201
    Abstract: A device for attaching a sheet-like implant to a target tissue. The device includes a fastener push rod including a first portion, a second portion and a force limiting mechanism operably coupled between the first portion and the second portion. A fastener is carried by the second portion of the fastener push rod. The force limiting mechanism transmits longitudinal movement of the first portion to the second portion while the forces applied to the fastener by the fastener push rod are less than a predetermined value such that longitudinal movement of the first portion of the fastener push rod causes substantially equivalent longitudinal movement of the second portion. The force limiting mechanism allows relative longitudinal motion between the first and second portions while the forces applied to the fastener are equal to or greater than the predetermined value such that the application of undue forces to the fastener is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Rotation Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles L. Euteneuer
  • Patent number: 9027817
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device particularly suited for endoscopic procedures is described. The device includes a handle assembly and an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly. The distal end of the elongated body is adapted to engage a disposable loading unit. A control rod having a proximal end operatively connected to the handle assembly includes a distal end extending through the elongated body. A control rod locking member is provided to prevent movement of the control rod until the disposable loading unit is fully secured to the elongated body of the stapling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Keith L. Milliman, Frank J. Viola, Joseph P. Orban, Randolph F. Lehn
  • Patent number: 9022272
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of chambers for receiving an associated plurality of staples, each formed with a shape memory that allows the staple to adopt a straightened configuration, when placed in a stapler, and a deployed configuration for suturing when released from the stapler; and a sleeve moveable relative to the chambers between a first position, in which the staples are trapped by the sleeve within the chambers in the straightened configuration, and a second position, whereby the staples are freed to adopt the deployed configuration, wherein the sleeve is adapted to move between the first and second positions by rotating relative to the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Endogene Limited
    Inventors: Mikhail Soutorine, Artem N Chernov-Haraev
  • Patent number: 9016546
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device including a handle assembly, an endoscopic portion and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the handle assembly and defines a first longitudinal axis. The end effector defines a second longitudinal axis and includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The anvil assembly is supported adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion and includes a dissecting tip extending therefrom. The cartridge assembly is pivotably mounted adjacent the distal end of the endoscopic portion. The cartridge assembly is mounted for pivotal movement in relation to the anvil assembly between open and approximated positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Todd Demmy, Lee Ann Nelson
  • Patent number: 9016545
    Abstract: An end effector includes a first jaw member, a second jaw member, a drive beam, and a drive screw. The second jaw member is pivotally movable relative to the first jaw member between an open position and a closed position. The drive beam is positioned to engage the second jaw member and is longitudinally movable through the first and second jaw members. The drive screw is supported within the first jaw member and includes a threaded portion coupled to the drive beam such that rotation of the drive screw imparts longitudinal movement of the drive beam along the second jaw member to move the first and second jaw members from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Ernest Aranyi, Dwight Bronson, David Racenet
  • Patent number: 9016543
    Abstract: A surgical stapler is provided having a pair of jaws including a staple containing cartridge and an anvil. Buttress material is releasable affixed to the staple containing cartridge and the anvil. One of the jaws includes a pair of longitudinal projections at a first end of the jaw and configured to frictionally engage corresponding slots in a first end the buttress material. One of the jaws includes a post at a second end of the jaw. The buttress material includes a hole in a second end of the buttress material for receipt of the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Megan L. (Prommersberger) Stopek
  • Patent number: 9016539
    Abstract: A cartridge assembly is disclosed. The cartridge assembly includes a channel and a removable assembly in releasable engagement with the channel. The removable assembly includes a cartridge body and a support plate. The cartridge body includes an engagement structure disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof. The support plate is configured to mechanically engage the cartridge body and includes an engagement structure disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof. The engagement structure of the cartridge body is configured for longitudinal alignment with the engagement structure of the support plate. The engagement structures of the cartridge body and the engagement structure of the support plate are configured to mechanically engage the engagement structure of the channel when the removable assembly is engaged with the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Stanislaw Kostrzewski, Ernest Aranyi, Paul A. Scirica, William Powers
  • Patent number: 9016538
    Abstract: A corner device (10) having a main body (12) for carrying information or an ornamental pattern on an upper surface and locating formation (14) extending from one end of the main body. The locating formation locates and aligns the corner device with respect to an article before attaching the corner device to the article. The locating formation is shaped to receive the legs of a staple on either side thereof. The device also includes a folding area adapted to allow the main body to be folded over the locating formation once the corner device has been attached to the article, thereby to display the information or ornamental pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventor: Charles Dale Ramsden
  • Patent number: 9016540
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling the compression of tissue include clamping tissue between a first clamping member and a second clamping member by driving at least one of the clamping members with an electric motor toward a predetermined tissue gap between the clamping members and, during the clamping, monitoring a parameter of the electric motor indicative of a clamping force exerted to the tissue by the clamping members. The method and device include, during the clamping, controlling the electric motor, based on the monitored parameter, to limit the clamping force to a predetermined maximum limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, Donald Malinouskas, David A. Zeichner
  • Patent number: 9010606
    Abstract: A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus is provided and includes a tool assembly having a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly that are movable in relation to one another; a surgical buttress releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly, wherein each surgical buttress is secured to the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly by at least one anchor; a release assembly associated with the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly; and a drive assembly slidably translatable through the tool assembly between proximal and distal positions, wherein the drive assembly actuates the release assembly to thereby release the anchor to free the surgical buttress from the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Ernest Aranyi, Patrick Mozdzierz, Lee Olson, Sachin Shah, Kevin Golebieski, Richard Simpson, Anthony Gaddy
  • Patent number: 9010612
    Abstract: An apparatus for joining two hollow organ sections with an annular array of surgical staples includes a staple cartridge, an anvil, a buttress member, and a buttress mount. In particular, the staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical staples in an annular array. The anvil includes an anvil member and a shaft extending therefrom. The anvil member defines a plurality of staple pockets for deforming the surgical staples. The anvil is movable relative to the staple cartridge component between spaced apart and approximated positions to adjustably clamp tissue between the staple cartridge and the anvil. The buttress member is concentrically aligned with the plurality of staple pockets defined in the anvil member. The buttress mount is detachably secured with the shaft of the anvil. The buttress mount includes at least one support member radially extending outward to secure the buttress member to the anvil member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Richard P. Stevenson, Thomas Casasanta, Jr., Sally Carter
  • Patent number: 9010607
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument includes a housing. The surgical instrument includes an elongated portion extending distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. An end effector operably couples to the elongated portion. A first pivoting member pivotably couples to a distal end of the elongated portion. The first pivoting member defines a first pivot axis intersecting the longitudinal axis when the first pivoting member is rotated. A distal mounting assembly pivotably couples to the first pivoting member and operably couples to the end effector. The distal mounting assembly defines a second pivot axis intersecting the first pivot axis and the longitudinal axis when the proximal mounting assembly is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Stanislaw Kostrzewski
  • Patent number: 9010610
    Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical stapler comprising a staple cartridge having a tissue contacting surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite the first side surface, an anvil plate having a tissue contacting surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite the first side surface, wherein the first and second side surfaces of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate have overmolded zones, a buttress releasably disposed on the tissue contacting surfaces of each of the staple cartridge and the anvil plate, and a pair of sutures wherein each suture is bonded to the respective overmolded zones of the first and second side surfaces configured to retain the respective buttress atop the respective tissue contacting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Gerald Hodgkinson
  • Patent number: 9010609
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device for joining tissue portions includes a handle assembly, and a tubular body portion having a staple cartridge assembly containing a plurality of surgical staples in an annular array. The surgical stapling device includes an anvil assembly having a shaft for removably connecting the anvil assembly to the tubular body portion. The anvil assembly and the tubular body portion are juxtaposed with respect to one another along the shaft and are arranged so as to be approximated with respect to one another. The surgical stapling device includes a buttress material supported by the tubular body portion and disposed between the anvil assembly and the staple cartridge assembly. The surgical stapling device includes a suture material that is adapted for engagement with the tubular body portion and the buttress material to secure the buttress material to the tubular body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Sally Carter, Richard P. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 9004337
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a spontaneous joining unit and a deformative joining unit. The spontaneous joining unit overlaps a first substrate and a second substrate and spontaneously joins mutual center portions of respective joint faces of the first substrate and the second substrate. The deformative joining unit deforms at least one peripheral portion of the respective joint faces of the first substrate and second substrate joined by the spontaneous joining unit toward the other peripheral portion and joins the mutual peripheral portions of the respective joint faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Satoshi Hongo, Kenji Takahashi, Kazumasa Tanida
  • Patent number: 8998951
    Abstract: One exemplary process for manufacturing a surgical apparatus may include providing a flat, generally-planar strip of biocompatible material; cutting the strip to produce a feeder belt with at least one lateral edge, and staples affixed to the feeder belt in proximity to at least one lateral edge, where the staples and feeder belt are substantially aligned along a first plane; and bending at least one staple out of the first plane, while the feeder belt remains in the first plane. Another exemplary process for manufacturing a surgical apparatus may include providing a flat, generally-planar strip of biocompatible material; cutting that strip to produce a feeder belt with edges, and staples affixed to different edges of the feeder belt; and coining at least one staple after the cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Cardica, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan D. Knodel, Philipe R. Manoux