Cutting Patents (Class 600/564)
  • Patent number: 9526482
    Abstract: A medical instrument includes an outer shaft, a transmitting device arranged for transferring at least a force or torque and a tool having a coupling device for detachable mechanical connection of the tool and a coupling device on the distal end of the outer shaft and having a transferring coupling device for the detachable mechanical connection of the tool and a tool coupling device on the distal end of the transmitting device. The mechanical connection of the tool coupling device on the outer shaft and the outer shaft coupling device buildable by moving the outer shaft in relation to the tool in a first direction. The mechanical connection of the tool and transfer coupling devices on the transmitting device and device buildable by moving the transmitting device in relation to the tool in a second direction. The first direction opposite to the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Bacher, Robin Merz, Sven Schneider, Jochen Stefan
  • Patent number: 9517072
    Abstract: Apparatus for advancing a vascular implant into a blood vessel. The apparatus comprises a first elongate member, the first elongate member having sufficient column strength to function as a pusher member; and a second elongate member, the second elongate member being thinner than the first elongate member and extending to a distal end located at a first point which is at or near a distal end of the first elongate member. The elongate members form an implant retaining portion while the distal end of the second elongate member is located at the first point. The implant retaining portion is located proximal of the first point. The implant retaining portion comprises a space located between the elongate members and configured for receiving an implant portion, with the first elongate member on one side of the space and the second elongate member on another side. The implant retaining portion further comprises a proximal side and a distal side which further circumscribe the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Michael S. Mirizzi
  • Patent number: 9498242
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a shaft, an end effector, and a push/pull drive element is provided. The push/pull drive element may include a head extending perpendicular to a push/pull direction of the push/pull element. The head of the push/pull drive element may have end portions each having a cross-section that differs from a cross-section of a main portion of the head between the end portions. The push/pull drive element may include an engagement portion in contact with the end effector to actuate the end effector. The engagement portion may have a first width and an end portion may have a second width, with the second width being greater than the first width. A surgical instrument is also provided that may include an electrical connector connecting at least one conduit providing electrical energy to the end effector. The end effector may be in sliding contact with a portion of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Inuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel T. Crews, John Ryan Steger
  • Patent number: 9498241
    Abstract: A medical instrument with a shaft, a handle positioned on the proximal end of the shaft, a tool positioned on the distal end of the shaft with two jaw members that can be displaced between an open and a closed position, and with an actuating element by which the handle and tool are in active connection with one another and where each jaw member of the tool consists of an inner cheek and an outer cheek, which are connected with one another on the distal end of each jaw member and are distanced from one another in the proximal direction, and at least one connecting brace is positioned between the inner cheek and the outer cheek. The medical instrument has jaw members, while preserving flexibility, have an increased dimensional stability, in particular with respect to torsion impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Leonhard, Ralf Staud
  • Patent number: 9492233
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic surgical tool having opposing jaws, the working element of the robotic surgical tool is made of a different material from the drive element of the robotic surgical tool. The two elements may be manufactured independently and assembled together at a later stage. The material comprising each element may thus have properties more appropriate to the function each element plays in the robotic surgical tool. For example, the metal selected to comprise the blade of a surgical scissor may be corrosion resistant and capable of being sharpened to a high degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew R. Williams
  • Patent number: 9486184
    Abstract: A biopsy device may be used to obtain and store multiple tissue samples. The device permits the tissue samples to be stored in a sequenced fashion within a generally transparent tissue storage chamber disposed at a proximal end of the biopsy device. The tissue samples can be stored on flexible tissue sample strips arranged around the circumference of a rotating vacuum manifold disposed within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Devicor Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Hibner, Wells D. Haberstich, Kenneth E. Hogue, Michele D'Arcangelo, Trevor W. V. Speeg
  • Patent number: 9456808
    Abstract: A biopsy system includes an elongate cannula coupled to and extending from a support structure, the cannula having a distal portion with a tissue receiving aperture in a side wall thereof, and an elongate hollow introducer sized and configured to be mounted to the support structure over the cannula. The support structure and a proximal portion of the introducer are respectively configured for providing releasable attachment of the introducer to the support structure over the cannula in a first attachment configuration, in which the distal portion of the cannula extends out an open distal end of the introducer with the tissue receiving aperture unobscured by the introducer, and in a second attachment configuration, in which the distal portion of the cannula extends out the open distal end of the introducer with the tissue receiving aperture partially obscured by the introducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Kapushion
  • Patent number: 9456844
    Abstract: An atherectomy device has a drive circuit which rotates a direct-current motor. The drive circuit has a three-terminal regulator having an ADJ terminal. A partial pressure resistor is connected between the ADJ terminal and an output terminal of the three-terminal regulator. Moreover, one end of six variable resistors whose resistances are set to be different from each other is connected to the ADJ terminal. The other end of the six variable resistors is selectively connected to the negative electrode of a battery by a change-over switch which is a rotary switch having six contacts. When the variable resistors are switched by the change-over switch, the output current of the three-terminal regulator becomes large. Thus, the rotation speed of a cutter which is rotated by the direct-current motor becomes high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: NIPRO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Soeda, Katsuya Miyagawa, Yuuki Nishimura, Misa Kakinoki
  • Patent number: 9439673
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of method and apparatus are provided for resurfacing of skin that includes formation of a plurality of small holes, e.g., having widths less than about 1 mm or 0.5 mm, using a mechanical apparatus, thus avoiding generation of thermal damage as occurs with conventional laser resurfacing procedures and devices. The holes formed can be well-tolerated by the skin, and can exhibit shorter healing times and less swelling than conventional resurfacing procedures. The apparatus includes one or more needles adapted to remove a small portion of tissue when inserted into and withdrawn from the skin. The fractional surface coverage of the holes can be between about 0.1 and 0.7, or between about 0.2 and 0.5. The exemplary method and apparatus can produce cosmetic effects such as increases in collagen content, epidermal thickness, and dermal/epidermal junction undulations in the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventor: William G. Austen
  • Patent number: 9436333
    Abstract: A processing method for implementing high resolution output of a capacitive touch pad on a low-end single-chip microcomputer. The low-end single-chip microcomputer device comprises a master control single-chip microcomputer unit (MCU), a self-checking capacitance sensing module and a capacitive touch pad. The master control single-chip microcomputer module controls the self-checking capacitance sensing module to obtain source data acquired by the self-checking capacitance sensing module from the capacitive touch pad, then the source data are subjected to touch position computing by the master control single-chip microcomputer to obtain an original coordinate data of a touch point, and then a coordinate position can be obtained through an optimizing computation processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: GEMSTAR TECHNOLOGY (CHINA) CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Ivan Li
  • Patent number: 9414814
    Abstract: A biopsy device comprises a probe body, a cannula extending distally from the probe body, a cutter moveable relative to the cannula to sever tissue, and a tissue sample holder coupled with the probe body. The tissue sample holder comprises a rotatable member having a plurality of recesses to receive tissue samples. The rotatable member can be operable to successively index each recess relative to a lumen defined by the cutter. A cover portion may be associated with the rotatable member and permits one or more recesses to be viewable through the cover. The recesses may be configured to carry one or more tissue samples as the rotatable member is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Devicor Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Hibner, Trevor W. V. Speeg, Bennie Thompson, Richard P. Nuchols, Wells D. Haberstich, Gavin M. Monson, Robert F. Weikel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9402723
    Abstract: A penile prosthesis implantation device includes a barrel having a bore, and an obturator that is received within the bore and is configured to slide along a longitudinal axis of the bore relative to the barrel. A distal end of the obturator includes a needle clamp and one or more bore engaging members. The needle clamp is configured to hold a thread attachment end of a needle. Each bore engaging member includes a surface that engages an interior wall of the bore. A gap extends between a central portion of the obturator and the one or more bore engaging members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Inventors: Charles C. Kuyava, Gary Rocheleau
  • Patent number: 9386966
    Abstract: A tissue removal apparatus and needle assembly for extracting a tissue portion from tissue or the like, the needle assembly comprising an inner tube having an interior cavity, an outer cannula having a proximal end, a distal end and an interior cavity, the interior cavity of the outer cannula having an interior diameter to slidably receive the inner tube and a collapsible section operably engaged with the inner tube and the outer cannula whereby a forward movement of a portion of the inner tube within the interior cavity of the outer cannula changes the collapsible section from a neutral position to a collapsed position to engage the tissue portion. A method of tissue removal comprising the steps of positioning a needle assembly in a tissue, engaging a tissue portion and withdrawing the needle assembly to remove the tissue portion from the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Theragenics Corporation
    Inventors: Hugh Tripp, Thomas R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9375219
    Abstract: Medical systems, devices and methods are provided for engaging tissue, e.g. for clipping tissue, closing a perforation or performing hemostasis. Generally, the medical system including a housing, first and second jaws rotatable relative to the housing, a driver, and an elongate drive wire. The elongate drive wire may be disconnected from the driver, first and second jaws, and the housing, which are left in vivo engaged with the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Vihar C. Surti, Michelle D. Martinez
  • Patent number: 9375255
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a reusable handle assembly and a removable and disposable transmission assembly. The handle assembly includes a trigger, a housing having a distal aperture formed in a distal end of the housing, a button disposed on a top surface of the housing, and a biasing member in communication with the button. The transmission assembly includes a proximal shaft, a rotator knob having a coupling feature, a distal shaft assembly extending distally from the proximal shaft, and an end effector at the distal end of the distal shaft assembly. The biasing member of the handle assembly is adjustably coupled to the coupling feature of the transmission assembly. Another version includes a movable yoke configured to engage an inner tube of the transmission assembly. Yet another version includes a waveguide of the transmission assembly non-threadably coupled to a transducer via a biasing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Houser, Barry C. Worrell, Stephen J. Balek, Galen C. Robertson, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Richard W. Timm, Kyle P. Moore, Gregory W. Johnson, John B. Schulte, Daniel J. Mumaw
  • Patent number: 9364252
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus includes an elongated member (1), a dissection module (10), and an extraction module (701). The dissection module is removably attachable to a first end of the elongated member and includes a tissue separating device (10). The extraction module is removably attachable to the first end of the elongated member and includes a suction port and a tissue removal implement (13,14) disposed within the suction port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: PiloFocus, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos K. Wesley
  • Patent number: 9358069
    Abstract: A forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members movable relative to one another between a spaced-apart position, a first approximated position, and a second approximated position. One or both of the jaw members including a first stop member coupled thereto and disposed between the jaw members. The first stop member is longitudinally translatable along a surface of the at least one jaw member from a first position, wherein the first stop member inhibits approximation of the jaw members beyond the first approximated position, and a second position, wherein the first stop member inhibits approximation of the jaw members beyond the second approximated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: William H. Nau, Jr., Arlen J. Reschke, Robert M. Sharp, Duane E. Kerr
  • Patent number: 9357988
    Abstract: A spinal surgery retractor and method of use. The retractor includes a slotted keyway for integrating a keyed spinal distractor. The retractor and distractor combination slide together to displace a portion of the intervertebral disk space to restore or maintain intervertebral spacing and facilitate retraction of surrounding soft tissues while disk space surgery is performed. The distractor head and mating portion of the retractors have matching profiles that enable the retractor to maintain distraction of the vertebra after removal of the distractor portion of the tool, permitting access to increase at the operating site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Marshall Ephraim Stauber
  • Patent number: 9314254
    Abstract: Devices and methods for removing a spinal disc are provided herein. Discectomy instruments are disclosed that can remove a spinal disc in a single-pass, i.e., without repeatedly inserting and removing the instrument from a patient. In an exemplary embodiment, the discectomy instrument includes a distal housing, at least one cutting blade, and a handle. When the distal housing is positioned adjacent to a spinal disc, a handle can be actuated to advance the cutting blade along a substantially arc-shaped path through the disc. In certain aspects, the path of the blade can correspond to the anatomy of the disc and to the approach used to access the spine. A second cutting blade can be advanced through the disc and can intersect with the arc-shaped path, forming a complete cut. The cut disc can be received in the distal housing and removed from the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Livorsi, Francisco A. Amaral, Paul Monteiro, Rod G. Cameron
  • Patent number: 9297776
    Abstract: An improved probe designed in particular but not exclusively for measuring the concentration of live biomass. The probe has an insulating body portion arranged to carry a first and second electrode where the probe has a longitudinal axis and the first and second electrodes extend in this longitudinal axis. The body portion has a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the longitudinal axis defined by a major axis and minor axis, wherein the length of the body portion in the major axis is greater than the length of the body portion in the minor axis. The first and second electrodes are positioned on either side of the major axis. This reduces the effect of impedance between the electrode and the liquid through increasing the effective distance between the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: ABER INSTRUMENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: Lindsay Agate
  • Patent number: 9295454
    Abstract: An endoscopic needle for collecting tissue, cell and/or fluid specimens from a patient that uses a multi-channel connector having a first channel for accepting a vacuum source that will fluidly connect with a hollow needle at the distal end, and a second channel for receiving a stylet therein, an outer sheath having proximal and distal ends with the proximal end being operatively connected to a lower portion of a leur-lock, an inner tube fluidly connected to the multi-channel connector and an outer needle assembly connected to or as part of the inner tube, an inner needle or a stylet having a proximal end attached to a cap removably connected to the second channel, the stylet having a distal end connected to an inner needle or slidingly positioned within the outer needle, and a fluid pathway from the multi-channel connector to the interior of the outer needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Ko-Pen Wang
  • Patent number: 9295485
    Abstract: A surgical device for use in combination with a percutaneous elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis. The shaft comprises a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end comprising an attachment mechanism. A surgical end effector is selectively attachable in vivo and detachable in vivo to the attachment mechanism of the percutaneous elongate shaft. A percutaneous elongate loader comprises an articulating distal end. The distal end comprises a tube with an opening at the distal tip, the tube being dimensioned to receive the surgical end effector. The distal end further comprises an engagement feature capable of frictionally holding the surgical end effector in the tube during in vivo attachment to and in vivo detachment from the percutaneous elongate shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Conlon, James T. Spivey, Kevin M. Huey, Rudolph H. Nobis
  • Patent number: 9265638
    Abstract: The invention discloses a one-piece stent implanter, including a front handle and a rear handle; the front end of the front handle is provided with an outer pipe whose top is flexibly connected with a cautery tip, the outer pipe is internally provided with a middle pipe and a stent; the rear handle includes a stainless steel pipe for supporting and an inner pipe positioned in the stainless steel pipe, the top of the inner pipe is fixedly connected to the cautery tip; one end of the middle pipe is mutually touched and connected with one end of the stent, while the other end of the middle pipe is mutually connected with the stainless steel pipe; one end of the stent is close to the cautery tip, with a certain gap kept; when the front handle is retreated along the stainless steel pipe, the outer pipe simultaneously retreats and separates from the cautery tip, positions of the middle pipe and the rear handle remain unchanged, and the stent is automatically released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignees: SHENGJING HOSPITAL OF CHINA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Siyu Sun, Xiaodan Chen, Chuanming Li, Nan Ge, Sheng Wamg, Jintao Guo, Derong Leng
  • Patent number: 9259211
    Abstract: An excisional biopsy and delivery device may comprise one or more rotating, penetrating and cutting rod elements. The rod elements may be configured to advance from a stored and confined first position and rotate about an axis, while being simultaneously revolved about a central axis. The rod elements may then assume a second released and expanded configuration that is operative to cut around and surround target tissue. In this manner, the rod elements are operative to move through the surrounding tissue to create a volume of revolution and to sever and capture the target tissue contained within the volume of revolution from the surrounding tissue. The severed and captured volume of revolution containing the target tissue may then be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: TRANSMED7, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene H Vetter, James W Vetter, Alisen E Vetter
  • Patent number: 9241691
    Abstract: The device is used to remove tissue from a patient and to also place a marker in the patient. The device has an opening through which tissue enters the device. The tissue which enters the opening is cut and the tissue is removed. The device may be used a number of times to remove a number of tissue masses. The device also includes a marker which the user may release in the patient at the desired time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ENCAPSULE MEDICAL, LLC
    Inventor: James W. Vetter
  • Patent number: 9226756
    Abstract: A bone access instrument comprising a shaft having a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion. The first shaft portion has a first diameter, a distal end, and at least one cutting edge formed on the distal end. The second shaft portion has a second diameter and a tapered distal end. The second diameter is less than the first diameter, and the second shaft portion extends axially from the distal end of the first shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Jacques Teisen, Rainer Ponzer
  • Patent number: 9226733
    Abstract: A biopsy device includes a coring cannula, a retract stylet, and a localization needle. The coring cannula has a longitudinal axis and a shaft centered on the axis. The stylet has a tip containing at least one blade and a central passage. The localization needle has a channel and is slidably disposed within the central passage. A drive mechanism rotates the cannula and moves the cannula in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. A guide element has a first end and a second end and is slidably disposed within the channel of the localization needle. The guide element is movable from a first position to a second position within the localization needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: SITESELECT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Martin L. Flatland, Bamdad Hassanpourgol
  • Patent number: 9226762
    Abstract: An atraumatic microsurgical forceps may include an actuation structure, an actuation sleeve having an actuation sleeve distal end and an actuation sleeve proximal end, a surgical blank, and atraumatic forceps jaws of the surgical blank having atraumatic forceps jaws distal ends and atraumatic forceps jaws proximal ends. The surgical blank may be disposed within the actuation sleeve wherein at least a portion of the atraumatic forceps jaws extends from the actuation sleeve distal end. A compression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually extend the actuation sleeve over the atraumatic forceps jaws proximal ends. An extension of the actuation sleeve over the atraumatic forceps jaws proximal ends may be configured to gradually close the atraumatic forceps jaws wherein the atraumatic forceps jaws initially contact at the atraumatic forceps jaws distal ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Katalyst Surgical, LLC
    Inventors: Gregg D Scheller, Carl C Awh
  • Patent number: 9220528
    Abstract: Discectomy kits with obturator, guard cannulas are provided. The kits have a safe and efficient cutting heads for removing a target tissue from a subject during a surgical procedure are provided, the cutting heads composing a part of systems that address several problems, including clogging of state-of-the-art systems during removal of such tissue, for example. The target tissue can include any tissue that is accessible through a small surgical opening, for example, a joint tissue such as a meniscus or an intervertebral tissue, such as a nucleus pulposus. The devices can be referred to as orthopedic tissue removal devices having cutting heads associated with vacuum systems, making the systems useful in several procedures, including X-LIF (lateral approach to an intervertebral fusions) procedures, T-LIF (transforaminal approach to intervertebral fusions) procedures, P-LIF (posterior approach to intervertebral fusions), and a percutaneous, transforaminal approach (Kambin triangle access).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: OUROBOROS MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventor: John To
  • Patent number: 9220483
    Abstract: A medical device for reducing the force necessary to penetrate living being tissue using a variety of reciprocating motion actuators. The reciprocating actuator drives a penetrating member, such as a needle, through the tissue at a reduced force while the device detects the passage of the penetrating member through the tissue. Upon passage of the penetrating member through the tissue, a feedback system monitors electromechanical properties of a control signal of the device and automatically modifies control based thereon, e.g., electrical power to the reciprocating actuator is automatically terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Actuated Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Frankhouser, Maureen L. Mulvihill, Roger B. Bagwell, Ryan S. Clement, Gabriela Hernandez Mesa, Ryan M. Sheehan, Brian M. Park
  • Patent number: 9220525
    Abstract: A medical instrument includes a handle on the proximal end and a shank rotatably arranged on the handle. A tool is arranged on the distal end of the shank. This tool is rotatable relative to the shank. An actuation element is arranged on the handle. The actuation element may be moved into at least two switch positions, wherein in a first switch position the actuation element is coupled in movement to the shank and in a second switch position the actuation element is coupled in movement to the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Boebel, Stephan Prestel, Eberhard Körner, Ernst Falk
  • Patent number: 9204923
    Abstract: An electrically energized medical instrument uses one or more drive cables to both actuate mechanical components of a wrist mechanism or an effector and to electrically energize the effector. Electrical isolation can be achieved using an insulating main tube through which drive cables extend from a backend mechanism to the effector, an insulating end cover that leaves only the desired portions of the effector exposed, and one or more seals to prevent electrically conductive liquid from entering the main tube. Component count and cost may be further reduced using a pair of pulleys that are shared by four drive cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Scott E. Manzo, William A. Burbank, Lisa W. Heaton, Richard D. Gresham
  • Patent number: 9198681
    Abstract: An intravascular tissue removal tool has an elongated flexible sheath with a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the lumen having a distal lumen diameter near the distal end; cutting elements extending into the lumen near the distal end of the flexible sheath; a forceps having an open state and a closed state, and further having an extended position relative to the flexible sheath, in which the forceps is located substantially outside the flexible sheath near the distal end and a retracted position relative to the flexible sheath, in which the forceps is located substantially inside the flexible sheath; and an elongated actuation member being attached to the forceps for switching the forceps between the open state and the closed state and for moving the forceps between the extended state and the retracted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Trevor Plassman
  • Patent number: 9203081
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high-output lithium secondary battery including: a cathode that includes, as cathode active materials, a first cathode active material represented by Formula 1 below and having a layered structure and a second cathode active material represented by Formula 2 below and having a spinel structure, wherein the amount of the second cathode active material is between 40 and 100 wt % based on the total weight of the cathode active materials; an anode including amorphous carbon having a capacity of 300 mAh/g or greater; and a separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Hee Han, Chang Joo Han, Su-min Park, Ji Eun Lee
  • Patent number: 9192429
    Abstract: A method for removal of tissue from a patient utilizing an electrosurgical instrument. The electrosurgical instrument includes a handle portion having a pair of end effectors configured to remove tissue, connected to and supported by the handle portion for relative movement generally toward one another. One of the end effectors includes a conductive cutting portion that is configured to receive electrical energy from an electrical energy source. The other of the end effectors includes an opposing portion. The opposing portion is brought into a position generally opposing the conductive cutting portion during relative movement of the end effectors toward one another. When electrical energy is conducted through the conductive cutting portion, removal and cauterization of the tissue from the patient is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: ENT Biotech Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Clark B. Dickson, Gene P. Parunak
  • Patent number: 9149260
    Abstract: A biopsy needle assembly for excising a tissue specimen from a target tissue in an animal includes a mandrel with a core bed having an inner surface forming a projection for marking the tissue specimen at excision. The projections can be longitudinal and transverse in the core bed, and can project from an end of the core bed into the core bed. The projections can include a marking agent for marking the tissue specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: 3DBIOPSY LLC
    Inventors: Nelson N. Stone, Dave A. Schechter
  • Patent number: 9149293
    Abstract: There is disclosed, among other things, embodiments of a biopsy needle for taking a full core sample through soft tissue. In the illustrated embodiments, the needle includes a single monolithic tubular member having a notch cut part-way through a distal portion of the tubular member to form an arch-shaped finger. At least a portion of the finger is bent toward the notch and into the lumen of the tubular member. Methods for using these embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Hardert, Thomas W. McGhie
  • Patent number: 9131950
    Abstract: The present device relates to a laparoscopic medical instrument, particularly those used for minimally invasive surgery. The instrument has a movable and a stationary handle portion and an extended shaft assembly with a removable actuating rod. An opening on the side of the stationary handle portion allows a user to visually confirm the removable actuating rod is locked into place within the movable handle portion. An opening in the back of the stationary handle portion allows for cleaning and visual inspection of the interior of the shaft assembly portion once the rod is removed. The actuating rod has a grasping mechanism for performing work during surgery. A flush port is located near the distal end of the stationary handle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: ENDOPLUS, INC.
    Inventor: Gudeman Matthew
  • Patent number: 9131979
    Abstract: An interchangeable tip comprising: a stylet; a blade module including: an enclosure that electrically connects, signally connects, or both the interchangeable tip to a power source, a signal source, or both; and blade circuitry having: one or more control buttons, one or more switches, or both for controlling operation one or more functions of the interchangeable tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: GYRUS ACMI, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin C. Edwards, Jay A. Casey, Vlad Bluvshtein, Lori E. Lucke, Dan W. Vahle, Moussa Sane, David C. Church
  • Patent number: 9125681
    Abstract: A surgical device comprises an elongate shaft having an outer tube and an inner rod positioned in the outer tube. The outer tube and inner rod each comprise a distal end and a proximal end. An actuator is operably connected to the proximal ends of the outer tube and the inner rod. An end effector is adapted for in vivo attachment to and detachment from the elongate shaft. The end effector comprises an outer casing comprising a first detent mating feature adapted to engage the distal end of the outer tube; an inner shuttle axially moveable relative the outer casing, the shuttle comprising a second detent mating feature adapted to engage the distal end of the inner rod; and a pair of surgical jaws having an opened position and closed position dependant on the relative axial position of the shuttle and casing. A tubular loader is sized to receive the end effector, the tubular loader comprising third detent mating feature adapted engage end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Shailendra K. Parihar, Wells D. Haberstich
  • Patent number: 9128055
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus including an estimation unit that expresses a light intensity distribution, which is obtained by irradiating light to a measurement object of a measurement target having a plurality of substances with mutually different responsive characteristics to the light on a surface and/or an inside of the measurement object, as a linear combination of light intensity distributions, which are obtained by irradiating the light to reference measurement objects, each of which has a single substance, models the light intensity distribution obtained from each of the reference measurement objects so as to follow a predetermined probability distribution, and estimates a combination coefficient of the linear combination from the light intensity distribution obtained from the measurement object of the measurement target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Sekino, Yasunobu Kato, Tatsumi Ito
  • Patent number: 9119659
    Abstract: A safe and efficient cutting heads for removing a target tissue from a subject during a surgical procedure are provided, the cutting heads composing a part of systems that address several problems, including clogging of state-of-the-art systems during removal of such tissue, for example. The target tissue can include any tissue that is accessible through a small surgical opening, for example, a joint tissue such as a meniscus or an intervertebral tissue, such as a nucleus pulposus. The devices can be referred to as orthopedic tissue removal devices having cutting heads associated with vacuum systems, making the systems useful in several procedures, including X-LIF (lateral approach to an intervertebral fusions) procedures, T-LIF (transforaminal approach to intervertebral fusions) procedures, P-LIF (posterior approach to intervertebral fusions), and a percutaneous, transforaminal approach (Kambin triangle access).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: OUROBOROS MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventor: John To
  • Patent number: 9078643
    Abstract: An apparatus for taking tissue samples in the treatment of humans or animals includes a telescope, a maneuvering cable which extends through the telescope, and a biopsy tool at an end of the maneuvering cable, the biopsy tool including a turnable cylinder which is perforated for collecting samples and has walls that define a receptacle and a lid which closes over the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Multi Biopsy Instruments ApS
    Inventor: John Bleibach
  • Patent number: 9078638
    Abstract: A device and method for aspirating fluid from a body cavity are disclosed herein. The device disclosed utilizes a reservoir in fluid communication with a needle via a tube connected to a pump. The needle is able to displace a desired distance. Further, the aspirator includes a selector switch capable having three positions. In the first position anticoagulant is pumped through the system. In the second position bone marrow is aspirated but the needle is not moved. In the third position the displacement of the needle is controlled as well as the volume in the reservoir. Further, in the third position, the volume in the reservoir and the needle displacement are proportional to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp.
    Inventors: Thies Wuestemann, Michael D. Lynch, Carlos E. Collazo
  • Patent number: 9072507
    Abstract: A suction puncture device includes a puncture needle having an outer tube that has an opening edge of a first front end formed in the shape of a blade, and a stopper member that has a second front end disposed within the outer tube at a position separated from the first front end of the outer tube by a predetermined distance. A sample containing portion is formed between the second front end of the stopper member and the first front end of the outer tube. A ventilation passage is formed around the stopper member within the outer tube, a suction unit is connected to a first base end side of the outer tube, and the suction unit is communicated with and connected to the sample containing portion via the ventilation passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignees: Kurume University, OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Okabe, Ryohei Kaji, Yusuke Ishida, Makiko Yasumoto, Tomohiko Yamaguchi, Tomoki Tahira, Tomohiko Mamiya, Kenji Shibaki
  • Patent number: 9072506
    Abstract: A biopsy device includes a sample receiving notch formed in an elongate member. The sample receiving notch defines a side port adjacent the outer surface. The sample receiving notch extends inwardly from the side port toward a longitudinal axis and terminates at a sample floor in an interior of the elongate member. The sample receiving notch has a proximal end wall separated from a distal end wall along the longitudinal axis. The floor extends between the proximal end wall and the distal end wall. A tissue anchor has a cantilever portion and a head portion at a free end of the cantilever portion. The cantilever portion extends from a distal portion of the elongate member adjacent to the sample receiving notch toward the proximal end wall of the sample receiving notch. The head portion has a sharp tip that extends from the cantilever portion toward the sample floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason G. Seiger, Rafal Chudzik, Angela K. Jensen
  • Patent number: 9072538
    Abstract: A treatment tool for endo scope includes a pair of forceps members (first forceps members and second forceps member) supported by a forceps rotation axis such that they can rotate relatively, an operation part for performing an open-close operation of the pair of forceps members, an operation wire that connects the pair of forceps members and the operation part, an insertion part which the operation wire is inserted into, a cover member that secures the forceps rotation axis to the insertion part, a connection member including a link rotation axis, provided at a distal-end part of the operation wire, and a pair of link members (first link member and second link member), first end parts of each being rotatably connected via respective rotation axis members to a proximal-end part of each of the pair of forceps members, and second end parts of each being rotatably connected to the link rotation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Keita Suzuki, Megumi Kimura, Kazuya Sato
  • Patent number: 9072503
    Abstract: A device for transcutaneous biopsy includes a casing consisting of a first half shell and a second half shell that are fixable to one another. Inside the casing there is defined a chamber into which slides a slide element to which a first cannula and a second cannula are connected. The second cannula is inserted inside the first cannula, both of them having a common longitudinal axis. The first cannula is provided with a locking element. The locking element, which is suitable for interacting with the second cannula, is provided with a pair of notches interacting with a pair of lamina elements with which the second cannula is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Inventor: Fabio Buressiniani
  • Patent number: 9060780
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft formed via extrusion. The shaft has one or more lumens extending therethrough. The lumen(s) each define a cross-sectional configuration. An end effector assembly is coupled to a distal end of the shaft. One or more components are coupled to the end effector assembly. The component(s) extend proximally from the end effector into the lumen(s) of the shaft. One or more of the components is formed via stamping. The component(s) define a cross-sectional configuration substantially complementary to the cross-section configuration of the lumen into which they extend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: John R. Twomey, James D. Allen, IV, Ryan C. Artale, Dennis W. Butcher, Russell D. Hempstead, Glenn A. Horner, Jessica E. C. Olson, Jeffrey R. Unger
  • Patent number: 9039633
    Abstract: An excisional biopsy and delivery device may comprise one or more rotating, penetrating and cutting rod elements. The rod elements may be configured to advance from a stored and confined first position and rotate about an axis, while being simultaneously revolved about a central axis. The rod elements may then assume a second released and expanded configuration that is operative to cut around and surround target tissue. In this manner, the rod elements are operative to move through the surrounding tissue to create a volume of revolution and to sever and capture the target tissue contained within the volume of revolution from the surrounding tissue. The severed and captured volume of revolution containing the target issue may then be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Transmed7, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene H Vetter, James W Vetter, Alisen E Vetter