Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120059247 | ECHOGENIC NEEDLE FOR BIOPSY DEVICE - A biopsy device comprises an elongate needle having a piercing tip, a lateral aperture, and one or more echogenic features. In some versions, a dimpled surface provides the one or more echogenic features. The dimples may be concave or convex. In some versions, the piercing tip comprises a blade, and the one or more echogenic features are provided by openings formed transversely through the blade. In some versions, the one or more echogenic features are provided by serrations of the blade. Such serrations may be jagged or rounded. In some versions, the piercing tip is multi-faceted, and the facets of the tip provide the one or more echogenic features. A coagulant may also be provided on the needle. The piercing tip of the needle may rotate relative to other portions of the needle to facilitate insertion of the needle in tissue. | 03-08-2012 |
20120109068 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL PORT WITH FLUID CONDUIT RETENTION SLEEVE - A surgically implantable medical port has a housing with a fluid reservoir therein, a tubular stem extending away from the housing, a fluid conduit mounted on the stem, and a plurality of cantilevered fingers having free ends that are pressed against the fluid conduit in order to prevent conduit detachment from the port. The cantilevered fingers may be provided in a retention sleeve positioned about the fluid conduit. The retention sleeve may be unitarily formed with the housing of the port. The retention sleeve may be formed by at least two separate pieces, such as sections that pivot open and closed relative to the housing and that snap together in a closed position. | 05-03-2012 |
20120123195 | GASTRIC BAND WITH ASYMMETRICAL MEMBER - An apparatus comprises a strap and an inflatable bladder secured to the strap. The apparatus is sized and configured to wrap along a first plane to encompass an anatomical feature such as an esophagus or stomach. The bladder may have a cross-sectional profile that is asymmetric about the first plane, such as a tapered profile or a contoured profile. The wall thickness of the bladder may be substantially uniform or may vary about the perimeter of the bladder. The bladder may include an expansion section that allows the bladder to transition from having a substantially flat cross-sectional configuration in a non-inflated state to having a substantially tapered cross-sectional configuration an inflated state. The expansion section may include folds, pleats, gussets, or the like. The strap may have a cross-sectional profile that is asymmetric about the first plane. Such a strap may include annular ribs of varying sizes. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123197 | Implantable injection port with tissue in-growth promoter - A surgically implantable injection port has a tissue in-growth promoting surface associated with a fluid conduit that is coupled to the injection port. The injection port includes a housing, a fluid reservoir defined in part by the housing, a needle penetrable septum, a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir, and a tissue in-growth promoting surface coupled to the fluid conduit. The tissue in-growth promoting surface may be provided by surgical mesh wrapped around the conduit or through which the conduit is threaded. The injection port and the fluid conduit may be used as part of a gastric band system or some other type of system. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123198 | PORT WITH CONDUIT WRAPAROUND FEATURE - An injection port includes a port body having a fluid reservoir and a connector in fluid communication with the reservoir. The injection port further includes a conduit protection feature that is configured to protect against kinking of the conduit, decoupling of the conduit from the connector, or penetration of the conduit by a needle. The protection feature may include an anchor for anchoring the conduit to tissue to reduce conduit movement. The protection feature may include a recess that is configured to receive part of the conduit. The protection feature may include a bend formed in the connector to reduce transverse stresses in the conduit. The protection feature may include a bell-shaped shroud encompassing the connector. A sleeve may further protect the conduit and/or the coupling between the connector and the conduit. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123342 | IMPLANTABLE INJECTION PORT WITH TISSUE IN-GROWTH PROMOTER - A surgically implantable injection port has one or more tissue in-growth promoting surfaces. The injection port includes a housing, a fluid reservoir defined in part by the housing, a needle penetrable septum, and a tissue in-growth promoting surface integrally provided on an exterior surface of the port. The tissue in-growth promoting surface may be provided by surgical mesh or a textured surface on the injection port. The injection port may be used as part of a gastric band system or some other type of system. | 05-17-2012 |
20120238824 | SURGICAL BOWEL RETRACTOR DEVICES - Bowel retractor devices. In various forms, the bowel retractor devices are configurable from a collapsed position wherein the retractor may be inserted through a trocar cannula or other opening in a patient's body to a second expanded position wherein at least a portion of the patient's bowel may be advantageously supported in a desired position. | 09-20-2012 |
20120239009 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE AND ROTATABLE END EFFECTOR - Hand-held surgical instruments that have and end effector attached to an elongate shaft are disclosed. The end effector is articulatable and rotatable relative to the shaft by a nozzle arrangement supported by a handle from which the elongate shaft extends. In various embodiments, the nozzle is operable by the same hand that is used to support the handle. | 09-20-2012 |
20120239075 | RECTAL MANIPULATION DEVICES - Tissue manipulation devices are disclosed. In various forms, the devices include tissue manipulation arms that are arranged in a position suitable to enable the device to be inserted into the colon then, upon application of at least one actuation motion thereto, at least some of the tissue manipulation arms are moved to deployed positions wherein they contact corresponding portions of the colon to thereby expand the colon. Various devices are actuatable by various forms of actuation forces. In various embodiments, the tissue manipulation arms may be movable along corresponding axes that are transverse to an insertion axis and may also be rotated about the insertion axis as well as be moved in directions that are substantially parallel to the insertion axis. | 09-20-2012 |
20130146641 | ACTUATOR FOR RELEASING A LAYER OF MATERIAL FROM A SURGICAL END EFFECTOR - An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument. The end effector assembly can comprise an anvil, a fastener cartridge including fastener cavities, fasteners removably positioned in the fastener cavities, a piece of buttress material releasably secured intermediate the anvil and the fastener cartridge, a connector, and an actuator configured to overcome the connector when actuated. The connector can secure the piece of buttress material relative to the anvil or the fastener cartridge at a location that is distal to at least one fastener cavity. The actuator can overcome the connector prior to the removal of the fasteners from the fastener cavities. Further, the actuator can extend past the fasteners in the fastener cavities, and can be actuated proximal to the fastener cavities. | 06-13-2013 |
20130214030 | ACTUATOR FOR RELEASING A TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR FROM A FASTENER CARTRIDGE - A fastener cartridge assembly for use with a surgical end effector. The fastener cartridge assembly can comprise a cartridge body having fastener cavities, fasteners removably positioned in the fastener cavities, a layer of material releasably secured relative to the cartridge body, a connector configured to secure the layer of material to the cartridge body at a location distal to at least one fastener cavity, and an actuator. The layer of material can be a tissue thickness compensator. When actuated, the actuator can overcome the connector, and can overcome the connector prior to the removal of the fasteners from the fastener cavities. The actuator can be actuated at a location proximal to at least one fastener cavity, and can extend distally past at least one fastener cavity toward the connector. | 08-22-2013 |
20130221063 | RELEASABLE TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR AND FASTENER CARTRIDGE HAVING THE SAME - A fastener cartridge assembly for use with a surgical end effector. The fastener cartridge assembly can comprise a cartridge body, fasteners, and a layer of material releasably secured to the cartridge body. The layer of material can be a tissue thickness compensator. The cartridge body, the fasteners, the tissue thickness compensator and/or the end effector can comprise various features to releasably secure the tissue thickness compensator relative to the cartridge body. For example, the cartridge body can comprise slots, projections, cavities, drivers, locks, and/or keys, the fasteners can comprise barbs, and/or the tissue thickness compensator can comprise mounts and/or connectors. | 08-29-2013 |
20130221064 | FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A RELEASABLE TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR - A fastener cartridge can comprise, one, a cartridge body configured to at least partially store a plurality of fasteners therein and, two, a layer of material attached to the cartridge body by a retention member. The retention member can be deactivated to release the layer from the cartridge body when a firing member is moved through the cartridge body to eject the fasteners from the cartridge body. The retention member can be deactivated at the beginning, the end, and/or at any suitable time during a firing stroke of the firing member. Certain fastener cartridges can comprise a plurality of retention members configured to releasably hold the layer to the cartridge body. In certain circumstances, the retention members can be sequentially released in order to progressively release the layer. | 08-29-2013 |
20130221065 | FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A RELEASABLY ATTACHED TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR - A fastener cartridge can comprise a cartridge body and a layer, such as a tissue thickness compensator, for example, releasably attached to the cartridge body. The tissue thickness compensator can comprise a compressible first portion and a second support portion. The second portion can be rigid and can support the first portion when mounted thereto. The properties of the first portion and/or the second portion can be selected so as to prevent the premature deflection and release from the cartridge body. The fastener cartridge can further comprise one or more attachment portions configured to releasably hold the tissue thickness compensator to the cartridge body. The attachment portions can be configured to permit a firing member to pass therethrough. In some circumstances, the tissue thickness compensator can be configured to hold the firing member in an unfired position until a sufficient firing force has been applied to the firing member. | 08-29-2013 |
20130256376 | TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR HAVING IMPROVED VISIBILITY - A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler. The assembly has a cartridge body having a support portion with a plurality of staple cavities with openings. There is also a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each the staple is removably stored within a the staple cavity. Each the staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration. The assembly also includes a compressible tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured within the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers the staple cavity openings. The compressed tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator includes a visualization means. | 10-03-2013 |
20130256377 | LAYER COMPRISING DEPLOYABLE ATTACHMENT MEMBERS - An anvil-attachable layer and a retainer for aligning and attaching the layer to an anvil of a surgical stapler. Embodiments of the anvil-attachable layer can include one or more attachment features extending from the layer. A retainer can push the attachment features into a knife slot in the anvil so that the fit between the attachment features and the slot hold the anvil-attachable layer in place. Other embodiments of the anvil-attachable layer can include deployable attachment features formed in the layer. The deployable attachment features can be deployed from an undeployed position substantially in a plane defined by the layer to a deployed position extending out of the plane. In the deployed position, the deployable attachment features can extend into a slot in an anvil. A retainer can include features to push the deployable attachment features into the deployed position. | 10-03-2013 |
20140097227 | FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A CUTTING MEMBER FOR RELEASING A TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR - A staple cartridge, or fastener cartridge, for a surgical stapler, or fastening instrument, wherein the staple cartridge includes a distally-located cutting blade arranged to cut a distal end portion of a layer, such as a tissue thickness compensator and/or a buttress material, for example, attached to the staple cartridge. The distally-located cutting blade can extend out of a distal cavity of the staple cartridge. The distally-located cutting blade can move in a direction that is perpendicular to a staple deck of the staple cartridge. The distally-located cutting blade can also move in any suitable direction relative to the staple deck. | 04-10-2014 |
20140166724 | STAPLE CARTRIDGE INCLUDING A BARBED STAPLE - A staple cartridge is disclosed which includes a cartridge body and a plurality of staples removably stored therein. The staples can include at least one barb extending therefrom. A first group of the staples can have a first unformed height and a second group of the staples can have a second unformed height. A first group of the staples can have a first formed height and a second group of the staples can have a second formed height. | 06-19-2014 |
20140166725 | STAPLE CARTRIDGE INCLUDING A BARBED STAPLE. - An end effector for fastening tissue including an anvil having a deck to support tissue. The deck has a first surface with a first longitudinal row of staple forming pockets, and a second surface, having a second longitudinal row of staple forming pockets wherein the first surface is positioned vertically above the second surface. The end effector also includes a cartridge having plurality of staple cavities arranged in first and second longitudinal rows. The end effector also includes a plurality of staples removably stored within the staple cavities. The staples include a base, a pair of legs extending from the base, wherein each the leg comprises a tip configured to pierce tissue, and wherein each the leg comprises at least one barb extending therefrom. The end effector also has a firing member configured to lift the staple drivers toward the anvil. | 06-19-2014 |
20140166726 | STAPLE CARTRIDGE INCLUDING A BARBED STAPLE - An end effector for fastening tissue including a cartridge having a longitudinal row of staple cavities and a plurality of staples removably stored in the staple cavities. The staple includes a base, a pair of legs extending from the base, and a plane formed by the pair of legs, wherein at least one of the legs has a barb extending therefrom. The barb extends from the leg less than 360 degrees around the leg, wherein the barb extends beyond the plane formed by the legs. The end effector also includes an anvil configured to deform the staples, and a plurality of staple drivers movable within the cavities configured to lift the staples toward the anvil. The end effector further includes a firing member, configured to lift the staple driver system toward the anvil, including a first portion configured to engage the anvil and a second portion configured to engage the cartridge. The firing member is configured to relatively position the anvil and the cartridge. | 06-19-2014 |
20140214025 | END EFFECTOR WITH COMPLIANT CLAMPING JAW - An apparatus for operating on tissue includes an end effector assembly, a body, and a shaft. The shaft extends from the body to the end effector assembly. The body is operable to communicate with the end effector assembly via the shaft. The end effector assembly includes a pair of pivoting jaws and a firing beam. The firing beam is operable to advance distally through slots in the jaws to close the jaws. One of the jaws comprises a plurality of segments that are movable relative to each other. The segments may be joined by living hinges, pivoting hinges, or sliding features. One of the jaws may be formed by a combination of a distally projecting tongue of the shaft and two members that are secured above and below the tongue, respectively. An end effector jaw may also include a resiliently biased electrode cartridge. | 07-31-2014 |
20140291379 | TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR COMPRISING A CUTTING MEMBER PATH - A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners. In use, the fastener cartridge can be arranged in a jaw of a surgical fastening device. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward an anvil wherein the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened. The cartridge body can further comprise a first knife path configured to receive a cutting member and the tissue thickness compensator can further comprise a second knife path aligned with the first knife path. The second knife path can comprise different portions configured to apply different resistances to the cutting member as the cutting member is advanced through the fastener cartridge. | 10-02-2014 |
20140291380 | FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR AND A GAP SETTING ELEMENT - A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be arranged in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened. The fastener cartridge can further comprise a gap setting element which can be configured to control the distance between the anvil, the support portion, and/or the tissue thickness compensator. | 10-02-2014 |
20140291381 | FASTENER CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLIES - A fastener cartridge assembly. The fastener cartridge assembly can comprise a fastener, a cartridge body, and a tissue thickness compensator. The fastener can comprise a base, a first leg extending from the base, and a second leg extending from the base. The cartridge body can comprise a fastener cavity for receiving the fastener and a trajectory control for controlling the trajectory of the first and second legs of the fastener. The fastener can be removable from the fastener cavity along a fastener axis. The trajectory control can extend inwardly toward the fastener axis and can bias the first leg and the second leg toward alignment with the fastener axis when the fastener is positioned in the fastener cavity. | 10-02-2014 |
20140291382 | FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR INCLUDING OPENINGS THEREIN - A fastener cartridge assembly. The fastener cartridge assembly can comprise a cartridge body, a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured relative to the cartridge body, and a fastener removably positioned in a staple cavity of the cartridge body. The tissue thickness compensator can comprise a first clearance aperture extending along a first predefined trajectory and a second clearance aperture extending along a second predefined trajectory. The fastener can comprise a first leg aligned with the first clearance aperture and moveable along the first predefined trajectory, a second leg aligned with the second clearance aperture and moveable along the second predefined trajectory. The first and second predefined trajectories can be parallel. | 10-02-2014 |