26817results about "Surgical needles" patented technology

Various forms of surgical instruments are disclosed. In various embodiments, the instrument includes a cartridge supporting assembly for operably supporting a staple cartridge therein. The cartridge supporting assembly may be responsive to firing and retraction motions applied thereto from a firing assembly. An anvil may be operably coupled to an anvil closure assembly. The anvil closure assembly may be constructed to selectively move the anvil in a proximal direction toward the cartridge supporting assembly to enable a portion of tissue to be clamped between a cartridge supported by the cartridge supporting assembly and the anvil under a predetermined amount of compression. The device may further include a compression limiting assembly that interacts with the anvil closure assembly to prevent further travel of the anvil in the proximal direction toward the cartridge supporting assembly when the predetermined amount of compression has been attained.

A surgical device includes a housing and a hollow shaft extending from the housing. The hollow shaft includes one or more drive shafts disposed within the hollow shaft. Each drive shaft is detachably coupled to a surgical instrument and is operable to control moving parts on the surgical instrument. A method for performing a surgical procedure includes the steps of inserting a hollow shaft containing one or more drive shafts into the body via a first orifice; inserting a surgical instrument into the body via a second orifice, the surgical instrument being configured to couple with the hollow shaft to connect the surgical instrument with one or more drive shafts; and coupling the hollow shaft and the surgical instrument after the hollow shaft and surgical instrument are inserted into the body.

This application is directed to a surgical stapling device for performing circular anastomoses. The stapling device includes a retractable trocar which is slidably supported by an anvil retainer and movable from a retracted position located within the anvil retainer to an advanced position extending from the anvil retainer. The trocar defines a sensor and is operatively connected to an indicator assembly. The indicator assembly is operatively associated with an anvil assembly such that the indicator will not move from a fire-not ready position to a fire-ready position until an anvil assembly has been mounted to the anvil retainer.

An electrosurgical working end for automatic modulation of active Rf density in a targeted tissue volume. The working end of the probe of the present invention defines a tissue-engagement surface of an elastomeric material with conductive elements that extend therethrough. In one embodiment, the expansion of the elastomeric material can de-couple the conductive elements from an interior electrode based temperature to modulate current flow. In another embodiment, the elastomeric material can couple and de-couple the conductive elements from an interior electrode based on engagement pressure to modulate current flow

The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a curved end-effector which is configured to deploy staples in at least one curved staple line. The surgical stapler can include a staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein, an anvil configured to deform the staples, and a cutting member having a cutting surface. The staple cartridge and / or anvil can include a curved slot configured for receiving and guiding the cutting member wherein at least a portion of the cutting member can be defined by a curvature that substantially matches the curvature of the slot. In these embodiments, the curved cutting member can be easily moved within the curved slot thereby reducing the possibility that the cutting member will become stuck within the slot.

The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein the cutting member is relatively movable with respect to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, the anvil is movable between an open position and a partially-closed position. When the anvil is in its partially-closed position, the anvil and the staple cartridge can be configured to capture tissue therebetween without fully compressing the tissue. In at least one embodiment, the anvil includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a middle portion intermediate the proximal portion and the distal portion. In these embodiments, the tissue can be captured between the proximal and distal portions of the anvil before the middle portion of the anvil is brought into contact with the tissue.

An end effector for a surgical stapler. Various embodiments include a channel configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein. A first tip portion is attached to or formed on a distal end of one of the channel and staple cartridge wherein the first tip portion may have a first upwardly extending curved outer surface. An anvil is movably coupled to the channel and is selectively movable between open and closed positions relative to the staple cartridge in response to opening and closing motions applied to the anvil. A second tip portion is attached to or formed on a distal end thereof. The second tip portion may have a second downwardly extending curved surface such that when the anvil is in the closed position, the second tip portion cooperates with the first tip portion to define a blunt end effector nose. In various embodiments, the end effector nose has a substantially paraboloid outer surface.

A surgical instrument including a trigger which can be configured to close a jaw member upon a first actuation of the trigger and advance a staple driver and / or cutting member upon a subsequent, or second, actuation of the trigger. Such a surgical instrument can allow a surgeon to position the surgical instrument in a surgical site and close the jaw member with an initial actuation of the trigger without deploying any staples into, or incising, the tissue. As a result, the surgeon can manipulate the position of the surgical instrument and then actuate the trigger a second time to deploy staples into, and / or incise, the tissue. In at least one such embodiment, the first actuation of the trigger which closes the jaw member can also unlock a firing drive configured to advance the staple driver and cutting member during the second actuation of the trigger.

An electro-mechanical surgical device includes: a housing; an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a distal end of the elongated shaft being detachably coupleable to a surgical instrument; at least two axially rotatable drive shafts disposed within the elongated shaft, a distal end of each of the drive shafts being configured to couple with the surgical instrument; a steering cable arrangement, the steering cable arrangement being configured to steer the distal end of the elongated shaft; and a motor system disposed within the housing, the motor system being configured to drive the drive shafts and the steering cable arrangement. A control system may be provided for controlling the motor system. A remote control unit may also be provided for controlling the motor system via the control system. Sensors, such as optical or Hall-effect devices, may be provided for determining the position of the elements of the surgical instrument based on the detected rotation of the drive shafts. A memory unit stores a plurality of operating programs or algorithms, each corresponding to a type of surgical instrument attachable to the electro-mechanical surgical device. The control system reads or selects from the plurality of operating programs or algorithms, the operating program or algorithm corresponding to the type of surgical instrument attached to the electro-mechanical surgical device.

Surgical instrumentation and methods for performing a bypass procedure in a digestive system incorporate laparoscopic techniques to minimize surgical trauma to the patient. The instrumentation includes an outer guide member dimensioned for insertion and passage through an esophagus of a patient and defining an opening therein extending at least along a portion of the length of the outer guide member, an elongate anvil delivery member at least partially disposed within the opening of the outer guide member and being adapted for longitudinal movement within the outer guide member between an initial position and an actuated position and an anvil operatively engageable with the delivery member. The anvil includes an anvil rod defining a longitudinal axis and an anvil head connected to the anvil rod. The anvil head is at least partially disposed within the opening of the outer guide member when in the initial position of the delivery member and is fully exposed from the distal end of the outer guide member upon movement of the delivery member to the actuated position.

The present invention relates to new and useful apparatus for use with an intraluminally directed anvil apparatus for intraluminally directed vascular anastomosis of an end of a graft vessel to the wall of a receiving blood vessel that is performed according to a minimally invasive procedure. The intraluminally directed vascular anastomosis does not require the interruption of blood flow in the receiving blood vessel and it is versatile enough to suitably combine a variety of cutting, welding, soldering, sealing, and joining techniques such as stapling. The intraluminally directed anvil apparatus comprises an anvil and a wire used for signaling the optimal anastomosis site; this signaling can be performed when the initial exploration is performed. The intraluminally directed anvil apparatus is typically used with a catheter.

The surgical instrument includes a distal tool, a rigid or flexible elongated shaft that supports the distal tool, and a proximal handle or control member, where the tool and the handle are coupled to the respective distal and proximal ends of the elongated shaft via distal and proximal bendable motion members. Actuation means extends between said distal and proximal members whereby any deflection of said control handle with respect to said elongated instrument shaft causes a corresponding bending of said distal motion member for control of said working member. A manually rotatable member is arranged adjacent to the control handle for manually rotating the instrument shaft and working member relative to the control handle.

An embodiment of the invention provides a method for detecting and treating a tumor using tissue localized volumetric impedance measurement. The method includes providing an impedance measurement apparatus having a plurality of resilient members deployable with curvature and configured to sample tissue impedance through a plurality of conductive pathways. The apparatus is configured to be coupled to at least one of an energy delivery device, a power supply, a switching device or logic resources. The apparatus is then positioned at a selected tissue site and the impedance array deployed to define a sample volume. The impedance array is then utilized to make impedance measurements through a plurality of conductive pathways. Information from the impedance measurements is then utilized to determine a tissue condition of the sample volume. Energy is then delivered from the energy delivery device to ablate or necrose at least a portion of the tumor.

A flexible fiberoptic endoscope has an insertion member with a distal end portion split longitudinally into a plurality of independently operable working segments each provided with at least one longitudinally extending working channel. Visualization optics are provided in the working segments or a separate central segment surrounded by the working segments. A sheath temporarily joins the working segments to one another during an introduction procedure. The sheath is removed upon insertion of the endoscope, so that the working segments may be / separated from one another and independently maneuvered via proximal control heads to facilitate the performance of an endoscopic surgical procedure.

A robotically controlled surgical instrument includes a first jaw and a second jaw used to grasp an item, and a drive mechanism that increases the force applied to the item grasped. The drive mechanism and the jaws can be provided with an accommodating mechanism that allows continued movement of the drive mechanism towards a locked position even after the jaws contact a larger item so that the drive mechanism can move to the locked position when grasping items of different sizes.

A surgical instrument including a tool member cover and a cover deployment device are disclosed. The cover is supported adjacent to or on the tool assembly of the surgical instrument and is movable from a first position in which the tool assembly is uncovered to a second position in which the tool assembly is at least partially encompassed by the cover. The deployment device is provided for moving the cover from the first position to the second position.

Instrument introducers are disclosed which facilitate the insertion of a surgical instrument into a cavity or a body of a patient. In one embodiment, the instrument introducer includes a hollow elongate cylindrical body including a distal end portion terminating in a distal edge and a proximal end portion, the cylindrical body defining a central longitudinal axis, and an elastomeric cap secured to the distal end portion of the cylindrical body, the cap including a distal end wall having an outer terminal edge and an annular side wall depending from the outer terminal edge thereof. The distal end wall includes an aperture formed therein, wherein a center of the aperture is coaxially aligned with the central longitudinal axis.

The present invention relates to a tubular suture reinforcement material suitable for use in automatic suturing devices that are widely used in surgical operations, etc. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tubular suture reinforcement material with which a tubular shape is easily obtained to thereby increase its productivity, and removal of thread is easily achieved. The present invention provides a tubular suture reinforcement material for an automatic suturing device formed by stacking two sheet-like materials and sewing together both ends of the two sheet-like materials using two chain stitches (intralooping stitches) each thread end at each sewing end is suitably extended, and the thread end is passed through an anterior loop continuous to the thread end, thereby preventing the thread from unraveling.