| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080290605 | ACCESS ASSEMBLY WITH WHISKER SEAL - A valve assembly for the sealed reception of a surgical instrument inserted through a cannula assembly includes a valve body defining a central longitudinal axis, and an elongated seal member having a resilient sealing structure defining an aperture in general alignment with the central longitudinal axis. The sealing structure includes a plurality of elongated bristle members positioned to engage the outer surface of the surgical instrument in a fluid-tight manner upon at least partial insertion of the instrument into the valve body. Each bristle member is adapted to be displaced relative to the longitudinal axis to facilitate expansion of the aperture to accommodate variously sized surgical instruments. Bristle members are arranged in a pattern facilitating the reduction of the insertion force required to introduce an instrument while providing robust lateral support for the instrument. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080294112 | Surgical Access Apparatus With Centering Mechanism - A surgical access apparatus includes a housing member and a portal member extending from the housing member and defining a longitudinal axis. The housing member and the portal member define a longitudinal passage therethrough dimensioned to permit passage of an elongated object. A centering mechanism is mounted relative to the housing member. The centering mechanism includes an annular element mounted for rotational movement within the housing member and about the longitudinal axis and first and second arm elements mounted to the annular element and extending radially inwardly relative to the longitudinal axis. The first and second arm elements are each positioned to intersect the longitudinal passage and are adapted to pivot relative to the housing member. The first and second arm elements are operatively connected whereby pivotal movement of the first arm element upon engagement with the elongated object causes the annular element to rotate in response thereto and effect corresponding pivotal movement of the second arm element. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080294186 | SURGICAL PORTAL APPARATUS WITH ARMATURE ASSEMBLY - A surgical portal apparatus includes a portal housing, an elongated portal member connected to the portal housing and depending therefrom and an armature assembly. The portal housing and the portal member have an axial bore for reception and passage of a surgical object. The armature assembly includes at least two arms disposed within the portal housing and an outer mount. The at least two arms extend at least radially inwardly and are adapted to move, e.g., pivotally move, relative to the longitudinal axis from a rest position to an activated position during passage of the surgical object. The at least two arms are operatively connected whereby movement of a first arm causes corresponding movement of a second arm. The outer mount comprises a resilient material and is disposed within the portal housing. The outer mount is mounted to the at least two arms and imparts a biasing force to the at least two arms toward the rest position thereof. The outer mount has inner portions defining a passage to permit passage of the surgical object. The at least two arms may be at least partially embedded within the outer mount or enclosed within the outer mount. The armature assembly may include a series of arms coaxially arranged about the central longitudinal axis. Adjacent arms of the armature assembly may be interconnected by a gear. The outer mount may define a generally tapered configuration, e.g., a frustum. The inner portions of the outer mount may be adapted to establish a substantial seal about the surgical object. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20090264940 | SURGICAL TOOL - A tool for use during surgery includes a housing including a distal end and a proximal end, a motor disposed within the housing, and an output shaft having a proximal end connected to the motor and a distal end extending from the distal end of the housing. The tool further includes a battery pack contained within the housing, and a passage extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the housing through the output shaft and the battery pack, wherein the passage is defined by an interior surface of the output shaft and a channel through the battery. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20100286706 | SURGICAL ACCESS APPARATUS WITH CENTERING MECHANISM - A surgical access apparatus includes a housing member and a portal member extending from the housing member and defining a longitudinal axis. The housing member and the portal member define a longitudinal passage therethrough dimensioned to permit passage of an elongated object. A centering mechanism is mounted relative to the housing member. The centering mechanism includes an annular element mounted for rotational movement within the housing member and about the longitudinal axis and first and second arm elements mounted to the annular element and extending radially inwardly relative to the longitudinal axis. The first and second arm elements are each positioned to intersect the longitudinal passage and are adapted to pivot relative to the housing member. The first and second arm elements are operatively connected whereby pivotal movement of the first arm element upon engagement with the elongated object causes the annular element to rotate in response thereto and effect corresponding pivotal movement of the second arm element. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110107830 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CHARACTERIZING A RESERVOIR - An apparatus comprising a downhole tool configured for conveyance within a borehole penetrating a subterranean formation, wherein the downhole tool comprises: a probe assembly configured to seal a region of a wall of the borehole; a perforator configured to penetrate a portion of the sealed region of the borehole wall by projecting through the probe assembly; a fluid chamber comprising a fluid; and a pump configured to inject the fluid from the fluid chamber into the formation through the perforator. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110144445 | ACCESS ASSEMBLY WITH RIBBED SEAL - A ribbed seal for use in endoscopic surgery is intended to be incorporated into a cannula assembly to limit the escape of insufflation gasses from a body cavity by forming a fluid-tight seal around an instrument inserted through the cannula assembly. The ribbed seal includes a relatively flat, disk shaped elastomeric overmold portion having a central aperture sized slightly smaller than the instrument such that the aperture must expand to accommodate the instrument. Molded together with the elastomeric overmold is an array of slender ribs disposed about the aperture. The ribs are designed to be relatively flexible under lateral loads. This allows the seal to bend easily as the surgical instrument is inserted through the aperture thereby maintaining a low insertion and glide force. On the other hand, the ribs are designed to be relatively rigid when loaded axially. This rigidity provides robust radial support for the instrument inserted through the center of the array of ribs. The seal performs a centering function for the instrument due to its combined elasticity and stiffness. Finally, the seal also allows for an instrument to be removed easily while maintaining the required atmospheric integrity. | 06-16-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080249806 | Data Analysis for an Implantable Restriction Device and a Data Logger - An implantable restriction device can be configured to provide a restriction in a patient, for example as a function of the pressure of fluid. The implantable restriction device can include one or more sensors configured to sense a variety of parameters, such as pressure of the fluid within the implantable restriction device, pulse width, pulse amplitude, pulse count, pulse duration, or frequency, electrical characteristics, or other parameters. Data obtained by the one or more sensors (for example, the data representing pressure, pulse characteristics, and so on) may be communicated to a device located external to the patient, such as a data logger, using telemetry coils or other communicators. The data logger may store the data, and may communicate the data to a remote location via a network such as the Internet. A docking station may be provided to couple the data logger to a network and/or to recharge a cell in the data logger. The logged data may be analyzed and/or displayed using a variety of techniques to assess and/or track the condition of the restriction device or of the patient, to monitor patient physiology, or for other purposes. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080250340 | GUI for an Implantable Restriction Device and a Data Logger - An implantable restriction device can be configured to provide a restriction in a patient, for example as a function of the pressure of fluid. The implantable restriction device can include one or more sensors configured to sense a variety of parameters, such as pressure of the fluid within the implantable restriction device, pulse width, pulse amplitude, pulse count, pulse duration, or frequency, electrical characteristics, or other parameters. Data obtained by the one or more sensors (for example, the data representing pressure, pulse characteristics, and so on) may be communicated to a device located external to the patient, such as a data logger, using telemetry coils or other communicators. The data logger may store the data, and may communicate the data to a remote location via a network such as the Internet. A docking station may be provided to couple the data logger to a network and/or to recharge a cell in the data logger. The logged data may be analyzed and/or displayed using a variety of techniques to assess and/or track the condition of the restriction device or of the patient, to monitor patient physiology, or for other purposes. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080250341 | Gui With Trend Analysis for an Implantable Restriction Device and a Data Logger - An implantable restriction device can be configured to provide a restriction in a patient, for example as a function of the pressure of fluid. The implantable restriction device can include one or more sensors configured to sense a variety of parameters, such as pressure of the fluid within the implantable restriction device, pulse width, pulse amplitude, pulse count, pulse duration, or frequency, electrical characteristics, or other parameters. Data obtained by the one or more sensors (for example, the data representing pressure, pulse characteristics, and so on) may be communicated to a device located external to the patient, such as a data logger, using telemetry coils or other communicators. The data logger may store the data, and may communicate the data to a remote location via a network such as the Internet. A docking station may be provided to couple the data logger to a network and/or to recharge a cell in the data logger. The logged data may be analyzed and/or displayed using a variety of techniques to assess and/or track the condition of the restriction device or of the patient, to monitor patient physiology, or for other purposes. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20090222065 | Physiological Parameter Analysis for an Implantable Restriction Device and a Data Logger - An implantable restriction device can be configured to provide a restriction in a patient, for example as a function of the pressure of fluid. The implantable restriction device can include one or more sensors configured to sense a variety of parameters, such as pressure of the fluid within the implantable restriction device, pulse width, pulse amplitude, pulse count, pulse duration, or frequency, electrical characteristics, or other parameters. Data obtained by the one or more sensors (for example, the data representing pressure, pulse characteristics, and so on) may be communicated to a device located external to the patient, such as a data logger, using telemetry coils or other communicators. The data logger may store the data, and may communicate the data to a remote location via a network such as the Internet. A docking station may be provided to couple the data logger to a network and/or to recharge a cell in the data logger. The logged data may be analyzed and/or displayed using a variety of techniques to assess and/or track the condition of the restriction device or of the patient, to monitor patient physiology, or for other purposes. | 09-03-2009 |
