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Bryan D. Knodel, Flagstaff US

Bryan D. Knodel, Flagstaff, AZ US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080217376Surgical Stapler - A method for surgically stapling tissue may include providing staples in a first configuration, plastically deforming at least one staple to a second configuration different from the first configuration; and then plastically deforming at least one staple to a third configuration different from the first configuration and the second configuration. The deformation of a staple from the first configuration to the second configuration may be performed by splaying the staple. The staple may be splayed by a splay arm or other suitable structure or mechanism.09-11-2008
20090039138Vascular Closure System With Splayable Staple - A medical device for closing an opening in tissue may include a staple with a plurality of tines, where the staple is deformable from an initial configuration to a splayed configuration and then to a closed configuration; a cradle that includes a distal stop and a proximal stop proximal to the distal stop extending therefrom, where the cradle holds a portion of the staple between the proximal stop and the distal stop, and where the proximal stop and distal stop are spaced apart from one another a fixed distance substantially equal to the thickness of the portion of the staple held therebetween, where that portion of the staple substantially contacts both stops in the initial configuration; and a housing, where the cradle is movable relative to that housing.02-12-2009
20090065552Endocutter With Staple Feed - A surgical endocutter may include an end effector, at least one feeder belt that extends at least partially into the end effector; and two or more staples, where each staple has a first end frangibly connected to a corresponding feeder belt and a second, free end, and where the staples form at least one row. The endocutter may be used to treat a patient by inserting the end effector into the body of a patient through an opening such as a trocar port, engaging tissue with the end effector, stapling tissue along two staple lines with the end effector; cutting tissue between the staple lines with the end effector, releasing the tissue from the end effector, and repeating the holding, stapling and engaging on tissue at a different location within the body of the patient without removing the end effector from within the body of the patient.03-12-2009
20090072006Surgical Stapler With Splaying Mechanism - One example of a surgical stapler may include a pusher, at least one generally planar staple, where the pusher holds at least one staple, and a splay arm that includes spaced-apart splay fingers extending generally distally, where at least one splay finger includes a splay tip extending therefrom, and where relative motion of said pusher and said splay fingers causes said at least one said splay tip to engage and then splay at least one said staple. Another example of a surgical stapler may include a plurality of staples positioned out of contact with one another; a pusher that engages each staple; and at least one splay tip, each splay tip configured to contact a distal surface of the distalmost staple. Another example of a surgical stapler may include a plurality of staples, a pusher that holds the staples, the pusher having a longitudinal axis and being slidable longitudinally both proximally and distally substantially along that longitudinal axis, where the pusher is substantially constrained against motion away from the longitudinal axis; and a splay arm movable in a direction away from the longitudinal axis, from a position in which the splay arm contacts one staple to a position in which the splay arm no longer contacts that staple.03-19-2009
20090088783Non-snag polymer ligating clip - A polymeric, surgical clip having first and second curved legs with each having a pair of opposing side surfaces joined at their proximal ends by a flexible hinge section and movable from an open position to a closed position for clamping a vessel between curved opposing inner surfaces. The first leg terminates at its distal end in a female locking member, and the second leg member terminates in a male locking member complimentary to the female locking member. The clip is provided with low profile boss-like elements on the legs thereof to reduce the risk of snagging a suture during coronary artery bypass graft surgery.04-02-2009
20090090766Intravascular Stapling Tool - An intravascular stapler may include a handle; a catheter attached to the handle; a stapler head attached to the catheter; and a staples held by the stapler head, wherein the stapler head is configured to sequentially deploy staples. An intravascular stapler may include a reciprocating driver within the stapler head, wherein the driver reciprocates back and forth substantially along a first axis, and wherein the staples are advanceable substantially along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. An intravascular stapler may include internal anvils held by and movable within the stapler head, each internal anvil positioned in proximity to and movable in tandem with a corresponding staple.04-09-2009
20090134198Surgical Method for Stapling Tissue - An exemplary method for surgically stapling tissue may include providing a surgical stapler that includes at least one staple, a pusher configured to hold at least one staple, a splay arm movable relative to the pusher, where that splay arm includes two spaced-apart splay tips, and a driver movable relative to the pusher; splaying at least one staple by plastically deforming the distalmost staple against the splay tips; and after splaying, closing at least one staple by plastically deforming the distalmost staple against the splay tips. Another exemplary method for surgically stapling tissue may include providing a surgical stapler comprising a plurality of staples, a pusher configured to hold the staples, a splay arm movable relative to the pusher, a driver movable relative to the pusher, wherein the pusher, splay arm and driver are initially in a first configuration relative to one another; splaying at least one staple to a splayed state; after splaying, closing at least one splayed staple, after which the pusher, splay arm and driver are in a second configuration relative to one another; and resetting the stapler to the first configuration of the pusher, splay arm and driver; where the splaying and closing each plastically deform at least one staple.05-28-2009
20090254121Vascular Closure with Multi-Pronged Clip - A medical device for closing an opening in tissue may include a staple including a plurality of tines, where the staple is deformable from an initial configuration to a splayed configuration and then a closed configuration and a shuttle fixed to the staple, where the shuttle includes a weakened area proximal to the shuttle. A method for closing an opening in tissue of a patient with that medical device may include moving the staple to a location in proximity to the opening; plastically deforming the staple to a splayed configuration; penetrating at least one of the tines into tissue in proximity to the opening; plastically deforming the staple to a closed configuration; and fracturing said shuttle at the weakened area, whereby the staple and a fragment of the shuttle fixed to the staple remain in the patient.10-08-2009
20100069934Anastomosis Method Utilizing Tool with Fluid-Driven Actuator - A method of performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel, each having a circumferential wall and a lumen therethrough, may include providing an anastomosis tool including a tissue effector and a fluid-driven actuator operationally connected to that tissue effector; connecting the fluid-driven actuator to an energy source; placing an end of the graft vessel in proximity to the side of the target vessel; and actuating the fluid-driven actuator to connect the end of the graft vessel to the side of the target vessel.03-18-2010
20100137796FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS OF USE - An apparatus and method for ejecting fluid from a fluid delivery system. The fluid delivery system has a pneumatic assembly that when triggered injects gas into a hydraulic assembly, which in turn ejects fluid through an external interface. An electronic interface displays various measurements, for example, how much fluid has been ejected and if the hydraulic system is closed the pressure of the system. The pneumatic assembly can also be depressurized such that fluid can reenter the hydraulic assembly through the external interface.06-03-2010
20100155453Surgical Staples Frangibly Connected to Staple Holding Strip - A surgical tool may include a staple holding strip, and surgical staples frangibly connected to an edge of that staple holding strip.06-24-2010
20100204717Surgical Device for Multiple Clip Application - An example of a surgical clip applier may include a housing with a passage defined therein, the passage having a longitudinal centerline; a plurality of clips held within the passage, each clip lying in a plane angled relative to the longitudinal centerline of the passage; a pusher slot defined in the housing; and a pusher slidable along the pusher slot, wherein distal motion of the pusher urges the distalmost clip in the passage out of the passage in a direction angled relative to the longitudinal centerline of the passage. Another example of a surgical clip applier may include a first jaw having a control slot defined therein; a second jaw having a control slot defined therein; and a control arm extending into the control slot of each jaw; wherein the control arm is movable along the control slots in a first direction to close the jaws and is movable along the control slots in a second direction to open the jaws.08-12-2010
20100230464Driverless Surgical Stapler - An exemplary driverless surgical stapler may include a staple holder; staples positioned within that staple holder; and at least one wedge, where each wedge is slidable to directly contact at least one staple, where that contact causes deployment of each contacted staple. An exemplary surgical method may include providing a driverless surgical stapler that has a staple holder, staples positioned within the staple holder, and at least one wedge; and sliding at least one wedge relative to the staples to directly contact at least one staple.09-16-2010
20110101069Surgical Stapler with Direct Sled to Staple Contact - An exemplary surgical stapler may include a staple holder, staples positioned within the staple holder, and at least one structure slidable within the staple holder to contact directly at least one staple, where that direct contact deploys at least one staple from the staple holder. Another exemplary surgical stapler may include a staple holder, an anvil movably connected to the staple holder, staples positioned within the staple holder; and a sled slidable within the staple holder to contact directly at least one staple, where that direct contact urges at least one staple out of the staple holder and against the anvil.05-05-2011
20110155788MEDICAL INSTRUMENT - A hydraulically actuated medical instrument includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a hydraulically actuated end effector at the distal end of the shaft and a fluid flow path extending through the shaft to the end effector. The end effector may be directly manually operated by way of a handle located at the proximal end of the shaft or remotely, for example, via robotic controller. Articulation joints may be provided along the shaft, between the shaft and end effector or handle, or elsewhere. The hydraulic actuation of the present invention permits multiple axis instrument articulation, miniaturization and simplified instrument fabrication.06-30-2011

Patent applications by Bryan D. Knodel, Flagstaff, AZ US