| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080210738 | STAPLE CARTRIDGES FOR FORMING STAPLES HAVING DIFFERING FORMED STAPLE HEIGHTS - A staple cartridge for use with a stapling device that has an actuator that is selectively actuatable in an axial direction and an anvil portion that is selectively movable between open and closed positions is disclosed. Various embodiments of the present invention include a cartridge body that movably supports first and second staple drivers. The staple drivers each support a staple thereon and serve to drive the staples into forming contact with the anvil upon actuation by the actuator. The various embodiments of the present invention enable the final formed heights of the staples to be varied so as to apply various clamping forces and pressures to soft tissue captured within the staples. In at least one embodiment, the staples can include crowns formed thereon which can be utilized to adjust or control the clamping force and/or pressure applied by the staples. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080215362 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF ASSESSING NEED FOR HEALTH CARE AND FACILITATING THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE - A health care assessment system and associated methods are provided for providing increased access to individuals for assessing whether a need exists for health care and then also facilitating an individual's access to health care as needed. Embodiments of the system include a health care assessment system for receiving input from a patient and generating an output reflecting an indivdual's risk of one or more disease states. The health care assessment system is further capable of providing resources for health care and visual tools for collecting patient history. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20100010310 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MAINTAINING VISIBILITY AND PROVIDING IRRIGATION AND/OR SUCTION DURING SURGICAL PROCEDURES - Methods and devices are provided for providing irrigation and/or suction to a surgical site and maintaining clear visibility through a lens of a scoping device during a surgical procedure. In general, the methods and devices can allow for a surgical instrument to maintain visibility during a surgical procedure using a fluid conduit coupled to the surgical instrument. A surgical device can include a sheath having at least one lumen extending therethrough configured to allow a surgical viewing instrument to be disposed therein. The sheath can also have a passageway extending therethrough configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough. The fluid conduit can be configured to be movable between positions that can allow alternative directions of fluid toward and/or away from a viewing element on the surgical instrument and fluid away from the viewing element and toward a surgical field in a body cavity. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100081863 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PERFORMING GASTRECTOMIES AND GASTROPLASTIES - Methods and devices are provided for performing gastrectomies and gastroplasties. In one embodiment, a method includes gaining access to a stomach of a patient through an opening formed in the patient's abdominal wall and an opening formed in the patient's vaginal wall. Tissue attached to the stomach can be tensioned using a surgical instrument inserted through one of the abdominal and vaginal openings and can be separated from the stomach to free the stomach fundus using a dissecting surgical instrument inserted through another opening, e.g., through one of the abdominal and vaginal openings. The fundus can be at least partially transected using a surgical stapler inserted through one of the abdominal and vaginal openings, thereby forming a stomach “sleeve.” In another embodiment, the method is modified to form another opening in the patient's abdominal wall instead of forming an opening in the vaginal wall. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100081864 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PERFORMING GASTRECTOMIES AND GASTROPLASTIES - Methods and devices are provided for performing gastrectomies and gastroplasties. In one embodiment, a method includes gaining access to a stomach of a patient through an opening formed in the patient's abdominal wall and an opening formed in the patient's vaginal wall. Tissue attached to the stomach can be tensioned using a surgical instrument inserted through one of the abdominal and vaginal openings and can be separated from the stomach to free the stomach fundus using a dissecting surgical instrument inserted through another opening, e.g., through one of the abdominal and vaginal openings. The fundus can be at least partially transected using a surgical stapler inserted through one of the abdominal and vaginal openings, thereby forming a stomach “sleeve.” In another embodiment, the method is modified to form another opening in the patient's abdominal wall instead of forming an opening in the vaginal wall. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100081883 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PERFORMING GASTROPLASTIES USING A MULTIPLE PORT ACCESS DEVICE - Methods and devices are provided for performing gastroplasties. In one embodiment, a method of performing a gastroplasty includes gaining access to a stomach of a patient through an opening formed in the patient's abdominal wall. A multiple port access device having two or more sealing ports through which surgical instruments can be inserted can be positioned in the abdominal opening. Various instruments can be inserted through the various sealing ports to perform certain steps, such as tensioning and cutting tissue, sizing and transecting the stomach, viewing the surgical site, etc. The methods and devices can be used to perform a Magenstrasse and Mill procedure in which only a portion of the stomach is transected. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100121652 | Method and Apparatus of Assessing Need for Health Care and Facilitating The Provision of Health Care - A health care assessment system and associated methods are provided for providing increased access to individuals for assessing whether a need exists for health care and then also facilitating an individual's access to health care as needed. Embodiments of the system include a health care assessement system for receiving input from a patient and generating an output reflecting an indivdual's risk of one or more disease states. The health care assessment system is further capable of providing resources for health care and visual tools for collecting patient history. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100191255 | Method for Applying A Surgical Staple - A method of deploying a surgical fastener including the step of introducing the fastener into a body of a patient while the fastener is in a first shape having a first loop with a back span and an original size and shape. The method involves moving the end segments of the fastener in a first manner away from each other while maintaining the fastener in a closed loop. The method also involves moving the end segments of the fastener in a second manner away from each other to open the loop. The method further involves forming the fastener into a second loop having a width greater than the width of the first loop. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100191282 | Surgical Stapler For Applying A Large Staple Through A Small Delivery Port And A Method of Using The Stapler To Secure A Tissue Fold - A method of deploying a surgical fastener into a patient by introducing the fastener into a body of a patient while the fastener is in a first shape having a first loop with a back span and an original size and shape. The method then involves moving end segments of the fastener away from each other substantially along an entire length thereof while keeping the back span in substantially its original size and shape. The method then involves forming the fastener into a second loop having a width greater than a width of the first loop. | 07-29-2010 |
