| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090209990 | MOTORIZED SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT HAVING HANDLE BASED POWER SOURCE - A surgical cutting and fastening instrument. The instrument comprises an end effector, a shaft connected to the end effector, and a handle connected to the shaft. The handle comprises an electric, DC motor connected to a drive train in the shaft for powering the drive train. The handle also comprises a power pack that comprises at least one charge-accumulating device connected to the DC motor for powering the DC motor. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090275937 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MARKING A LUMENAL WALL - A marking apparatus includes a selectively inflatable balloon. The balloon includes an external lumen adapted for connection to a vacuum source. The external lumen includes ports for creating a vacuum at the ports sufficient to draw walls of the gastric cavity into contact with the external lumen. The balloon is further provided with RF energy delivery devices. In accordance with an alternate embodiment, a marking apparatus includes an elongated, hollow body, the hollow body including a proximal end and a distal end. The hollow body includes at least one suction trough in which a plurality of holes is disposed to draw suction on tissue. The at least one suction trough extends along a substantial portion of the hollow body as it extends from its distal end to its proximal end. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090275942 | BALLOON TISSUE DAMAGE DEVICE - An inflatable medical instrument for tissue damage in gastric reduction surgery includes a main chamber composed of a biocompatible material capable of being selectively inflated. The medical instrument also includes a longitudinally extending tab member secured to an outer surface of the main chamber, a series of suction holes are formed along the tab member and an electrode is mounted on the tab member. The present invention also provides a method for forming a tissue junction used in defining a gastric pouch including damaging opposed tissue layers, apposing the tissue layers and fastening the tissue layers to allow the tissue layers to heal together. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20100036405 | ULTRASONIC DEVICE FOR CUTTING AND COAGULATING WITH STEPPED OUTPUT - Various embodiments are directed to an apparatus, system, and method for driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic transducer in a surgical instrument. The method comprises generating a first ultrasonic drive signal by a generator coupled to an ultrasonic drive system, actuating the ultrasonic transducer with the first ultrasonic drive signal for a first period, generating a second ultrasonic drive signal by the generator, and actuating the ultrasonic transducer with the second ultrasonic drive signal for a second period, subsequent to the first period. The first drive signal is different from the second drive signal over the respective first and second periods. The first and second drive signals define a step function waveform over the first and second periods. The apparatus comprises a generator configured to couple to an ultrasonic instrument. The system comprises a generator coupled to an ultrasonic instrument. The ultrasonic instrument comprises an ultrasonic drive system comprising an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a waveguide and an end effector coupled to the waveguide, and wherein the ultrasonic drive system is configured to resonate at a resonant frequency. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100294829 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CONTROL UNIT AND SENSOR TRANSPONDERS - A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a control unit and a staple cartridge including a transponder. The control unit is configured to transmit a first wireless signal to the transponder and to receive a second wireless signal from the transponder to determine one of a first electronic state and a second electronic state of the transponder based on the second wireless signal. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100301095 | INTERLOCK AND SURGICAL INSTRUMENT INCLUDING SAME - A surgical instrument is disclosed. The instrument includes an end effector comprising a moveable cutting instrument to cut an object and a motor coupled to the end effector. The motor actuates the cutting instrument in response to a current therethrough, causing the cutting instrument to move between a proximal-most position and a distal-most position. The instrument includes an interlock coupled to the end effector and to the motor to prevent actuation of the cutting instrument based on the current through the motor. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20110015627 | IMPEDANCE MONITORING APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS - In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to a surgical instrument that can supply mechanical energy and electrical energy to an end effector of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument comprises an ultrasonic generator module coupled to an ultrasonic drive system, which comprises an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a waveguide and an end effector coupled to the waveguide. The ultrasonic drive system is configured to resonate mechanically at a resonant frequency to generate a first ultrasonic drive signal. An electronic circuit is coupled to the ultrasonic generator module to monitor an electrical characteristic of the ultrasonic drive system. A processor is coupled to the electronic circuit to control the ultrasonic drive signal in response to the monitored electrical characteristic of the ultrasonic drive system. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110015631 | ELECTROSURGERY GENERATOR FOR ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS - In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to a surgical instrument that can supply mechanical energy and electrical energy to an end effector of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may be operated in a first operating mode in which a transducer of the surgical instrument produces mechanical energy, or vibrations, that are transmitted to the end effector and a second operating mode in which electrical energy, or current, can flow through the end effector to perform electrosurgery. In another general aspect, the surgical instrument may comprise a clamp, or jaw, which can be moved into a closed position to hold tissue against a waveguide, or blade, of the end effector. In the second operating mode of the surgical instrument, current can flow from a power source, through the waveguide, and return to the power source through a path comprising the jaw. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110015660 | ROTATING TRANSDUCER MOUNT FOR ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS - In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a handpiece housing that operably supports an electrical contact assembly therein that is in electrical communication with a signal source. An acoustic assembly is supported within the handpiece housing in rotatable contact with the electrical contact assembly. In various embodiments, the signal source produces at least one of an ultrasonic signal and a radio frequency signal. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110082486 | DEVICES AND TECHNIQUES FOR CUTTING AND COAGULATING TISSUE - Various embodiments are directed to an apparatus and method of driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument. The method comprises generating at least one electrical signal. The at least one electrical signal is monitored against a first set of logic conditions. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110087208 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR TRANSMITTING ENERGY TO TISSUE COMPRISING A MOVABLE ELECTRODE OR INSULATOR - A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue can comprise a jaw member comprising an electrode, wherein the electrode is configured to generate heat when electrical energy is supplied to the electrode, and wherein the electrode comprises a top surface. The surgical instrument can further comprise an insulator positioned adjacent to the electrode, wherein the insulator comprises a top surface movable between a first position and a second position relative to the top surface of the electrode, and wherein the top surface of the insulator is closer to the top surface of the electrode when the insulator is in the first position than when the insulator is in the second position. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110087212 | SURGICAL GENERATOR FOR ULTRASONIC AND ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICES - A surgical device control circuit. The control circuit may comprise a first circuit portion comprising at least one first switch. The first circuit portion may communicate with a surgical generator over a conductor pair. The control circuit may also comprise a second circuit portion comprising a data circuit element. The data circuit element may be disposed in an instrument of the surgical device and transmit or receive data. The data circuit element may implement data communications with the surgical generator over at least one conductor of the conductor pair. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110087213 | SURGICAL GENERATOR FOR ULTRASONIC AND ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICES - A surgical generator for providing a drive signal to a surgical device may have a receptacle assembly having a receptacle body, a flange and a central protruding portion. The outer periphery of the central protruding portion may have at least one curved section and at least one linear section. Additionally, a surgical instrument may comprise an electrical connector assembly having a flange. The flange may comprise at least one curved section and at least one linear section. In some embodiments, A surgical instrument system may comprise a surgical generator, a surgical instrument comprising a connector assembly, and an adapter assembly operatively coupled to the receptacle assembly and the connector assembly. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110087214 | SURGICAL GENERATOR FOR ULTRASONIC AND ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICES - In accordance with various embodiments, methods for controlling electrical power provided to tissue via a surgical device may comprise providing a drive signal to a surgical device; receiving an indication of an impedance of the tissue; calculating a rate of increase of the impedance of the tissue; and modulating the drive signal to hold the rate of increase of the impedance greater than or equal to a predetermined constant. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110087216 | SURGICAL GENERATOR FOR ULTRASONIC AND ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICES - In accordance with various embodiments, a surgical generator for providing a drive signal to a surgical device may comprise a first transformer and a second transformer. The first transformer may comprise a first primary winding and a first secondary winding. The second transformer may comprise a second primary winding and a second secondary winding. The surgical generator may further comprise a generator circuit to generate the drive signal. The generator circuit may be electrically coupled to the first primary winding to provide the drive signal across the first primary winding. The surgical generator may also comprise a patient-side circuit electrically isolated from the generator circuit. The patient-side circuit may be electrically coupled to the first secondary winding. Further, the patient-side circuit may comprise first and second output lines to provide the drive signal to the surgical device. In addition, the surgical generator may comprise a capacitor. The capacitor and the second secondary winding may be electrically coupled in series between the first output line and ground. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110087256 | SURGICAL GENERATOR FOR ULTRASONIC AND ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICES - A method for determining motional branch current in an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic surgical device over multiple frequencies of a transducer drive signal. The method may comprise, at each of a plurality of frequencies of the transducer drive signal, oversampling a current and voltage of the transducer drive signal, receiving, by a processor, the current and voltage samples, and determining, by the processor, the motional branch current based on the current and voltage samples, a static capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer and the frequency of the transducer drive signal. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110125176 | MOTORIZED SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT - A surgical cutting and fastening instrument. The instrument comprises an end effector, a shaft connected to the end effector, and a handle connected to the shaft. The handle comprises an electric, DC motor connected to a drive train in the shaft for powering the drive train. The handle also comprises a power pack that comprises at least one charge-accumulating device connected to the DC motor for powering the DC motor. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110132963 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CONTROL UNIT AND REMOTE SENSOR - A surgical instrument, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument. The surgical instrument may comprise an end effector comprising at least one sensor. The surgical instrument may also comprise an electrically conductive shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector wherein the sensor is electrically insulated from the shaft. The surgical instrument may also comprise a handle connected to a proximate end of the shaft. The handle may comprise a control unit electrically coupled to the shaft such that the shaft radiates signals as an antenna from the control unit to the sensor and receives radiated signals from the sensor. Other components electrically coupled to the shaft may also radiate the signals. | 06-09-2011 |
