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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8114017 | Articulating endoscopic instrument An endoscopic instrument comprises a shaft, comprising a proximal end and a distal end. A grip comprising a handle is arranged at said proximal end of said shaft and a tool having at least an open and a closed position is arranged at said distal end of said shaft. S... | 02/14/2012 |
| 8075481 | Internal retraction systems and devices An internal retraction system for use in minimally-invasive surgical procedures includes, among other features, an elongated applicator that has proximal and distal ends. The distal end of the applicator includes a grasper and the proximal end includes a mechanism o... | 12/13/2011 |
| 8025621 | Medical device with adjustable inner shaft movement A medical device may include a tube having a first end and a second end, in which the first end can engage an instrument tip, an inner shaft disposed in the tube, a shaft end connected to the inner shaft and which can move lengthwise relative to the tube, a first ab... | 09/27/2011 |
| 7967748 | Resiliently supported seal cap for hand assisted laparoscopic surgical procedures A laparoscopic disk assembly for a Hand Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery (HALS) procedure includes an exteriorly visible laparoscopic disk (seal cap) attached to a retractor skirt. The laparoscopic disk provides an adjustable exterior opening. A downward annular surfac... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7922656 | Hand assisted laparoscopic seal assembly with detachable attachment ring A seal assembly for permitting hand assisted laparoscopic procedures includes a seal cap having a central access opening allowing access to a body cavity as desired. The seal cap is provided with a housing in which a seal is positioned. The seal cap also includes an... | 04/12/2011 |
| 7850607 | Method for retracting tissue during surgery A surgical retractor includes a “swivel” having a string extending from one end and a string extending from the midpoint between the two ends. The swivel is delivered by pushing it out of a tube which is inserted through a small incision between the ribs of the ... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7396329 | Endoscopic retractor instrument and associated method An endoscopic retractor is an elongate balloon having an expanded configuration having two end portions and a plurality of struts or spacer members extending between the end portions. The retractor balloon is a single tubular preform bent during manufacture to form ... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7351247 | Devices and methods for interconnecting body conduits The present invention provides devices and associated methods for delivering side-to-side and end-to-side anastomotic connectors to join any two (or more) vessels together such that fluid communication is established between the lumens of the two or more joined vess... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7341558 | Pericardial retractor A surgical retractor includes a “swivel” having a string extending from one end and a string extending from the midpoint between the two ends. The swivel is delivered by pushing it out of a tube which is inserted through a small incision between the ribs of the ... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7338434 | Method and system for organ positioning and stabilization This invention provides a heart positioning device, method and system for positioning, manipulating, holding, grasping, immobilizing and/or stabilizing a heart. The heart positioning device may include a suction head and a shaft with a means for remotely changing th... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7338441 | Superelastic/shape memory tissue stabilizers and surgical instruments A surgical instrument is used for temporary use in a medical procedure in a mammalian body. The surgical instrument is configured to be changed between two shapes upon application of one or both of heating and cooling. The instrument includes a first member, a secon... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7322935 | Endoscopic retractor An endoscopic retractor includes a tube having a proximal end and a distal end with a push rod extending therethrough. The proximal ends of the push rod is provided with a threaded portion. A rotatable handle is coupled to the proximal end of the tube and threadably... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7316621 | Police baton A handheld device for incapacitating dangerous suspects without endangering nearby civilians. The user holds the handgrip which has a trigger connected to a source of thrust, such as an air cartridge. When the user pulls the trigger, the air cartridge is fired and e... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7311664 | Apparatus for temporarily engaging body tissue An improved tissue engagement device such as a suction stabilizer or retractor. The stabilizer or retractor is provided with one or more suction pods mounted to the distal end of a flexible arm. The flexible arm is coupled to a base assembly, which attaches the arm ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7300400 | Pediatric liver retractor A pediatric liver retractor with a supporting shaft configured traversing a pediatric abdominal wall. A hook portion terminating in an insertion tip is configured generally in a U-shape, with a hook aperture and a hook depth, which along with the insertion tip, are ... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7294103 | Retractor with inflatable blades A surgical retractor is configured to provide surgical access in thoracic surgery, for example through an intercostal incision. The surgical retractor includes at least one inflated or inflatable member to cushion the ribs and surrounding tissue from injury or traum... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7291105 | Self-anchoring cardiac harness A self-anchoring cardiac harness is configured to fit at least a portion of a patient's heart and includes a tissue engaging element for frictionally engaging an outer surface of a heart. The engaging element produces sufficient friction relative to the outer surfac... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7261689 | Pivotal and illuminated saphenous vein retractor with tapered design An illuminated surgical retractor for defining and illuminating a subcutaneous surgical field in the space near a vessel (such as the saphenous vein or radial artery) during a procedure for harvesting the vessel, wherein the illuminated surgical retractor includes a... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7250028 | Endoscopic beating-heart stabilizer and vessel occlusion fastener Devices, systems and methods related to endoscopic surgery, particularly related to robotic surgical operations, provide a tissue stabilizer for endoscopically stabilizing a target tissue within a patient's body. For stabilizing a beating heart during a closed-chest... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7235082 | Device for insertion of implants A device and method, which can be used for insertion of surgical implants, are provided in which the device includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and at least one moveable element. In a particular embodiment, the moveable element is disposed withi... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7235049 | Surgical retractor and method of positioning an artery during surgery The present invention relates to a surgical retractor that immobilizes tissue at a surgical site. A preferred embodiment of the retractor is used during minimally invasive direct coronary bypass procedures to arrest movement of the grafting site while the heart cont... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7229408 | Low profile surgical retractor A compact, low-profile surgical retractor (100) avoids the need for a bulky frame. The retractor includes retractor blade components (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) joined pivotally. A cable (170) is guided by each retractor blade component. A wi... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7219671 | Method for coronary artery bypass The invention comprises a method for performing a coronary artery bypass graft on a beating heart under thoracoscopic visualization without opening the chest wall. At least one small opening is formed in the patient's chest, a target artery for an arterial blood sup... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7218510 | Computer controlled display device The present invention is a computer controlled display device. In one embodiment, the display device includes a flat panel display having an input for receiving display data. Additionally, a moveable assembly may be coupled to the display. The moveable assembly may ... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7214229 | Radially expanding stents The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of devices for capturing obstructions within passageways. The devices disclosed herein may include a flexible tubular body forming multiple flexible members arranged in a helical pattern. These flexible members may b... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7214186 | Method and device for retractor for microsurgical intermuscular lumbar arthrodesis An instrument useful in performing lumbar arthrodesis with a minimal approach which spares the lumbar muscles from surgical disruption and includes one of two retractor designs having blades angled approximately 90° with respect to each respective retractor handle.... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7201716 | Method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue The invention is a method and apparatus for performing beating heart surgery, in which a single articulating arm supports multiple suction pods. Once the suction pods are applied to the heart surface, tightening a cable fixes the arm in place. Then, the suction pods... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7189201 | Method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue A method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue. In particular, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue within a patient's body cavity. In one embodiment, the tissue immobil... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7166072 | Sexual therapy device The current invention consists of a device for sexual therapy that consists of a handle connected to a long tear shaped flat surface which curves downward at the largest end of the tear. On the flat inward side of the downward part of the tear there is a raised plat... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7166224 | Water purification apparatus The present invention relates to the use of a hydrophilic membrane to provide by the process of pervaporation through the membrane water suitable for agricultural irrigation, industrial use, hydrating or rehydrating of food or agricultural or pharmaceutical composit... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7160312 | Implantable artificial partition and methods of use Apparatus and methods are provided for partitioning a gastro-intestinal lumen by intraluminally reducing a local cross-sectional area thereof. The apparatus comprises a plurality of anchors adapted for intraluminal penetration into a wall of the gastro-intestinal lu... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7150596 | Toggle bolt device A fastener apparatus is disclosed that features projecting locking members that extend and retract when a central drive shaft is rotated. The exterior of the connector has a body that is partially threaded to receive a nut so that two structures (eg. flanges, panels... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7122003 | Endoscopic retractor instrument and associated method An endoscopic retractor instrument assembly includes a balloon having a pair of expandable or inflatable end portions and at least one expandable or inflatable spacer portion connecting the end portions to one another. A fastener is provided for securing the balloon... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7118580 | Instrument for inserting intervertebral implants In an insertion instrument for a three-piece intervertebral implant that includes an upper part that can be placed against a vertebra, a lower part that can be placed against the adjacent vertebra, and a pivot element that can be inserted between these two parts, th... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7112172 | Endoscopic organ retraction system and method of using the same The present disclosure relates to a retraction system for retracting body organs and/or body tissue in a body cavity. The retraction system includes an elongate shaft configured and dimensioned to be inserted into the body cavity, a retractor device operatively asso... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7097648 | Expandable element delivery system Apparatus for controlling the deformation of an implant during deployment thereof, comprising: a force application mechanism for applying deformation force to the implant, by motion of a force applicator against the implant; and a restraint element positioning mecha... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7087071 | Articulating endoscopic surgical apparatus A surgical instrument is provided for use in endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures. The instrument includes a handle portion, an endoscopic portion extending from the handle portion, an articulating section pivotably connected to a distal end portion of the endoscop... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7079883 | Nerve surveillance cannulae systems An expandable tip cannula system, comprising: a hollow cannula shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and an expandable tip mounted at the distal end of the hollow cannula shaft, the expandable tip comprising a plurality of generally-triangular shaped petals ... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7077610 | Toggle bolt device A toggle bolt type connector has projecting locking members that extend and retract when a central drive shaft is rotated. The exterior of the connector has a body that is partially threaded to receive a nut so that two structures (eg. flanges, panels, plates, beams... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7070586 | Surgical access apparatus and method A trocar system for providing access across a body wall includes a trocar and an anchor provided in the form of a first helix. The anchor is adapted for placement in an operative position wherein the anchor extends at least partially through the body wall. A second ... | 07/04/2006 |
