Did You Know...
...that power steering was invented by independent inventor Francis W. Davis? As chief engineer in the 1920s of the truck division of the Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company, he saw how hard it was to steer heavy vehicles. So that he would be able to keep the profits from his future invention, Davis left his job, rented a small engineering shop in Waltham, Mass., and developed a hydraulic power steering system that led to power steering.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8187177 | Surgical instrument access device A surgical access device includes a single valve that forms a seal with a body wall and provides an access channel into a body cavity. The valve has properties for creating a zero seal in the absence of an instrument as well as an instrument seal for an instrument h... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8187178 | Instrument access device An instrument access device comprises at least a first instrument seal 71 to effect a seal around a first instrument extended through the device and a second instrument seal 72 to effect a seal around a second instrument extended through the device. Th... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8123682 | Surgical hand access apparatus A surgical access apparatus includes a liner base and an access housing for positioning outside the body. The liner base includes an inner member adapted for insertion through an opening within body tissue for positioning within the body; a sleeve member connected t... | 02/28/2012 |
| 8105234 | Surgical access apparatus and method A surgical access device includes a single valve that forms a seal with the body wall and provides an access channel into a body cavity. The valve has properties for creating a zero seal in the absence of an instrument as well as an instrument seal with instruments ... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8075482 | IRIS valve with control ring A laparoscopic surgical access device comprises a first frame and a second frame having relative axial positions. A flexible and resilient iris valve is connected to the first and second frames and has a closed position and an opened position based on the relative a... | 12/13/2011 |
| 8070676 | Surgical access apparatus and method A surgical access device includes an access seal comprising an ultra gel elastomeric material formed of a mixture comprising a triblock copolymer and an oil. The access seal is adapted to be disposed relative to the abdominal wall. At least one access channel is for... | 12/06/2011 |
| 8021296 | Wound retractor A wound retractor (320) comprises a distal ring (3) for insertion through a wound opening (6), a proximal ring (4) for location externally of the wound opening (6), a valve (10) mounted to the proximal ring (4), and a... | 09/20/2011 |
| 8016755 | Surgical access apparatus and method A surgical access device includes an access seal adapted to be disposed within an incision within an abdominal wall. The access seal has an external flange adapted to be disposed external to the abdominal wall and an internal flange adapted to be disposed internal t... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8012088 | Retractor A retractor (101) for retracting the margins of a wound opening (103) comprises an inner anchoring O-ring (105) attached to a cylindrical sleeve (106) at a distal end and a reinforcing O-ring (109) attached to a proximal end of the... | 09/06/2011 |
| 7998068 | Instrument access device An instrument access device (500) comprises a distal O-ring (11) for insertion into a wound interior, a proximal member for location externally of a wound opening and a sleeve (12) extending in two layers between the distal O-ring (11) an... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7909761 | Atraumatic tissue retraction device Methods and apparatus for a surgical retractor include a ring, a plurality of flexible straps connected to the ring, a patch of hook or loop material connected to each strap, a coordinating patch of hook or loop material connectable to the patient's skin or the surg... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7909760 | Split hoop wound retractor with gel pad An incrementally adjustable wound retractor, which provides access to a body cavity, includes an inner ring having a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, an outer ring having an annular axis and a diameter greater than the desired diamet... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7892172 | Circular surgical retractor A wound retractor for retracting a surgical incision includes an inner ring, an outer ring and a distensible sleeve coupled to the inner and outer rings. The outer ring includes at least a pair of circular tubes coupled to each other. At least one of the circular tu... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7883461 | Wound retractor with gel cap An incrementally adjustable wound retractor, which provides access to a body cavity, includes an inner ring having a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, an outer ring having an annular axis and a diameter greater than the desired diamet... | 02/08/2011 |
| 7878974 | Hand access laparoscopic device The invention relates to a hand access laparoscopy device having a gelcap, a retainer, a sleeve and a retention ring. The gelcap includes gel that is bonded to a cap. The cap includes an inner cylindrical wall to which the gel in bonded, thereby providing a sealing ... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7871374 | Surgical retractor A Surgical retractor, designed in particular for minimally invasive operations, consisting essentially of an elastic plate rolled up about an axis so as to form the side wall of a substantially truncated cone shape, the narrowest cross section of the truncated cone ... | 01/18/2011 |
| 7867164 | Wound retractor system A wound retractor system comprises a retractor having a distal ring 91 and a retracting sleeve 4 extending from the ring. An insertion tool 120 has a distal groove 122 to hold the ring for insertion of the ring through a small incision | 01/11/2011 |
| 7819800 | Fully automated iris seal for hand assisted laparoscopic surgical procedures A laparoscopic device assembly provides a tubular diaphragm twist seal that responds to a slight rotation of an actuating ring in a first direction by coupling a motor spring power assisted rotation of a bottom circumference of the twist seal achieves a pneumatic se... | 10/26/2010 |
| 7815567 | Split hoop wound retractor An incrementally adjustable wound retractor, which provides access to a body cavity, includes an inner ring having a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, an outer ring having an annular axis and a diameter greater than the desired diamet... | 10/19/2010 |
| 7766824 | Surgical hand access apparatus A surgical access apparatus adaptable to permit the sealed insertion of either the surgeon's hand and/or surgical instruments during laparoscopic and endoscopic surgical procedures includes an access member having a passageway therethrough and first and second seal ... | 08/03/2010 |
| 7749161 | Hand assisted laparoscopic device A seal assembly for permitting hand assisted laparoscopic procedures includes a seal cap having an iris seal positioned within a housing. The housing includes a lower seal ring having a track which supports an upper seal ring for relative rotational motion, wherein ... | 07/06/2010 |
| 7736306 | Hand access laparoscopic device The invention relates to a hand access laparoscopy device having a gelcap, a retainer, a sleeve and a retention ring The gelcap includes gel that is bonded to a cap. The cap includes an inner cylindrical wall to which the gel in bonded, thereby providing a sealing a... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7727146 | Wound retractor with gel cap An incrementally adjustable wound retractor, which provides access to a body cavity, includes an inner ring having a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, an outer ring having an annular axis and a diameter greater than the desired diamet... | 06/01/2010 |
| 7717847 | Surgical hand access apparatus A surgical access apparatus adaptable to permit the sealed insertion of either the surgeon's hand and/or surgical instruments during laparoscopic and endoscopic surgical procedures includes an access housing defining a central longitudinal axis and having a longitud... | 05/18/2010 |
| 7704207 | Circular surgical retractor A wound retractor for retracting a surgical incision includes an inner ring, an outer ring and a distensible sleeve coupled to the inner and outer rings. The outer ring includes at least a pair of circular tubes coupled to each other. At least one of the circular tu... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7559893 | Wound retractor device A wound protector and retractor device comprising a longitudinal axis, a distal member, a proximal member, and a sleeve extending at least between the distal member and the proximal member. The sleeve has a proximal gripping portion for pulling the sleeve upwardly t... | 07/14/2009 |
| 7540839 | Wound retractor A surgical wound retractor comprises a retracting member for insertion into a wound opening and a proximal member for location externally of a wound opening A clamp is used to clamp the retracting member to the proximal member. ... | 06/02/2009 |
| 7537564 | Wound retractor device A wound retractor device (1) comprises a distal ring member (2) for insertion into a wound opening (3), a proximal ring member (4) for location externally of the wound opening (3), and four strap members (5) extending betwee... | 05/26/2009 |
| 7481765 | Surgical access apparatus and method A surgical access device includes a single valve forming a seal with the body wall and providing an access channel into a body cavity. The valve has properties for creating a zero-seal in the absence of an instrument and an instrument seal with instruments. The valv... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7473221 | Surgical access apparatus and method A surgical access device includes a single valve forming a seal with the body wall and providing an access channel into a body cavity. The valve has properties for creating a zero-seal in the absence of an instrument and an instrument seal with instruments. The valv... | 01/06/2009 |
| 7445597 | Retractor A retractor (101) for retracting the margins of a wound opening (103) comprises an inner anchoring O-ring (105) attached to a cylindrical sleeve (106) at a distal end and a reinforcing O-ring (109) attached to a proximal end of the... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7427264 | Instruments and methods for selective tissue retraction through a retractor sleeve Methods and instruments for performing surgery in a patient are provided that minimize tissue dissection and retraction to access locations within the patient. One specific application concerns devices, instruments and techniques that provide for selective retractio... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7393322 | Surgical hand access apparatus A surgical access apparatus includes a liner base and an access housing for positioning outside the body. The liner base includes an inner member adapted for insertion through an opening within body tissue for positioning within the body; a sleeve member connected t... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7377898 | Wound retraction apparatus and method A surgical wound retractor is adapted to dilate a wound stretchable to a desired diameter, the retractor includes a first ring having a diameter greater than that desired for the wound and being adapted for disposition interiorly of the wound. A second ring has a di... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7322211 | Ring A ring-like article of manufacture capable of being worn as jewelry such as a ring on a human finger for adornment, having a triangular cross section throughout its circumference, wherein the sides of the triangular cross section are formed by a single continuous, e... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7300399 | Surgical device for retracting and/or sealing an incision A wound protector retractor comprises an inner O-ring for insertion through a wound opening and a connecting sleeve extending between the O-ring and outer mounting means. The outer means are provided by rings between which the sleeve is led. The rings are rotated re... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7297106 | Medical treating instrument There is provided a surgical treatment instrument in which the mode can be easily switched between a treatment under a pneumoperitoneum condition and a treatment outside the peritoneal cavity, and forceps can be manipulated under the pneumoperitoneum condition, and ... | 11/20/2007 |
| 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 |
| 7261688 | Devices and methods for percutaneous tissue retraction and surgery Methods and devices for performing percutaneous surgery in a patient are provided. A retractor includes a working channel formed by a first portion coupled to a second portion. The first and second portions are movable relative to one another from an unexpanded conf... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7238154 | Wound retraction apparatus and method A surgical wound retractor is adapted to dilate a wound to a desired diameter. The retractor includes first and second rings, each having a diameter greater than that desired for the wound. The first and second rings are adapted for disposition interiorly and exteri... | 07/03/2007 |
