摘要:
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.
摘要:
Various devices are provided for allowing multiple surgical instruments to be inserted through a single surgical access device at variable angles of insertion, allowing for ease of manipulation within a patient's body while maintaining insufflation. Safety shields and release mechanisms are also provided for use with various surgical access devices.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
A localization mechanism, or fixture, is used in conjunction with a breast coil for breast compression and for guiding a core biopsy instrument during prone biopsy procedures in both open and closed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines. The localization fixture includes a three-dimensional Cartesian positionable guide for supporting and orienting an MRI-compatible biopsy instrument, and in particular a sleeve, to a biopsy site of suspicious tissues or lesions. A depth stop enhances accurate insertion, and prevents over-insertion or inadvertent retraction of the sleeve. The sleeve receives a probe of the MRI-compatible biopsy instrument and may contain various features to enhance its imagability, to enhance vacuum and pressure assist therethrough, and marker deployment etc.
摘要:
Various devices are provided for allowing multiple surgical instruments to be inserted through a single surgical access device at variable angles of insertion, allowing for ease of manipulation within a patient's body while maintaining insufflation. Safety shields and release mechanisms are also provided for use with various surgical access devices.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
A first expression of apparatus for keeping clean a medical viewing scope's distal scope end includes a tube, an annular sheath, and a handpiece. The tube has a proximal end fluidly connectable to irrigation fluid and has a distal end fluidly connected to the handpiece. The sheath is surroundingly attachable to the scope and includes a lumen between the sheath's inside and outside diameters. The lumen has a substantially constant cross-sectional flow area which is substantially equal in area to the tube's cross-sectional flow area. The handpiece is in fluid communication with the proximal lumen end. The distal scope end is positioned proximate the attached sheath's distal lumen end. A second expression of the apparatus has the lumen with a substantially crescent shape without any limitation on its cross-sectional flow area. In an alternate embodiment, the lumen substantially continuously varies in cross-sectional flow area and/or irrigation flow path direction.
摘要:
Various compositions, methods, and devices are provided that use fluorescent nanoparticles to function as markers, indicators, and/or light sources. In an exemplary embodiment, the fluorescent nanoparticles are biocompatible, and more preferably they can be formed from a fluorophore core surrounded by a biocompatible shell, such as a silica shell. In one aspect, the fluorescent nanoparticles can be delivered to tissue to mark the tissue, enable identification and location of the tissue, and/or illuminate an area surrounding the tissue.
摘要:
A reinforced composite material includes a laminate panel adhered to a strengthening panel with a layer of adhesive that is interposed therebetween. The strengthening panel includes a reinforcement embedded therein, and may be in the form of a sheet of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP). The layer of adhesive can include a coating of a contact adhesive applied to each of the laminate panel and the strengthening panel, or can be in the form of a hot melt glue or an epoxy adhesive. A method of forming the reinforced composite material includes forming the laminate panel, forming the reinforcing panel, and adhering the laminate panel to the reinforcing panel with a layer of adhesive. The adhering step can include applying and curing a layer of hot melt adhesive, applying coatings of a contact adhesive to the laminate panel and the reinforcing panel, and applying an epoxy adhesive, and/or other steps.