Kenneth L Whitfield

US Patent:

7547310, Jun 16, 2009

Filed:

Mar 29, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/092350

Inventors:

Kenneth H. Whitfield - New Haven CT, US

Assignee:

Tyco Healthcare Group LP - North Haven CT

International Classification:

A61B 17/24
A61B 17/26

US Classification:

606114

Abstract:

A specimen removal apparatus includes a pouch assembly fabricated from a flexible membrane, a pouch support, a drawstring having a knot and forming a noose disposed circumferentially around a mouth of the pouch assembly, an endoscopic tubular portion, and a drive rod. The pouch support includes a rocker arm assembly attached to a distal end of the drive rod. Proximal pulling of the drawstring closes the noose, thereby closing the mouth of the pouch assembly. The pouch assembly is detachable from the apparatus.

US Patent:

7637917, Dec 29, 2009

Filed:

Oct 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/245523

Inventors:

Kenneth H. Whitfield - New Haven CT, US
Greg Sorrentino - Wallingford CT, US

Assignee:

Tyco Healthcare Group LP - North Haven CT

International Classification:

A61B 17/10

US Classification:

606143

Abstract:

A surgical clip applying apparatus is disclosed which has a handle portion, a body extending distally from the handle portion defining a longitudinal axis and a number of surgical clips disposed within the body. The apparatus has a movable member biased in the housing adjacent the wedge plate. An actuator longitudinally advances the wedge plate a predetermined distance to a distal most position. The wedge plate has an end being disposed between first and second jaw portions at the distal most position. The wedge plate end is configured to maintain the jaw assembly in the spaced apart position during loading of the surgical clip and the wedge plate end reduces torque and external forces on the jaw assembly during the loading. The movable member holds the wedge plate in the distal most position during the loading and the movable member is deflected at a conclusion of the loading. The movable member releases the wedge plate upon deflection.

US Patent:

7670346, Mar 2, 2010

Filed:

Mar 29, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/092063

Inventors:

Kenneth H. Whitfield - New Haven CT, US

Assignee:

Tyco Healthcare Group LP - North Haven CT

International Classification:

A61B 17/24

US Classification:

606114

Abstract:

A specimen removal apparatus includes a pouch assembly fabricated from a flexible membrane, a pouch support, a drawstring having a knot and forming a noose disposed circumferentially around a mouth of the pouch assembly, an endoscopic tubular portion, and a drive rod. The pouch assembly includes a plurality of circumferentially disposed guide members advantageously circumferentially spaced apart to define gaps therebetween. The guide members are disposed in a circumferential pathway proximal to the mouth of the pouch assembly. When the drawstring is pulled, the knot is stopped at an end of a guide member and the noose is closed, thereby closing the mouth of the pouch assembly. The pouch assembly is detachable from the apparatus.

US Patent:

7717926, May 18, 2010

Filed:

Oct 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/245493

Inventors:

Kenneth H. Whitfield - New Haven CT, US
Greg Sorrentino - Wallingford CT, US

Assignee:

Tyco Healthcare Group LP - North Haven CT

International Classification:

A61B 17/10

US Classification:

606143

Abstract:

An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue has a handle portion with a body extending distally from the handle portion defining a longitudinal axis and a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the body. The apparatus also has a jaw assembly mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the body with the jaw assembly including first and second jaw portions movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position. The apparatus further has a wedge plate longitudinally movable between the first and the second jaw portions, and a clip pusher configured to individually distally advance a surgical clip to the jaw assembly while the jaw portions are in the spaced apart position with an actuator. The actuator is at least partially disposed within the body and longitudinally movable in response to actuation of the handle portion and has a cam link. The apparatus also has a jaw closure member positioned adjacent the first and second jaw portions to move the jaw portions to the approximated position.

US Patent:

7819886, Oct 26, 2010

Filed:

Oct 2, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/541617

Inventors:

Kenneth H. Whitfield - New Haven CT, US
Gregory Sorrentino - Wallingford CT, US

Assignee:

Tyco Healthcare Group LP - North Haven CT

International Classification:

A61B 17/10

US Classification:

606143

Abstract:

An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue includes an actuator at least partially disposed within a body and longitudinally movable in response to actuation of a handle portion. The apparatus includes a jaw closure member positioned adjacent the first and second jaw portions to move the jaw portions to the approximated position and a rack having ratchet teeth connected to the actuator. The apparatus includes a pawl engaging a series of ratchet teeth and capable of preventing an inadvertent return of the actuator before full actuation of the apparatus. A clip pusher incrementally moves distally each time a clip is released from the apparatus. When the clip pusher reaches a predetermined distal point in a clip carrying channel, a feed bar is deflected to a second position to prevent retraction but not advancement of the actuator and thereby manipulates the pawl to engage the ratchet teeth.

US Patent:

7891534, Feb 22, 2011

Filed:

Jul 9, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/500062

Inventors:

Thomas Wenchell - Durham CT, US
Stanislaw Marczyk - Stratford CT, US
Kenneth H. Whitfield - New Haven CT, US
Roman Czernik - Trumbull CT, US
Henry E. Holsten - Covington GA, US
Frank C. Maffei - Shelton CT, US

Assignee:

Tyco Healthcare Group LP - Norwalk CT

International Classification:

A61B 17/072

US Classification:

2271761, 227 19, 2271751

Abstract:

A surgical stapling device for sequentially applying linear rows of surgical fasteners to body tissue and simultaneously incising tissue is provided. The surgical stapling device includes an elongated body portion, a tool assembly pivotally mounted about a pivot axis to the body portion, a flexible drive assembly, and a support member that is positioned on opposite sides of the pivot axis The drive assembly is slidably positioned adjacent the support member The support member inhibits outward buckling of the drive assembly during actuation of the device especially when the tool assembly is articulated.

US Patent:

7905890, Mar 15, 2011

Filed:

Oct 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/245528

Inventors:

Kenneth H. Whitfield - New Haven CT, US
Greg Sorrentino - Wallingford CT, US

Assignee:

Tyco Healthcare Group LP - Norwalk CT

International Classification:

A61B 17/10

US Classification:

606142

Abstract:

An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue has a handle portion and a body extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis. The apparatus also has a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the body, and a jaw assembly mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the body. The jaw assembly includes first and second jaw portions movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position. The apparatus also has a wedge plate longitudinally movable between the first and the second jaw portions, and a clip pusher configured to individually distally advance a surgical clip to the jaw assembly while the jaw portions are in the spaced apart position. The apparatus still further has an actuator at least partially disposed within the body and longitudinally movable in response to actuation of the handle portion and a jaw closure member positioned adjacent the first and second jaw portions to move the jaw portions to the approximated position.

US Patent:

8033440, Oct 11, 2011

Filed:

Mar 26, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/732366

Inventors:

Thomas Wenchell - Durham CT, US
Stanislaw Marczyk - Strattford CT, US
Kenneth H. Whitfield - New Haven CT, US
Roman Czernik - Trumbull CT, US
Henry E. Holsten - Southington CT, US
Frank C. Maffei - Shelton CT, US

Assignee:

Tyco Healthcare Group LP - Norwalk CT

International Classification:

A61B 17/04

US Classification:

2271761, 227 19, 2271751, 2271801

Abstract:

A surgical stapling device for sequentially applying a plurality of fasteners to body tissue and simultaneously incising tissue is provided. The surgical stapling device is adapted to receive disposable loading units having staples in linear rows whose length can be between about 30 mm and 60 mm. The disposable loading unit includes a proximal body portion, a mounting assembly and a tool assembly. The mounting assembly is secured to the proximal end of the tool assembly and pivotally mounted about a pivot axis to the distal end of the proximal body portion. A support member or blow-out plate assembly is positioned on opposite sides of the pivot avis and extends between the proximal body portion and the mounting assembly.