Back to results
US 7,354,447 B2Granted
Disposable loading unit and surgical instruments including same
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Leslie M. Fugikawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A disposable loading unit. The disposable loading unit includes a housing assembly, a knife assembly connected to the housing assembly, and an agent cartridge connected to the housing assembly. The agent cartridge houses a medical agent. The disposable loading unit is configured to deliver the medical agent proximate a cutting surface of the knife assembly.
Claims24
A disposable loading unit, comprising:
- a housing assembly;
- a knife assembly connected to the housing assembly;
- an agent cartridge connected to the housing assembly, wherein the agent cartridge houses a medical agent, and wherein the disposable loading unit is configured to deliver the medical agent proximate a cutting surface of the knife assembly;
- and
- at least one medical agent driver in contact with the agent cartridge, wherein the at least one medical agent driver comprises an electrically activated polymer.
2 more elements
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle assembly;
- an elongated body connected to the handle assembly;
- and
- a disposable loading unit releasably connected to the elongated body, wherein the disposable loading unit comprises:
- a housing assembly;
- a knife assembly connected to the housing assembly;
- an agent cartridge connected to the housing assembly, wherein the agent cartridge houses a medical agent;
- and
- at least one medical agent driver in contact with the agent cartridge, wherein the at least one medical agent driver comprises an electrically activated polymer, and wherein the disposable loading unit is configured to deliver the medical agent proximate a cutting surface of the knife assembly.
6 more elements
An assembly for a surgical instrument, comprising:
- a housing;
- a cutting member relatively movable with respect to the housing, the cutting member having a cutting surface;
- an agent cartridge connected to the housing, wherein the agent cartridge includes a cavity configured to house a medical agent therein;
- and
- a driver engaged with the agent cartridge to dispense the medical agent from the agent cartridge, wherein the driver comprises an electrically activatable polymer.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.