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Author

Eric J. Butterfield

Bio: Eric J. Butterfield is an academic researcher from Ethicon Inc.. The author has contributed to research in topics: Lever & Pulley. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 1140 citations.

Papers
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Patent
07 Feb 1994
TL;DR: An improved surgical stapling instrument for applying surgical staples to human tissue is presented in this paper, which includes a fixed jaw with a staple cartridge and a movable jaw with an anvil for clamping the tissue there.
Abstract: An improved surgical stapling instrument is provided for applying surgical staples to human tissue. The instrument has an articulated stapling head assembly mounted by a rotatable and flexible support shaft on an actuator handle assembly with an improved actuator mechanism for closing and firing the stapling head assembly. The stapling head assembly comprises a fixed jaw with a staple cartridge and a movable jaw with an anvil for clamping the tissue therebetween. The actuator mechanism comprises a jaw closure lever for closing the jaws and a staple firing lever for actuating a staple driver to drive the staples from the staple cartridge into the tissue and against the anvil. The actuator mechanism also includes a cam pulley mounted for rotation by the staple firing lever and secured to a firing cable for actuating the staple driver. A set of drive gears rotatably positioned on opposite sides of the cam pulley mesh with gear sectors on the staple firing lever to rotate the cam pulley and apply tension to the firing cable when the staple firing lever is actuated. The cam pulley has a contoured cam lobe for actuating the firing cable with different mechanical advantages as the pulley is rotated. An anti-backup member engages the cam pulley to prevent the pay-out of the firing cable before and after the staple firing lever is actuated. The length of the support shaft can be adjusted to set the tension in the closure cable so that the jaws are completely closed by the jaw closure lever to produce staples of uniform height when the staple firing lever is actuated.

745 citations

Patent
Eric J. Butterfield1
29 Sep 1994
TL;DR: A surgical instrument having a business end manipulated by a member made from a cobalt-sterilizable, nontoxic, liquid-crystal, polyester-polyarylate polymer is defined in this article.
Abstract: A surgical instrument having a business end manipulated by a member made from a cobalt-sterilizable, nontoxic, liquid-crystal, polyester-polyarylate polymer.

395 citations


Cited by
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Patent
10 Jun 2011
TL;DR: In this article, a surgical stapling device particularly suited for endoscopic procedures is described, which includes a handle assembly and an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly.
Abstract: A surgical stapling device particularly suited for endoscopic procedures is described The device includes a handle assembly and an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly The distal end of the elongated body is adapted to engage a disposable loading unit A control rod having a proximal end operatively connected to the handle assembly includes a distal end extending through the elongated body A control rod locking member is provided to prevent movement of the control rod until the disposable loading unit is fully secured to the elongated body of the stapling device

2,013 citations

Patent
03 Feb 1994
TL;DR: In this paper, a surgical stapler instrument is provided for applying lateral lines of staples to tissue while cutting the tissue between those staple lines, which includes a handle portion, an implement portion, a reciprocating section, a drive member and a movable actuator.
Abstract: A surgical stapler instrument is provided for applying lateral lines of staples to tissue while cutting the tissue between those staple lines. The instrument includes a handle portion, an implement portion, a reciprocating section, a drive member and a movable actuator. The implement portion includes a staple cartridge and an anvil. The reciprocating section is adapted to move back and forth along an axis of the implement portion. The movable actuator is associated with the handle portion and is engaged with the drive member such that motion of the actuator causes the drive member to move back and forth between first and second drive positions separated by a first distance. A multiplier is further provided and is associated with the reciprocating section and the drive member for causing the reciprocating section to move back and forth between first and second reciprocating positions in response to movement of the drive member. The reciprocating section includes a work portion which, when moved distally, effects the firing of staples in the staple cartridge toward the anvil. The work portion is also provided with a reciprocating knife. The first and second reciprocating positions are separated by a second distance which differs from the first distance.

1,670 citations

Patent
17 Jun 2004
TL;DR: In this paper, a surgical stapling device for applying an array of surgical staples to tissue is provided, which includes an approximation mechanism for moving a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly between spaced and approximated positions and a firing mechanism for ejecting the array of staples from the cartridge assembly.
Abstract: A surgical stapling device for applying an array of surgical staples to tissue is provided. The stapling device includes an approximation mechanism for moving a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly between spaced and approximated positions and a firing mechanism for ejecting the array of staples from the cartridge assembly. A single trigger is operable to effect approximation and firing of the device. The device also includes an alignment pin assembly which can be selectively manually or automatically advanced. The anvil assembly includes a stiffener plate which allows the device to have a reduced head portion profile.

1,659 citations

Patent
30 Sep 2004
TL;DR: In this paper, a surgical stapling instrument (1) comprises a body portion (2, 3), a handle (4), and a staple fastening assembly (8), which includes a curved cartridge (10), which comprises at least one curved open row of staples, and a curved anvil (22), which is adapted to cooperate with the cartridge for forming the ends of the staples exiting from the cartridge.
Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument (1) comprises a body portion (2, 3), a handle (4) and a staple fastening assembly (8). The staple fastening assembly (8) includes a curved cartridge (10), which comprises at least one curved open row of staples, and a curved anvil (22), which is adapted to cooperate with the cartridge (10) for forming the ends of the staples exiting from the cartridge (10). The staple fastening assembly (8) is adapted to allow unobstructed access towards the concave inner faces of the cartridge (10) and the anvil (22). The cartridge (10) can be moved towards the anvil (22) from a spaced position for positioning tissue therebetween to a closed position for clamping the tissue. Preferably, a knife is contained within the cartridge (10) and is positioned such that there is at least one row of staples on at least one side of the knife.

1,502 citations

Patent
14 Jun 2016
TL;DR: Newness and distinctiveness is claimed in the features of ornamentation as shown inside the broken line circle in the accompanying representation as discussed by the authors, which is the basis for the representation presented in this paper.
Abstract: Newness and distinctiveness is claimed in the features of ornamentation as shown inside the broken line circle in the accompanying representation.

1,500 citations