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Author

Kevin L. Houser

Bio: Kevin L. Houser is an academic researcher from Ethicon Inc.. The author has contributed to research in topics: Surgical instrument & Ultrasonic sensor. The author has an hindex of 81, co-authored 189 publications receiving 28830 citations.


Papers
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Patent
05 Mar 1999
TL;DR: In this paper, an ultrasonic surgical clamp coagulator was configured to effect cutting, coagulation, and clamping of tissue by cooperation of a clamping mechanism of the apparatus with an associated ultrasonic end-effector.
Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical clamp coagulator apparatus (120) is configured to effect cutting, coagulation, and clamping of tissue by cooperation of a clamping mechanism of the apparatus with an associated ultrasonic end-effector (150). Selective articulation positioning of the end-effector is achieved by the provision of an articulating mechanism incorporated into the clamp coagulator apparatus (120). The arrangement permits an elongated portion of the apparatus (120) to be selectively articulately positioned with respect to an apparatus housing.

903 citations

Patent
29 Mar 2007
TL;DR: An ultrasonic surgical system has an ultrasonic unit including an instrument operatively connected to a generator, where the instrument has an end effector on the distal end of a shaft and a positioning unit including a movable arm adapted for releasably holding the instrument, whereby an operator may direct the positioning unit to position the end effectors at a surgical site inside a body cavity of a patient for performing a plurality of surgical tasks.
Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical system has an ultrasonic unit including an instrument operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator, wherein the instrument has an ultrasonic end effector on the distal end of a shaft. The system further includes a positioning unit including a movable arm adapted for releasably holding the instrument, whereby an operator may direct the positioning unit to position the end effector at a surgical site inside a body cavity of a patient for performing a plurality of surgical tasks. The system further includes a control unit operatively connected to the ultrasonic and positioning units, wherein the control unit is programmable with a surgical subroutine for performing the surgical tasks. The system further includes a user interface operatively connected to the control unit for initiating an operative cycle of the surgical subroutine such that the surgical tasks are automatically performed during the operative cycle.

841 citations

Patent
13 Dec 2000
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented a closed loop arrangement that modulates the force applied to tissue from a surgical instrument using a generator and an electrical signal representative of the generator load, where a force responsive element is operatively coupled to the actuating lever and the end-effector.
Abstract: Ultrasonic instruments, and particularly solid core ultrasonic instruments, are advantageous because they may be used to cut and/or coagulate organic tissue using energy in the form of mechanical vibrations transmitted to a surgical end-effector at ultrasonic frequencies. The present invention provides a surgical instrument including force feedback system, in a closed loop arrangement that modulates the force applied to tissue from a surgical instrument. A generator provides electrical energy to the surgical instrument and an electrical signal representative of the generator load. The surgical instrument includes a handle that includes an actuating lever, and an end-effector located at the distal end of the handle. A force responsive element is operatively coupled to the actuating lever and the end-effector, wherein the force responsive element is adapted to alter a force on the end-effector in response to the electrical signal from the generator.

792 citations

Patent
03 Nov 2011
TL;DR: An electrosurgical device consisting of an end effector, a cutting member, and en electromechanical driver is described in this paper, where the user can provide tactile feedback to the user through the user input feature, based on a load encountered by the cutting member.
Abstract: An electrosurgical device comprises an end effector, a cutting member, and en electromechanical driver. The end effector comprises a pair of jaws that clamp tissue. The jaws include electrodes that deliver RF energy to clamped tissue. The cutting member cuts tissue clamped between the jaws. The electromechanical driver drives the cutting member. A control module commands the electromechanical driver, and regulates the delivery of RF energy to the electrodes, based on a combination of user input and feedback signals from the electrodes and from the electromechanical driver. The device may provide tactile feedback to the user through the user input feature, based on a load encountered by the cutting member. The device may alert the user when the exterior of end effector makes incidental contact with tissue, to avoid inadvertently burning the tissue. The device may include a removable battery pack to power the electromechanical driver and the electrodes.

723 citations

Patent
09 Apr 2014
TL;DR: In this article, a surgical end effector for use in connection with a surgical instrument is presented, where the end effectors are configured for operable attachment to the surgical instrument and a status assembly arrangement is provided to provide an indication on the end-effector housing of a linear location of at least one of the actuators.
Abstract: A surgical end effector for use in connection with a surgical instrument. In one form the end effector includes an end effector housing that is configured for operable attachment to the surgical instrument. A first end effector drive system is configured to linearly move a first end effector actuator between a first linear position and a second linear position in response to first rotary motions applied thereto by the surgical instrument. A second end effector drive system is configured to linearly move a second end effector actuator between a beginning and ending position in response to second rotary motions applied thereto by the surgical instrument. The instrument further includes a status assembly arrangement for provide an indication on the end effector housing of a linear location of at least one of the first and second end effector actuators.

664 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
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

Patent
21 Apr 2011
TL;DR: In this paper, a surgical instrument can comprise a channel configured to support a staple cartridge and, in addition, an anvil pivotable between open and closed positions relative to the channel.
Abstract: A surgical instrument can comprise a channel configured to support a staple cartridge and, in addition, an anvil pivotable between open and closed positions relative to the channel. The surgical instrument can further comprise a cutting member configured to incise tissue positioned captured between the staple cartridge and the anvil and, in addition, means for stopping the cutting member prior to a distal end datum, wherein the distal end datum can be defined by the distal-most staple cavity in the staple cartridge. In such embodiments, the incision within the tissue may not extend beyond the portion of the tissue that has been stapled.

1,498 citations

Patent
20 Sep 2016
TL;DR: In this article, an E-beam firing bar is used to drive staples on each side of the cut in a surgical severing and stapling instrument, which is suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil.
Abstract: A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. The E-beam firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples, especially when an amount of tissue is clamped that is inadequate to space the end effector. In particular, an upper pin of the firing bar longitudinally moves through an anvil slot and a channel slot is captured between a lower cap and a middle pin of the firing bar to assure a minimum spacing. Forming the E-beam from a thickened distal portion and a thinned proximal strip enhances manufacturability and facilitates use in such articulating surgical instruments.

1,384 citations