Steven V Nguyen

US Patent:

7497823, Mar 3, 2009

Filed:

Jun 30, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/881982

Inventors:

Shailendra Parihar - Coopersburg PA, US
Steven Nguyen - North Brunswick NJ, US
Anthony Miksza - Bethlehem PA, US
James C. Hart - Basking Ridge NJ, US
Dan Gordon - Newtown PA, US

Assignee:

Ethicon, Inc. - Somerville NJ

International Classification:

A61F 2/00

US Classification:

600 37

Abstract:

A stabilizing device having a flexible shaft with a terminal connector and surgical tools used therewith. The flexible shaft is responsive to a tension element connected to a distal end of the shaft and in communication with a proximal end of the shaft. An elastic means interfacing between the proximal end of the tension element and an actuating cam cause the shaft to adapt for differences in activating tension between straight and curved positions. Accordingly, stretching and deformation of the tensioning element is reduced and shaft stiffness upon activation of the tensioning element is repeatable. The terminal connector includes a ball-and-socket arrangement adapted to resiliently absorb movement of an organ during surgery. A bendable suction stabilizer foot adaptable to contours of an organ is also provided as an attachment to the stabilizer device.