US 11,849,936 B2
Endoscopic stitching devices
Ramiro Cabrera, Cheshire, CT (US); Thomas Wingardner, North Haven, CT (US); David N. Fowler, Cheshire, CT (US); Brian J. Creston, Madison, CT (US); Dmitri Menn, Marblehead, MA (US); Paul D. Richard, Shelton, CT (US); and Gene Stellon, Burlington, CT (US)
Assigned to Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed on Feb. 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/177,563.
Application 17/177,563 is a continuation of application No. 16/211,398, filed on Dec. 6, 2018, granted, now 10,945,722.
Application 16/211,398 is a continuation of application No. 15/372,616, filed on Dec. 8, 2016, granted, now 10,413,289, issued on Sep. 17, 2019.
Application 15/372,616 is a continuation of application No. 12/896,364, filed on Oct. 1, 2010, abandoned.
Application 12/896,364 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/482,049, filed on Jun. 10, 2009, granted, now 8,628,545, issued on Jan. 14, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/304,825, filed on Feb. 16, 2010.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/249,063, filed on Oct. 6, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/061,136, filed on Jun. 13, 2008.
Prior Publication US 2021/0169468 A1, Jun. 10, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/062 (2006.01); A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 34/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/06 (2006.01); A61B 1/005 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0469 (2013.01) [A61B 1/00087 (2013.01); A61B 17/00234 (2013.01); A61B 17/0491 (2013.01); A61B 17/0625 (2013.01); A61B 17/06166 (2013.01); A61B 34/71 (2016.02); A61B 1/0055 (2013.01); A61B 17/062 (2013.01); A61B 2017/003 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00367 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0608 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0609 (2013.01); A61B 2017/06047 (2013.01); A61B 2017/06176 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2905 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2912 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2929 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
15. An end effector of an endoscopic stitching device comprising:
a tool assembly;
a neck assembly coupled to the tool assembly and configured for articulation in one direction between a substantially linear configuration and an off-axis configuration, wherein the neck assembly defines a central longitudinal axis; and
a pair of spaced apart stiffener plates axially extending in the neck assembly,
wherein each stiffener plate of the pair of spaced apart stiffener plates defines a plane and includes a proximal end and a distal end, wherein of the proximal ends and the distal ends of the respective pair of spaced apart stiffener plates only the distal ends of the respective pair of spaced apart stiffener plates are axially fixed, wherein the pair of spaced apart stiffener plates includes:
a first stiffener plate located a first radial distance from the central longitudinal axis of the neck assembly; and
a second stiffener plate located a second radial distance, opposite the first radial distance, from the central longitudinal axis of the neck assembly.