U.S. Patent 7703653 was awarded to Tyco Healthcare Group LP on 2010-04-27 and describes a “Articulation mechanism for surgical instrument.” This patent has been cited 317 times by other U.S. patents which places it in the top 500 cited patents since 2010 according to our law firm research, and makes it of the most innovative medical technology patents in the field of instruments. The abstract states:

An articulating elongate surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongated body portion, a tool assembly pivotally supported on the distal end of the elongated body portion. The elongate surgical instrument includes as well an articulation mechanism to effect the movement of the tool assembly, the articulation mechanism including a pivot member operatively coupled to the tool assembly. The elongated body includes at least one articulation drive member having at least one retaining surface therein; a firing rod disposed adjacent the articulation drive, with an articulation locking actuating surface disposed upon the firing rod; and an articulation locking means configured to selectively engage and disengage from the actuating surface and to selectively engage and disengage from the retaining surface of the articulation drive member. Link: U.S. Patent 7703653

This patent was originally filed on 2007-09-28 which gives it a processing time of 942 days, compared to an average processing time of 1226 in the field. Tyco Healthcare Group LP has 1168 total patents. The first named inventor is Frank C. Maffei of Shelton, CT. The primary examiner was Brian D Nash.

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