U.S. Patent 8540130 was awarded to Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. on 2013-09-24 and describes a “Disposable motor-driven loading unit for use with a surgical cutting and stapling apparatus.” This patent has been cited 247 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:

A self contained motor-powered disposable loading unit for use with a surgical cutting and stapling apparatus. The disposable loading unit may contain a battery that is retained in a disconnected position when the disposable loading unit is not in use and is moved to a connected position when the disposable loading unit is coupled to the surgical cutting and stapling apparatus to permit the motor to be selectively powered thereby. Indicators may be supported on the disposable loading unit to indicate when the axial drive assembly thereof is in a starting position and an ending position. Another indicator may be provided to indicate when the anvil assembly is in a closed position. Link: U.S. Patent 8540130

This patent was originally filed on 2011-02-08 which gives it a processing time of 959 days, compared to an average processing time of 837 in the field. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. has 2128 total patents. The first named inventor is Eugene L. Timperman of Cincinnati, OH. The primary examiner was Scott A. Smith.

Select Patents monitors top medical technology patents and instruments patents which have been allowed and granted worldwide. If you would like legal advice regarding a patent or would like to file a patent go to https://selectpatents.wpengine.com/contact/