# Customizing Surgical Dissectors Using 3D Printing > This patent describes a surgical tool's working tip, called an end effector, which has two jaws whose gripping features can be custom-made using 3D printing for specific surgical needs. - **Patent:** US 10959744 - **Original title:** Surgical dissectors and manufacturing techniques - **Owner:** Ethicon - **Granted:** 2021 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 354 - **Field:** medical_devices, manufacturing, software ## What it does The patent describes a surgical end effector, which is the working tip of a surgical instrument, featuring two jaw members that can open and close. The key innovation is that at least one specific 'feature' on these jaws can be chosen by a user and created using an 'additive manufacturing process' (Claim 1). This means a surgeon or manufacturer can design unique patterns or shapes on the gripping surfaces of the jaws, such as a 'tooth' on one jaw and a complementary 'void' on the other (Claim 4), or even use different materials for different features (Claims 5, 6). For example, a surgeon could specify a unique symmetrical pattern of protrusions on one jaw and a complementary pattern on the other for a specialized tissue grip (Claim 7), then have it 3D printed. ## What it does NOT cover - Surgical instruments that do not include two jaw members that are independently movable relative to each other (Claim 1). - End effectors where neither the first feature of the first jaw member nor the first feature of the second jaw member is selected by a user in an additive manufacturing process (Claim 1). - Manufacturing methods for the jaw features that are not additive manufacturing, such as traditional molding or machining (Claim 1). - Surgical tools where the jaw members do not pivot about a joint between an open and closed configuration (Claim 1). - Dissectors where the features on the jaws are fixed and cannot be customized or varied by a user during manufacturing. ## The clever bit The novelty lies in integrating user-selected, additive manufacturing (like 3D printing) directly into the design and production of specific functional features on surgical jaw members. This allows for on-demand, customized surgical implements rather than relying solely on mass-produced, generic tool designs. ## Real-world examples 1. Custom surgical dissectors for specific tissue types 2. Specialized grasping tools for delicate or unusually shaped organs 3. Instruments for minimally invasive surgery requiring unique geometries 4. 3D-printed medical devices with tailored gripping surfaces ## Why it matters This patent is significant because it enables the creation of highly specialized surgical tools. By using additive manufacturing, instruments can be tailored precisely for unique patient anatomies or specific surgical tasks, potentially improving precision and outcomes. The assignee, Ethicon LLC, is a major medical device company, indicating a strategic focus on advanced manufacturing for personalized surgical solutions. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Customizing Surgical Dissectors Using 3D Printing cover? This patent describes a surgical tool's working tip, called an end effector, which has two jaws whose gripping features can be custom-made using 3D printing for specific surgical needs. ### Who owns patent US 10959744? Ethicon owns this patent, granted in 2021. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on August 24, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 10959744 cited by? This patent has been cited by 354 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent is significant because it enables the creation of highly specialized surgical tools. By using additive manufacturing, instruments can be tailored precisely for unique patient anatomies or specific surgical tasks, potentially improving precision and outcomes. The assignee, Ethicon LLC, is a major medical device company, indicating a strategic focus on advanced manufacturing for personalized surgical solutions. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Surgical instruments that do not include two jaw members that are independently movable relative to each other (Claim 1). **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10959744/surgical-dissectors-and-manufacturing-techniques **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10959744 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Surgical Tool with Flexible, Articulating, and Rotating End Effectors](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10736702/activating-and-rotating-surgical-end-effectors) — This patent describes a surgical tool with a flexible tip that can bend in multiple directions and also twist, allowing surgeons to precisely control instruments like graspers and cutters inside the body. - [How a Robotic Surgical Tool Clamps Tissue Manually and Automatically](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11786761/ultrasonic-robotic-tool-actuation) — This patent describes a surgical tool for robotic operations that can clamp tissue using a motor-driven yoke, but also allows a surgeon to manually control the clamping action. - [How Surgical Tools Give Haptic Feedback Near Operation Limits](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12402879/surgical-instrument-having-force-feedback-capabilities) — This patent describes a surgical instrument that uses a motor to move a tool, continuously tracking its position and providing a tactile vibration or haptic feedback to the surgeon as the tool approaches the end of its movement, improving precision and safety. - [How a Surgical Robot Arm's Wrist Moves Instruments](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12414825/surgical-arm) — This patent describes a specific design for the end part of a surgical robot arm, called the terminal portion, which uses a clever arrangement of three joints to precisely position and rotate surgical tools. - [How a Surgical Robot Attaches Tools and Stays Sterile](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12127807/surgical-system-instrument-mounting) — Intuitive Surgical's patent details a robotic surgical system that securely mounts medical instruments, transfers precise movements, and ensures sterility through a unique rotating drape mechanism.