1. An apparatus comprising:
an airbag, the airbag having a surface with a concave shape relative to a side of the airbag facing a passenger, the airbag configured to inflate into a configuration that covers a region around a seat in which a top of a head, a front of the head, upper body region, knees, and shins of the passenger in the seat is expected to be located when an event occurs in which the airbag is deployed.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configuration has a c-shape.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
an inflation system connected to the airbag, wherein the inflation system is configured to inflate the airbag into the configuration.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:
a sensor system connected to the inflation system, wherein the sensor system is configured to detect the event and send a signal to the inflation system to cause the inflation system to inflate the airbag to the configuration in response to detecting the event.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airbag is implemented in an aircraft.
6. A system for passenger protection, the system comprising:
a number of concave airbags, the number of concave airbags each having a surface with a concave shape relative to a side of the airbag facing a passenger, wherein the number of concave airbags is configured to inflate and extend over a top of a head of the passenger, before a face of the passenger, before an upper body region of the passenger, and before knees and shins of the passenger;
an inflation system configured to inflate the number of concave airbags in response to a trigger; and
a number of sensors configured to detect an event and generate the trigger to the inflation system to inflate the number of concave airbags.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the system is implemented on an aircraft.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the number of sensors include at least one of a pressure sensor and an event sensor.
9. The system of claim 6, wherein the inflation system uses an igniter and propellant to create gas and inflate the number of concave airbags.
10. The system of claim 6, wherein the number of concave airbags further comprises an upper portion and a lower portion.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are separate and individual airbags that deploy simultaneously, and wherein the upper portion and the lower portion each take on a form of a c-shape when deployed.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are part of one continuous airbag, and wherein the upper portion and the lower portion each take on a form of a c-shape when deployed.
13. A method for airbag deployment, the method comprising:
detecting an event requiring airbag deployment;
triggering an inflation system to deploy a number of airbags, wherein the number of airbags has a concave surface relative to a side of the airbag facing a passenger, and wherein the number of airbags takes on a form of a c-shape that extends at least partially over a top of a head of the passenger when deployed;
igniting propellant to inflate the number of airbags; and
maintaining inflation of the number of airbags for a given period of time.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the number of airbags is configured to protect a number of regions of a body of the passenger from objects that may move as a result of the event detected.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the number of regions include at least one of the top of a head, front of a face, upper chest, top of knees, front of the knees, and front of shins.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the number of airbags is implemented on an aircraft.
17. A system for protection of a passenger, the system comprising:
a concave airbag system, comprising at least one concave airbag configured to inflate and extend over a top of a head of the passenger, before a face of the passenger, before an upper body region of the passenger, and before knees and shins of the passenger, wherein the concave airbag system has a concave surface relative to a side of the airbag facing the passenger and further comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, and wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are at least one of separate and individual airbags that deploy simultaneously and one continuous airbag, and wherein the upper portion and the lower portion each take on a form of a c-shape when deployed;
an inflation system configured to inflate the concave airbag system in response to a trigger, wherein the inflation system uses an igniter and propellant to create gas and inflate the concave airbag system; and
a number of sensors configured to detect an event and generate the trigger to the inflation system to inflate the concave airbag system, wherein the number of sensors include at least one of a pressure sensor and an event sensor, and wherein the inflation system is implemented on an aircraft.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for applying a bolster material to a surgical fastening apparatus prior to operating the apparatus to insert one or more surgical fasteners through at least one piece of bolster material, the method comprising:
a) providing a surgical fastening apparatus, the surgical fastening apparatus comprising:
a first arm having a first arm working surface; and
a cutting element operable along a cutting path;
b) providing a medical device, the medical device comprising:
the at least one piece of bolster material configured for application to the first arm working surface, the at least one piece of bolster material having a severable bolster portion to be received in the cutting path;
a retaining element associated with the at least one piece of bolster material and providing a receiving area, the retaining element adapted to hold the at least one piece of bolster material in association with the first arm working surface and including a severable retaining element portion to be received in the cutting path; and
a removable support element extending at least partially along the at least one piece of bolster material and received through the receiving area, wherein the removable support element is longitudinally slidable within the receiving area for removal from the receiving area;
c) prior to operating the apparatus to insert the surgical fasteners through the at least one piece of bolster material, removing the removable support element from the receiving area; and
d) prior to operating the apparatus to insert the surgical fasteners through the at least one piece of bolster material, positioning at least a portion of the surgical fastening apparatus first arm within the receiving area, wherein the at least one piece of bolster material is held in association with the first arm working surface, and the severable bolster portion and the severable retaining element portion are received in the cutting path.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of bolster material comprises collagen.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one piece of bolster material comprises an extracellular matrix material.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the extracellular matrix material comprises serosa, pericardium, dura mater, peritoneum, or dermal collagen.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the extracellular matrix material comprises submucosa.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the submucosa is small intestinal submucosa.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cutting element is a cutting blade.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the retaining element comprises suture material.
9. A medical device useful for applying a bolster material to a surgical fastening apparatus, the apparatus comprising (a) a first arm having a first arm working surface; and (b) a cutting element operable along a cutting path, the medical device comprising:
at least one piece of bolster material configured for application to the first arm working surface;
a retaining element associated with the at least one piece of bolster material to provide a receiving area, the retaining element including a severable retaining element portion to be received in the cutting path, and the retaining element adapted to hold the at least one piece of bolster material in association with the first arm working surface when the severable retaining element portion is in an unsevered condition; and
a removable support element extending at least partially along the at least one piece of bolster material and received through the receiving area, wherein the removable support element is longitudinally slidable within the receiving area for removal from the receiving area and removable from the bolster material when the severable retaining element portion is in the unsevered condition.
10. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the at least one piece of bolster material comprises a collagenous material.
11. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the at least one piece of bolster material comprises a remodelable material.
12. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the remodelable material comprises collagen.
13. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the at least one piece of bolster material comprises a remodelable angiogenic extracellular matrix material.
14. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the remodelable angiogenic extracellular matrix material comprises small intestine submucosa, urinary bladder submucosa, or stomach submucosa.
15. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the retaining element comprises a suture material.
16. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the retaining element is a continuous suture strand, the suture strand being received through the at least one piece of bolster material in two or more locations and joined to itself to provide the receiving area.
17. A medical system useful for applying bolster material to patient tissue, comprising:
a surgical fastening apparatus comprising (i) a first arm having a first arm working surface; and (ii) a cutting element operable along a cutting path;
at least one piece of bolster material having a portion received in the cutting path; and
a retaining element retaining the at least one piece of bolster material in association with the first arm working surface, the retaining element having one or more segments received in the cutting path and including portions residing between the first arm working surface and the at least one piece of bolster material;
wherein the retaining element presents a plurality of loops longitudinally spaced from one another along a length of the at least one piece of bolster material and defining a receiving area arranged to receive the first arm of the surgical fastening apparatus.
18. The medical system of claim 17, wherein the at least one piece of bolster material comprises a remodelable angiogenic extracellular matrix material.
19. The medical system of claim 18, wherein the remodelable angiogenic extracellular matrix material comprises porcine small intestinal submucosa.
20. A medical device useful for applying a bolster material to a surgical fastening apparatus, the apparatus comprising (a) a first arm having a first arm working surface; and (b) a cutting element operable along a cutting path, the medical device comprising:
at least one piece of bolster material configured for application to the first arm working surface, the at least one piece of bolster material having a first bolster segment positioned to occur on a first side of the cutting path and a second bolster segment positioned to occur on a second side of the cutting path; and
a retaining element adapted to hold the at least one piece of bolster material in association with the first arm working surface, the retaining element passing through the at least one piece of bolster material in at least one location in the first bolster segment and in at least one location in the second bolster segment, the retaining element presenting a plurality of loops longitudinally spaced from one another along a length of the at least one piece of bolster material and defining a receiving area arranged to receive the first arm of the surgical fastening apparatus, and the retaining element presenting a plurality of severable retaining element segments extending between the first and second bolster segments and positioned to occur in the cutting path upon application of the at least one piece of bolster material to the first arm working surface; wherein the plurality of severable retaining element segments are longitudinally spaced from one another along a length of the at least one piece of bolster material.
21. The medical device of claim 20, wherein the at least one piece of bolster material comprises a remodelable collagenous material.