Abstract: A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has a force delivery system which communicates a changing force to a user of the surgical instrument when a limit of a surgical function is reached. A sensor senses position of a moving element to communicate a signal to the force delivery system. In various embodiments, the system generates a vibratory force to signal the user.

Abstract: A circular stapling device includes structure to position an anvil assembly in proper alignment with a cartridge assembly prior to firing of the stapling device. The stapling device includes an anvil assembly, a cartridge assembly including a staple cartridge and shell housing, and an anvil retainer that has a proximal portion including a longitudinal rib and a distal portion including at least one second longitudinal rib. The first longitudinal rib is received within a slot formed within the shell housing to prevent rotation of the anvil retainer in relation to the shell housing. The at least one second longitudinal rib is received within a longitudinal channel of the anvil assembly to prevent rotation of the anvil assembly in relation to the anvil retainer. The presently disclosed structure obviates the need for splines and the disadvantages associated with the use of splines.

Abstract: A loading unit for a circular stapling device includes a shell member, a staple pusher assembly operably disposed within the shell member, a knife pusher assembly operably disposed within the shell member, a trocar assembly operably disposed within the shell member, and a tissue retraction assembly disposed within the shell member between the knife pusher assembly and the trocar assembly. The shell member includes an elongate tubular portion. The trocar assembly includes a trocar member movable from an advance position and a retracted position. The tissue retraction assembly includes a tissue retractor.

Abstract: Compressible adjuncts for use with a staple cartridge are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the compressible adjunct includes a non-fibrous adjunct material formed of at least one fused bioabsorbable polymer. The adjunct material is configured to be releasably retained on a staple cartridge and is configured to be delivered to tissue by deployment of staples in the cartridge The adjunct material includes a lattice macrostructure having at least one drug contained therein. The lattice macrostructure is formed of a plurality of unit cells, in which each unit cell is configured to eject a predetermined amount of drug from the adjunct material and the predetermined amount of the drug being a function of a compression profile of the respective unit cell.

Abstract: A reusable surgical device includes a housing or body that supports one or more thermal energy storage members that retain or store heat during a cleaning and sterilization process. The stored heat functions to evaporate water that remains within the body or housing of the surgical device after the cleaning and sterilization process is completed to minimize any likelihood of infection of a patient or damage to electronics within the surgical device that may result or occur due to the presence of the water within the surgical device.

Abstract: A trans-anastomotic insertion device includes a body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, and a central portion. The distal portion has a blunt distal end, a width that decreases from its distal end to its proximal end, and longitudinal ribs that provide rigidity to the distal portion. The central portion has a circular configuration and includes a proximally facing surface that includes protrusions that are positioned to be received within staple pockets of a reload assembly of a stapling device. The proximal portion includes a central post that includes splines that are received between splines on a shell housing of a stapling device. The configuration of the insertion device provides added strength to the insertion device to resist high torsional forces that may be applied to the insertion device during insertion of a surgical device through an incision into a body cavity.

Abstract: A machine a mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of a container, a first lift mechanism operatively coupled to a first servomechanism to wrap a first portion of a blank about the mandrel, a second lift mechanism operatively coupled to a second servomechanism to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel, and a folding arm coupled to the first lift mechanism and operatively coupled to a third servomechanism. A control system is in communication with the first servomechanism, the second servomechanism, and the third servomechanism and is configured to transmit a signal to each of the servomechanisms to independently control movement of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism, and the folding arm to wrap at least the first and second portions of the blank about the mandrel to form the container.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument including a stapling end effector configured for unilateral sealing of tissue. The stapling end effector includes an anvil assembly, a cartridge assembly coupled to the anvil assembly such that stapling end effector is movable between open and closed positions; and a clamping member slidably disposed about the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly between an initial position in which the stapling end effector is in the open position and subsequent advanced positions in which the stapling end effector is in the closed position. The clamping member includes a substantially “C”-shaped cross-section with a leading edge. The leading edge includes a blade portion positioned outwards of the anvil and cartridge assemblies.

Abstract: A method of applying a buttress to a surgically cut and stapled site uses an end effector with a buttress applier cartridge assembly to load one or more buttress assemblies to the end effector. The buttress assemblies each include a buttress to support a staple formed therein as well an adhesive for adhering to the end effector. The adhesive of the buttress assemblies can include a pattern to assist in both attachment to the end effector and release from the end effector after cutting and stapling a tissue site. The buttress applier cartridge can include features that accommodate end effectors having various tip configurations, including straight tips and curved or bent tips.

Abstract: Surgical stapling devices have a surgical buttress attached to an anvil jaw member, a cartridge jaw member, or both. The surgical buttress possesses a therapeutic layer of a therapeutic agent in a pattern thereon. The pattern may reflect various concentrations of a therapeutic agent, different therapeutic agents, or both.

Abstract: A converting machine is used to convert sheet material into packaging templates for assembly into boxes or other packaging. The converting machine includes a converting assembly that performs transverse conversion functions and longitudinal conversion functions on the sheet material to create the packaging templates. A fanfold crease sensing mechanism detects the presence and location of fanfold creases in the sheet material. Based on the location of the fanfold creases, the fanfold creases are either cut out of the sheet material, or the sheet material is cut to adjust the position of the fanfold crease in a packaging template.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a vibration dampening system having an adaptor with a user contact surface and a power tool contact surface. The adaptor can include a core to reduce vibration transfer from the tool to the hands of a user. In embodiments, the core comprises a viscoelastic material that lightens a base elastomer to form liquid-filled closed cells structures.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor includes a stator, a rotor, and motor terminals mounted on the stator. Each motor terminal includes a planar portion extending circumferentially from the end insulator, a wire-receiving member extending from a first end of the planar portion and folded over an outer surface of the planar portion away from the center axis of the stator at an angle of less than 90 degrees, and a tab portion extending from a second end of the planar portion parallel to the center axis of the stator. A circuit board is disposed adjacent the motor including power switches mounted thereon for energizing the stator windings. Slots are formed in the circuit board to align with and securely receive the tab portions of the motor terminals, thus electrically connecting the motor terminals to the power switches.

Abstract: A circular stapling device includes an anvil assembly and an adaptor assembly including a shell assembly. The adaptor assembly includes an anvil retainer including an asymmetric tip. The anvil assembly has a center rod, an anvil head supported on the center rod, and an alignment member. The center rod has a proximal portion and a distal portion and defines a channel that extends from the proximal portion to the distal portion. The alignment member is positioned within the channel and is configured to engage the asymmetric trocar tip of the anvil retainer of the adaptor when the anvil assembly is attached to the anvil retainer to properly align the anvil assembly with the shell assembly.

Abstract: An adapter assembly for operably connecting an end effector to a handle assembly includes a first drive assembly. The first drive assembly includes a first connector drive shaft configured to be rotated at a first speed, a first proximal worm gear in operable engagement with the first connector drive shaft, a first distal worm gear in operable engagement with the first proximal worm gear, and a first drive connector in operable engagement with the first distal worm gear. The first proximal worm gear and the first distal worm gear are configured to rotate the first drive connector at a second speed which is less than the first speed. The adapter assembly may include a second drive assembly which is substantially similar to the first drive assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a deformable body (2), wherein the deformable body comprises a force application surface (12) opposite a bone contact surface (52) to be pressed against periosteum of a bone surface (52) of a bone such that the bone contact surface adapts its shape to the shape of the bone surface, wherein the deformable body comprises one or more through-going openings (3) and/or one or more fixation locations (34) arranged to receive a fixation element such as as screw (20), and wherein the deformable body comprises an anaesthetic that is released from or through the bone contact surface. The anaesthetic can be bupivicaine, liposome bupivacaine, lidocaine or levobupivacaine. The anaesthetic can be arranged in one or more compartments (6, 7) which have different release rates. The screw can comprise a detent or rim to mate with the deformable body. A sleeve (80) can be arranged in the opening (3) to receive the screw.

Abstract: A method for authenticating the compatibility of a staple cartridge with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The method can comprise inserting a staple cartridge into a surgical instrument, receiving a first signal from a first RFID tag on a first component of the staple cartridge with an RFID reader system, receiving a second signal from a second RFID tag on a second component of the staple cartridge with the RFID reader system, comparing the first signal and the second signal to stored data for a compatible staple cartridge, and locking a staple firing system of the surgical instrument if the first signal and the second signal do not match the stored data for a compatible staple cartridge.

Abstract: A grinder including a motor, a switch operated ON and OFF in accordance with an operation of a switch lever to control a rotation of an output shaft of the motor, a spindle that rotates in accordance with the rotation of the output shaft to rotate a disk-shaped grinding wheel and a brake mechanism controllable with respect to a brake plate that integrally rotates with the output shaft, in a housing, the brake plate includes fins.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aseptically filling pharmaceutical containers with pharmaceutical fluid are disclosed. In one general aspect, these are based on an aseptically sealable chamber that includes a transfer wall to which pre-sealed pharmaceutical source and receiving containers are mounted aseptically. A robotic arm and a syringe store are disposed within the chamber along with a sterilizing facility for establishing in the chamber an aseptic condition. The robotic arm can grip and operate syringes to inject and/or extract pharmaceutical products from the containers by piercing their closures with the needles of the syringes.

Abstract: A circular stapling device includes an elongate body having a flexible outer tube that supports a reload assembly, a flexible inner cable that supports an anvil assembly, and a flexible central tube that is supported about the inner cable and within the outer tube. The stapling device is configured to access body cavities which cannot be easily accessed by a circular stapling device having a rigid shaft.