Abstract: A surgery system comprising at least one smart instrument, a computer system, and a sensor system. The sensor system is adapted to wirelessly sense the position of the at least one smart instrument and to transmit position information to the computer system.

Abstract: A neuro-muscular electrical stimulation system provides a series of electrical pulses to instigate muscle twitch to aid in preventing the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis. The duration and duty cycle of the electrical pulses provided to a patient's muscle tissue is controlled to instigate muscle twitch without causing tetanic muscle contractions. The system preferably includes a single electrode that is placed upon each calve of a patient. The electrical stimulator device includes a unique housing and circuit board arrangement that facilitates easy assembly without requiring any soldering connections between the circuit board, a power source and electrical leads that are utilized to provide signals to the electrodes that are placed on the patient. The circuit board preferably is made from a slightly resilient plastic material that is flexed from a disconnected position into an electrically connected position upon assembly of the stimulator device.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece (940) for actuating a cutting attachment (944). The handpiece includes a housing (942) which contains a motor (52) for driving the cutting attachment. A coupling assembly (948) releasably holds the cutting attachment to the housing and connects the attachment to the motor. A state marker, such as a magnet (1012), is disposed in the housing. The state marker is connected to the coupling assembly to undergo physical displacement when the coupling assembly is transitioned from the run state to the attachment release state. A sensor (960) monitors the physical displacement of the state marker. Whenever the state marker undergoes physical displacement, the output signal from the sensor changes. Thus, an external device can monitor when the handpiece coupling assembly (948) is transitioned from the run to the release state by monitoring the output signal from the sensor (960).

Abstract: An integrated surgical tool system (30) for energizing different powered surgical handpieces (32, 33). Internal to each handpiece is a non-volatile memory (72) which stores data regarding the operating parameters of the handpiece. This data, includes information about the speeds at which any motor internal to the handpiece should be driven, the maximum current that should be drawn by the handpiece and the maximum internal temperature of the handpiece. The handpiece is plugged into a complementary control console (36). The control console reads the data in the internal memory. Based on the retrieved data and manual control signals, the control console supplies energization signals to the handpiece so as to cause the appropriate actuation of the handpiece.

Abstract: A powered medical instrument includes a manually operable foot switch coupled to a motor control unit which in turn is coupled to an autoclavable handpiece containing a brushless sensorless electric motor driving a tool. The motor control arrangement includes a control panel through which a user can select a maximum torque value for the motor, and includes a torque limit circuit which limits the motor torque to the torque limit value selected by the user. The control panel also provides a digital display of actual motor speed and allows the user to digitally specify a maximum motor speed. The output of the foot switch is adjusted by a transfer function and then used to control motor speed, and the transfer function is adjusted as necessary to precisely conform the actual motor speed and thus the displayed speed to the selected maximum speed.

Abstract: A powered medical instrument includes a manually operable foot switch coupled to a motor control unit which in turn is coupled to an autoclavable handpiece containing a brushless sensorless electric motor driving a tool. The motor control arrangement includes a control panel through which a user can select a maximum torque value for the motor, and includes a torque limit circuit which limits the motor torque to the torque limit value selected by the user. The control panel also provides a digital display of actual motor speed and allows the user to digitally specify a maximum motor speed. The output of the foot switch is adjusted by a transfer function and then used to control motor speed, and the transfer function is adjusted as necessary to precisely conform the actual motor speed and thus the displayed speed to the selected maximum speed.

Abstract: A foot switch includes a base member having an upwardly facing surface, a force sensing resistor disposed on the surface and coupled electrically to a sensing circuit, and an actuating layer disposed on the force sensing resistor and the base member surface. The actuating layer has an elevated portion which is substantially centered over the force sensing resistor, the elevated portion having a convex upper surface which is a portion of a spherical surface. The sensing circuit includes a constant current source connected in series with the force sensing resistor between ground and a predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump includes a panel member having a rotatably driven rotor with roller elements on it, two projections which each have insert-receiving slots, two cover-supporting slots each extending away from a respective projection, and an orientation tab disposed between the projections. A one-piece insert has a platelike portion with ends slidably received in the insert-receiving slots, a recess which receives the orientation tab, and two pairs of aligned projections on opposite sides thereof, the insert further including a flexible tube extending around the rotor and having its ends engaging respective projections on one side of the platelike portion. A cover member is removably supported on the panel member by flanges which slidably engage the cover-receiving slots and by locking surfaces thereon which engage locking surfaces on the projections, the cover member including a curved surface adjacent and facing the roller elements on the rotor, and serving as a cover for the tube and rotor.