Abstract: A microwave ablation system includes a surgical instrument having an instrument connector and a microwave generator having a generator connector. The instrument connector includes a magnet and a plurality of conductors. The generator connector is configured to couple to the instrument connector and includes a housing, a support base, a magnet, at least one spring, and a plurality of pogo pins. The support base is operably coupled to the housing and configured to move longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the generator connector. The magnet is operably coupled to the support base and positioned to align with the magnet of the instrument connector. The spring is configured to bias the support base proximally within the housing. The pogo pins extend distally from the support base with each pogo pin being configured to align with a respective conductor of the plurality of conductors of the instrument connector.

Abstract: A tool assembly for a surgical stapling device includes a first jaw supporting an anvil. A second jaw supports a staple cartridge. A drive member is movable from a retracted position towards an advanced position to move the second jaw in relation to the first jaw from an open position to a clamped position. At least two first pivoting links are operably coupled to a first side of the first and second jaws. At least two second pivoting links are operably coupled to a second side of the first and second jaws. The pivoting links each pivot in response to longitudinal advancement of the I-beam to move the second jaw between the open position and the clamped position. The second surface of the cartridge assembly is maintained in substantially parallel alignment with the first surface of the anvil as the second jaw is moved between the open position and the clamped position.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly for a surgical stapling device includes a staple cartridge that includes a staple array that has a configuration to minimize blood leakage through a staple line formed by the staple cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical smoke evacuation system includes an imaging device configured to capture an image of a surgical site, a smoke evacuator in communication with the imaging device and including a suction generator configured to create a vacuum pressure, an electrosurgical pencil including a nozzle, a suction conduit coupling the nozzle to the smoke evacuator, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the surgical smoke evacuation system to: identify a feature in the captured image of the surgical site; classify an amount of smoke in the image using a machine learning network based on the identified feature; and dynamically adjust the vacuum pressure generated by the smoke evacuator based on the classified amount of smoke in the image.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a body portion that defines a longitudinal axis and a tool assembly that articulates about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. An articulation link assembly is supported in the body portion and is movable between retracted and advanced positions to pivot the tool assembly between a non-articulated position and articulated positions. The articulation assembly supports an articulation lock assembly that is movable from a locked position to an unlocked position in response to longitudinal movement of the articulation assembly to facilitate articulation of the tool assembly. The articulation lock assembly stabilize the articulation link assembly within the body portion when the surgical stapling device is fired to minimize occurrence of tremors in the tool assembly.

Abstract: A cannula assembly includes a housing, an elongate shaft extending from the housing, and a lens cleaning assembly detachably coupled to a distal end portion of the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft defines a lumen therethrough. The lens cleaning assembly includes a base having an annular configuration and defines an aperture in communication with the lumen of the elongate shaft, a cover pivotably coupled to the base, and a spring biasing the cover towards the closed configuration. The cover is transitionable between a closed configuration, in which, the cover closes the aperture of the base, and an open configuration, in which, the cover is spaced apart from the aperture. The cover has a cleaning surface facing the aperture of the base in the closed configuration.

Abstract: A surgical smoke evacuation system includes a smoke evacuator, a suction instrument, a suction conduit, and a disinfecting device. The smoke evacuator includes a suction generator configured to create a vacuum force. The suction instrument is configured to couple to the smoke evacuator via the suction conduit. The disinfecting device is operably coupled to the suction conduit or the smoke evacuator. The disinfecting device includes a housing defining an inner chamber, an inlet extending from a distal end of the housing and in fluid communication with the inner chamber, an outlet extending from a proximal end of the housing and in fluid communication with the inner chamber, and an ultraviolet light emitting diode board. The ultraviolet light emitting diode board includes at least one ultraviolet-c light emitting diode disposed in the inner chamber and configured to disinfect surgical smoke within the inner chamber.

Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of imaging devices, each imaging device being associated with a known location and memory having programming instructions stored thereon. The system comprises one or more processors having programming instructions which when executed to cause the one or more processors to receive images from at least one imaging device, recognize in the received images of the at least one imaging device at least one portable machine, determine a location the portable machine based in part on the location of the at least one imaging device; and predict current availability of the at least one portable machine based on the received images, detected features of the recognized at least one portable machine, and at least one object in a scene of the received image.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a body portion that defines a longitudinal axis and a tool assembly that articulates about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. An articulation link assembly is supported in the body portion and is movable between retracted and advanced positions to pivot the tool assembly between a non-articulated position and articulated positions. The articulation assembly supports an articulation lock assembly that is movable from a locked position to an unlocked position in response to longitudinal movement of the articulation assembly to facilitate articulation of the tool assembly. The articulation lock assembly stabilize the articulation link assembly within the body portion when the surgical stapling device is fired to minimize occurrence of tremors in the tool assembly.

Abstract: A system and an ablation probe of a system monitors insertion depth during an ablation procedure. The ablation probe includes a housing, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a distance sensor operably coupled to the housing, and a microcontroller operably coupled to the distance sensor. The elongated shaft is configured to be inserted through a skin surface. The distance sensor measures a distance value between the housing and the skin surface. The microcontroller receives the measured distance value from the distance sensor, calculates an insertion depth value of the elongated shaft based on the received measured distance value, and causes a display unit to display the calculated insertion depth value.

Abstract: A tool assembly for use with a surgical stapling device includes structure on an anvil assembly and/or a cartridge assembly to obstruct blood from flowing through spaces in a staple line as the staple line is being formed by the stapling device. In aspects of the disclosure, the tool assembly includes protrusions to compress tissue adjacent to spaces in the staple line as the staple line is being formed and tissue is being cut.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a handle assembly and an end effector connected by an elongate body. The end effector includes a cartridge assembly having staples, an anvil to assist forming staples, and illuminating devices on the end effector capable of illuminating tissue. The illuminating devices on the end effector assist in both illuminating the tissue to be stapled and to visualizing blood vessels in the tissue, including veins.

Abstract: A tool assembly for a surgical stapling device includes a first jaw supporting an anvil. A second jaw supports a staple cartridge. A drive member is movable from a retracted position towards an advanced position to move the second jaw in relation to the first jaw from an open position to a clamped position. At least two first pivoting links are operably coupled to a first side of the first and second jaws. At least two second pivoting links are operably coupled to a second side of the first and second jaws. The pivoting links each pivot in response to longitudinal advancement of the I-beam to move the second jaw between the open position and the clamped position. The second surface of the cartridge assembly is maintained in substantially parallel alignment with the first surface of the anvil as the second jaw is moved between the open position and the clamped position.

Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of imaging devices, each imaging device being associated with a known location and memory having programming instructions stored thereon. The system comprises one or more processors having programming instructions which when executed to cause the one or more processors to receive images from at least one imaging device, recognize in the received images of the at least one imaging device at least one portable machine, determine a location the portable machine based in part on the location of the at least one imaging device; and predict current availability of the at least one portable machine based on the received images, detected features of the recognized at least one portable machine, and at least one object in a scene of the received image.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly for a surgical stapling device includes a staple cartridge that includes a staple array that has a configuration to minimize blood leakage through a staple line formed by the staple cartridge.

Abstract: A tool assembly for use with a surgical stapling device includes structure on an anvil assembly and/or a cartridge assembly to obstruct blood from flowing through spaces in a staple line as the staple line is being formed by the stapling device. In aspects of the disclosure, the tool assembly includes protrusions to compress tissue adjacent to spaces in the staple line as the staple line is being formed and tissue is being cut.

Abstract: A surgical imaging system includes an endoscope, a processor, and a display. The endoscope includes an elongated shaft having a distal end portion, an imager attached to the distal end portion and configured to capture an image of tissue, an infrared transmitter attached to the distal end portion of the shaft for transmitting infrared light to tissue, and an infrared receiver attached to the distal end portion of the shaft for receiving infrared light reflected by the tissue. The processor is in communication with the infrared transmitter and the infrared receiver and is configured to identify generate a digital image of vasculature in the tissue based on data received from the infrared receiver. The display is configured to display the image of the tissue captured by the imager with the digital image of the vasculature overlaying the image of the tissue.

Abstract: A proximity sensor or switch having a sensing coil, an oscillator connected to the coil, a comparator connected to the oscillator, a reference voltage module connected to the comparator, and an output driver connected to the comparator. The voltage module may incorporate a resistor having an end connected to a high side of a power source, and a digital potentiometer having a first end connected to another end of the resistor and to the comparator, and having a second end connected to a ground side of the power source. The digital potentiometer may have a resistance that is varied with a signal. A variation of the resistance for the digital potentiometer may result in a change of a voltage from the reference voltage module which further changes a switching distance of the proximity switch to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A proximity sensor or switch having a sensing coil, an oscillator connected to the coil, a comparator connected to the oscillator, a reference voltage module connected to the comparator, and an output driver connected to the comparator. The voltage module may incorporate a resistor having an end connected to a high side of a power source, and a digital potentiometer having a first end connected to another end of the resistor and to the comparator, and having a second end connected to a ground side of the power source. The digital potentiometer may have a resistance that is varied with a signal. A variation of the resistance for the digital potentiometer may result in a change of a voltage from the reference voltage module which further changes a switching distance of the proximity switch to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A relay control circuit is disclosed. In one aspect, the relay control circuit is a hybrid of a double winding relay control scheme and a single winding relay control scheme.