Abstract: A medical device for cutting bone and soft tissue includes a shaft having a rotating component with a distal working end. A cutting member is carried on the working end of the rotating component and a motor rotates the rotating component. The cutting member has a ceramic body with cutting edges, and the ceramic body is formed of a ceramic composite including alumina and zirconia, wherein the alumina has a grain size ranging between 0.5-1.5 microns and the zirconia has a grain size ranging between 0.1-1.0 micron. The alumina grain shape and zirconia grain shape are non-elongated.

Abstract: A fluid management system includes a pump connectable to a fluid source. An inflow line removably connects to a cannula for delivering a fluid flow from the pump into a surgical site, such as a joint cavity. A flow pressure sensor is coupled to measure flow pressure in the inflow line and produce a measured pressure value, A controller is connected to the pump and the flow pressure sensor, and the controller maintains a pressure set point by controlling a pump speed based on a backpressure-adjusted pressure value calculated by subtracting a backpressure value selected from a backpressure table from the measured pressure value. The BAPV is monitored to determine whether the BAPV deviates outside an initial BAPV range, and corrective measure are taken should such deviations occur.

Abstract: An electrosurgical probe includes an elongated shaft assembly having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. A distal housing is mounted on the distal end of the shaft and optionally includes a laterally open window where a plane of the window is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. An interior channel extends axially through the shaft and further through an interior of the housing to the window in the housing. An electrode member with a serrated or other elongated edge may extend longitudinally across the window and may be configured to reciprocate the elongated edge longitudinally relative to the window.

Abstract: A medical device includes an elongated sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. A ceramic cutting member includes both a cutting window having sharp edges and one or more flutes with cutting burrs circumferentially spaced-apart from the cutting window. An electrode may be placed between a pair of flutes and opposite to the cutting window. A motor drive is coupled to the proximal end of the elongated sleeve to rotate the ceramic cutting member cut bone with the flute(s) and soft tissue with the cutting window. The electrode provides cautery or radiofrequency ablation of tissue when the sleeve and ceramic cutting member are not being rotated.

Abstract: An arthroscopic or other surgical system includes a handpiece and a probe. The handpiece carries a motor drive, and the probe has a proximal hub and an elongate shaft which extends about a longitudinal axis to a working end of the probe. The hub is configured for detachably coupling to the handpiece, and the motor drive is configured to couple to a rotating drive coupling in the hub when the hub is coupled to the handpiece. A first magnetic component is carried by the hub, and a second magnetic component is coupled to rotate with the rotating drive coupling.

Abstract: Arthroscopic cutters are used for resecting tissues, such as meniscal tissues, in meniscectomies or other arthroscopic procedures. The arthroscopic cutters have a shaft assembly with openable-closeable jaws at a working end of the shaft. A handpiece having a motor drive may be detachably coupled to a hub on a hub end of the handpiece. When the shaft is coupled to the handpiece, the motor drive will couple to the jaw structure to open and close the jaw structure to cut meniscal and other tissues.

Abstract: An electrosurgical probe can be detachably secured to a handpiece having a motor drive unit and an RF current contact. The electrosurgical probe includes an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, a distal dielectric tip, and a proximal hub which is detachably securable to the handpiece. A hook electrode is reciprocatably mounted in the distal dielectric tip, and an RF connector on the hub is couplable to the RF current contact in the handpiece when the hub is secured to the handpiece. A drive mechanism in the hub mechanically couples to the hook electrode, and drive mechanism engages a rotational component in the motor drive unit when the hub is secured to the handpiece. The drive mechanism converts rotational motion from the rotational component into axial reciprocation and transmits the axial reciprocation to the hook electrode to axially displace the hook electrode between a non-extended position and an extended position relative to the dielectric tip.

Abstract: An arthroscopic system includes a re-useable, sterilizable handle integrated with a single umbilical cable or conduit. The single umbilical cable or conduit carries electrical power from a power and/or control console to the handle for operating both a motor drive unit within the handle and delivering the RF power to a disposable RF probe or cutter which may be detachably connected to the handle. The RF power delivered to the handle and on to the probe or cutter is typically bi-polar, where the handle includes first and second electrical bi-polar contacts that couple to corresponding bi-polar electrical contacts on a hub of the disposable RF probe or cutter is connected to the handle.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system is capable of selectively varying the power applied to an electrosurgical probe, without interruption or discontinuity, in a variable mode or providing a constant coagulation power value to the probe. In a fixed mode, power to the electrosurgical probe must be discontinued to change the power level output by the probe. A single controller is capable of operating the probe in the variable mode and the fixed mode. The controller includes an actuator for stopping the cutting operation and then switching to a constant coagulation output during either of the variable mode or the fixed mode. The controller of the system may selectively control a separate surgical tool.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical probe connected to a control console, wherein the probe is capable of coagulating and ablating tissue depending on a selected operating mode. Before operating the system, probe-specific data stored in a memory device associated with the probe is read by a processing device in the console. The data includes source impedance values specific to a coagulation or cutting mode of operation. A constant duty cycle value for a modulated cutting mode also is provided. Depending on the operating mode selected, an RF generator adjusted to have a predetermined source impedance value provides a voltage value to the probe. During the duty-cycled mode, the RF generator generates an instantaneous voltage value output for a duty cycle portion that is less than 100% of a time period, which value is no less than a maximum continuous average voltage value for the electrosurgical probe.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical probe connected to a control console, wherein the probe is capable of coagulating and ablating tissue depending on a selected operating mode. Before operating the system, probe-specific data stored in a memory device associated with the probe is read by a processing device in the console. The data includes source impedance values specific to a coagulation or cutting mode of operation. A constant duty cycle value for a modulated cutting mode also is provided. Depending on the operating mode selected, an RF generator adjusted to have a predetermined source impedance value provides a voltage value to the probe. During the duty-cycled mode, the RF generator generates an instantaneous voltage value output for a duty cycle portion that is less than 100% of a time period, which value is no less than a maximum continuous average voltage value for the electrosurgical probe.

Abstract: A surgical pump system arrangement receives an inflow cassette and provides fluid flow to a surgical site in a joint of a patient. The arrangement calculates load coefficients for a pressure loss curve based on an identified inflow cannula and an identified endoscope utilized therewith. The arrangement determines if the cannula is disposed at a surgical site and if adequate fluid flow is provided. Further, the arrangement determines if the inflow cannula and endoscope are properly identified. The arrangement integrates with an identified or unidentified surgical device to adjust pump operation when the surgical device is operating. The arrangement maps actuators disposed on a surgical handpiece or footswitch to control operation of the pump system, including providing suction to an outflow path of a surgical device that is not operating. The arrangement also determines when an inflow pump cassette is not properly inserted into the pump.

Abstract: A surgical pump system arrangement receives an inflow cassette and provides fluid flow to a surgical site in a joint of a patient. The arrangement calculates load coefficients for a pressure loss curve based on an identified inflow cannula and an identified endoscope utilized therewith. The arrangement determines if the cannula is disposed at a surgical site and if adequate fluid flow is provided. Further, the arrangement determines if the inflow cannula and endoscope are properly identified. The arrangement integrates with an identified or unidentified surgical device to adjust pump operation when the surgical device is operating. The arrangement maps actuators disposed on a surgical handpiece or footswitch to control operation of the pump system, including providing suction to an outflow path of a surgical device that is not operating. The arrangement also determines when an inflow pump cassette is not properly inserted into the pump.

Abstract: A surgical pump system arrangement receives an inflow cassette and provides fluid flow to a surgical site in a joint of a patient. The arrangement calculates load coefficients for a pressure loss curve based on an identified inflow cannula and an identified endoscope utilized therewith. The arrangement determines if the cannula is disposed at a surgical site and if adequate fluid flow is provided. Further, the arrangement determines if the inflow cannula and endoscope are properly identified. The arrangement integrates with an identified or unidentified surgical device to adjust pump operation when the surgical device is operating. The arrangement maps actuators disposed on a surgical handpiece or footswitch to control operation of the pump system, including providing suction to an outflow path of a surgical device that is not operating. The arrangement also determines when an inflow pump cassette is not properly inserted into the pump.

Abstract: A RF energy console controls RF energy output from a RF generator for sealing blood vessels. The energy console includes a processor that executes routines and a controller feedback circuit that, in combination, control the RF generator. Operation includes a heating stage outputting a RF ramping voltage and determining a decrease in measured current to less than a predetermined % percentage of a maximum measured and stored current value to advance to a sealing stage. Then, the voltage is controlled to maintain an increasing change in impedance until a change in current value approaches a flat curve indicating seal completion, which stops the RF generator output. To reseal or enhance a blood vessel seal, the energy console executes the same routines as in the initial sealing operation.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical probe connected to a control console, wherein the probe is capable of coagulating and ablating tissue depending on a selected operating mode. Before operating the system, probe-specific data stored in a memory device associated with the probe is read by a processing device in the console. The data includes source impedance values specific to a coagulation or cutting mode of operation. A constant duty cycle value for a modulated cutting mode also is provided. Depending on the operating mode selected, an RF generator adjusted to have a predetermined source impedance value provides a voltage value to the probe. During the duty-cycled mode, the RF generator generates an instantaneous voltage value output for a duty cycle portion that is less than 100% of a time period, which value is no less than a maximum continuous average voltage value for the electrosurgical probe.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical probe connected to a control console, wherein the probe is capable of coagulating and ablating tissue depending on a selected operating mode. Before operating the system, probe-specific data stored in a memory device associated with the probe is read by a processing device in the console. The data includes source impedance values specific to a coagulation or cutting mode of operation. A constant duty cycle value for a modulated cutting mode also is provided. Depending on the operating mode selected, an RF generator adjusted to have a predetermined source impedance value provides a voltage value to the probe. During the duty-cycled mode, the RF generator generates an instantaneous voltage value output for a duty cycle portion that is less than 100% of a time period, which value is no less than a maximum continuous average voltage value for the electrosurgical probe.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system is capable of selectively varying the power applied to an electrosurgical probe, without interruption or discontinuity, in a variable mode or providing a constant coagulation power value to the probe. In a fixed mode, power to the electrosurgical probe must be discontinued to change the power level output by the probe. A single controller is capable of operating the probe in the variable mode and the fixed mode. The controller includes an actuator for stopping the cutting operation and then switching to a constant coagulation output during either of the variable mode or the fixed mode. The controller of the system may selectively control a separate surgical tool.

Abstract: A RF energy console controls RF energy output from a RF generator for sealing blood vessels. The energy console includes a processor that executes routines and a controller feedback circuit that, in combination, control the RF generator. Operation includes a heating stage outputting a RF ramping voltage and determining a decrease in measured current to less than a predetermined o of a maximum measured and stored current value to advance to a sealing stage. Then, the voltage is controlled to maintain an increasing change in impedance until a change in current value approaches a flat curve indicating seal completion, which stops the RF generator output. To reseal or enhance a blood vessel seal, the energy console executes the same routines as in the initial sealing operation.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system is capable of selectively varying the power applied to an electrosurgical probe, without interruption or discontinuity, in a variable mode or providing a constant coagulation power value to the probe. In a fixed mode, power to the electrosurgical probe must be discontinued to change the power level output by the probe. A single controller is capable of operating the probe in the variable mode and the fixed mode. The controller includes an actuator for stopping the cutting operation and then switching to a constant coagulation output during either of the variable mode or the fixed mode. The controller of the system may selectively control a separate surgical tool.