Abstract: The present invention is a testing device for testing analyte levels in bodily fluids. The testing device comprises memory (202) for storing data, said data being analyte data related to analyte measurements carried out by the meter and lifestyle data; initiation means (102) for initiating immediate entry of data related to a specific category of lifestyle data; navigation means (104) for entry and navigation of said data; and transfer means (258) for transferring said data to said memory. Preferably, the testing device is a glucose meter and one of the analytes being tested is glucose.

Abstract: Methods of frequently monitoring glucose amounts and/or concentrations in a subject who is at risk for hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and/or glucose level fluctuations that put the subject at risk are provided. Also provided are methods of monitoring the effects of one or more pharmaceutical compositions on the levels of glucose in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of controlling the flow of fluids through a microfluidic circuit and, more particularly, to methods of controlling the movement of fluid through a microfluidic circuit using one or more triggerable passive valves. In one embodiment of a method of controlling the flow of fluids through a microfluidic circuit according to the present invention, the microfluidic circuit includes a triggerable valve in series with a passive valve. In a further embodiment of a method of controlling the flow of fluids through a microfluidic circuit according to the present invention, the microfluidic circuit includes first and second triggerable valves in parallel.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bipolar electrosurgical instrument suitable for use in mesentery tissue and other suitable tissue structures, including vessels. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to the present invention includes an end effector which includes a tissue slot and electrodes arranged on either side of the tissue slot. The opposing electrodes are electrically connected such that tissue passing through the slot is electrically treated with electrosurgical current passing laterally through the tissue. An end effector according to the present invention further includes a tissue separator arranged at the end of the slot to divide tissue as it is passed through the slot and after it is treated.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient using a biopsy instrument. The biopsy instrument comprises an elongated piercer having a piercer lumen extending therethrough. The biopsy instrument further comprises a cutter rotatably and translationally positionable relative to the piercer. The piercer has a port for receiving and transferring the tissue portion into the piercer lumen.

Abstract: The present invention is a control apparatus for removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient using a surgical biopsy device. The biopsy device comprises an elongated piercer having a piercer lumen extending therethrough, and a cutter rotatably and axially positionable relative to the piercer. The piercer has a port for receiving and transferring the tissue sample into the piercer lumen. The biopsy device further comprises a rotation motor for rotating the cutter and a translation motor for translating the cutter in the axial direction. In one embodiment of the present invention, the control apparatus comprises a computing device for the coordinated control of the rotation and translation motors. The control apparatus further comprises a first sensor operationally connected to the rotation motor for supplying a rotation signal to the computing device for measuring the rotational speed of the cutter.

Abstract: A therapeutic ultrasonic instrument is provided for hemostatic cutting and/or cauterizing of tissue. A preferred embodiment provides an end effector which grasps tissue while a cutting element energized by ultrasonic energy is passed through the tissue to cut and cauterize the tissue while it is being held by the tissue grasping portion of the end effector. One embodiment further includes staples which are applied to the tissue as well.

Abstract: Bone anchors, after insertion into bone, are designed to remain in place and provide a platform for holding tissue. A method of ultrasonically embedding bone anchors into bone without pre-drilling an anchor receiving hole into the bone has been developed. Also described is an improved bone anchor embedding method utilizing ultrasonic energy to reduce insertion force, whereby the bone anchor and embedding device can be formed very small, (e.g. on the order of 2 to 5 millimeters in diameter). In an embodiment of the present invention, a method of bone anchor embedding utilizing ultrasonic energy is used to insert a bone anchor into a pre-drilled hole, wherein the hole in the bone may be smaller in diameter than the diameter of the bone anchor.

Abstract: Bone anchors, after insertion into bone, are designed to remain in place and provide a platform for holding tissue. An ultrasonic bone anchor is described, comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a body between the proximal end of the bone anchor and the distal end of the bone anchor. There is an outer surface on the body of the bone anchor which may include at least one protrusion extending from the outer surface of the bone anchor body. A coupling element is located at the proximal end of the bone anchor. The ultrasonic bone anchor is adapted to reciprocate at an ultrasonic frequency with an excursion of 50 to 300 micrometers. An embodiment of the present invention includes an ultrasonic bone anchor wherein the coupling element includes threads formed in a right-hand screw pattern, and the protrusion is formed in a left-hand screw pattern. Alternately the threads may be formed in a left-hand pattern and the protrusion formed in a right-hand pattern.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention comprises an ultrasonic polyp snare adapted to grasp, cut and coagulate polyps and other tissue masses in internal body lumens, specifically in the colon. An ultrasonic polyp snare according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic signal generator attached to the proximal end of a flexible ultrasonic waveguide. An ultrasonic vibration amplifier is coupled to the distal end of the flexible ultrasonic waveguide. An ultrasonic blade is coupled to the ultrasonic amplifier. An ultrasonic attenuator is coupled to the distal end of the ultrasonic blade. And, a snare wire is positioned adjacent at least a portion of the ultrasonic blade.

Abstract: In the present invention, a surgical trocar is adapted to conduct monopolar electrosurgical energy to specially adapted cordless monopolar electrosurgical instruments. In one embodiment of the present invention, an electrosurgical trocar includes a cannula, an electrosurgical adapter and a locking connector adapted to connect the cannula to the electrosurgical adapter.

Abstract: In the present invention, a cordless inductively coupled electrosurgical instrument is adapted to receive electrosurgical energy from a specially designed trocar or trocar adapter. In one embodiment of the present invention, an electrosurgical instrument includes a handle, an elongated tube and an electrosurgical end effector. The handle may include an actuator such as a trigger which is operatively connected to the end effector through the elongated tube. The elongated tube may be, for example, a closure tube which is adapted to close the end effector when the handle actuator is moved. The electrosurgical end effector is adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to biological tissue in order to effect treatment of the tissue. The elongated closure tube includes one or more inductor coils adapted to couple electrosurgical energy to the end effector. The one or more inductor coils are electrically connected to the end effector through one or more electrical conductors.

Abstract: A multi-functional surgical instrument having an interchangeable surgical tool removeably, rotatably attached to a handle. An axially moveable sheath on the surgical tool is moveable from a retracted first position wherein an electrosurgical electrode is exposed to an extended second position wherein the sheath covers the electrosurgical electrode. Both the interchangeable surgical tools and the handle are sterilizable and disposable.

Abstract: An electrosurgical hemostatic instrument is provided in which the coagulation status of tissue engaged by two elements delivering an electrosurgical energy to tissue may be observed, and in which damage from thermal spread may be minimized. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a bipolar endoscopic clamping, coagulation and cutting device. In this device, the outer conductive surface of the tissue engaging elements includes openings therethrough. The openings are adapted to allow an observer to see the tissue as it is being treated, coagulation may be observed by watching the region through the openings. In addition, the inclusion of openings in the end effector enhances coagulation from speed by reducing the thermal mass of the end effector without substantially reducing the structural strength of the end effector jaws. Finally, the openings may be used to observe the motion of the knife as it moves through the end effector.

Abstract: A trocar obturator includes a hollow tube having a substantially solid, optically clear tip attached thereto. A distal cutting end of the tip is formed by a pair of opposing, angularly oriented surfaces which converge to a line at that point with a cutting element disposed along the line. For electrosurgical operation, an electrode is positioned along the line. The tip serves as a viewing window and defines a viewing port at its proximal end for an endoscope inserted into the hollow obturator tube for viewing a tissue wall as it is penetrated. The trocar obturator tip may include an axial bore extending between its proximal and distal ends with a viewing rod within the bore for viewing the area ahead of the tip. Here again, the distal cutting end of the tip may be formed by a pair of opposing angularly oriented surfaces which converge to a line. Two cutting elements extend linearly along the distal end of the tip, one on either side of the bore.

Abstract: An improved surgical instrument is described wherein, an ultrasonic stack includes one or more piezoelectric sections surrounded by at least first resonator section and a second resonator section. The excitation signal for the ultrasonic stack is adapted to provide power at a first and a second frequency in order to drive the surgical tip of the instrument at a first frequency and second frequency simultaneously.