Abstract: A surgical forceps comprising: a first working arm and a second working arm configured to move towards and away from each other; and an electromagnetic latching system; wherein the electromagnetic latching system is configured to create a force that is in a direction aligned with closing of the forceps or opposite to the closing of the forceps when an electromagnetic activation button is depressed.

Abstract: A device comprises a retractable shaft; a shaft biasing spring; and an actuator button. The retractable shaft is biased away from the actuator button by the shaft biasing spring. A magnetic attracting force is created between the retractable shaft and the actuator button upon actuation of the actuator button. Before actuation, a distance between the actuator button and the retractable shaft is great enough that the magnetic attracting force is less than a biasing force of the shaft biasing spring such that the retractable shaft is biased away from the actuator button. Upon actuation, the actuator button is depressed to make the distance between the actuator button and the retractable shaft sufficiently small such that the magnetic attracting force is greater than the biasing force of the shaft biasing spring to allow the retractable shaft to be biased towards the actuator button.

Abstract: The teachings herein provide an instrument comprising a forceps. The forceps comprise a hand piece; a tubular member connected to the hand piece; and a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw element and a second jaw element. The first jaw element includes a gripping section and a flexing section. The flexing section includes an arcuate section. The second jaw element opposes the first jaw element and includes a gripping section. The tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into a closed position. The first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both include a stiffening spine so that the jaw assembly is substantially rigid in the closed position.

Abstract: The teachings herein relate to devices for insertion into a cavity, opening or other passageway that requires the bending of the device to conform to a curved or even tortuous shape of the path. The devices include axial support components for translating forces for moving the device forward in the path. The axial support components preferably include adjacent components capable of rocking for tilting the device in one or more directions. The device preferably includes one or more lateral support components for limiting any lateral motion of an axial support component relative to an adjacent axial support component.

Abstract: A surgical device employs a longevity circuit for preventing operation after a specified time based on safe use expectations. The surgical device delivers a therapy signal via a handpiece having electrodes in proximity to the surgical site. The therapy signal is a high frequency electrical signal delivered from a generator coupled to the handpiece, and activated by a control signal. A therapy circuit established by coupling the handpiece and generator delivers the therapy signal, and is monitored for activation based on a time since a first activation, a number of activations, or an aggregate time of activated intervals. A usage limit defines the activation lifespan, and is employed for monitoring either the therapy circuit or the control circuit, to determine a usage history. Following expiration of a safe usage limit, a longevity circuit in the handpiece disables the handpiece for successive uses, and is independent of a connection to a particular generator.

Abstract: A ureteral stent is provided. The stent may include a first section having a first wall defining a first luminal section. The stent may further include a second section having a second wall defining a second luminal section. The second section can be enabled to substantially close at times external pressure is applied to the stent.

Abstract: A medical access sheath including a first member and a second member. The first member has a gap through a wall of the first member. The second member is connected to the first member. The first and second members form a tube. The wall of the first member forms a first wall portion of the tube. The second member extends across the gap such that the second member forms a second wall portion of the tube at the gap.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a surgical device. The surgical device includes a cutting burr, a flexible/deflectable shaft, an elongated fluted shaft, a sheath, and an outer tube. The cutting burr has a fluted extension. The flexible/deflectable shaft has a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end is configured to be connectable to the fluted extension of the cutting burr. The elongated fluted shaft is configured to be connectable to the proximal end of the flexible shaft. The sheath is configured to receive all or portion of the flexible shaft and the elongated fluted shaft. The outer tube is configured to receive the sheath such that there is enough space for fluid irrigation between the outer tube and the sheath.

Abstract: A jaw assembly of a forceps that includes a first jaw body and a second jaw body. The first jaw body and the second jaw body are disposed in opposition relative to one another, and at least one of the jaw bodies is movable relative to the other jaw body between an open position and a closed position. In both the closed and the open positions, a medial edge of the first jaw body is in opposition to a medial edge of the second jaw body. Lateral movement of the first jaw body or the second jaw body closes a lateral gap between the first jaw body and the second jaw body.

Abstract: A plasma generator is described comprising an elongate member having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, the proximal end configured to be connectable to a source of an inert gas, a plasma generation tip disposed at the distal end of the elongate member, the plasma generation tip configured to be in electrical communication with a power source, and an activation switch configured to control generation of plasma at the plasma generation tip, wherein the plasma generator is configured to be operably connectable to a medical device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a high speed drill cutting burr are described. The high speed drill may comprise a main body having a first section and a second section, the first section comprising a first housing configured to be operably connectable to a first cutting tip and the second section comprising a second housing configured to be operably connectable to a second cutting tip, and an electrical motor disposed inside the main body, the electrical motor may be configured to be in electrical communication with a power source. In some embodiments, a main body may be repositioned by rotating the main body 180° to switch between use of a first cutting tip and a second cutting tip. Mechanisms for limiting axial movement of a burr shank as well as transferring torque are described.

Abstract: A forceps including a gripping assembly. The gripping assembly includes an upper jaw and a lower jaw. The upper jaw includes a proximal end and a distal end. The upper jaw includes an upper tooth having an upper proximally facing canted tooth surface and an upper distally facing canted tooth surface. The lower jaw includes a proximal end and a distal end. The lower jaw includes a socket having a lower distally facing canted socket surface and a lower proximally facing socket surface. The upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both are moveable so that the gripping assembly moves between an open position and a gripping position. In the gripping position, a gap is defined between the upper distally facing canted tooth surface and the lower proximally facing socket surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a medical device. The medical device includes outer, middle, and inner tubular members. The outer tubular member has a proximal end and a distal end. The middle tubular member has a proximal end and a distal end. The middle tubular member is configured to be received within the outer tubular member and capable of being rotatable relative to the outer tubular member. The inner tubular member is configured to be received within the middle tubular member and capable of reciprocating and also capable of being rotatable relative to the middle tubular member. The inner tubular member is configured to reciprocate and rotate while the middle tubular member and the outer tubular member are configured to be stationary. The middle tubular member is configured to be rotatable relative to the outer tubular member while the inner tubular member is configured to be stationary.

Abstract: A stone retrieval device includes a sheath and a stone retrieval basket that includes a distal region with a plurality of basket wires and a proximal region with one or more core wires. The stone retrieval basket is contained within the sheath and is movable out a distal opening of the sheath to cause the plurality of basket wires to open into a basket shape. The stone retrieval device further includes a lock mechanism that locks the position of the stone retrieval basket with respect to the position of the sheath and a basket force controller that includes a first and a second control stage. The first control stage includes a sensor for measuring force on the stone retrieval basket when the lock mechanism is in an unlocked position, and the second control stage includes a sensor for measuring force when the lock mechanism is in a locked position.

Abstract: A forceps includes a first jaw member, a second jaw member, a drive rod assembly and a moveable handle attached to a fixed handle. The first jaw member and the second jaw member are in opposing relation relative to one another, and at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member is relatively movable from a first open position to a second clamping position when the first jaw member and the second jaw member cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. Moving the moveable handle relative to the fixed handle moves the drive rod assembly for imparting movement of at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member from the first position and the second position. The moveable handle has an actuator with a lost motion connection between the first and second jaw members and the actuator.

Abstract: Provided is a medical system comprising a controller unit configured to be capable of generating a first code or coded message; and a medical device unit configured to be capable of generating a second code or coded message, the medical device unit configured to be in electronic communication with the controller unit, wherein the controller unit is configured to lock the medical device unit from being used or reused if the first code or coded message does not match or is not identical to the second code or coded message. Also provided is a method of preventing use or reuse of a medical device unit as described herein.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device comprising: forceps including: (i) a first working arm; (ii) a second working arm; (iii) a blade electrode; wherein the electrosurgical device is capable of being switched between a first electrical configuration so that the electrosurgical device delivers a first therapy current through the first working arm, the second working arm, or both, and a second electrical configuration so that the electrosurgical device delivers a second therapy current through the blade electrode; and wherein the electrosurgical device includes a heat pipe in the first working arm, the second working arm, or both.

Abstract: A forceps comprising: (a) a stylet having a hollow tube having a proximal end region and a longitudinal axis; one or more assemblies that are extendable through the hollow tube, the one or more assemblies comprising: one or more support rods and one or more functional attachments; (b) a hand piece comprising: one or more housing structures defining a cavity; one or more actuating mechanisms comprising: a bearing fitting; a shuttle in communication with the bearing fitting constrained by a plurality of guide ridges; a socket housed by the shuttle; and one or more levers in communication with stylet so that movement of the one or more levers causes movement of the hollow tube and movement of the one or more assemblies; and wherein the movement of the hollow tube and the movement of the one or more assemblies are relative to each other.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising: (a) one or more functional elements, and (b) a selector assembly including: (i) one or more activation buttons, (ii) one or more circuit board switches, and (iii) a shuttle in communication with the circuit board switches or the one or more activation buttons to move the circuit board switches or the activation buttons between at least a first position and a second position so that the circuit board switches or the activation buttons are moveable relative to each other; wherein the one or more functional elements provide a first function when the circuit board switches or the one or more activation buttons are in the first position, and the one or more functional elements provide a second function when the circuit board switches or the one or more activation buttons are in the second position.

Abstract: A cutting instrument comprising: an outer tube; an inner tube rotatably disposed within the outer tube; the inner tube comprising an opening having a leading edge and a trailing edge; and the outer tube comprising a window having a leading edge and a trailing edge; at least one of the leading edge of the opening, the trailing edge of the opening, the leading edge of the window and the trailing edge of the window comprising a canted edge; and the window of the outer tube being adapted to be completely blocked by the inner tube during a phase of the rotation of the inner tube within the outer tube.