Abstract: The present teachings provide for a device with a membrane and an underlying switch, an underlying switch actuator, or both that has a unique tactile pattern that is felt through the membrane when the membrane is aligned with the switch, switch actuator, or both, corresponding to the electrical state of the device. The membrane, the switch, the switch actuator or a combination thereof can be repositioned from a first position to a second position so that a different tactile feel is present through the membrane corresponding to a second electrical state.

Abstract: Medical devices including a housing, an actuator, a body having a passageway extending through the body, a drive shaft extending through the passageway, and a clip coupled to the body and the drive shaft to fix the body relative to the drive shaft. The medical device further including features to couple the clip to at least one of the body and/or the drive shaft such that back out of the clip is inhibited.

Abstract: A plug comprising: a plurality of pins or a plurality of sockets; a body portion housing the plurality of pins or the plurality of sockets and the body portion extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the plurality of pins or the plurality of sockets; a connection section connected to the body portion and extending from the body portion at an obtuse angle; and a cord connected to an end of the connection section; wherein the body portion and the connection section are connected at a joint and the joint includes a sub-flush radius on an underside of the joint.

Abstract: An effector includes a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end. The effector holds a plug or closure at the distal end of the tubular body; an active electrode at the distal end of the body; an insulator on the body; and one or more return electrodes on the insulator. The body dissipates heat generated by the one or more return electrodes from the distal end of the body to the proximal end of the body.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for the treatment of tissue using energy delivery. Specifically, certain embodiments may be used for the treatment of lung tissue, such as lung nodules, using RF ablation, via a catheter provided with a first electrode attached to a distal end of the catheter, wherein the first electrode is hollow, wherein the first electrode comprises a piercing tip configured to pierce through an airway wall and a second electrode received in a movable manner within the first electrode, wherein the second electrode is extendable from the first electrode to form a first extended configuration.

Abstract: Forceps including a housing, a first body, a second body and a drive shaft. The first body has a passageway extending therethrough. The drive shaft extending through the passageway and connected to the first body such that the first body and the drive shaft are slidable with respect to the housing to drive jaws located at a distal portion of the drive shaft between an open position and a closed position. The second body having a second passageway. The drive shaft extending through the second passageway such that the second body is guided by the drive shaft and is slidable relative to the first body and the drive shaft to displace a blade shaft between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising: a closure assembly comprising: (a) a movement unit including (i) a bar and (ii) a contact element, wherein the bar, the contact element, or both move in a direction of a prescribed motion; (b) a latch unit comprising: (i) a latch plate including: (1) a hook latch that selectively receives the bar, the latch plate being movable between: (A) a lockable state where the hook latch is engageable by the bar, and (B) an unlockable state where the hook latch is unengageable by the bar; (c) an indicator mechanism that moves into alignment with the prescribed motion of the contact element, the bar, or both when the latch unit is in the unlockable state so that the indicator is contacted by the bar, the contacting element, or both generating an indication.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling and selecting sources in a room on a network. The system allows a remote viewer to create a virtual presence within the room by providing the available displays, corresponding to the sources, to the remote viewer. The system includes a standardizing technique for improving the communication and overall switching of data for streaming on a network. The system can include a recording server for performing dual recording of the video files in each of a local database and a remote database. A graphical user interface (GUI) display is provided to guide a local user through a medical procedure in the standardized system.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to controlling electrical power of an electrotherapeutic signal that is provided to a biological tissue engaged by an electrosurgical instrument during a medical procedure. Electrical power—a product of a voltage difference across and an electrical current conducted by the engaged biological tissue—is controlled according to a therapeutic schedule. The electrotherapeutic schedule can be reduced or terminated in response to a termination criterion being met. In some examples, the termination criterion is a current characteristic, such as, for example, a decrease in current conducted by the engaged biological tissue. In some examples, the termination criterion is a biological tissue resistance characteristic, such as, for example, an increase in the biological tissue resistance that exceeds a predetermined delta resistance value.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses and methods for using a tip member to deposit or collect a supply of material from within a body. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a tip body defining an annular chamber. A tip receptacle is configured to be joinable with a lumen and to receive a fluid flow therethrough and to convey the fluid flow into the annular chamber. A material distribution element is fluidly coupled with the annular chamber, wherein when the fluid flow is introduced into the annular chamber. The material distribution element diffusively passes the fluid flow out of multiple egress points in at least one of a distal end and a lateral surface of the tip body.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to controlling electrical power of an electrotherapeutic signal that is provided to a biological tissue engaged by an electrosurgical instrument during a medical procedure. Electrical power—a product of a voltage difference across and an electrical current conducted by the engaged biological tissue—is controlled according to a therapeutic schedule. The electrotherapeutic schedule can be reduced or terminated in response to a termination criterion being met. In some examples, the termination criterion is a current characteristic, such as, for example, a decrease in current conducted by the engaged biological tissue. In some examples, the termination criterion is a biological tissue resistance characteristic, such as, for example, an increase in the biological tissue resistance that exceeds a predetermined delta resistance value.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for identifying a target in a body using a spectroscopic feedback from the target are disclosed. An exemplary surgical feedback control system comprises a feedback analyzer configured to receive a reflected signal from a target in response to electromagnetic radiation directed at a target, and a controller in operative communication with the feedback analyzer. The controller can generate a control signal to a surgical system to perform a predetermined operation based upon the received reflected signal, including determining a composition of the target, or programming a laser setting to direct laser energy to the target.

Abstract: The present teachings relate generally to a medical flexible needle assembly (10), comprising a needle portion (20) disposed at a distal end (12) of the assembly; a stiff portion (30) disposed at a proximal end 14 of the assembly; an flexible portion disposed between and interconnecting the needle portion and the stiff portion, including a flex distal portion (42), a flex proximal portion (44); and a jacketing member (50) disposed about the assembly (10) over at least part of the flexible portion (40); characterized in that the jacketing member (50) includes one or more coupled regions (60) and one or more decoupled region (70), wherein in at least one or more of the one or more coupled regions (60) are located proximally, distally, or both of the flexible portion (40).

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for positioning electrodes within a body. In an illustrative embodiment, a control handle is selectively engageable with primary and secondary actuators respectively coupled with primary and secondary electrodes. At a first position, the primary and secondary actuators are movably engaged to move in concert to a second position where distal ends of the electrodes extend into a target region. At the second position, the control handle is engaged with the secondary actuator and movable independently of the primary actuator in a first direction to a third position where the distal end of the secondary electrode extends beyond the distal end of the primary electrode. At the third position, the control handle is movably engaged with the primary actuator and movable independently of the secondary actuator in a second direction to a fourth position to partially retract the distal end of the primary electrode.

Abstract: A medical retrieval tool including a sheath; and a basket device connected to the sheath. The basket device includes a shaft and a basket located at a distal end of the shaft. The shaft is movably located in the sheath. The basket includes a first basket cage section and a second basket cage section. The first basket cage section is located in front of the second basket cage section. The basket is configured to be extended from a distal end of the sheath in a plurality of deployment modes including a first deployment mode where the first basket cage section is deployed in a first fully expanded shape and the second basket cage section is located in the sheath; and a second deployment mode where both the first basket cage section and the second basket cage section are deployed out of the distal end of the sheath.

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 comprising: (1) a handpiece having a distal end portion; (2) a tubular member extending from the distal end portion, the tubular member having a lumen therethrough, the lumen comprising: (a) a proximal lumen portion, (b) a distal lumen portion, (c) a first central lumen portion, and (d) a second central lumen portion, the second central portion being located between the proximal lumen portion and the first central lumen portion, wherein the distal lumen portion diverges as the distal lumen portion extends away from the first central lumen portion in a distal direction, and the second central lumen portion diverges as the second central lumen portion extends away from the first central lumen portion in a proximal direction and: wherein the tubular member has wall with a substantially uniform thickness about the first central lumen portion.

Abstract: A rotatable surgical instrument and method includes an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member contained, at least in part, within the outer tubular member and configured to rotate relative to the outer tubular member, the inner tubular member and outer tubular member forming a gap therebetween. A distal tip is coupled to and configured to rotate with the inner tubular member. Bearings, each positioned in the gap and encircling the inner tubular member, are configured to maintain a separation between the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member. A spacer is positioned within the gap and between two of the bearings, wherein the spacer is configured to maintain a spacing between the bearings.

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: A medical device for performing a surgical procedure may include an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The medical device may also include a handle connected to the proximal end of the elongate member, an end effector assembly connected to the distal end of the elongate member, and a cutting device configured to extend from the end effector assembly, wherein the cutting device has a retracted configuration in which the cutting device is withdrawn into the end effector assembly and a deployed configuration in which the cutting device extends from the end effector assembly.