Abstract: A qualifying connection for an instrument attaches to a source of electrosurgery energy to and the instrument and has first and second parts coupled to the instrument and the source, respectively. Optical couplings on the connection transmit invisible energy to identify the instrument and are proximate on the first and second parts. A light modifier on the first part is proximal to the second part for modification of radiation in the infrared wavelengths so infrared transmitters encode signals and non contact coded proximity detectors on the second part are the coupled detectors. Non contact coded proximity detectors respond to modified infrared light establishing an Nth bit identification code. An infrared light supply in the source pass from the transmitters across the communicating couplings for encoding signals by modification of the infrared light with a light modifier. Mechanical attachments include conjugating male and female portions physically extending between the parts for mating engagement.

Abstract: A clamping force mechanism and its method of use with electrosurgery allow a user to seal and/or join patient's particular vascular tissue; the mechanism is elongate with user and patient ends. An actuator is at the user end and the effectors are at the patient end. Each effector has a face of an area to contact the particular vascular tissue. A lost motion connection transfers user actuation to the effectors to hold a predetermined clamping force during electrosurgical tissue sealing. A yielding member in the loss motion connection clamps the particular tissue between the faces with a predetermined force. The yielding member is a spring, slip clutch or hydraulic coupling possibly near the actuator. An active electrode is carried on one end effector and a return electrode contacts the tissue so an electrosurgical energy supply connected thereacross delivers energy therebetween. A feedback circuit responds to parameters of energy delivered to tissue.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator has an output power control system that causes the impedance of tissue to rise and fall in a cyclic pattern until the tissue is desiccated. The advantage of the power control system is that thermal spread and charring are reduced. In addition, the power control system offers improved performance for electrosurgical vessel sealing and tissue welding. The output power is applied cyclically by a control system with tissue impedance feedback. The impedance of the tissue follows the cyclic pattern of the output power several times, depending on the state of the tissue, until the tissue becomes filly desiccated. High power is applied to cause the tissue to reach a high impedance, and then the power is reduced to allow the impedance to fall. Thermal energy is allowed to dissipate during the low power cycle. The control system is adaptive to tissue in the sense that output power is modulated in response to the impedance of the tissue.

Abstract: A clamping force mechanism for use with electrosurgery allow a user to seal and/or join patient's particular vascular tissue; the mechanism is elongate with user and patient ends. An actuator is at the user end and the effectors are at the patient end. Each effector has a face of an area to contact the particular vascular tissue. A lost motion connection transfers user actuation to the effectors to hold a predetermined clamping force during electrosurgical tissue sealing. A yielding member in the loss motion connection clamps the particular tissue between the faces with a predetermined force. The yielding member is a spring, slip clutch or hydraulic coupling possibly near the actuator. An active electrode is carried on one end effector and a return electrode contacts the tissue so an electrosurgical energy supply connected thereacross delivers energy therebetween. A feedback circuit responds to parameters of energy delivered to tissue.

Abstract: The improved endoscopic instrument of the present invention includes handles, a shaft and an end effectors. The handle is capable of adjustment to accommodate variations in hand size, and grip style. The handle is also adjustable relative to the shaft for use in a variety of medical procedures. In addition, the control linkages for the end effector of the improved endoscopic instrument of the present invention do not directly contact the patient thereby enabling the instrument to be easily cleaned, sterilized and reused.

Abstract: This invention relates to a surgical apparatus having four general embodiments: (1) the use of an ultrasonic vibrator and a radio frequency generator to simultaneously cut and cauterize tissue, (2) the use of an ultrasonic vibrator to cut tissue coupled with the independent use of a radio frequency generator to cut tissue, (3) the exclusive use of a radio frequency generator to cut and cauterize tissue, and (4) the use of a laser to fulgerate tissue. An aspiration system is preferably combined with these embodiments to facilitate surgery and biopsy.

Abstract: An electrosurgical bipolar treating apparatus comprising a handpiece to which is connected a first active electrode and a second return electrode having exposed distal ends which define a bipolar tip for electrosurgically treating tissue at an operational site on a patient, which tip is structured so that both distal ends simultaneously contact said tissue and wherein the active electrode has a higher tissue to electrode impedance than the return electrode.

Abstract: A device for enhancing the safety and efficiency of a hand-operated electrosurgical pencil having an electrode with a distal end defining a tip for cutting or coagulating biological tissue, which device comprises a nose piece adapted to be mounted about said electrode and containing conduit means defining converging pathways for streams of gas which impinge obliquely on said electrode at or near the tip thereof, and electrosurgical apparatus incorporating said device and a method for coagulating or cutting biological tissue using said apparatus.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical aspirator having an improved irrigation/aspiration manifold and components to facilitate quick connections of the irrigation and aspiration lines to a handpiece. In combination with a handle assembly having an ultrasonic vibrator for vibrating an ultrasonic tip and a nosecone, a nosecone extension defining a rotating joint for connection to the nosecone in an articulating joint for connection to a rigid or flexible flue is provided. The nosecone extension further defines an irrigation cowl having an irrigation port for receiving an irrigation connector for connecting the irrigation fluid to the nosecone extension for passage of irrigation fluid through the nosecone extension and a flue about the surgical tip. An aspiration tubulation connector adapted to securely fit a slot through the nosecone and nosecone extension connects an aspiration port on the tip to the aspiration tube for connection to a pump into a discard area.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive transducer comprising a plurality of elongated strips of magnetostrictive material, each strip having a proximal end, a distal end and a substantially V-shaped cross section wherein each arm of the V is formed by a longitudinal length of the strip, each strip being attached to an adjacent strip at both the proximal end and the distal end to form and integral substantially rigid column having a central axis with fins extending radially relative to said axis; and an ultrasonic resonant vibrator including such a transducer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic resonant vibrator comprising an ultrasonic vibration magnetostrictive transducer, and a resonant member having a proximal end and a distal end for transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to an operating member which is part of the resonant structure. The vibrator comprises an integral substantially rigid column having a central axis with fins extending radially relative to said axis and having a longitudinal hole defining a tunnel centered along the central axis, wherein at least part of the resonant member is located within the tunnel; and a surgical handpiece incorporating such a vibrator.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling and disassembling threadably engageable members, which comprises: (a) wrenching means and (b) an integral securing means and torque limiter assembly; said assembly comprising, in combination, securing means operatively associated with a pinion block pivotally mounted on a solid base, said pinion block having a surface which bears against biasing means connected to force means, preferably a compression spring, which provides a predetermined amount of torquing when a first member is held in said securing means and a second member is turned relative thereto by said wrenching means, whereby the amount of torquing is limited by the pivotal movement of said pinion block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for endoscopic removal of compliant biological tissues utilizing an endoscopic ultrasonic aspirator comprising irrigation and aspiration means, a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer, a first resonator such as a half-wave stepped velocity transformer, a probe including a second resonator such as a constant-stress velocity transformer, a blunt or modified working tip of open channel means or restricted tubular means for application of ultrasonic energy to cellular material, and a capacitive fluid sensor to detect the presence of irrigation fluid adjacent these transformers within the instrument. The surgery is advantageously performed by operating the transducer in the 10-20 kHz range to achieve maximum cavitation of the intracellular fluids in the tissues to be removed.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generating system and method including an electrosurgical generator; and a handpiece including an active electrode connected to the electrosurgical generator for applying electrosurgical current from the generator to a patient, the handpiece having switches disposed thereat for changing the level of the output power delivered from said generator to said patient whereby the change may be effected from the sterile field of a surgical procedure. The above switches together with cut and coagulation mode switches disposed at the handpiece are so connected as to minimize the number of wires needed to connect the handpiece to the generator. Decoding circuitry for determining the status of the switches is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a novel water-insoluble, hydrophilic, pressure-sensitive adhesive that has a number of unique characteristics including being elastomeric and ultraconformable. This adhesive includes an irradiation cross-linked synthetic organic polymer having a three-dimensional matrix, and an adhesive plasticizer. The plasticizer includes a substantially non-volatile elasticizer. The adhesive is useful either as a coating on a supporting web-like substrate or as a self-supporting layer. Also provided are various articles made using the adhesive such as a bandage or ostomy device, a method of making the adhesive, and methods of using the adhesive.In one embodiment, the adhesive is electroconductive, and is useful for attaching an electrically conductive member of an electrode to a selected surface such as mammalian tissue. Also provided is an electrode having a layer of this adhesive, and a method of adhering this electrode to mammalian tissue.

Abstract: Pump actuator assembly for use in operating a pump for supplying intravenous liquid to a patient which comprises a housing having a sealed chamber therein with a portion thereof being covered by a flexible membrane. A plunger is mounted in the housing so that a portion thereof is disposed in the sealed chamber for movement between innermost and outermost positions. A constant quantity of liquid fills the sealed chamber. A booth encloses the portion of the plunger disposed in the fluid. A liquid-tight seal is provided between the booth and the housing to permit the plunger to be moved between the innermost and outermost positions so that the flexible membrane can be caused to move between extended and retracted positions.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator including a patient circuit including an active electrode and a return electrode; a pulse train generating circuit an M.times.N storage device having M memory locations where M>1 and where each location contains N storage positions where N.gtoreq.1, the storage device storing at least one, K-bit binary signal, where 1<K.ltoreq.M, the bits of which are respectively stored in the Jth storage positions of K of the M memory locations where J.ltoreq.N; an output circuit for sequentially outputting the K-bit binary signal from the storage device; the electrosurgical generator being sequentially responsive to the sequentially outputted bits of the K-bit binary signal for generating an electrosurgical signal and applying this signal to the patient circuit. The storage device may take the form of one or more shift registers or EPROM's for example.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator having a source of electrosurgical energy connected to a patient and including control circuitry for decreasing the output power from the source with increasing patient impedance, the rate of power decrease being substantially greater than that which would result if the output voltage from the source were maintained constant over the range of increasing patient impedance. The control circuitry may, in particular, decrease the output power over the range of increasing patient impedance in accordance with the square of the impedance.

Abstract: An IV filter and pump assembly having first and second bodies secured into a unitary assembly. The first and second bodies provide a chamber. One of the bodies has an opening therein in communication with said chamber and an inlet port therein. The other of the bodies has an outport therein. The inlet and outlet ports are in communication with the chamber. An inlet valve controls the flow of liquid through the inlet port and an outlet valve controls the flow of liquid through the outlet port. A hydrophobic filter is carried by the unitary assembly and is in communication with the upper portion of said chamber for venting to ambient small quantities of air in said chamber. An actuator supplies a pumping action to the liquid in the chamber so that liquid is caused to be moved out of the chamber through the outlet valve and into the chamber through the inlet valve.