Abstract: Magnetic-based electronic valve readers for determining a location and orientation of magnets coupled to implantable medical devices to determine a setting of the device (e.g., setting of a fluid flow control valve of the medical device). The electronic valve readers include an orientation sensing mechanism that is provided and configured to enable the electronic valve reader to: 1) allow for internal offset calculation of an orientation change of the electronic valve reader during a reading process; and/or 2) during the reading process, provide an indication or warning to the clinician that the orientation of the electronic valve reader has changed to an extent at or exceeding a predetermined angular acceptance threshold or window. Systems including the disclosed electronic valve readers and methods of reading a setting of the device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A patient mask including a body shaped to be placed over a face of a patient and configured to prevent the passage of viruses and/or particles therethrough and at least one port configured to receive an endoscope, a surgical instrument, or both and to conform to the shape of the surgical instrument such that the port prevents the passage of viruses and/or particles therethrough.

Abstract: Disclosed is an instrument assembly usable in a procedure. The instrument includes a connection for a working portion and to a tool handle. The assembly includes a method and system for interconnection and/or identification of the working portion and the handle. The instrument may also include various trackable features to allow for a navigated procedure.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical device is disclosed that operates in a mechanical cutting mode and a hemostasis mode. The device includes a housing and a blade assembly extending from the housing. The blade assembly forms a cutting tip and cutting window at a distal end region to provide mechanical cutting of tissue and first and second electrode assemblies to provide electrical energy to tissue. The first and second electrode assemblies can each include a rotary connection assembly to allow spatial orientation of the cutting window relative to the housing and/or cutting tip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system including a flow regulating system. The flow regulating system may assist in ensuring a selected pressure within an inlet volume. The flow regulator may be included in a shunt assembly. The shut assembly may include an inlet catheter configured to assist in maintaining an open flow path therethrough.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fixation system and method. The system and method may fix a selected member to a subject during a procedure. The selected member may include a tracking device or registration member.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for holding a tool. The assembly may selectively reduce and/or eliminate vibrations received and felt by a user. Reducing vibrations may reduce or eliminate chatter at a working end of a tool.

Abstract: A surgical bur including primary flutes and auxiliary flutes. The primary flutes include (i) first clearance surfaces, and (ii) first rake surfaces with first cutting edges. The primary flutes extend from a proximal end of the surgical bur to a distal end of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes are localized in central regions or distal regions of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes include (i) second clearance surfaces, and (ii) second rake surfaces with second cutting edges. At least one of the auxiliary flutes is located between a pair of adjacent ones of the primary flutes.

Abstract: A stimulation electrode assembly configured to be positioned relative to a patient for an operative procedure is disclosed. The stimulation electrode may be a connection or self-contained component to contact a portion of a nerve. The stimulation electrode may provide or receive a signal to and/or from the nerve to assist in testing integrity of the nerve.

Abstract: A system and method of processing bone is disclosed. A tissue separator is utilized to separate tissue comprising at least one of muscle, periosteum and connective tissue from bone in a safe, sterile and efficient manner. In one aspect, the particle reducer can include an impeller positioned with respect to a cutting surface on a drum. At least one of the impeller and the drum is rotated by a power source such that harvested tissue frictionally engages the cutting surface. In another aspect, a source of pressurized fluid can be directed at tissue to separate bone from non-bone tissue.

Abstract: An inner member rotatable in an angled outer tubular member of a rotary surgical cutting instrument includes first and second tubular members. The first tubular member includes a rigid proximal portion, a rigid distal portion, and a flexible intermediate portion. The proximal and distal portions are comprised of a first material and the intermediate portion is comprised of a second material. The second tubular member is coaxially disposed around the first tubular member along the intermediate portion. The second tubular member includes a proximal section, a distal section, and a central section. The central section is flexible and the proximal and distal sections are rigid. The second tubular member is comprised of a single material. The proximal section is fixedly coupled to the proximal portion and the distal section is fixedly coupled to the distal portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system to power a tool. The tool may be powered in a selected manner that may have irrigation and/or coolant provided therewith. The irrigation and cooling fluid may be provided at substantially at a working end and/or distal end of the instrument assembly.

Abstract: A motor for a surgical instrument includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor includes a shaft and a magnet. The stator includes (i) a cavity in which the rotor is disposed, and (ii) a coil assembly. The coil assembly includes multiple phase sets. The phase sets include multiple sets of wires. Each of the phase sets includes multiple coils and corresponds to a respective one of the sets of wires. The coils in each of the phase sets are at respective positions about the rotor. One of the sets of wires includes at least three wires. The stator causes the rotor to axially rotate a surgical tool of the surgical instrument based on current received at the sets of wires.

Abstract: An implantable neurostimulator (INS) and method of use, the INS including an electrical lead having formed thereon at least a pair of bi-polar electrodes, wherein the electrical lead is configured for placement of the pair of bi-polar electrodes proximate protrusor muscles of a patient, a pulse generator electrically connected to the electrical lead and configured to deliver electrical energy to the pair of bi-polar electrodes, the pulse generator having mounted therein a sensor and a control circuit, and the sensor is configured to generate signals representative of an orientation of the pulse generator and communicate the signals to the control circuit and the control circuit is configured to determine the orientation of the pulse generator and deliver electrical energy to the bi-polar electrodes when the determined orientation correlates to a pre-determined orientation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a valve assembly operable to selectively control a flow or passage of a fluid. The valve assembly may be applied to any appropriate mechanism such as a hydrocephalus shunt, fluid draining sewage system, or tank holding system. The valve assembly disclosed may include a selected profile for various applications.

Abstract: A surgical system which may include a controller, a data entry device, a powered surgical handpiece and a surgical tool adapted to couple to the surgical handpiece. The surgical handpiece can include motor direction control and feedback, safety stop features, stimulation and nerve integrity monitoring, a tool connector assembly configured to retain a variety of surgical tools and optional navigation and/or electric ratcheting features.

Abstract: A method for cleaning an endoscope during a surgical procedure performed with a surgical instrument. The method includes: measuring with a processor module an aggregate activation time of the surgical instrument during the surgical procedure; and activating an endoscope cleaning system with the processor module to clean a lens of the surgical instrument after the processor module determines that the measured aggregate activation time of the surgical instrument has reached a target duration.

Abstract: A surgical fluid manager includes a pump releasably engageable to tubing and a user interface. The user interface is configured to enable finger-touch selection of a fluid flow rate through the tubing and configured to operate in at least one of a first mode or a second mode. In the first mode, the flow rate is controlled via direct selection of one of a plurality of selectable digital numeric values, while in the second mode the flow rate is controlled via user selection of one alphanumeric identifier within a scale of alphanumeric identifiers. Each respective alphanumeric identifier directly corresponds to just one instrument size within a scale of instrument sizes.

Abstract: A monitoring system may include a processor and display system for displaying results from the monitoring. A user may be in a sterile field away from the processor and display system and selected input devices. A controller may be physically connected to the monitoring system from the sterile field to allow the user to control the monitoring system.

Abstract: A monitoring system may include a processor and display system for displaying results from the monitoring. A user may be in a sterile field away from the processor and display system and selected input devices. A controller may be physically connected to the monitoring system from the sterile field to allow the user to control the monitoring system.