Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument that can be used in a robotic surgical system includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm pivotally secured relative to the ultrasonic blade. A shaft assembly extends proximally from the end effector and includes a tube, an acoustic waveguide received within the tube, and a sheath positioned between the acoustic waveguide and the tube to damp acoustic vibrations from the acoustic waveguide toward the tube. At least one sensor is positioned on at least one of the end effector or the sheath to measure a force applied at the end effector or the sheath as a measured force, respectively, and thereby provide real-time feedback of a non-clamping force applied against one of the ultrasonic blade or the clamp arm.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a drive housing, a spline, a carriage, an elongate shaft assembly, an end effector, and an activating mechanism. The at least one spline includes a drive gear rotatable with the spline. The elongate shaft assembly extends from the carriage. The activating mechanism includes a barrel cam extending along a rotational axis and having a first cam profile radially extending about the rotational axis. The barrel cam is operatively coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the drive gear is configured to actuate the activating mechanism to move at least a portion of the end effector. The first cam profile defines a plurality of slopes relative to the rotational axis such that the first cam profile is configured to drive movement of the end effector or the elongate shaft assembly at different rates according to the plurality of slopes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument including an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, a shaft assembly that defines a longitudinal axis proximally extending from the end effector and an ultrasonic transducer assembly proximally extending from an acoustic waveguide in communication with the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic surgical instrument also includes a housing proximally projecting from the shaft assembly such that the ultrasonic transducer assembly is positioned within the housing and a carrier moveably supports the ultrasonic transducer assembly along the longitudinal axis. The carrier collectively moves the ultrasonic transducer assembly, the acoustic waveguide, and the end effector relative to the housing from a proximal, retracted position to a distal, extended position, for inserting the ultrasonic blade into a patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovering individual polymers, such as nylon and polyolefin, from a nylon-containing source such as a carpet. The process includes the steps of shredding a nylon fiber source such as a carpet wherein the shredding is conducted in the presence of a liquid that wets the carpet, granulating the wet shredded carpet slurry, further diluting the granulated slurry by adding additional water, subsequently refining the fibers and removing substantial amounts of polypropylene fibers from the slurry, preferably using a lamella clarifier, and recovering the nylon fibers by hydrocloning the slurry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovering individual polymers, such as nylon and polyolefin, from a nylon-containing source such as a carpet. The process includes the steps of shredding a nylon fiber source such as a carpet wherein the shredding is conducted in the presence of a liquid that wets the carpet, granulating the wet shredded carpet slurry, further diluting the granulated slurry by adding additional water, subsequently refining the fibers and removing substantial amounts of polypropylene fibers from the slurry, preferably using a lamella clarifier, and recovering the nylon fibers by hydrocloning the slurry.