Abstract: A stamped jaw for use in an endoscopic device. The jaw includes a cup having opposite side walls extending longitudinally along the jaw, and an end wall extending between the side walls. The opposite side walls have a first tooth profile and the end wall has a second tooth profile different from the first tooth profile.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including an elongate member having opposite ends, and a clevis attached to one end of the opposite ends. The clevis has a pair of spaced arms. The instrument includes a pin extending between the spaced arms of the clevis, and an end effector having a pivot hole receiving the pin extending between the spaced arms of the clevis for pivotal movement relative to the clevis and a control arm for pivoting the end effector about the pin. The instrument also includes an actuator wire having a helical portion connected to the control arm of the end effector.

Abstract: A flexible endoscopic device including an elongate flexible member having opposite ends, an effector assembly mounted on one of the opposite ends of the flexible member, and a handle mounted on the end of the flexible member opposite the effector assembly. The handle includes a fastener for receiving a portion of the flexible member spaced from the end of the member opposite the effector assembly. The device also includes an actuator assembly extending through the flexible member and operatively connected to the effector assembly for actuating the effector.

Abstract: A stamped jaw for use in an endoscopic device including a cup having opposite side walls extending longitudinally along the jaw spaced equally from and on opposite sides of a longitudinally extending median plane, and an end wall extending between the side walls. The jaw also includes a hinge extension attached to the cup having a hinge pin opening adapted to receive a hinge pin to pivotally connect the jaw with an identical second jaw, an inner face surrounding the hinge pin opening extending along the median plane, and an outer face positioned to abut a clevis when assembled in the endoscopic device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an interface between a drug delivery cassette and a medical effector system. The cassette may be mounted to the medical effector system in such a way that a fluid tube located on the cassette is positioned adjacent to a pump located on the medical effector system. The medical effector system may purge the fluid line of air by activating the pump and forcing fluid through the fluid line until a sensor positioned to monitor the fluid line indicates that fluid and not air is present in the tube. To prevent air purging of the fluid tube when connected to the patient, the medical effector system prohibits air purging unless the drug delivery end portion of the fluid tube is in a designated storage site located on the cassette. This is accomplished with a position sensor at the storage site that monitors the position of the fluid tube.

Abstract: A medical effector system comprised of a bedside unit and a procedure unit. The bedside unit contains a series of connection points for receiving inputs from a series of patient monitors. The procedure unit contains a patient monitoring and medical effector program, and a drug delivery pump or magnetic flux generator capable of delivering therapeutic energy to a patient. The medical effector system contains the capability to issue and receive a request from a non-sedated patient, issue and receive a request from a sedated patient and then to calculate a time difference. The medical effector program operates the pump or magnetic flux generator based upon at least some of the patient outputs and program inputs including a calculated time difference. A removable umbilical cable connects the two units and allows the output of the patient monitors as well as other information to travel between the two units.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drug-delivery cassette for use with a drug delivery device. The cassette includes a main board and a luer site base portion connected to the main board for positioning a luer on the main board. A drip chamber is included on the main board to collect any drug that exits the luer when the luer is attached to the luer site portion. A deflectable sensor beam is positioned to detect the presence or absence of a luer in the luer site base portion. The drug-delivery cassette further includes a drug vial spike attachable to and detachable from the cassette main board that is connected to the luer by way of a drug delivery tube.

Abstract: Disclosed is a capnometry apparatus for receiving respiratory gas from a respiratory cannula positioned on a patient. An integrated host controller alerts a user if the capnometry apparatus is connected or not connected to the respiratory cannula based in part on a signal output from a capnometer located in the capnometry apparatus. The host controller also includes the functionality to shut off the capnometer pump with or without a time delay when the capnometer signal output indicates the capnometer pump is not connected to the cannula. An ambient-air pressure sensor located in the capnometry apparatus alerts the host controller if the capnometry apparatus has been moved to a new location with a substantially different altitude than the first location, in which case the host controller will issue an alert to a user prompting a calibration of the capnometry apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drug delivery infusion pump assembly containing a drug delivery pump, a drug delivery cassette, a pump door, and a housing adapted to receive a drug vial. A drug vial centering mechanism ensures varieties of drug vial sizes are compatible with this device. The drug delivery cassette is capable of being positioned on the drug delivery infusion pump assembly so the drug delivery pump will interface with a drug delivery tube located on the drug delivery cassette.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for coupling a respiratory cannula with a medical effector system. The coupling device consists of a plate with several ports for receiving respired gases from the respiratory cannula and for delivering oxygen or air to the respiratory cannula. The coupling device may directly or indirectly deliver the respired gases to a capnometry device located in the medical effector system. Also included is a port for delivering an audio signal from the medical effector system to an audio earpiece disposed proximate the ear of a patient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a respiratory cannula assembly to deliver and receive gases from a patient. The cannula assembly contains two oral prongs for delivering and receiving gases from the patient as well as at least one gas delivery nasal prong and at least one gas receiving nasal prong. The gas receiving nasal prong extends further into the patients nostril than the gas delivery nasal prong. The cannula assembly further contains a connector that aids in coupling to a medical device, the connector including independent oral and nasal moisture traps that remove moisture from exhaled patient gases.

Abstract: Disclosed is an oxygen delivery apparatus constructed from an oxygen delivery manifold, a respiratory cannula, and a host controller. The host controller contains an oxygen delivery program and accepts a respiration input regarding whether the patient is inhaling or exhaling, and whether the patient is breathing orally or nasally. The oxygen delivery program regulates the flow rate of oxygen based in part upon the respiration input provided. A first rates is used when the patient is inhaling and exhaling orally, a second rate is used when the patient is inhaling nasally, and a third rate is used when the patient is exhaling nasally.

Abstract: A conscious sedation system and a response testing apparatus for a conscious sedation system. A controller generates a request for a predetermined hand motion response from a patient and analyses at least a hand motion response made by the patient to the request to determine a level of sedation of the patient. The response testing apparatus includes a request assembly and a response assembly. The request assembly communicates to the patient the request generated by the controller. The response assembly senses the hand motion response and communicates the hand motion response to the controller.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved cable driven surgical biopsy device wherein a transmission assembly is disposed at a proximal end of the biopsy device. The transmission assembly being adapted to convert rotational motion of a cable entering the biopsy device of a substantially right angle into rotational energy to drive the axial cutter in the biopsy device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved cable driven surgical biopsy device wherein a transmission assembly is disposed at a proximal end of the biopsy device. The transmission assembly being adapted to convert rotational motion of a cable entering the biopsy device of a substantially right angle into rotational energy to drive the axial cutter in the biopsy device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved cable driven surgical biopsy device wherein a transmission assembly is disposed at a proximal end of the biopsy device. The transmission assembly being adapted to convert rotational motion of a cable entering the biopsy device of a substantially right angle into rotational energy to drive the axial cutter in the biopsy device.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument is provided for cauterization and/or welding of tissue of varying impedance, thickness, compressibility, density, vascularity, etc., especially in the performance of endoscopic procedures. The instrument provides two electrodes of different electrical potentials. One electrode is moveable with respect to the other electrode to vary the distances between the electrodes and thus the impedance of the tissue as presented to the generator. The electrode distances may be varied by an automated or user controlled device.

Abstract: An improved electro surgical instrument is provided for cauterization and/or welding of tissue of varying impedances, thicknesses and vascularity especially in the performance of endoscopic procedures. The instrument compresses the tissue between one pole of a bipolar energy source located on one interfacing surface, and a second interfacing surface. A second pole is located on one of the two interfacing surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, the second pole is located on the same interfacing surface as the first pole and an insulator electrically isolates the two poles. A preferred application of the invention is in a cutting instrument wherein a hemostatic line is formed along a cut line using RF energy.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument is provided for cauterization and/or welding of tissue of varying impedance, thickness and vascularity especially in the performance of endoscopic procedures. The instrument compresses the tissue between one pole of a bipolar energy source located on one interfacing surface, and a second interfacing surface applying pressure in a predetermined range wherein one of the interfacing surfaces is positioned on an anvil with a specified preload and spring rate. A second pole is located one of the two interfacing surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, the second pole is located on the same interfacing surface as the first pole and an insulator electrically isolates the two poles. A preferred application of the invention is in a cutting instrument wherein a hemostatic line is formed along a cut line using RF energy.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument is provided for cauterization and/or welding of tissue of varying impedance, thickness and vascularity especially in the performance of endoscopic procedures. The instrument compresses the tissue between one pole of a bipolar energy source located on one interfacing surface, and a second interfacing surface applying pressure in a predetermined range. A second pole is located one of the two interfacing surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, the second pole is located on the same interfacing surface as the first pole and an insulator electrically isolates the two poles. A preferred application of the invention is in a cutting instrument wherein a hemostatic line is formed along a cut line using RF energy.