Abstract: Surgical clamping and cutting instruments are disclosed. In one aspect, a surgical instrument comprises an elongate shaft with an end effector having first and second jaws, a release member movably coupled to the end effector and a drive member configured to translate relative to the end effector. The instrument further includes a locking member movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member, to a second position preventing distal translation of the drive member. The locking member moves into the second position after the drive member has been driven distally. This inhibits or prevents hazardous actuation of a knife or drive beam when, for example, there is a spent or previously fired cartridge in place.

Abstract: Drive assemblies for surgical clamping and cutting instruments, as well as surgical clamping and cutting instruments using these drive assemblies, are disclosed. The drive assemblies may include a drive member, a locking member mounted to the drive member, and a spring. The drive member may be configured to releasably engage at least one of a knife or a shuttle of a surgical clamping and cutting instrument for translating the knife and/or shuttle in a distal direction through a firing stroke. The locking member may be movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke, and a second position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke. The spring may be configured to bias the locking member toward the second position.

Abstract: Drive assemblies for surgical clamping and cutting instruments, as well as surgical clamping and cutting instruments using these drive assemblies, are disclosed. The drive assemblies may include a drive member, a locking member mounted to the drive member, and a spring. The drive member may be configured to releasably engage at least one of a knife or a shuttle of a surgical clamping and cutting instrument for translating the knife and/or shuttle in a distal direction through a firing stroke. The locking member may be movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke, and a second position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke. The spring may be configured to bias the locking member toward the second position.

Abstract: This invention relates to pipette systems for transferring fluid between fluid receptacles; dispensing fluid from a fluid reservoir to a fluid receptacle and the reverse; and systems capable of both transferring and dispensing fluids wherein the pipette system incorporates a flexible sealing element.

Abstract: This invention relates to pipette systems for transferring fluid between fluid receptacles; dispensing fluid from a fluid reservoir to a fluid receptacle and the reverse; and systems capable of both transferring and dispensing fluids wherein the pipette system incorporates a flexible sealing element.

Abstract: A rotor drive shaft assembly for use in a centrifugation system. The rotor drive shaft has a bearing material configured as a sleeve and mounted on the inside wall of a spindle hub with a clearance existing between the sleeve and a housing that surrounds the lower base of the shaft. When the rotor and hub experience radial displacement at a critical speed, the sleeve makes contact with the housing in order to limit further radial displacement. Alternatively, the sleeve can be mounted on the outside of the housing with the clearance existing between the sleeve and the spindle hub, with the sleeve making contact with the spindle hub at the critical speed in order to limit further radial displacement. In another embodiment, a support tube is provided which surrounds the lower portion of the shaft with a clearance existing between the shaft and the support tube.