Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes a first unit including a generator, and a second unit including an electrode assembly, the second unit being detachably connectible to the first unit such that radio frequency power can be conveyed to the electrode assembly, wherein the second unit firstly includes a passive electrical identification component having a parameter of a finite non-zero value indicative of a characteristic of the electrode assembly, and the second unit additionally includes an output circuit adapted to generate an identifiable characteristic signal, the first unit firstly including a sensing circuit for determining the value of the electrical identification component so as to identify the second unit when the second unit is connected to the first unit, and the first unit additionally including means for receiving the identifiable characteristic signal from the output circuit when the second unit is connected to the first unit.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting faults within a shielded electrosurgical instrument are disclosed. The method includes sensing at least two of: an active voltage in the active electrode; a current in the active or return electrodes; or power in the electrosurgical instrument shield. The method also includes determining whether a power fault exists, wherein determining whether a power fault exists includes multiplying the sensed current and the sensed active voltage. The method also includes determining at least one of: whether one or more current faults exists; or whether a capacitance fault exists. The method also includes altering power delivery to the active electrode if any of the power fault, current faults, or capacitance faults exist.

Abstract: An active electrode probe for an enhanced control surgery system is disclosed. The probe has a flexible conductor for delivering electrosurgical energy during an electrosurgical procedure, and is adapted for connection to an electrosurgical generator. The probe also has a flexible electrical insulation substantially surrounding the conductor. The probe also has a flexible conductive shield substantially enclosing the electrical insulation, the flexible conductive shield electrically connected to a reference potential, whereby any current which flows in the flexible conductive shield from the conductor is conducted to the reference potential. The flexible conductive shield is formed from a conductive wire.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting faults within an electrosurgical instrument having a shield and an active electrode uses multiple possible fault conditions. In one embodiment the monitoring system comprises an electrosurgical generator coupled to the electrosurgical instrument and adapted to deliver power to the active electrode of the electrosurgical instrument, monitoring circuitry coupled to the electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system is provided for the treatment of tissue, the system comprising an electrosurgical generator (1) and an instrument (3) comprising an instrument shaft (10) having a longitudinal axis, and an electrode assembly (12) at one end of the shaft. The electrode assembly (12) comprises a first tissue treatment electrode (11), a second tissue treatment electrode (14), and first and second return electrodes (24, 25) electrically insulated from the first and second tissue treatment electrodes by means of insulation members (12, 15). The first and second tissue treatment electrodes (11, 14) each have an exposed surface for treating tissue, the exposed surface of the first tissue treatment electrode (11) being such as to treat tissue disposed on the longitudinal axis, and the exposed surface of the second tissue treatment electrode (14) being such as to treat tissue disposed laterally of the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Inflatable mattress apparatus includes a mattress provided with a plurality of inflatable cells (A, B); a manifold unit (V1-V4) connected to the plurality of cells, wherein the manifold (V1-V4) couples the cells into a plurality of individual sets of cells; and a control unit connected to the manifold, the control unit being operable to provide substantially simultaneous inflation and deflation of cells (A, B) in each set of cells over a period, and time offset inflation and deflation of cells in different sets of cells. The apparatus can provide the same benefits of a 1 of 2? system with reduced movement of the entire surface at any point in the cycle, less air moving at any given time and thus a reduction in the audible noise produced in any pump supplying the air and the associated airflow in the mattress. The arrangement provide other benefits too.

Abstract: A connector for an inflatable garment that detects a valid connection with a pump.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument is provided for the treatment of tissue, the instrument comprising an instrument shaft (10) having a longitudinal axis, and an electrode assembly at one end of the shaft. The electrode assembly comprises first and second active electrodes (11), (14) and at least one return electrode (25), the electrodes being electrically insulated one from another by means of one or more insulation members (12). The first and second active electrodes (11, 14) each have an exposed surface for treating tissue, the exposed surface (19) of the first active electrode being such as to treat tissue disposed laterally of the longitudinal axis at a first radial position with respect to the instrument shaft. The exposed surface (15) of the second active electrode is such as to treat tissue disposed laterally of the longitudinal axis at a second radial position with respect to the instrument shaft.

Abstract: An active electrode probe for an enhanced control surgery system is disclosed. The probe has a flexible conductor for delivering electrosurgical energy during an electrosurgical procedure, and is adapted for connection to an electrosurgical generator. The probe also has a flexible electrical insulation substantially surrounding the conductor. The probe also has a flexible conductive shield substantially enclosing the electrical insulation, the flexible conductive shield electrically connected to a reference potential, whereby any current which flows in the flexible conductive shield from the conductor is conducted to the reference potential. The flexible conductive shield is formed from a conductive wire.

Abstract: A surgical tool having proximal and distal ends and adapted to transverse a curved passageway comprises an end effector disposed on the distal end of the surgical tool, the end effector having a first body section and a second body section and a releasable connector joining the end effector first body section with the end effector second body section. The connector is operable to reversibly engage the first and second end effector body sections in a first fixed position and in a second movable position. The surgical tool further comprises an actuation device for moving the first and second end effector body sections from the first fixed position to the second movable position. The end effector is adapted to maneuver through a larger radius of curvature in the second movable position than in the first fixed position.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting faults within an electrosurgical instrument having a shield and an active electrode uses multiple possible fault conditions. In one embodiment the monitoring system comprises an electrosurgical generator coupled to the electrosurgical instrument and adapted to deliver power to the active electrode of the electrosurgical instrument, monitoring circuitry coupled to the electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument.

Abstract: A surgical system comprises a device adapted to deliver a plurality of surgical instruments to a site within a patient's body, a first surgical instrument comprising an active electrode probe, a second surgical instrument for performing a non-electrosurgical procedure, a conductive shield surrounding the active electrode probe of the first surgical instrument and connected to a reference potential, and a cold instrument monitor connected to the second surgical instrument and to the reference potential.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting faults within an electrosurgical instrument having a shield and an active electrode uses multiple possible fault conditions. In one embodiment the monitoring system comprises an electrosurgical generator coupled to the electrosurgical instrument and adapted to deliver power to the active electrode of the electrosurgical instrument, monitoring circuitry coupled to the electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting faults in a shield of an electrosurgical instrument is described. The device has a relay configured to selectively interrupt power to the electrosurgical instrument, monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a shield in the electrosurgical instrument, control circuitry to control the relay, and a battery power source. The monitoring circuitry has an envelope detector and an detected average shield current detector. The monitoring circuitry is configured to compare a shield current peak value to a shield current peak threshold value, and to compare an detected average shield current value to an detected average shield current threshold value. The device is further configured to operatively couple an active electrode of an electrosurgical instrument and a return electrode to an electrosurgical generator.

Abstract: Techniques for self-learning an item's weight range are provided. Weights for items during transactions with an enterprise are recorded and plotted in a data store. A graph is used to plot weights for the items over time. During a particular transaction, when an item is identified and its weight is captured, the graph is consulted to detect any deviance in the captured weight to the graph. When a deviance falls beyond a threshold real-time alerts are raised within the enterprise to manually inspect the item and recorded weight before a transaction with a customer concludes.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for monitoring electrosurgical systems are disclosed. In one variation, an electrosurgical monitoring apparatus includes at least two monitoring channels. Each of the monitoring channels in this embodiment are configured to monitor fault current between at least two separate conductive components of an electrosurgical system, and the at least two monitoring channels are each configured to send a control signal so as to control an application of power to an electrosurgical device responsive to the fault currents.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator (1) including at least one source of radio frequency (RF) power, and a plurality of output connections (2, 3, 4), only one of the output connections at any one time being active in that it is able to receive radio frequency power from the source. The generator (1) includes selection means adapted to change the active output connection, and a controller adapted to control the supply of radio frequency power from the source to the active output connection. The system also includes a plurality of electrosurgical assemblies, each including an electrosurgical instrument (5, 6, 7) and a cable (8, 9, 10) connecting the electrosurgical instrument to one of the output connections (2, 3, 4). The electrosurgical instruments (5, 6, 7) each include a handswitch (17, 18, 19) adapted to send a signal to the generator (1) to change the active output connection.

Abstract: A surgical tool having proximal and distal ends and adapted to transverse a curved passageway comprises an end effector disposed on the distal end of the surgical tool, the end effector having a first body section and a second body section and a releasable connector joining the end effector first body section with the end effector second body section. The connector is operable to reversibly engage the first and second end effector body sections in a first fixed position and in a second movable position. The surgical tool further comprises an actuation device for moving the first and second end effector body sections from the first fixed position to the second movable position. The end effector is adapted to maneuver through a larger radius of curvature in the second movable position than in the first fixed position.

Abstract: A composite wood product adapted for burning includes a compacted mixture of lignosulfonate, wood particles, and ground corn. A method of manufacturing the composite wood product includes: (i) providing and mixing the lignosulfonate, the wood particles, and the ground corn to form a mixture having a moisture content from about 6 wt. % to about 18 wt. %; compacting the mixture at high pressure; and drying the mixture to obtain an optimum moisture level for burning. The composite wood product may be provided in a kit that includes log-shaped pieces and starter pieces.