Abstract: A surgical device, comprising a tissue compression device having a pair of opposing compression surfaces, a mechanical binary-output electrical switch having open and closed electrical switching states initiated and changed solely by mechanical movements, and an adjustable biasing device mechanically coupled to the switch and retaining the switch in one of the switching states until a force at least as great as a force imposed by the biasing device is imparted to the switch, wherein the switch is disposed in line with the tissue compression device to cause a proportional amount of force that is placed upon compressed tissue disposed between the opposing compression surfaces to be placed upon the switch, and the biasing device is set to an amount of force that is proportional to an optimal tissue compression force of the compressed tissue when disposed between the opposing compression surfaces.

Abstract: An integrated catheter and powered injector system includes a pump housed in a self-contained unit, a contrast media supply removably connected to the pump by a fluid supply line, an extension line removably connecting an arterial catheter to the pump, and a control device sending user control signals to the pump. The pump comprises a motorized pump drive sub-system operating the pump, and a battery electrically connected to and powering the pump drive sub-system. In response to signals received from the control device, the pump drive sub-system drives the pump to draw contrast media fluid from the supply into the pump through the fluid supply line and inject the contrast media fluid from the output of the pump through the extension line and into the arterial catheter at a controlled flow rate and/or pressure.

Abstract: A valve-plane-defining catheter includes a hollow flexible sheath having a distal end and defining a distal opening, a guidewire assembly, and three radiopaque valve-nadir markers. The guidewire assembly has a guidewire slidably disposed in the flexible sheath and having a distal end, three wire arms each having a terminating end and a proximal end offset from the terminating end and attached to the distal end of the guidewire to dispose the three wire arms approximately 120 degrees from one another about a circle defined by the terminating end of the three wire arms. The three radiopaque valve-nadir markers disposed respectively at the terminating end of each of the three wire arms, each of the valve-nadir markers being sized to fit within the distal opening.

Abstract: A method of configuring a surgical instrument having a surgical tissue-compressing device including opposing compression surfaces with a tissue-compression-measuring mechanism, the method comprising providing a switching element having first and second switching states changed solely by mechanical movements, mechanically coupling the switching element with a biasing element retaining the switching element in one of the first and second switching states until a pre-determined force is imparted to the switching element, the pre-determined force being an amount of force proportional to an optimal tissue compression force of compressed tissue disposed between the opposing compression surfaces, and positioning the switching element in line with the surgical tissue-compressing device to cause the pre-determined force, proportional to a force placed upon compressed tissue disposed between the opposing compression surfaces, to be placed upon the switching element.

Abstract: In a surgical device having a control device and a button operatively connected to the control device, the control device operative to carry out at least two operational conditions of the surgical device, a method for operating the surgical device comprising pressing a single actuation member of the button to a first depressed position to thereby effect a first of the at least two operational conditions and pressing the actuation member in substantially the same direction to a second depressed position to thereby effect a second of the at least two operational conditions different from the first operational condition.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a surgical end effector having a receiving portion for removably receiving therein an interchangeable part. The receiving portion has a communication connection. A handle connected to the end effector actuates the end effector. The handle has a controller electrically connected to the communication connection for authenticating the interchangeable part when placed at the end effector. An interchangeable part is removably connected to the receiving portion and has an encryption device electrically removably connected to the communication connection when placed at the receiving portion. The encryption device authenticates the interchangeable part when queried by the electric controller.

Abstract: A device for sterilizing and charging a battery of an instrument, comprising a sterilization device sealingly enclosing therein at least one battery of an instrument and operable to sterilize the at least one battery, an inductively powered battery-charging device disposed inside the sterilization device and having a charger operable to be placed in conductive contact with and charge the at least one battery and a power receiver sub-assembly electrically coupled to the charger and operable to receive electrical power inductively from outside the sterilization device and supply the received electrical power to the charger to charge the battery during sterilization, and a power supply disposed outside the sterilization device and operable to supply power inductively to the power receiver sub-assembly through the sterilization device.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector having an actuation assembly operable to effect a surgical procedure when actuated, a part of the actuation assembly being movable between a first position and second position, and a handle connected to the end effector for actuating the actuation assembly, the handle having a power supply disposed within the handle, a motor disposed within the handle and electrically powered by the power supply, a transmission connecting the motor to the moving part and operational to displace the moving part anywhere between the first and second positions when the motor is operated, and a manual release mechanism that selectively interrupts the transmission and, during interruption, displaces the moving part towards the first position independent of operation of the motor.

Abstract: A cordless cautery and cutting surgical device includes a modular battery and a surgical handle operable to removably hold the battery thereto. The handle has a cordless radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly and a surgical bipolar end effector having jaws and a cutting blade therebetween. The signal-generation assembly selectively supplies radio-frequency signal to the end effector when powered for electrocautery of tissue between the jaws. The handle defines therein an aseptically sealable battery-holding compartment selectively exposed to the environment and removably holding therein the battery. A motor assembly is disposed in the handle and is electrically connected to the battery and/or the signal-generation assembly and is powered and controlled thereby. The motor assembly physically couples to the blade and/or at least one jaw for moving the blade/jaw(s).

Abstract: A joint support and subchondral support system and method of use of same for providing structural and dampening support to damaged subchondral bone adjacent to a body joint are disclosed. The joint support and subchondral support system and method of use of same are applicable to many parts of the joint as any area with cartilage disease has an adjoining subchondral component.

Abstract: A surgical device control assembly includes a control device operable to carry out at least two operational conditions of a surgical device and a button operatively connected to the control device. The button has a button-actuation direction in which the button actuates, an unactuated position at a rest point of the button, a first actuated position at first distance from the rest point in the button-actuation direction, and a second actuated position at a second distance further from the rest point in the button-actuation direction than the first distance. The first actuated position effects a first of the at least two operational conditions. The second actuated position effects a second of the at least two operational conditions different from the first operational condition.

Abstract: A method for applying and maintaining compression with a staple includes piercing a material with deformable ends of staple legs. The legs enter the material until the material applies a pre-set compressive force within a pre-defined compression range to a compression device disposed at least partly between the legs. The compression device has a compression resistor connected to a compression surface. The compression surface is movably disposed with respect to the bridge. Movement of the compression surface towards the bridge is resisted with a force imparted by the compression resistor. The legs are deformed to maintain at least some of the compressive force between the material and the compression device. Forces greater than the pre-set force are absorbed with the compression resistor. The pre-set compressive force to the material is maintained within the pre-defined compression range throughout a state change of the material.

Abstract: A substantially U-shaped staple has a bridge, legs, and an internally disposed compression device with a bias portion having a compression surface movably disposed between the legs and a compression resistor connected to the bridge and to the compression surface and is formed to resist movement of the compression surface towards the bridge with a force.

Abstract: A method for variably flexing and steering an insertion device that receives an instrument, which comprises providing a hollow body having tendons disposed therewithin and a distal end, changing a condition of the hollow body by selectively applying suction to create a vacuum in the hollow body to place the hollow body in a relatively stiff condition and relieving the vacuum to place the hollow body in a relatively flexible condition, maintaining the hollow body in the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions with the tendons, the vacuum created by the applied suction frictionally locking the tendons in place in the relatively stiff condition, and individually adjusting at least one of the tendons in length to steer the distal end of the hollow body.

Abstract: A variably flexible insertion device includes a hollow body having a proximal end with an entrance for receiving an instrument and a distal end with a tip for protrusion of the instrument. A device transitions the hollow body between a relatively flexible condition and a relatively stiff condition. Tendons within the hollow body maintain the hollow body in the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions. A method for variably flexing an insertion device for receiving an instrument, includes providing a hollow body having inner and outer sleeves defining a space therebetween in which tendons are disposed. Suction is applied to create a vacuum in the space for frictionally locking the tendons in place between the sleeves in a relatively stiff condition of the hollow body. The vacuum is relieved to release the tendons in a relatively flexible condition of the hollow body.

Abstract: A medical device, comprising a pistol-shaped handle, a laparoscopic shaft extending from the handle having a distal end and defining a shaft axis, a surgical end effector connected to the distal end of the shaft, a surgical procedure actuator operable to carry out a surgical procedure on tissue at the end effector, and a rotating knob at the handle that is rotatable with respect to the shaft about the shaft axis and is operable to actuate the surgical procedure actuator and effect the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A method for applying and maintaining optimal tissue compression with a staple includes piercing tissue with deformable distal ends of staple legs, each distal end defining a stapling point shaped to pierce material, the two staple legs coupled to each other at base ends thereof by a bridge and together forming a substantially U-shaped staple body. The two staple legs enter the tissue until the tissue applies a compressive force to a compression device disposed at least partly between the two staple legs. The compression device has a compression surface movably disposed between the two staple legs and a compression resistor that is connected to the bridge and to the compression surface and operable to resist movement of the compression surface towards the bridge with a force. The two staple legs are deformed to maintain the compressive force between the tissue and the compression device.

Abstract: A compression-self-adjusting staple includes a substantially U-shaped staple body and a compression device. The staple body has a bridge and two legs extending from the bridge at an angle thereto. Each of the legs has a base end integral with the bridge and a deformable distal end defining a stapling point shaped to pierce material to be stapled. The compression device is at least partly disposed between the legs and has a bias portion with a compression surface movably disposed between the legs and a compression resistor connected to the bridge and to the compression surface and formed to resist movement of the compression surface towards the bridge with a force.

Abstract: A method for operating a surgical instrument includes mechanically coupling a manual release to a transmission of a surgical instrument having a self-contained power supply disposed entirely within a handle thereof. The transmission translates movement of an electrically powered motor inside the handle to movement of a part of a surgical end effector connected to the handle. The part is operable to move anywhere between a start position and a fully actuated position. The method further includes selectively interrupting the transmission with the manual release to move the part towards the start position independent of motor operation.