Abstract: Surgical devices are provided having power-assisted or fully powered jaw closure. The devices herein generally include a handle portion, an elongate shaft, and an effector having first and second jaws configured to engage tissue. A motor and one or more compression springs can be operatively coupled, and activation of the motor can compress the spring(s) to reduce the amount of user supplied force to compress tissue between the jaws. In some embodiments, the devices can be configured to regulate an amount of compression applied by the jaws prior to, during, and/or after cutting of the tissue to promote hemostasis. For example, the devices can include sensors, processors, and/or other components that analyze data indicative of tissue type and tissue load. Based on this feedback, the device can automatically adjust the amount of compression or energy applied to the tissue to seal the tissue.

Abstract: Methods and devices for controlling motorized surgical devices are provided. In general, the methods and devices can allow a surgical device to grasp and cut tissue. In some embodiments, the device's motor can begin providing power for grasping and/or cutting tissue in response to an output from the device's sensor, the device can adjust power provided by the motor based on whether the device is clamping tissue or is being fired, the device can adjust an amount of power provided by the motor based on an amount of user-applied force to the device's actuator and/or can control drive direction of the motor based on the amount of the force, the device can maintain a force applied to the device, the device can self-shift the motor, and/or the device can adjust an amount of power provided to the device's end effector based on a degree of the end effector's closure.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for retracting a cutting assembly in the event of a failure on a motorized electrosurgical device. A surgical device is provided that includes a handle portion with an elongate shaft extending distally therefrom. The elongate shaft has first and second jaws at a distal end, and the jaws are configured to engage tissue. The surgical device also has a cutting assembly configured to cut tissue engaged between the first and second jaws. A drive shaft extends from the handle of the surgical device through the elongate shaft and is coupled to the cutting assembly for moving the cutting assembly. The surgical device has a motorized gear assembly with at least one motor driven gear that is configured to move the drive shaft. The surgical device also has a bailout assembly that is configured to manually move the drive shaft.

Abstract: Surgical devices and methods are described herein that provide improved motor control and feedback, thereby combining advantages of manually-operated and powered surgical devices. In one embodiment, a surgical device includes a proximal handle portion that includes a motor, a distal end effector coupled to the handle portion, and a cutting element configured to cut tissue engaged by the end effector, wherein the motor is configured to supply power that moves the cutting element. The device also includes a motor control mechanism configured to cause the amount of the power to dynamically change in response to a manual user input when the cutting element is moving.

Abstract: Surgical devices and methods are described herein that provide improved motor control and feedback, thereby combining advantages of manually-operated and powered surgical devices. In one embodiment, a surgical device includes a proximal handle portion that includes a motor, a distal end effector coupled to the handle portion, and a cutting element configured to cut tissue engaged by the end effector, wherein the motor is configured to supply power that moves the cutting element. The device also includes a motor control mechanism configured to cause the amount of the power to dynamically change in response to a manual user input when the cutting element is moving.

Abstract: Various exemplary methods and devices for actuating surgical instruments are provided. In general, a surgical device can include one or more actuation shafts configured to facilitate actuation of the device. In an exemplary embodiment, the device can include four actuation shafts, two actuation shafts to facilitate articulation of the device, one actuation shaft to facilitate opening and closing of jaws at a distal end of the device, and one actuation shaft to facilitate moving a cutting element of the device. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the one or more actuation shafts can include a distal elongate member and a proximal elongate member having a proximal end attached to a distal end of the distal elongate member. The proximal elongate member can be rigid, and the distal elongate member can be flexible.

Abstract: Surgical devices are provided having power-assisted or fully powered jaw closure. The devices herein generally include a handle portion, an elongate shaft, and an effector having first and second jaws configured to engage tissue. A motor and one or more compression springs can be operatively coupled, and activation of the motor can compress the spring(s) to reduce the amount of user supplied force to compress tissue between the jaws. In some embodiments, the devices can be configured to regulate an amount of compression applied by the jaws prior to, during, and/or after cutting of the tissue to promote hemostasis. For example, the devices can include sensors, processors, and/or other components that analyze data indicative of tissue type and tissue load. Based on this feedback, the device can automatically adjust the amount of compression or energy applied to the tissue to seal the tissue.

Abstract: Surgical devices and methods are described herein that provide improved motor control and feedback, thereby combining advantages of manually-operated and powered surgical devices. In one embodiment, a surgical device includes a proximal handle portion that includes a motor, a distal end effector coupled to the handle portion, and a cutting element configured to cut tissue engaged by the end effector, wherein the motor is configured to supply power that moves the cutting element. The device also includes a motor control mechanism configured to cause the amount of the power to dynamically change in response to a manual user input when the cutting element is moving.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention are neural network adaptive control systems and methods configured to concurrently consider both recorded and current data, so that persistent excitation is not required. A neural network adaptive control system of the present invention can specifically select and record data that has as many linearly independent elements as the dimension of the basis of the uncertainty. Using this recorded data along with current data, the neural network adaptive control system can guarantee global exponential parameter convergence in adaptive parameter estimation problems. Other embodiments of the neural network adaptive control system are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention are neural network adaptive control systems and methods configured to concurrently consider both recorded and current data, so that persistent excitation is not required. A neural network adaptive control system of the present invention can specifically select and record data that has as many linearly independent elements as the dimension of the basis of the uncertainty. Using this recorded data along with current data, the neural network adaptive control system can guarantee global exponential parameter convergence in adaptive parameter estimation problems. Other embodiments of the neural network adaptive control system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in a mobile communications system having a plurality of cell segments includes allocating a plurality of channels to perform communications and defining a plurality of time groups. A channel reuse pattern is provided that is based on the plurality of channel frequencies and the plurality of time groups. Control channels are carried in a different time slot of a frame in each time group. Predetermined time slots are allocated as guard periods to reduce likelihood of interference of signaling due to overlap of time slots in neighboring cell segments. In one arrangement, three channel frequencies are allocated. Further, three or four time groups are defined to provide an effective 3/9 or 4/12 channel reuse pattern. In each time group, control channels are carried in odd time slots of a time-division multiple access (TDMA) frame.

Abstract: A mobile communications system includes a plurality of cell segments each allocated primary carriers to carry circuit-switched traffic and packet data carriers for carrying packet-switched traffic. The packet data carriers include two sets of carriers, a main set of carriers and a secondary set of carriers. The main packet data carriers are allocated to corresponding cell segments. The secondary carriers are allocated to high capacity segments, which may be segments having high bursty traffic or segments in which a hierarchical cell structure is implemented. For high bursty cell segments, the main carriers are used to carry control signaling for performing selection or reselection. However, in such high bursty cell segments, the secondary carriers are not used for performing cell segment selection or reselection.

Abstract: A mobile communications system having a plurality of cells, with each cell being divided into a number of sectors. Each sector is allocated one of a corresponding number of channels of different frequencies. In addition, a plurality of time groups are defined, and a channel reuse pattern is provided that is based on both channel frequencies and time groups. In one arrangement, a 1/3 channel reuse pattern is provided to carry traffic signals in the system. For control signals, which are more susceptible to interference, a higher effective channel reuse pattern (e.g., 3/9 or 4/12) based on both frequency and time is employed.

Abstract: An electric arc furnace comprises a bottom, a roof and a side wall. The side wall is formed from a plurality of bimetal panels each having an inner copper face and an outer steel face. The roof may be formed with similar bi-metal panels. The hollow panels include internal baffles to define channels through which cooling water flows. The copper face is smooth and free of welds so as to maximize thermal heat transfer by the panels. The copper face enhances thermal efficiency and minimizes maintenance requirements of the panels, while the steel face reduces manufacturing costs of the panels.

Abstract: An end cap is provided for adjacent pipes in the cooling coils of an electric air furnace. Each end cap includes parallel opposite side walls and a curved end portion connecting the side walls. The side walls and end portion define a perimeter edge, the outer portion of which is beveled. The end cap includes a pair of tabs extending from each side wall. The tabs partially fill the crevice between adjacent end pipes so as to provide a stronger weld between the end cap and the pipes. Internal turning vanes in the end cap minimize turbulence of the liquid coolant flowing through the pipes. Similar turning vanes can be provided in the 90.degree. elbows of the cooling coils.

Abstract: A roof structure for an electric arc smelting furnace includes a spider frame for supporting a plurality of independent removable coolant coil sections. An inner coil section is generally annular in shape and includes a coolant pipe which spirals completely around a central opening in the roof structure. An intermediate coil section is also generally annular in shape, but includes a coolant pipe which extends around the circumference of the inner section, reverses itself around the circumference of the first pipe of the intermediate section, and then reverses itself once again around the circumference of the second coolant pipe of the intermediate section, to form a generally serpentine pattern. A plurality of semi-annular outer coil sections are supported radially outwardly from the intermediate coil section. Each outer section includes a first pipe located generally centrally within the semi-annular section and extending from end to end.

Abstract: An end cap is provided for adjacent pipes in the cooling coils of an electric air furnace. Each end cap includes parallel opposite side walls and a curved end portion connecting the side walls. The side walls and end portion define a perimeter edge, the outer portion of which is beveled. The end cap includes a pair of tabs extending from each side wall. The tabs partially fill the crevice between adjacent end pipes so as to provide a stronger weld between the end cap and the pipes. The curvature of the end cap minimizes turbulence of the liquid coolant flowing through the pipes.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring the level of a constituent such as oxygen in the blood of a living subject. Light at a plurality of wavelengths is emitted and directed through the patient's body to a photodetector. The amplitude of the emitted light at each wavelength is varied in accordance with a different carrier frequency, and the photodetector signal thus includes a component at each carrier frequency. Each such component represents transmissivity of the body structure at one wavelength of the emitted light. The photodetector signal is subdivided by frequency so as to separate the components at the different carrier frequencies. The constituent level is determined from these separated components.