Abstract: Embodiments of the technology provide an articulable electrosurgical instrument and methods of performing electrosurgery with an articulating capability. The electrosurgical instrument includes an elongated shaft having an end effector associated with a distal end thereof that is able to deliver energy to a target tissue site. An articulable joint is positioned between that shaft and the end effector. Articulation of the articulable joint is controlled by a stabilizable articulation actuator, which may include a rotatably stabilizable disk residing within a well. The end effector may take the form of forceps including an upper and a lower jaw; the jaws are configured to grasp target tissue and to deliver energy, such as radiofrequency energy. In some of these instruments, the end effector is adapted to seal tissue by the application of radiofrequency energy, and then to cut through the sealed tissue portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology relate to a bipolar electrosurgical device for a laparoscopic environment, as well as methods for the use of such a device. Embodiments of the device may include a set of opposing jaws comprising at least one bipolar electrode pair disposed thereon, the set of jaws configured to deliver radiofrequency energy to a target tissue. Embodiments of the set of jaws, when closed, may have a diameter no greater than about 5 mm. The device may further include a shaft with a diameter that may be no greater than about 5 mm. Each of the jaws has a tissue-facing surface of each jaw that may include a complementary self-aligning configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the other jaw. Embodiments of the device may further include a pinless rotation assembly formed from rotatably cooperative features of the first jaw and the second jaw that connect the jaws together and enable the jaw set to pivot between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: Provided are a portable input device for inputting coordinates, a method of calibrating the device, and a computer readable recording medium storing a computer program for making a computer perform the method. The portable input device includes two digital cameras, a calibration tool, a storage section, and a controller for calculating coordinates of an object on an input surface based on images taken by the two digital cameras based on images taken by the two digital cameras so as to include the calibration tool. The controller also calibrates positions and widths of a detection band which corresponds to a detection zone defined in a vicinity of the input surface. The positions and the widths of the detection band are stored in the storage section in relationship to positions on the input surface.

Abstract: A surgical device for suturing vascular vessels is described, as well as methods for suturing tissue employing the surgical device. The device includes a distal member for insertion into a vascular vessel puncture wound. The distal member contains a suture and needle engaging fitting. At least one needle is advanced through tissue adjacent the puncture wound and into the needle engaging fitting to draw lengths of suture material which can then be used to close the puncture wound.

Abstract: An electrode structure and a mechanism for automated or user-selected operation or compensation of the electrodes, for example to determine tissue coverage and/or prevent arcing between bottom electrodes during electrocautery is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with cauterizing and resecting tissue. A pair of electrodes are placed on opposed tissue surfaces, and radio frequency power is applied through the electrodes to cauterizing a tissue mass therebetween. After cauterization has been effected, the tissue may be resected along a plane within the cauterized region with minimum or no bleeding. The tissue mass may then be removed.

Abstract: A surgical device for suturing vascular vessels is described, as well as methods for suturing tissue employing the surgical device. The device includes a distal member for insertion into a vascular vessel puncture wound. The distal member contains a suture and needle engaging fitting. At least one needle is advanced through tissue adjacent the puncture wound and into the needle engaging fitting to draw lengths of suture material which can then be used to close the puncture wound.

Abstract: A surgical device of suturing vascular vessels is described, as well as methods for suturing tissue employing the surgical device. The device includes at least one needle advanceable through tissue to drawn lengths of suture material which can then be used to close various puncture wounds, particularly in vascular tissue. A foot is pivotal between a non-deployed position and a deployed position where it engages vascular tissue on a distal side of the vessel.

Abstract: A surgical device of suturing vascular vessels is described, as well as methods for suturing tissue employing the surgical device. The device includes at least one needle advanceable through tissue and into a needle capture element within a distal end of the surgical device to draw lengths of suture material which can then be used to close various puncture wounds, particularly in vascular tissue.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided apparatuses and methods for using a medical instrument including a sizing and positioning adapter. The apparatus comprises an adapter for a medical instrument, the adapt having a body having a shim portion and an instrument holding portion adjacent the shim portion, wherein the shim portion provides an enlarged peripheral surface adjacent the medical instrument such that when the medical instrument is held in the instrument holding portion and the medical instrument and body are inserted through an opening in a patient tissue, at least a portion of the enlarged peripheral surface is in contact with at least a portion of the periphery of the opening in the patient tissue.

Abstract: A needle having a shaft; a neck at the distal end of the shaft; and a tapered end at the distal end of the neck, the tapered end comprising at least three planar faces meeting at a central point, and an annular shoulder adjacent to the neck.

Abstract: A controller for use with an image formation device. An image formation system includes an image formation device and a controller associated with the image formation device. The image formation device can be operated in either copier mode or printer mode. In printer mode, the controller receives print jobs and forwards the print jobs to the image formation device. The controller converts the print jobs to pixel data and stores the pixel data in memory to buffer the print jobs. The controller also interprets print commands and controls functions performed by the image formation device.

Abstract: A process for identifying disks and automatically configuring a disk drive system to any one of a variety of disk patterns as embedded in firmware in a controller of a disk drive system. The process distinguishes between embedded servo and nonembedded servo disks by searching for servo patterns on the disk. Distinction between high and low density type disks is made by reading the disks at different data rates. After the type of disk is determined, a controller is enabled to set the disk drive system in the proper mode for that type of disk. The process also enables the controller to find the disk format values on the disk, or provides the standard values for the particular type of disk if the information is not located on the disk.

Abstract: A process allows a disk drive system to optimize head position in order to minimize the effects of track variations due to disk misclamping and imperfections. The process utilizes a transducer head having a width less than a track width. The small size of the transducer head allows it to be positioned within a stationary band which remains within the boundaries of the track for the complete revolution of the disk. Once the head is positioned within this band for one track of the disk, this track can be used as a reference for positioning the head within the bands of the other tracks.

Abstract: In a digital information storage system or the like, start up power sequencing for independently operable machines such as disk drives each equipped with a microprocessing unit is provided through a simplified power sequencing circuit. The power sequencing circuit is operatively coupled with an independent preprogrammable micropocessing unit in each machine and to a single control line common to all disk drives. The microprocessing unit is preprogrammed to interact with the power sequencing circuit to provide Enable/Disable signals to the control line and to sense the state of the control line. In particular, the microprocessing unit executes a preprogrammed sequence of steps in interaction with the control line to sequence the start-up of each spindle motor irrespective of the number of disk drives coupled to the control line, thereby preventing electrical power overload.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing data blocks in a computer system having multiple-disk drive rotational position sensing which is not centrally synchronized and where data read and write requests are normally weighted by the order of availability of requested data blocks. The weighting of the priority, or queue position, of selected data blocks is modified by advancing the apparent initial location of data blocks designated for preferental access and maintaining an availability signal, or peripheral interrupt, for an extended period. A special pre-data-transfer instruction indicates the duration of the peripheral interrupt. A circuit for implementing the invention has a storage register for receiving the special instruction, a down counter for decrementing for the duration of the designated pre-data-interrupt and an interrupt duration control latch for issuing and extinguishing the interrupt.