Abstract: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags will be embedded into materials used to make various items (e.g., garments). Embedded RFID tags will be used to track the manufacturing process, inventory management and verify the authenticity of manufactured goods. RFID tags utilize a standard language (e.g., EPC Gen2 v2, etc.) that distinctly identifies the objects and manufacturers of the items the tags are embedded in. RFID tags also contain memory fields that can be written to from an RFID Interrogator. Containing electronic circuitry and an antenna, RFID tags will activate metal detectors, creating false alarms and neutralizing their usefulness. Techniques are provided for combining a metal detector and a RFID Reader in a single device to enable a security function for differentiating garments and/or accessories with an embedded RFID tag or standalone metal object. This invention applies to all metal detectors, x-ray, and millimeter scanners to include handheld, portable and standalone systems.

Abstract: A device for delivery of biologic materials, comprising: a cartridge having at least two cylinder bores for fluids to be delivered, wherein each cylinder includes an exit port for a fluid, a plunger within each cylinder for pushing the fluids out of the cylinder, a housing adapted to receive the cartridge, wherein the housing or cartridge includes an adaptor to receive and lock a manifold that operably connects to the exit ports of the cartridge, at least two toothed rams, wherein each toothed ram is at least partially within a cylinder bore, a trigger connected to the housing, wherein the trigger includes a toothed drive rack, a toothed wheel assembly that cooperates with the toothed drive rack and with the toothed rams, as well as methods of making the device, methods of using the device to treat discs, kits including the device.

Abstract: A device for delivery of biologic materials, comprising: a cartridge having at least two cylinder bores for fluids to be delivered, wherein each cylinder includes an exit port for a fluid, a plunger within each cylinder for pushing the fluids out of the cylinder, a housing adapted to receive the cartridge, wherein the housing or cartridge includes an adaptor to receive and lock a manifold that operably connects to the exit ports of the cartridge, at least two toothed rams, wherein each toothed ram is at least partially within a cylinder bore, a trigger connected to the housing, wherein the trigger includes a toothed drive rack, a toothed wheel assembly that cooperates with the toothed drive rack and with the toothed rams, as well as methods of making the device, methods of using the device to treat discs, kits including the device.

Abstract: A device for delivery of biologic materials, comprising: a cartridge having at least two cylinder bores for fluids to be delivered, wherein each cylinder includes an exit port for a fluid, a plunger within each cylinder for pushing the fluids out of the cylinder, a housing adapted to receive the cartridge, wherein the housing or cartridge includes an adaptor to receive and lock a manifold that operably connects to the exit ports of the cartridge, at least two toothed rams, wherein each toothed ram is at least partially within a cylinder bore, a trigger connected to the housing, wherein the trigger includes a toothed drive rack, a toothed wheel assembly that cooperates with the toothed drive rack and with the toothed rams, as well as methods of making the device, methods of using the device to treat discs, kits including the device.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical forceps comprises an elongated tubular barrel having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between these two ends. A handle is provided at the proximal end of the barrel and includes an actuating member for opening and closing a pair of forceps jaws that are mounted at the distal end of the barrel. The forceps jaws include cam slots in a proximal head portion thereof. A coupling member extends between the actuating member on the handle and the pair of forceps jaws. The coupling member includes drive pins that cooperate with the cam slots whereby squeezing of the actuating mechanism first effects pivotal rotation of the pair of forceps jaws over a first range of motion of the actuating member and translation without rotation of the forceps jaws over a second range of motion of the actuating member.

Abstract: The invention relates, according to one embodiment, to a graft syringe assembly for delivering bone graft material is disclosed. The graft syringe assembly comprises a syringe subassembly including a syringe barrel having an inner chamber adapted for receiving bone graft material, a plunger adapted for expelling bone graft material from the inner chamber, the plunger slidably received within the inner chamber, and a syringe adapter coupled to the syringe barrel. The graft syringe assembly further comprises a connection subassembly coupled to the syringe adapter, and a delivery tube subassembly coupled to the connection subassembly, wherein the connection subassembly is configured to allow the delivery tube subassembly to rotate relative to the syringe subassembly.

Abstract: A disposable cleaning device for the barrel or bore of a gun or firearm is provided which comprises a jag member which is adapted to contain a cleaning fluid for the barrel or bore, which jag member has means at one end for securing to a ram-rod or cable and also has means for allowing the cleaning fluid to contact an absorbent cleaning material. In certain embodiments the absorbent cleaning material surrounds the jag member and is pre-wetted with cleaning fluid or becomes wetted with cleaning fluid after a rupturable means within the jag member containing the cleaning fluid is ruptured or broken. In other embodiments, the jag member includes an internal chamber containing the cleaning fluid sealed with a rupturable or removable membrane or member, which when ruptured or removed, allows cleaning fluid to escape and contact cleaning material which is, or which is brought, in proximity to the chamber.

Abstract: A disposable cleaning device for the barrel or bore of a gun or firearm is provided which comprises a jag member which is adapted to contain a cleaning fluid for the barrel or bore, which jag member has means at one end for securing to a ram-rod or cable and also has means for allowing the cleaning fluid to contact an absorbent cleaning material. In certain embodiments the absorbent cleaning material surrounds the jag member and is pre-wetted with cleaning fluid or becomes wetted with cleaning fluid after a rupturable means within the jag member containing the cleaning fluid is ruptured or broken. In other embodiments, the jag member includes an internal chamber containing the cleaning fluid sealed with a rupturable membrane, which when punctured with a plunger passing through a cleaning patch of absorbent cleaning material and into the chamber, releases the cleaning fluid which wets the cleaning patch.

Abstract: A flexible malleable shaft is made up of a plurality of prismatic shaft elements adjacent one another. A recess is formed in a proximal end of each shaft element, the recess defined along a transverse axis. A protrusion is formed in a distal end of each shaft element, the protrusion defined along a transverse axis. The transverse axes are oriented to one another such that adjacent like shaft elements are aligned with one another when a protrusion of one shaft element is aligned with a recess in an adjacent shaft element. A tension element secured to a distal end of the malleable shaft is in communication with a proximal end of the malleable shaft via an axial through hole. Additionally, a variable stiffness malleable shaft can accommodate the differential lengths of tension elements when applying force to transition the shaft.

Abstract: A multi-function laparoscopic instrument with an end effector assembly including at least first and second movable members, a first actuator coupled to the first movable member, a second actuator coupled to the second movable member, and a handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a drive mechanism, at least one movable trigger pivotably connected with the drive mechanism, and a switching mechanism coupled to the drive mechanism and having at least two positions, a first position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the first actuator to operate the first movable member when the movable trigger is activated and, a second position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the second actuator to operate the second movable member when the movable trigger is activated.

Abstract: A multi-function laparoscopic instrument with an end effector assembly including at least first and second movable members, a first actuator coupled to the first movable member, a second actuator coupled to the second movable member, and a handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a drive mechanism, at least one movable trigger pivotably connected with the drive mechanism, and a switching mechanism coupled to the drive mechanism and having at least two positions, a first position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the first actuator to operate the first movable member when the movable trigger is activated and, a second position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the second actuator to operate the second movable member when the movable trigger is activated.

Abstract: The present invention describes ultrasonic surgical instruments that include a mechanism for clamping tissue against an ultrasonic blade, including an arrangement for detachably mounting a clamp arm to the instrument. The ultrasonic surgical instrument comprises a waveguide adapted to be acoustically coupled to an ultrasonic transducer, and to transmit ultrasonic energy to an end-effector located at the distal end of the waveguide. A support tube extends from a handle assembly and surrounds at least a portion of the waveguide, terminating proximal to the end-effector. A clamp arm is detachably mounted to the distal end of the support tube. An actuation element is operatively coupled to the clamp arm. The ultrasonic surgical instrument may also include a clamp arm release.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical clamp coagulator apparatus is configured to effect cutting, coagulation, and clamping of tissue by cooperation of a clamping mechanism of the apparatus with an associated ultrasonic end-effector. In order to limit the force with which tissue is clamped between a clamp arm of the clamping mechanism and the end-effector, the clamping mechanism includes a force-limiting spring which operatively connects an operating lever of the apparatus and components of the clamp drive mechanism. The force-limiting spring is preferably pre-loaded so that the interconnection of the associated components is desirably "stiff", thus providing a user with good tactile feedback during operation of the clamping mechanism. At least one travel stop is preferably provided on the apparatus housing for limiting movement of the operating lever after a predetermined degree of relative movement of the operating components in opposition to the force-limiting spring.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical clamp coagulator apparatus is configured to effect cutting, coagulation, and clamping of tissue by cooperation of a clamping mechanism of the apparatus with an associated ultrasonic end-effector. Selective, indexed rotational positioning of the clamping mechanism and end-effector is achieved by the provision of a detent mechanism incorporated into the clamp drive mechanism of the apparatus. An improved clamping mechanism permits the desired clamping force to be applied to tissue positioned against the end-effector in an instrument having a desirably small cross-section.

Abstract: One surgical device includes a transducer assembly adapted to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency in response to electrical energy. A first transmission component is adapted to receive and transmit the ultrasonic vibration from a first end to a second end. A second transmission component is adapted to receive and transmit the ultrasonic vibrations from a first end to a second end. A torque limiting device coupled to the second transmission component limits the torque when the second end of the first transmission rod is coupled to the first end and a method of attaching a transmission component is also provided. A method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of providing a handpiece assembly having an integral torque limiting mechanism and a first transmission component and threading a second transmission component onto the first transmission component of the handpiece assembly.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical apparatus includes a surgical instrument having a handpiece with a transducer for converting an electrical signal into longitudinal vibratory motion of a blade connected to the handpiece and an accessory releasably connected to the handpiece to enable clamping of tissue against the vibrating blade to afford improved coagulating and cutting of tissue. Scissors-like grips actuate a pivoted clamp jaw along one side of the ultrasonically vibrating blade to compress and bias tissue against the blade in a direction normal to the direction of longitudinal vibratory movement. The clamp jaw and blade are rotatable relative to one another to align a selected blade edge of a multi-edged blade with the clamp jaw for cutting and coagulating while clamping or circumferentially spacing a selected blade edge from the clamp jaw for cutting and coagulating without clamping.