Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly is operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members that are movable relative to one another. A drive assembly operably couples to a handle assembly associated with the housing and is configured to impart movement of a respective jaw member when the handle assembly is actuated. A spring component operably associated with each of the jaw members is configured to provide a sealing force at the jaw members.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a pair of opposing jaw members. One or more of the jaw members includes a support base, an electrical jaw lead, and a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead. The sealing plate has a stainless steel layer and one or more piezo electric sensors. The jaw member also includes an insulative plate disposed between the support base and the sealing plate.

Abstract: A forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members movable between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. A knife assembly having a cutting blade disposed at a distal end thereof is also provided. The knife assembly is translatable relative to the end effector assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the cutting blade extends between the jaw members to cut tissue grasped therebetween. The knife assembly includes a proximal component and a first distal component that includes the cutting blade. The proximal and first distal components are removably coupled to one another to facilitate replacement of the first distal component. Methods of preparing such forceps for reuse are also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure provides particles that are suitable for remotely-triggered therapy for cancer and microbial infection. In an embodiment, this disclosure provides a particle heater comprising a carrier admixed with a material that interacts with an exogenous source; wherein the material absorbs and converts the energy from the exogenous source into heat, then the heat travels outside the particle heater to induce localized hyperthermia at a temperature sufficient to selectively kill unwanted cells, and further wherein the particle heater structure is constructed such that it passes the Extractable Cytotoxicity Test.

Abstract: This invention provides particles encapsulating colorant that do not produce functional effects or remove functional effects until they are triggered by contacting with at least one exogenous source. The particles in this invention minimize toxic effects the body of the colorant and the material that interacts with an exogenous source as well as minimize body chemicals from degrading both the colorant and the material that interacts with an exogenous source inside the particle.

Abstract: This invention provides particles encapsulating active agent that do not produce functional effects or remove functional effects until they are triggered by contacting with at least one exogenous source. The particles in this invention minimize toxic effects to the body of the active agent and the material that interacts with an exogenous source as well as minimize body chemicals from degrading both the active agent and the material that interacts with an exogenous source inside the particle.

Abstract: This disclosure provides cool paints and paint systems tailored for solar heat management comprising (a) hydroxyl-containing fluorocarbon polymer as binder, (b) an effect pigment, and (c) an IR transparent pigment. Specifically, the dark color paints exhibit higher than 40% total solar reflectance (TSR) and excellent weathering properties e.g., maintaining at least 80% gloss after two-year of exposure to solar irradiation in field test.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly is operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members that are movable relative to one another. A drive assembly operably couples to a handle assembly associated with the housing and is configured to impart movement of a respective jaw member when the handle assembly is actuated. A spring component operably associated with each of the jaw members is configured to provide a sealing force at the jaw members.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members. A jaw insert is operably associated with the first and second jaw members. The jaw insert includes one or more cam slots defined therein configured to receive a cam pin that upon movement thereof rotates the first and second jaw members from an open position to a clamping position and an opening defined therein configured to securely house a pivot pin that provides a point of pivot for the first and second jaw members. The jaw insert is manufactured from an insulative medium to dielectrically isolate the first and second jaw members.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members. A jaw insert is operably associated with the first and second jaw members. The jaw insert includes one or more cam slots defined therein configured to receive a cam pin that upon movement thereof rotates the first and second jaw members from an open position to a clamping position and an opening defined therein configured to securely house a pivot pin that provides a point of pivot for the first and second jaw members. The jaw insert is manufactured from an insulative medium to dielectrically isolate the first and second jaw members.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly is operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members that are movable relative to one another. A drive assembly operably couples to a handle assembly associated with the housing and is configured to impart movement of a respective jaw member when the handle assembly is actuated. A spring component operably associated with each of the jaw members is configured to provide a sealing force at the jaw members.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members. A jaw insert is operably associated with the first and second jaw members. The jaw insert includes one or more cam slots defined therein configured to receive a cam pin that upon movement thereof rotates the first and second jaw members from an open position to a clamping position and an opening defined therein configured to securely house a pivot pin that provides a point of pivot for the first and second jaw members. The jaw insert is manufactured from an insulative medium to dielectrically isolate the first and second jaw members.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a pair of opposing jaw members. One or more of the jaw members includes a support base, an electrical jaw lead, and a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead. The sealing plate has a stainless steel layer and one or more piezo electric sensors. The jaw member also includes an insulative plate disposed between the support base and the sealing plate.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an active electrode coupled to a source of electrosurgical energy. The active electrode includes a tissue-contacting surface on an exterior surface of the instrument such that the tissue-contacting surface of the active electrode may intimately engage tissue. A replacement electrode includes a tissue-contacting surface, and is located in an interior cavity of the instrument. A seal is formed between the active electrode and the interior cavity of the instrument such that the tissue-contacting-surface of the replacement electrode is isolated from contamination exposed to the exterior of the instrument. The active electrode is removable from the instrument to expose the tissue-contacting surface of the replacement electrode, and the replacement electrode is connectable to the source of electrosurgical energy when the active electrode is removed.

Abstract: This disclosure provides particles that are suitable for remotely-triggered therapy for cancer and microbial infection.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a pair of opposing jaw members. One or more of the jaw members includes a support base, an electrical jaw lead, and a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead. The sealing plate has a stainless steel layer and one or more piezo electric sensors. The jaw member also includes an insulative plate disposed between the support base and the sealing plate.

Abstract: A luminous system comprising one or more illumination sources, a multilayer structure, and one or more diffuse reflection layers being optically decoupled from the multilayer structure, wherein the emission and the reflection of the luminous system produce a first observed visible color when the one or more illumination sources are powered and a second observed visible color when the one or more illumination sources are non-powered is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of creating the inventive luminous system.

Abstract: In an embodiment an illumination system includes an illumination source that emits a primary electromagnetic radiation having a spectrum of wavelengths and an energy conversion layer that converts at least a portion of the primary electromagnetic radiation to a secondary electromagnetic radiation having a different spectrum of wavelengths than the primary electromagnetic radiation. The energy conversion layer may have a viewing surface, a bottom surface opposed to the viewing surface, and an edge surface normal to the viewing surface and the bottom surface. The primary electromagnetic radiation may be incident on the edge surface of the energy conversion layer.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a frame having an access panel. At least one LED is coupled to an interior edge of the frame and a light guide panel is positioned in the frame such that an edge is in communication with the LED. At least one light injection optic is coupled to the LED and the edge of the light guide panel, and is configured to direct light from the LED toward the edge of the light guide panel. At least one reflector is coupled to the LED, and is configured to direct light from the LED toward the edge of the light guide panel. At least one reflective sheet is coupled to a rear surface of the light guide panel and at least one color conversion sheet is coupled to a front surface of the light guide panel. A cover is coupled to the rear of the frame.

Abstract: A covert information viewing system converts visible light to infrared wavelengths that can be transmitted for detection by an infrared-sensitive detector, such as night vision goggles, without detection by the human eye. The system includes a visible light information source emitting radiation as visible light, and a covert covering including an energy converting layer for absorbing the visible light emitted from the visible light information source and converting the visible light to infrared wavelengths, and a light blocking layer capable of absorbing unconverted visible light and transmitting infrared wavelengths. The covert covering is attached to the visible light information source and oriented to cover visible light emitted from the visible light information source, but it is also easily removed from the visible light information source.