Abstract: A hand-held, electrically powered and controlled surgical stapler/cutter includes a handle shaped to fit in one hand of a user and a surgical end effector connected to the handle. The handle contains therein a selectively actuated, self-contained electric power supply having at least one battery cell, at least part of an anvil control assembly, and at least part of an electrically-powered stapler/cutter control assembly electrically connected to the power supply. The surgical end effector is operatively connected to each of the anvil control assembly and the stapler/cutter control assembly. The stapler/cutter control assembly staples and cuts tissue disposed at the surgical end effector when powered by the power supply.

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: Electrical surgical device comprising a handle shaped to be held within one hand, the handle having a self-contained power source, at least part of an end effector control assembly connected to the power source, a switch connected to the power source and operable to selectively power the end effector control assembly with the power source, and an articulation control device, wherein both the switch and the articulation control device are operated with the one hand holding the handle; an articulating connection operated by the articulation control device; and a surgical end effector connected to the handle by the articulating connection such that articulation of the surgical end effector is controlled by operation of the articulation control device and operatively connected to the end effector control assembly such that, upon operation of the end effector control assembly, the surgical end effector is operable to carry out at least one surgical procedure.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a handle having a stapler-closing device. A surgical stapling end effector is connected to the handle and has a pair of opposing stapling surfaces. At least one of the stapling surfaces is operable to move with respect to the other of the stapling surfaces upon actuation of the stapler-closing device to apply a compressive force to tissue therebetween. At least one variable member is operable to receive the compressive force applied to the tissue and to exhibit at least one of mechanical and electrical change associated with the received compressive force. The change influences a surgical procedure on the compressed tissue.

Abstract: A mitral valve implant includes a force-expanding mitral valve lattice having an interior orifice and a self-expanding valve trampoline attached at the interior orifice of the force-expanding mitral valve lattice. The mitral valve lattice is self-expandable to a first configuration and force expandable from the first configuration to a second configuration. The configurations can be circular or D-shaped. The mitral valve lattice comprises jack screws adjusting configurations of the mitral valve lattice. The valve trampoline has a cylindrical central region comprising valve leaflets. An outwardly flaring implant skirt is attached to the mitral valve lattice exterior. Wall-retaining wires are attached to the mitral valve lattice, are petal-shaped, and have a pre-set, radially outward, memory shape. The wires and skirt impart a force on a respective side of the native mitral valve when the mitral valve lattice is expanded within an annulus of the native mitral valve.

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 multiple-firing crimp device comprises crimps, a shaft, a crimp movement assembly, and a snare. Each crimp has an internal hollow. The shaft has a distal crimping location, an exterior surface, and an interior with the clips stacked therein, the crimps moving therein along a longitudinal axis. The shaft defines a lateral opening proximal to the crimping location and communicates the interior to the environment outside the exterior surface. The crimp movement assembly within the shaft delivers the first crimp to the distal crimping location by moving the first crimp longitudinally from a first proximal position into the distal crimping location and returning to a second proximal position without the first crimp. The snare pulls at least one cord from distal of the first crimp through the first crimp and through a portion of the shaft and out the side of the shaft through the lateral opening.

Abstract: An improved cavitation mixing and heating device employs an inlet directed toward the vertex of a conical or similar flow-directing element. The flow patterns of the fluid material to be mixed and heated are designed to preheat, spread, and create turbulent flow mixing of the fluid before it enters the cavitation zone, using heat generated in the cavitation zone that is conducted through the body of the cavitation rotor. The functions of the axially oriented inlet and flow directing element are assisted by a cantilever construction to alleviate stress on the bearings.

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 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 surgical instrument that comprises a receiving portion for removably receiving therein an interchangeable part, wherein the receiving portion has a communication connection, a handle having a controller electrically connected to the communication connection, and an interchangeable part removably connected to the receiving portion and having an encryption device electrically removably connected to the communication connection when at the receiving portion, wherein the encryption device is programmed to authenticate the interchangeable part upon an exchange with the controller when the interchangeable part is at the receiving portion and, after at least a partial use of the interchangeable part, store a used status of the interchangeable part.

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 method for encrypted authentication of interchangeable parts of a surgical instrument includes providing a surgical end effector at a distal end of a handle of the surgical instrument and electrically connecting an authentication controller within the handle to a receiving portion of the end effector. An interchangeable part is removably placed at the receiving portion. The interchangeable part is authenticated with the authentication controller when the interchangeable part is seated in the end effector.

Abstract: Degeneration of shale caused by oxygen in aqueous drilling, fracturing and completion fluids is minimized by introducing imidazolines modified so that they will be attracted efficiently to pyrites in the shale, thereby forming a protective coating on the pyrites. Inhibiting oxidation of the pyrites sharply reduces physical degradation of the shale, and the generation of undesirable oxides, in the presence of drilling, fracturing and completion fluids carrying oxygen. The imidazoline is an ionic salt of a monocarboxylic acid.

Abstract: A modular joint barrier retainer assembly, including: a barrier including one or more material layers; a retainer strip coupled to the barrier; and an anchor flange selectively coupled to the retainer strip at a first end of the anchor flange, wherein a second end of the anchor flange is configured to be selectively coupled to one or more of an expansion joint cover and a building substrate. The barrier is selectively disposed within an expansion joint or other gap of a building. The retainer strip is coupled to the barrier via one or more mechanical fasteners that are disposed through the one or more material layers and secured to the retainer strip. The anchor flange includes a hook portion that selectively engages a lip portion of the retainer strip. The anchor flange is selectively secured to the retainer strip via one or more mechanical fasteners.

Abstract: A battery-powered, modular surgical device comprising an electrically powered surgical instrument that requires a pre-determined minimum amount of electrical energy to complete a surgical procedure, and a power module assembly that has a battery that powers the surgical instrument and has a current state of electrical charge, and a control circuit that is electrically coupled to the battery and the surgical instrument and has a memory and a microprocessor. The microprocessor determines the current state of electrical charge of the battery, compares the current state of electrical charge to the pre-determined minimum amount of electrical energy, permits the battery to discharge if the current state of electrical charge is above the pre-determined minimum amount of electrical energy, and maintains the battery in a non-discharge state if the current state of electrical charge is below the pre-determined minimum amount of electrical energy.

Abstract: A stair system with freedom of movement between landings associated therewith includes a connection system configured to connect stairs to a landing associated with a construction, wherein the connection system structurally supports the stairs for safe egress over the stairs while concurrently supporting movement between the landing and a second landing associated with the construction by the stairs in at least one dimension, and wherein the movement supports inter-story drift between the landing and the second landing and removes some force translation between the landing and the second landing.

Abstract: A method for delivering RF energy to living tissue includes the steps of extending a guidewire to a tissue treatment site in a body. A controllable stiffness catheter is provided with a stiffness device having non-metallic properties and a temperature-changing device. The stiffness device is in a stiff state below a given temperature and in a soft state above the given temperature. While supplying power to the temperature-changing device, the catheter is threaded along the guidewire up to the treatment site in the soft state. Power is removed from the temperature-changing device to alter the non-metallic properties of the stiffness device and directly result in a change of the stiffness device to the stiff state without straightening the catheter. The RF energy supply device is physically contacted with the treatment site and RF energy is delivered to the treatment site from the RF energy supply device.

Abstract: A multiple-fire securing device includes a hollow outer shaft, a reloader, a reloader movement assembly, a rail, and securing structures each defining an inner securing orifice. The reloader longitudinally moves within the outer shaft and has a distal end shaped to temporarily contact one of the securing structures. The rail is disposed within the reloader and has an installing location. The securing structures are disposed on the rail. The reloader movement assembly moves the reloader longitudinally in a distal direction to deliver a first securing structure to the installing location from a first proximal position and moves the reloader proximally away from the installing location without the first securing structure to a position in which the distal end of the reloader temporarily contacts a second one of the securing structures. The second and successive securing structures are moved one at a time to the installing location.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a shaft, a first jaw having a proximal end at the distal end of the shaft, a second jaw and an ultrasonic waveguide. The first jaw has an internal trough running through the proximal end of the first jaw and a surface on either side of the trough. The second jaw has a surface facing the surface of the first jaw. The waveguide extends beyond the shaft and slidably engages the trough and has a blade with a tissue compressing surface upwardly sloping proximally from a distal end thereof the blade and having an upper portion and a substantially horizontal top surface portion at the upper portion. The tissue compressing surface and/or the top surface portion forms a cutting surface. When the jaws compress tissue therebetween, the blade slides within the trough to further compress and cut the compressed tissue as the blade moves distally.