Abstract: A surface treatment assembly for treating a contoured surface includes a surface treatment array formed from a plurality of base structures, each base structure operably coupled to a first phalange structure and a first phalange structure first end. A second phalange structure operatively coupled to each first phalange structure and a phalange joint disposed between each first phalange structure and each second phalange, thereby forming a finger structure. Moreover, at least one applicator head is coupled to a second phalange structure second end of each finger structure and configured to treat the contoured surface. A base structure actuator and a phalange joint actuator operatively coupled to and configured to manipulate the first phalange structure and the second phalange of each finger structure to adjust the surface treatment array relative to the contoured surface.

Abstract: An applicator assembly for treating a contoured surface including an attachment frame configured to secure and position an applicator head. In some embodiments, the applicator head is configured to apply a surface treatment to the contoured surface. The applicator assembly further includes, at least one sensor operatively coupled to the attachment frame and configured to scan the contoured surface and produce a contoured data set. Additionally, the applicator assembly includes an applicator actuator operatively coupled to the attachment frame and configured to manipulate the attachment frame such that the applicator assembly maintains an orientation of the applicator assembly relative to the contoured surface.

Abstract: An evacuator for supplying vacuum to a device in a boosted engine air system is disclosed. The evacuator defines a body comprising a converging motive section, a diverging discharge section, at least one suction port, and a Venturi gap located between an outlet end of the converging motive section and an inlet end of the diverging discharge section. A lineal distance is measured between the outlet end and the inlet end. The lineal distance is decreased in length if higher suction vacuum at a specific set of operating conditions is required and the lineal distances is increased in length if higher suction flow rate at the specific set of operating conditions is required.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The acoustic waveguide comprises a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section comprises a plurality of body portions aligned along the longitudinal axis and a flexible locking member. The flexible locking member is operable to secure the body portions in relation to each other and in relation to the shaft. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A luminaire includes a housing and a light engine. The light engine is detachably secured to the housing and includes a lens and an optical tray. The lens has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral edge. The top surface of the lens define a lens cavity. The optical tray is supported by the lens within the lens cavity.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a method of driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument. The method comprises generating at least one electrical signal. The at least one electrical signal is monitored against a first set of logic conditions. A first response is triggered when the first set of logic conditions is met. A parameter is determined from the at least one electrical signal.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a main shaft configured to support and position various components of the CVT. Shift cam discs cooperate with ball-leg assemblies to shift the transmission ration of the CVT. Load cam discs, a torsion disc, rolling elements, and a hub cap shell are configured to generate axial force, transmit torque, and manage reaction forces. In one embodiment, a splined input shaft and a torsion disc having a splined bore cooperate to input torque into the variator of the CVT. Among other things, various ball axles, axle-ball combinations, and reaction force grounding configurations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a CVT having axial force generation means at both the input and output elements is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly includes an outer tube, a proximal inner tube member, a distal inner tube member, and an acoustic waveguide. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. A first portion of the clamp arm is pivotably coupled with a distal end of the outer tube. A second portion of the clamp arm is pivotably coupled with a distal end of the distal inner tube member. The outer tube is configured to removably couple with the body and the distal inner tube member is configured to removably couple with the proximal inner tube member such that the outer tube, the distal inner tube member, and the clamp arm are configured to removably couple with the body and the remainder of the shaft assembly and end effector as a unit.

Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for allowing multiple surgical instruments to be inserted into sealing elements of a single surgical access device. The sealing elements can be movable along predefined pathways within the device to allow surgical instruments inserted through the sealing elements to be moved laterally, rotationally, angularly, and vertically relative to a central longitudinal axis of the device for ease of manipulation within a patient's body while maintaining insufflation.

Abstract: Electrosurgical instruments and associated methods are disclosed herein. Embodiments of the electrosurgical instruments can include an elongate shaft that can articulate an end effector relative to the elongate shaft, with the end effector including opposed jaws and positioned at a distal end of the elongate shaft. In addition, electrosurgical instruments are provided that include a cutting feature or knife that is coupled to the end effector and can axially translate relative to the elongate shaft. Furthermore, the knife can be rotated relative to the elongate shaft, which can cause simultaneous rotation of the end effector. Electrosurgical instruments are also provided that include an end effector including opposed jaws that are configured to rotate relative to the elongate shaft and grasp objects (i.e., via opening and closing the opposed jaws). Electrical energy can also be passed through the electrosurgical instrument for performing electrosurgical procedures.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for inhibiting and/or sensitizing or re-sensitizing a parasite to an antiparasitic drug are provided. The compositions can comprise a rifamycin derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, or prodrug thereof in an amount and formulation sufficient to inhibit or induce drug-sensitization in a parasite. The methods can comprise administering a rifamycin derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, or prodrug thereof to a parasite in an amount and formulation sufficient to inhibit or induce drug-sensitization in the parasite.

Abstract: A method for determining motional branch current in an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic surgical device over multiple frequencies of a transducer drive signal. The method may comprise, at each of a plurality of frequencies of the transducer drive signal, oversampling a current and voltage of the transducer drive signal, receiving, by a processor, the current and voltage samples, and determining, by the processor, the motional branch current based on the current and voltage samples, a static capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer and the frequency of the transducer drive signal.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The acoustic waveguide comprises a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section comprises a plurality of body portions aligned along the longitudinal axis and a flexible locking member. The flexible locking member is operable to secure the body portions in relation to each other and in relation to the shaft. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a body, an ultrasonic supported by the body, a shaft extending distally from the body and defining a shaft axis, a waveguide extending distally through the shaft, and an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade coupled to a distal end of the waveguide and having a primary blade treatment surface configured to treat tissue, and a clamp arm coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The shaft and the waveguide are selectively rotatable relative to one another about the shaft axis through a predefined range of angular motion between an assembly state and an operational state. In the assembly state, the clamp arm and the primary blade treatment surface are rotationally offset from one another. In the operational state, the clamp arm and the primary blade treatment surface are rotationally aligned.

Abstract: A surgical generator is disclosed including an ultrasonic generator module to provide at an ultrasonic drive signal for driving an ultrasonic surgical device and an electrosurgical generator module to provice an electrosurgical drive signal for driving an electrosurgical device. At least one of providing the ultrasonic drive signal or providing the electrosurgical drive signal includes recalling a waveform sample from a look-up table (LUT), modifying the waveform sample to generate a modified waveform based on voltage and current feedback information to pre-distort the waveform sample on a dynamic ongoing basis, indexing each stored voltage and current feedback data pair based on a corresponding LUT sample that was output when the voltage and current feedback data pair was acquired, synchronizing the LUT sample and the voltage and current feedback data pair to correct timing and stability of the pre-distorted waveform sample, and providing the modified waveform to an output stage.

Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for allowing multiple surgical instruments to be inserted into sealing elements of a single surgical access device. The sealing elements can be movable along predefined pathways within the device to allow surgical instruments inserted through the sealing elements to be moved laterally, rotationally, angularly, and vertically relative to a central longitudinal axis of the device for ease of manipulation within a patient's body while maintaining insufflation.

Abstract: A variety of methods for managing a re-usable ultrasonic medical device may include a medical device control module capable of receiving functional data from a user assembled or reassembled ultrasonic medical device, and notifying the user if a value of the functional data lies within an acceptance range. If the value of the functional data does not lie within the acceptance range, the control module may prompt a user to reassemble the device or to clean or replace one or more components thereof. The functional data may relate to a clamp force of a jaw assembly, an impedance or resonant frequency value of an ultrasonic blade, or a mechanical displacement value of one or more moving components of the device.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is separable into a transducer unit and a lower body portion. The lower body portion includes a waveguide and a casing. The transducer unit includes a transducer and a geared mechanism operable to couple the transducer to the waveguide. In some versions the geared mechanism includes bevel gears coupled to a rack and pinion such that linear motion may be used to rotatably couple a transducer to a waveguide. The rack gear may further include a handle extending out of the transducer unit casing to be actuatable by a user. The rack gear may also be flexible or rigid. In other versions, the bevel gears may be coupled to a threaded shaft that is operable to translate the transducer into the waveguide to form an interference fit. The transducer unit may also include a slide lock mechanism to couple to the casing of the lower body portion.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft, an end effector, a rotation input feature, and a locking feature. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The end effector is positioned at the distal end of the shaft. The rotation input feature comprises a proximal end and a distal end. The rotation input feature is configured to rotate one or both of the shaft assembly or the end effector about the longitudinal axis. The locking feature is configured to transition between a locked state and an unlocked state. The locking feature is configured to prevent rotation of the one or both of the shaft assembly when the locking feature is in the locked state. The locking feature is configured to permit rotation of the one or both of the shaft assembly when the locking feature is in the unlocked state.

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 can include at least one sensor and a motor, and an output of the motor can be configured to be adjusted based at least in part on an output from the at least one sensor. The output of the motor can be configured to provide power for translation of a cutting element along an end effector of the device. Adjusting the motor's output can cause the cutting element to translate through the end effector at different speeds, thereby allowing the cutting element to cut through tissue being grasped by the end effector at different speeds.