Abstract: A surgical instrument has a hollow tubular member, and a pressurization unit that has an outer valve portion, a pressurization device having a movable part configured to generate pressurized fluid when the movable part is moved, and an inner valve portion. The inner valve portion includes a first flow passage that is configured to fluidically connect a first port and a second port of the outer valve portion to each other when the inner valve portion is in a first position, and a second flow passage that is configured between the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion to fluidically connect the first port and a third port when the inner valve portion is in a second position. A sealing system fluidically isolates the second port and the third port from each other at any position of the inner valve portion.

Abstract: An article including: a battery support containing battery lead wires attached to terminals; an opposing battery support attached to the battery support to create a battery closure; one or more batteries having battery contacts in the opposing battery support; and one or more activation tabs; wherein the terminals are attached to spring-loaded members; wherein the one or more activation tabs are spaced between the terminals and the battery contacts; wherein the spring-loaded members provide a biasing force that biases the terminals against the activation tabs keeping the one or more activation tabs in place in either a first position or a second position of the opposing battery support; wherein the opposing battery support is securely connected to the battery support in both the first position and the second position; and wherein the biasing force is greater in the second position than in the first position.

Abstract: An article comprising: (i) a handheld device including (a) a housing, (b) a powered element within the housing; (ii) a battery pack, wherein the handheld device is connected by an external cable to a functional system, wherein the battery pack is attached to the external cable, and wherein the battery pack supplies power to the powered element.

Abstract: An article comprising: (i) a handheld device including (a) a housing, (b) a powered element within the housing; (ii) a battery pack, wherein the handheld device is connected by an external cable to a functional system, wherein the battery pack is attached to the external cable, and wherein the battery pack supplies power to the powered element.

Abstract: An article comprising: (i) a handheld device including (a) a housing, (b) a powered element within the housing: (ii) a battery pack, wherein the handheld device is connected by an external cable to a functional system, wherein the battery pack is attached to the external cable, and wherein the battery pack supplies power to the powered element.

Abstract: An article comprising: a battery support containing battery lead wires attached to terminals; an opposing battery support attached to the battery support to create a battery closure; one or more batteries having battery contacts in the opposing battery support; and one or more activation tabs; wherein the terminals are attached to spring-loaded members; wherein the one or more activation tabs are spaced between the terminals and the battery contacts; wherein the spring-loaded members provide a biasing force that biases the terminals against the activation tabs keeping the one or more activation tabs in place in either a first position or a second position; wherein the opposing battery support is securely connected to the battery support in both the first position and the second position; and wherein the biasing force is greater in the first position than in the second position.

Abstract: An article comprising: (a) a battery support containing battery lead wires, (b) an opposing battery support attached to the battery support to create a battery closure, and (c) one or more batteries; wherein the batteries are secured in the battery closure, wherein the batteries are secured to the opposing battery support, the batteries supply energy to a device, and removing the opposing battery support from the battery closure disables transmission of electricity from the batteries via the battery lead wires to the device.

Abstract: A surgical instrument has a hollow tubular member, and a pressurization unit that has an outer valve portion, a pressurization device having a movable part configured to generate pressurized fluid when the movable part is moved, and an inner valve portion. The inner valve portion includes a first flow passage that is configured to fluidically connect a first port and a second port of the outer valve portion to each other when the inner valve portion is in a first position, and a second flow passage that is configured between the inner valve portion and the outer valve portion to fluidically connect the first port and a third port when the inner valve portion is in a second position. A sealing system fluidically isolates the second port and the third port from each other at any position of the inner valve portion.

Abstract: A mechanical cutting device that makes use of mechanical (rotary) motion and suction to engage tissue also applies a cutting energy sufficient to vaporize the tissue. The rotation and suction are used to engage the tissue (sucking tissue into cutting windows when the cutting windows of inner and outer blades are aligned), and then the cutting member(s) function as an electrode(s) by having an electrical cutting signal applied thereto so that the cutting member(s) electrically cut the tissue as the cutting members relatively rotate. The electrical cutting signal is only applied as the windows become aligned up until the cutting of the tissue is completed. The cutting signal preferably is stopped after the cutting windows become misaligned. While the cutting windows are misaligned, a coagulation signal can be supplied to the cutting member so that the device functions as an electrocautery device.

Abstract: A pressure equalization tube assembly for insertion through a membrane of an ear is provided. The pressure equalization tube assembly includes a tube having an interior wall surface extending between a first end and a second end. The interior wall surface defines a lumen extending between the first and second ends. A first part extends from the first end of the tube and a second part extends from the second end of the tube. The first and second parts may be wire portions, coil portions, and/or superelastic flanges that are moveable between a collapsed state and an expanded state.

Abstract: A mechanical cutting device that makes use of mechanical (rotary) motion and suction to engage tissue also applies a cutting energy sufficient to vaporize the tissue. The rotation and suction are used to engage the tissue (sucking tissue into cutting windows when the cutting windows of inner and outer blades are aligned), and then the cutting member(s) function as an electrode(s) by having an electrical cutting signal applied thereto so that the cutting member(s) electrically cut the tissue as the cutting members relatively rotate. The electrical cutting signal is only applied as the windows become aligned up until the cutting of the tissue is completed. The cutting signal preferably is stopped after the cutting windows become misaligned. While the cutting windows are misaligned, a coagulation signal can be supplied to the cutting member so that the device functions as an electrocautery device.

Abstract: An article comprising: (i) a handheld device including (a) a housing, (b) a powered element within the housing: (ii) a battery pack, wherein the handheld device is connected by an external cable to a functional system, wherein the battery pack is attached to the external cable, and wherein the battery pack supplies power to the powered element.

Abstract: An article comprising: (a) a battery support containing battery lead wires, (b) an opposing battery support attached to the battery support to create a battery closure, and (c) one or more batteries; wherein the batteries are secured in the battery closure, wherein the batteries are secured to the opposing battery support, the batteries supply energy to a device, and removing the opposing battery support from the battery closure disables transmission of electricity from the batteries via the battery lead wires to the device.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes distal and proximal tube sections and a coupling that couples the distal tube section to the proximal tube section. The coupling includes first and second connector portions coupled to one of the distal tube section and the proximal tube section. The first and second connector portions are selectively engageable and disengageable with respect to each other and each include selectively engageable fixing members. The distal and proximal tube sections are rotationally fixed to each other when the fixing members of the second connector portion are engaged with the fixing members of the first connector portion. The distal and proximal tube sections can rotate relative to each other when the fixing members of the second connector portion are disengaged from the fixing members of the first connector portion.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a hollow tube (18) having a cutting window (16) at the distal end portion. An inner tube (15) is disposed within the tube (18) and is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. A cutting tool (17) is located at the distal end of the tube (15), and is positioned adjacent to the cutting window (16). An outer tube (14) is provided over the tube (18). A motor (5) is provided for rotating the inner tube (15), and saline is fed to the cutting window (16) via a passageway (25) between the tubes (15) and (18). The inner tube (15) has a central lumen (24) through which tissue cut by the cutting tool (17) is removed under the action of a source of suction (12). The outer surface of the tube 18 is covered with an electrically insulating layer (22) and coagulating RF signals are supplied between the tube (18) and the outer tube (14) so as to coagulate tissue at the cutting window (16).

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a hollow tube (18) having a cutting window (16) at the distal end portion. An inner tube (15) is disposed within the tube (18) and is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. A cutting tool (17) is located at the distal end of the tube (15), and is positioned adjacent to the cutting window (16). An outer tube (14) is provided over the tube (18). A motor (5) is provided for rotating the inner tube (15), and saline is fed to the cutting window (16) via a passageway (25) between the tubes (15) and (18). The inner tube (15) has a central lumen (24) through which tissue cut by the cutting tool (17) is removed under the action of a source of suction (12). The outer surface of the tube (18) is covered with an electrically insulating layer (22) and coagulating RF signals are supplied between the tube (18) and the outer tube (14) so as to coagulate tissue at the cutting window (16).

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a hollow tube (18) having a cutting window (16) at the distal end portion. An inner tube (15) is disposed within the tube (18) and is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. A cutting tool (17) is located at the distal end of the tube (15), and is positioned adjacent to the cutting window (16). An outer tube (14) is provided over the tube (18). A motor (5) is provided for rotating the inner tube (15), and saline is fed to the cutting window (16) via a passageway (25) between the tubes (15) and (18). The inner tube (15) has a central lumen (24) through which tissue cut by the cutting tool (17) is removed under the action of a source of suction (12). The outer surface of the tube 18 is covered with an electrically insulating layer (22) and coagulating RF signals are supplied between the tube (18) and the outer tube (14) so as to coagulate tissue at the cutting window (16).