Abstract: In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a system includes an imaging instrument with a shaft including a proximal end, a distal end, and a lens at a distal end portion of the shaft. The system also includes a collar at a proximal end portion of the shaft. A cleaning device coupled to the imaging instrument includes a tubular member sized to receive the shaft of the imaging instrument. The cleaning device also includes a latching element coupled to the tubular member and configured to couple to the collar to retain the tubular member on the shaft of the imaging instrument and maintain a relative rotational relationship between the tubular member and the shaft of the imaging instrument. Devices and methods relate to cleaning devices for imaging instruments.

Abstract: An electrosurgical end effector for a surgical tool to perform teleoperated surgical operations. The electrosurgical end effector comprises a first end effector jaw; a second end effector jaw coupled to the first end effector jaw; and a coupling pin configured to rotatingly couple the first end effector jaw to the second end effector jaw so as to cooperatively rotate open and close about an axis of rotation. The electrosurgical end effector further comprises an actuation mechanism coupled to an end of the first end effector jaw to rotate the first end effector jaw about the coupling pin; an otomy feature coupled to the second end effector jaw; and a first electrical conductor to electrically couple the otomy feature to a generator. In one embodiment, the otomy feature is electrically activated by contact with a cam portion of the first end effector jaw, when opened beyond a predetermined jaw angle.

Abstract: A medical device can include a housing, a first seal structure, and a seal expander. The first seal structure can have a proximal end and a distal end, and a side wall surrounding and defining an interior chamber. A seal wall can be connected to the side wall and include an expandable opening. A seal expander can be coupled to the housing, and can be at least partially in the interior chamber of the first seal structure. The seal expander can include an expandable neck portion and a seal interface portion, the seal interface portion being near an intersection of the side wall and the seal wall.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft, an end effector, and a wrist coupling the end effector to the shaft. The wrist has a central channel extending along a length of the wrist. An insert guide member is positioned in the central channel. The insert guide member has an exterior lateral wall extending between a first end and a second end of the insert guide member and an interior lateral wall extending between the first end and the second end. A passage extends from the first end of the insert guide member to the second end of the insert guide member. The passage can include a first portion extending through the insert guide member between an interior lateral wall of the insert guide member and the exterior lateral wall of the insert guide member, and a second portion intersecting the exterior lateral wall of the insert guide member.

Abstract: A cannula may include a cannula bowl having an opening to receive an instrument configured to be advanced through the cannula, and a cannula tube extending distally from the cannula bowl. The cannula tube may have a proximal end opening, a distal end opening disposed at an opposite end of the cannula from the proximal end opening, and lateral wall defining a passage extending from the proximal end opening to the distal end opening. The lateral wall can have outer dimensions defining a waisted portion with smaller outer dimensions than a region disposed proximally or distally to the waisted portion along a length of the cannula tube.

Abstract: Gas-tight seal assemblies for us during minimally invasive surgery include various aspects. A wiper seal includes a sealing portion and a surrounding flex portion. Upper and lower faces of the sealing portions are angled with reference to an inserted instrument, the upper face's angle being more acute with reference to the instrument's shaft than the lower face's angle. The flex portion is corrugated, support ribs are in one or more corrugation grooves, and the support ribs allow the groove to easily collapse but resist the groove widening. The support ribs also prevent the sealing portion from inverting. An instrument insertion guide is positioned over the sealing portion and moves laterally with the sealing portion. A latch piece removably secures the seal assembly to a cannula. An anti-inversion piece prevents the wiper seal from inverting when an instrument is withdrawn. An assembly may include device. The seal assembly may rotate within a cannula.

Abstract: A cannula may include a cannula bowl having an opening to receive an instrument configured to be advanced through the cannula, and a cannula tube extending distally from the cannula bowl. The cannula tube may have a proximal end opening, a distal end opening disposed at an opposite end of the cannula from the proximal end opening, and lateral wall defining a passage extending from the proximal end opening to the distal end opening. The lateral wall can have outer dimensions defining a waisted portion with smaller outer dimensions than a region disposed proximally or distally to the waisted portion along a length of the cannula tube.

Abstract: Gas-tight seal assemblies for use during minimally invasive surgery include various aspects. A wiper seal includes a sealing portion and a surrounding flex portion. Upper and lower faces of the sealing portions are angled with reference to an inserted instrument, the upper face's angle being more acute with reference to the instrument's shaft than the lower face's angle. The flex portion is corrugated, support ribs are in one or more corrugation grooves, and the support ribs allow the groove to easily collapse but resist the groove widening. The support ribs also prevent the sealing portion from inverting. An instrument insertion guide is positioned over the sealing portion and moves laterally with the sealing portion. A latch piece removably secures the seal assembly to a cannula. An anti-inversion piece prevents the wiper seal from inverting when an instrument is withdrawn.

Abstract: A seal for sealing against a surgical instrument shaft includes a plurality of seal layers and a plurality of overlapping seal openings formed in the seal layers. The plurality of seal openings together can create an effective seal opening that is smaller than any of the individual overlapping seal openings. The effective seal opening is sized and shaped to seal against an instrument shaft when an instrument shaft is inserted through the effective seal opening.

Abstract: A cannula may include a bowl portion comprising a first opening and a second opening, and an insertion tube extending from the bowl portion. The insertion tube defines a passage extending from the second opening and terminating in a distal end opening. The passage is configured to receive an instrument to be advanced through the cannula. The insertion tube has a transparent portion extending proximally from the distal end opening, and a strengthened portion extending proximally from the transparent portion.

Abstract: A cannula may include a cannula bowl having an opening to receive an instrument configured to be advanced through the cannula, and a cannula tube extending distally from the cannula bowl. The cannula tube may have a proximal end opening, a distal end opening disposed at an opposite end of the cannula from the proximal end opening, and lateral wall defining a passage extending from the proximal end opening to the distal end opening. The lateral wall can have outer dimensions defining a waisted portion with smaller outer dimensions than a region disposed proximally or distally to the waisted portion along a length of the cannula tube.

Abstract: A medical device can include a housing, a first seal structure, and a seal expander. The first seal structure can have a proximal end and a distal end, and a side wall surrounding and defining an interior chamber. A seal wall can be connected to the side wall and include an expandable opening. A seal expander can be coupled to the housing, and can be at least partially in the interior chamber of the first seal structure. The seal expander can include an expandable neck portion and a seal interface portion, the seal interface portion being near an intersection of the side wall and the seal wall.

Abstract: Gas-tight seal assemblies for use during minimally invasive surgery include various aspects. A wiper seal includes a sealing portion and a surrounding flex portion. Upper and lower faces of the sealing portions are angled with reference to an inserted instrument, the upper face's angle being more acute with reference to the instrument's shaft than the lower face's angle. The flex portion is corrugated, support ribs are in one or more corrugation grooves, and the support ribs allow the groove to easily collapse but resist the groove widening. The support ribs also prevent the sealing portion from inverting. An instrument insertion guide is positioned over the sealing portion and moves laterally with the sealing portion. A latch piece removably secures the seal assembly to a cannula. An anti-inversion piece prevents the wiper seal from inverting when an instrument is withdrawn.

Abstract: Heterocyclic compounds that modulate C3a receptors and their use in the treatment or prevention of inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, cancers, metabolic disorders, obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and associated cardiovascular diseases are described. The use of the compounds in stimulating or suppressing an immune response is also described together with pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

Abstract: Heterocyclic compounds that modulate C3a receptors and their use in the treatment or prevention of inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, cancers, metabolic disorders, obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and associated cardiovascular diseases are described. The use of the compounds in stimulating or suppressing an immune response is also described together with pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

Abstract: A system for oxidizing contaminants on both the cathode and anode electrodes in a fuel cell stack by applying a suitable voltage potential across the electrodes that causes the oxidation. The system includes a battery and an electrical converter electrically coupled to the battery. The electrical converter is configured to assist in providing an oxidation potential to the fuel cell stack by converting electrical power from the battery at a time effective to oxidize contaminants on the cathode or anode electrodes in the stack. The electrical converter provides a positive potential to the fuel cell stack to oxidize contaminants on the cathode electrodes and provides a negative potential to the fuel cell stack to oxidize contaminants on the anode electrodes. If the battery is a high voltage battery, then the converter is a power converter and if the battery is a low voltage battery, then the converter is boost converter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell stack and a method of operating the same that allows for removal of liquid water and minimizes the impact of liquid water on the performance of the fuel cells. By selectively blocking the cathode reactant flow from exiting the fuel cell stack improved water management can be achieved. The selective blocking of the cathode reactant from exiting the fuel cell stack also helps to increase the partial pressure of the oxygen toward the exit side of the fuel cell stack which improves the chemical kinetics and the voltage produced by the fuel cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to amino acid derivatives and to methods of making the same. In particular, the invention relates to compounds bearing a stereochemical identity, that is, the same stereochemistry, with the chiral ?-carbon of D-?-amino acids and their use in methods of therapy, including the treatment of inflammatory diseases, and to compositions and enantiomeric mixtures containing them.

Abstract: A bracket is adapted for connection to a vehicle body part in order to mount a striker cooperating with a door lock mechanism of a motor vehicle. The striker is to be rigidly secured by bolts to the vehicle body part. The bracket includes a striker mount portion, with holes defined therein adapted to receive the bolts, and a weld portion, by which the bracket can be welded to the back surface of the vehicle body part. A pair of deformable limbs interconnects the striker mount portion and the weld portion. By way of these deformable limbs, a position of the striker mount portion relative to the weld portion is adjustable to change the positions of the holes and accommodate repositioning of the bolts. The limbs have offset portions which are laterally displaced with respect to the striker mount portion and the weld portion such that the offset portions include side surfaces parallel to but not co-planar with side surfaces of the striker mount and weld portions.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to amino acid derivatives and to methods of making the same. In particular, the invention relates to compounds bearing a stereochemical identity, that is, the same stereochemistry, with the chiral &agr;-carbon of D-&agr;-amino acids and their use in methods of therapy, including the treatment of inflammatory diseases, and to compositions and enantiomeric mixtures containing them.