Abstract: A medical device includes an instrument connector. The instrument connector includes a main body and a coupler fixedly attached to the mail body. The main body includes a first interface for a first operational channel for the medical device. The coupler is configured to receive a portion of a cable assembly including a second interface for a second operational channel for the medical device.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a support structure, a shaft, a shaft translation carriage including a shaft roll carrier, a shaft roll drive group, and a force sensor unit. The shaft comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and a shaft axis is defined by the proximal and distal ends. The shaft is coupled to the support structure by the shaft roll carrier. The shaft roll drive group is configured to rotate the shaft about the shaft axis and comprises a shaft roll driver, a shaft roll drive receiver, and a shaft roll drive coupling. The shaft roll drive receiver translates along the shaft axis relative to the shaft roll driver as the shaft translates along the shaft axis. The force sensor unit is configured to produce a the shaft axis.

Abstract: An image capturing device comprises a first elongated body portion formed of a first material and a second elongated body portion coupled to a proximal end of the first body portion. The second body portion is formed of a second material having a greater heat conductivity than the first material. The device further comprises an imaging window coupled to a distal end of the first body portion, a first housing within the first body portion, an image sensor mounted to the first housing, and an image processor mounted to the first housing and coupled to receive electrical signals from the image sensor. The device further comprises a second housing within the first body portion. The second housing is coupled to the first housing and to the window such that heat generated by the image sensor and image processor is transmitted through the second housing to the window.

Abstract: An image capturing device comprises an elongated body, an imaging window coupled to a distal end of the elongated body, and a heat source within the elongated body. The heat source is configured to apply heat to the imaging window to remove condensation from or prevent condensation from forming on the imaging window.

Abstract: An exemplary connection system includes a connector assembly and a receiver assembly. The connector assembly includes a hermetically-sealed housing, a first RF communication device within the housing and communicatively coupled to a surgical instrument and a first induction coil within the housing and electrically coupled to the surgical instrument. The receiver assembly includes a second RF communication device communicatively coupled to a controller of the surgical instrument, a second induction coil electrically coupled to a power source and a receptacle configured to receive the connector assembly such that the first RF communication device is aligned with the second RF communication device, the first induction coil is aligned with the second induction coil, the first RF communication device may wirelessly communicate with the second RF communication device, and the second induction coil may inductively couple to the first induction coil to wirelessly transmit power to the first induction coil.

Abstract: A surgical tool having an elongated shaft having a proximal end and distal end. A surgical end effector is located about the distal end. The surgical end effector has a plurality of effector mechanisms comprising a plurality of degree of freedoms. An effector body is located at the proximal end. The effector body includes a plurality of motor interfaces for driving the plurality of effector mechanisms. A transmission is coupled to the effector body.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first fastener part having a first set of mating features and a second fastener part having a second set of mating features. Coupling the first set of mating features with the second set of mating features, such that the first set of mating features contacts and at least partially overlaps the second set of mating features, forms a fastener having a channel with a hexagonal cross-section. The channel is configured to receive a plurality of fibers. Coupling the first fastener part to the second fastener part clamps the plurality of fibers in a hexagonal packing configuration.

Abstract: A surgical tool having an elongated shaft having a proximal end and distal end. A surgical end effector is located about the distal end. The surgical end effector has a plurality of effector mechanisms comprising a plurality of degree of freedoms. An effector body is located at the proximal end. The effector body includes a plurality of motor interfaces for driving the plurality of effector mechanisms. A transmission is coupled to the effector body.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a heat generating component, a heat sink, an elongate shaft extending from the heat generating component to the heat sink, and an elongate thermal conduit extending within the elongate shaft between the heat generating component and the heat sink. The surgical instrument also comprises a movable contact structure thermally coupled between the elongate thermal conduit and the heat generating component. The elongate thermal conduit extends into the movable contact structure and the movable contact structure is movable relative to the heat generating component.

Abstract: A medical device includes an instrument connector. The instrument connector includes a main body and a coupler fixedly attached to the mail body. The main body includes a first interface for a first operational channel for the medical device. The coupler is configured to receive a portion of a cable assembly including a second interface for a second operational channel for the medical device.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a heat generating component, a heat sink, an elongate shaft extending from the heat generating component to the heat sink, and an elongate thermal conduit extending within the elongate shaft between the heat generating component and the heat sink. The surgical instrument also comprises a movable contact structure thermally coupled between the elongate thermal conduit and the heat generating component. The elongate thermal conduit extends into the movable contact structure and the movable contact structure is movable relative to the heat generating component.

Abstract: A surgical tool having an elongated shaft having a proximal end and distal end. A surgical end effector is located about the distal end. The surgical end effector has a plurality of effector mechanisms comprising a plurality of degree of freedoms. An effector body is located at the proximal end. The effector body includes a plurality of motor interfaces for driving the plurality of effector mechanisms. A transmission is coupled to the effector body.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a heat generating component, a heat sink, and elongate shaft, an elongate thermal conduit, and a movable contact structure. The elongate shaft extends from the heat generating component to the heat sink. The elongate thermal conduit is coupled to the heat generating component and extends within the elongate shaft between the heat generating component and the heat sink. The movable contact structure is positioned within the heat sink and is thermally coupled between the elongate thermal conduit and the heat sink. The elongate thermal conduit extends into the movable contact structure and the movable contact structure is movable relative to the heat sink.

Abstract: A surgical tool having an elongated shaft having a proximal end and distal end. A surgical end effector is located about the distal end. The surgical end effector has a plurality of effector mechanisms comprising a plurality of degree of freedoms. An effector body is located at the proximal end. The effector body includes a plurality of motor interfaces for driving the plurality of effector mechanisms. A transmission is coupled to the effector body.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first fastener part having a first set of mating features and a second fastener part having a second set of mating features. Coupling the first set of mating features with the second set of mating features forms a fastener having a channel with a hexagonal cross-section. The channel is configured to receive a plurality of fibers and place the plurality of fibers in a hexagonal packing configuration.

Abstract: An image capturing device comprises an elongated body, an imaging window coupled to a distal end of the elongated body, and a heat source within the elongated body. The heat source is configured to apply heat to the imaging window to remove condensation from or prevent condensation from forming on the imaging window.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling fiber bundles. A plurality of fibers are secured within a channel of a fastener system to place the plurality of fibers in a packing configuration within the channel. The fastener system and the plurality of fibers secured by the fastener system are cut through to create a first fiber bundle and a second fiber bundle. The first fiber bundle is coupled with the second fiber bundle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling fiber bundles. A plurality of fibers are secured within a channel of a fastener system to place the plurality of fibers in a packing configuration within the channel. The fastener system and the plurality of fibers secured by the fastener system are cut through to create a first fiber bundle and a second fiber bundle. The first fiber bundle is coupled with the second fiber bundle.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument includes a heat-generating component that is thermally coupled to a heat sink via a movable contact structure. The movable contact structure accommodates the relative motion between the thermal conduit and heat sink to maintain the thermal coupling between those elements, and prevent damage to such thermal coupling when the instrument is exposed to elevated temperatures, such as during autoclaving.