Abstract: A dynamic bus communication apparatus for an electrosurgical system includes a data wire, a clock wire, a first variable resistor coupled to the data wire, a second variable resistor coupled to the clock wire, an analog to digital converter (ADC), and a controller. The data wire is configured to transmit a data signal between a battery and an instrument powered by the battery. The clock wire is configured to transmit a clock signal between a battery and an instrument. The ADC is configured to sample the data signal and the clock signal at a substantially higher frequency than a frequency of the clock signal. The controller is configured to control a resistance of the first variable resistor and a resistance of the second variable resistor based on the digitally sampled data signal and the digitally sampled clock signal.

Abstract: A surgical system includes an ultrasonic surgical instrument and a cooling module. The instrument includes a waveguide defining a blade and having a lumen, an inflow conduit disposed in communication with the lumen and configured to supply fluid to the lumen, and a return conduit disposed in communication with the lumen and configured to receive fluid from the lumen. The cooling module includes a pump assembly operably coupled to the inflow and return conduits and configured to pump fluid through the inflow conduit, into the lumen, and back through the return conduit for cooling the blade. The cooling module also includes at least one sensor configured to sense a property of the fluid pumped into the inflow conduit and/or a property of the fluid returned from the return conduit, and a controller configured to control the pump assembly according to the sensed property(s).

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a waveguide defining a blade at a distal end thereof and a lumen extending through a portion of the blade. The blade is configured to receive ultrasonic energy for treating tissue. The instrument further includes first and second conduits each defining a proximal end and a distal end. The second conduit is coaxially disposed about the first conduit. The distal ends of the first and second conduits extend into the lumen. The distal end of the first conduit extends further distally into the lumen than the distal end of the second conduit.

Abstract: Methods and surgical instruments are provided for determining a relative state of charge of a battery used during a surgical procedure. The surgical instrument includes an end effector configured to treat tissue with energy, and a user interface configured to receive an input. A generator is coupled to the end effector, and the battery communicates with the generator. A controller includes a processor and a memory having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to detect an input at the user interface. In response to the detected input at the user interface, a discharge profile is matched to the detected input. The discharge profile corresponds to a discharge curve representing current discharge over time. A relative state of charge is then identified from the discharge curve based on usage of the surgical instrument during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a waveguide defining a blade at a distal end thereof and a lumen extending through a portion of the blade. The blade is configured to receive ultrasonic energy for treating tissue. The instrument further includes first and second conduits each defining a proximal end and a distal end. The second conduit is coaxially disposed about the first conduit. The distal ends of the first and second conduits extend into the lumen. The distal end of the first conduit extends further distally into the lumen than the distal end of the second conduit.

Abstract: A digital measurement system includes an oscillator, a mixer, and a controller coupled to each other. The oscillator provides a reference signal having a second frequency. The mixer generates a down-converted signal based on the output signal and the reference signal. The controller then determines a characteristic of the output signal (e.g., frequency or phase) based on the down-converted signal. An analog measurement system includes a filter having a center frequency, a rectifier, and a controller. The filter filters the output signal and the rectifier rectifies the filtered signal. The controller samples the rectified signal and determines a characteristic of the output signal based on the level of the rectified signal. The reference signal controller may adjust a characteristic of the output signal based on the determined frequency and/or phase of the output signal.

Abstract: A medical system for testing air leaks in tissue includes a housing unit, a tubular member, a source of negative pressure, a source of positive pressure, and a pressure gauge. The housing unit defines an interior chamber configured for receipt of at least a portion of an organ. The tubular member is coupled to the housing unit and includes a first end portion configured to be coupled to the portion of the organ. The source of negative pressure is configured to be in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the housing unit. The source of positive pressure is configured to be in fluid communication with the portion of the organ via attachment to a second end portion of the tubular member. The pressure gauge is in communication with the interior chamber of the housing unit and the tubular member to determine a pressure differential therebetween.

Abstract: A system facilitating planning of a surgical procedure includes one or more storage devices, one or more input devices, a processor, and a memory. The storage device(s) stores, for previous surgical procedures, surgical instrument information, procedure information, and patient information. The input device(s) is configured to receive procedure information and patient information corresponding to a surgical procedure to be performed. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to identify similar previous surgical procedures, identify outcome information for each of the similar previous surgical procedures, determine whether there is a correlation between the surgical instrument information of the similar previous surgical procedures and the outcome information of the similar previous surgical procedures, and, if a correlation is determined, output the correlation to facilitate planning of the surgical procedure to be performed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a housing, an elongated portion, an end effector, a drive beam and a force applier is provided. The housing includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The elongated portion extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion, and includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member has a cavity defined therein. Actuation of the first actuator causes distal translation of the drive beam to move the first jaw member relative to the second jaw member toward the approximated position, which applies a fist force against tissue disposed between the jaw members. Actuation of the second actuator causes distal translation of the force applier such that at least a portion of the force applier moves into the cavity of the first jaw member and applies an additional force against tissue disposed between the jaw members.

Abstract: A digital measurement system includes an oscillator, a mixer, and a controller coupled to each other. The oscillator provides a reference signal having a second frequency. The mixer generates a down-converted signal based on the output signal and the reference signal. The controller then determines a characteristic of the output signal (e.g., frequency or phase) based on the down-converted signal. An analog measurement system includes a filter having a center frequency, a rectifier, and a controller. The filter filters the output signal and the rectifier rectifies the filtered signal. The controller samples the rectified signal and determines a characteristic of the output signal based on the level of the rectified signal. The reference signal controller may adjust a characteristic of the output signal based on the determined frequency and/or phase of the output signal.

Abstract: A method for a medical procedure is provided and includes obtaining data from sensors disposed in a medical instrument. The sensors include at least one first sensor configured to measure acceleration, at least one second sensor configured to measure rotation, and at least one third sensor configured to measure direction of movement. The method further includes correlating the data from the sensors with time and storing the correlated data and time. A medical system, a method for imaging a medical procedure, and a method of processing sensor measurements are also disclosed.

Abstract: A digital measurement system includes an oscillator, a mixer, and a controller coupled to each other. The oscillator provides a reference signal having a second frequency. The mixer generates a down-converted signal based on the output signal and the reference signal. The controller then determines a characteristic of the output signal (e.g., frequency or phase) based on the down-converted signal. An analog measurement system includes a filter having a center frequency, a rectifier, and a controller. The filter filters the output signal and the rectifier rectifies the filtered signal. The controller samples the rectified signal and determines a characteristic of the output signal based on the level of the rectified signal. The reference signal controller may adjust a characteristic of the output signal based on the determined frequency and/or phase of the output signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving medical instruments and devices. One system includes a surgical instrument associated with an instrument identifier, and an electrosurgical generator operably coupled to the surgical instrument. The electrosurgical generator is associated with a generator identifier and is configured to receive and store data associated with an operating mode of the surgical instrument, receive data associated with the instrument identifier from the surgical instrument, generate a unique identifier based on a time and date at which the surgical instrument is operably coupled with the electrosurgical generator for the first time, the generator identifier of the electrosurgical generator, and the instrument identifier, and associate the unique identifier with the stored data associated with the operating mode of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A biopsy instrument for removing nodes such as lymph nodes may include one or more of a blade for mechanical cutting of the ducts that connect the node to surrounding tissue and/or an energy emitter for emitting energy to seal the ducts and/or contribute to the gentle removal of the node from its connecting ducts. The biopsy instrument may include a ring clamp assembly made up of two opposing ring structures that may be clamped together such that the desired tissue sample (e.g., a lymph node) is captured within the inside opening of the clamped rings. Connecting ducts may be severed using either a blade or energy emitted from the ring clamps.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongate member, and a motor assembly. The elongate member extends from the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis of the surgical instrument. The motor assembly is disposed within the handle assembly and is configured to rotate the elongate member about the longitudinal axis relative to that handle assembly in response to sensed movement of the handle assembly about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a surgical instrument including a housing, an elongated member, an end effector assembly, a drive assembly, a solenoid assembly, and a switch assembly. The end effector assembly is coupled to a distal end of the elongated member. The end effector assembly includes a first jaw member and an opposing second jaw member. The drive assembly is disposed within the elongated member and operably coupled to the end effector and configured to move the first jaw member from a first position to a second position. The solenoid assembly is disposed within the housing. The solenoid assembly is operably coupled to the drive assembly and adapted to connect to a power source. The switch assembly is activatable to energize the solenoid assembly such that the solenoid assembly actuates the drive assembly to move the first jaw member from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft defining an axis, an end effector coupled to a distal portion thereof, a fixed handle coupled to a proximal portion thereof, a drive bar, a movable handle, and a linkage. The drive bar is disposed within the shaft and operably coupled to the end effector. The movable handle is movable relative to the fixed handle between open and closed positions and is coupled to the drive bar via a first pin on the axis. The linkage includes a first end portion coupled to the movable handle via a second pin and a second end portion coupled to the shaft via a third pin on the axis. In the closed position of the movable handle, the second pin is disposed in a near-over-center position relative to the axis to reduce a force necessary to maintain the movable handle in the closed position.

Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes an electrosurgical generator configured to measure, collect and record data pertaining to a characteristic of tissue as the tissue is being electrosurgically treated. A tuner configured to couple to the electrosurgical generator includes a tuning circuit providing a load having a variable complex impedance for the electrosurgical generator when the electrosurgical generator is connected thereto. A controller including stored data pertaining to impedance values is in operable communication with the electrosurgical generator for retrieving the recorded data pertaining to the characteristic of tissue. The controller is in operable communication with the tuner for varying a complex impedance of the load. The controller configured to compare the recorded data pertaining to the at least one characteristic of tissue with the stored data pertaining to the plurality of impedance values and to adjust the tuner to one of the plurality of impedance values.

Abstract: A dynamic bus communication apparatus for an electrosurgical system includes a data wire, a clock wire, a first variable resistor coupled to the data wire, a second variable resistor coupled to the clock wire, an analog to digital converter (ADC), and a controller. The data wire is configured to transmit a data signal between a battery and an instrument powered by the battery. The clock wire is configured to transmit a clock signal between a battery and an instrument. The ADC is configured to sample the data signal and the clock signal at a substantially higher frequency than a frequency of the clock signal. The controller is configured to control a resistance of the first variable resistor and a resistance of the second variable resistor based on the digitally sampled data signal and the digitally sampled clock signal.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a waveguide defining a blade at a distal end thereof and a lumen extending through a portion of the blade. The blade is configured to receive ultrasonic energy for treating tissue. The instrument further includes first and second conduits each defining a proximal end and a distal end. The second conduit is coaxially disposed about the first conduit. The distal ends of the first and second conduits extend into the lumen. The distal end of the first conduit extends further distally into the lumen than the distal end of the second conduit.