Abstract: Quantifying blood loss with a medical waste collection system. A removable cartridge forms a fluid path with a cartridge receiver, and defines a detection window that is optically clear. The cartridge may include a spine extending from a head and including opposing sides that are optically clear. A sensor module includes emitters and sensors configured to detect an optical characteristic of the waste fluid. A controller may determine the volume of blood loss based on blood concentration and volume of collected waste fluid. A sensor housing may be removably coupled to the spine of the cartridge. The cartridge may define a fluid reservoir, and include an actuator for drawing the waste fluid into the fluid reservoir. A tank may define the fluid reservoir. The waste fluid may be recirculated through a removable manifold. Methods of arranging and operating the medical waste collection system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A neurosurgery system for probing brain tissue of a patient for tumorous tissue. The system including a suction tool, an excitation source, an optical instrument, and a controller. The suction tool including a suction cannula defining a lumen, an optical fiber configured to transmit fluorescence emitted by the brain tissue; and an indicator configured to selectively emit visible light. An excitation source is configured to emit an excitation light having a wavelength to induce the fluorescence in the tumorous tissue. The optical instrument is coupled to the optical fiber. The optical instrument configured to convert the fluorescence emitted by the brain tissue and transmitted by the optical and configured to determine that the brain tissue is tumorous based on the electrical signal and activate the indicator based on the determination.

Abstract: Quantifying blood loss with a medical waste collection system including a receiver with which a manifold is removably coupled. The manifold and/or the medical waste collection system is coupled with a fluid characterization module having a sensor assembly to detect a characteristic indicative of a blood concentration within fluid. The sensor assembly may include emitters, and sensors to detect light transmitted and scattered by the fluid in a suction path or a detection window. A first emitter may be a visible-light LED, and a second emitter an infrared LED. A fluid director may provide a tortuous path within the manifold and facilitate separation of gas and liquid within the fluid. Quantifying the blood loss volume may include determining the blood concentration within the fluid, and determining a volume of the collected fluid. Gain of the sensors may be adjusted based on the transmissivity of the collected fluid.

Abstract: In an example, an electrosurgical electrode for an electrosurgical tool can include a proximal end configured to receive electrosurgical energy from an electrosurgical tool and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The electrosurgical electrode can also include a cutting-electrode portion extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The cutting-electrode portion is configured for cutting tissue using the electrosurgical energy received from the electrosurgical tool. Additionally, the electrosurgical electrode can include a coagulating-electrode portion extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The coagulating-electrode portion is configured for coagulating tissue using the electrosurgical energy received from the electrosurgical tool. The electrosurgical electrode can further include an insulator between the cutting-electrode portion and the coagulating-electrode portion.