Abstract: An apparatus, and method for endometrial ablation by heating an inflation medium within a distensible bladder positioned within a uterus of a patient. The apparatus comprises an elongate tubular member, a handle, a distensible bladder and a heating element disposed within said distensible bladder. The system includes a controller configured for providing and regulating electric current to the heating element. The controller also includes a pressure sensor for regulating the pressure in the distensible bladder. Pressure and temperature displays and other operator controls are located on the controller unit. The method for performing endothelial ablation comprises inserting the distensible bladder and a portion of the tubular member into a uterus of a patient. The inflation medium within the distensible bladder is heated by providing electric current to the resistive wire of the heating element.

Abstract: An instrument for cutting, ablating and coagulating tissue has a rod of ferromagnetic material fusion welded to the base of a conical tip of copper with the rod adjacent the base of the conic being of lesser diameter than the base to provide a region to accept a potted coil of wire about the rod whereby when the coil is connected to a constant current high frequency source the rod and tip are heated to a temperature approaching the Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic rod. As Curie temperature is approached the rod becomes essentially non-magnetic heating decreases to produce a temperature below Curie temperature and the cycle repeats. As a result of the excellent heat exchange interfaces produced by fusion welding the energy delivered to the tissue or other load which may be non-biological is closely controlled by temperature which is self regulated. A ferromagnetic sleeve is placed about the coil to concentrate magnetic flux in the rod.

Abstract: A Curie point heater primarily for use in a soldering iron and initially designed to operate with currents in the megahertz range is restructured to operate in the kilohertz range. Further in one embodiment of the heater, the coil exciting the heater is mounted in the handle of the iron.

Abstract: A planetary wheel drive assembly includes a hollow spindle secured to a frame which provides the support for a wheel structure, an outboard planetary gear set and an inboard disc brake mechanism. The planetary gear set has a ring gear connected to the spindle, an input sun gear shaft, and a planet carrier conjointly driving the wheel structure. An inboard end member is removable to allow independent withdrawal of the disc brake mechanism disposed radially within the spindle when the wheel structure and the spindle are removed from the frame, and an outboard end member is releasable from the wheel structure to allow access to the planetary gear set.

Abstract: A baffle (78) encircles a planetary mechanism (10) having a ring gear element (18), a sun gear element (20), a planet carrier element (22) and a plurality of planet gear elements (24), and is connected to a stationary support (30, 48, 50, 66). The baffle (78) includes wiping means (90) for wiping fluid from one of the elements (18, 20, 22, 24) in response to rotation thereof and directing fluid that would otherwise cause high drag losses radially away from the planetary mechanism (10).