Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body assembly and a selectively coupleable end effector assembly. The end effector assembly may include a transmission assembly, an end effector, and a rotational knob operable to rotate the transmission assembly and the end effector. The body assembly includes a trigger and a casing having a distal aperture configured to receive a portion of the end effector assembly. First and second coupling assembly portions cooperatively couple the end effector assembly to the body assembly for use. An attachment assembly may be used to rotatably couple the first and second coupling assembly portions.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering therapeutic agent to an eye comprises a body, a cannula, a hollow needle, an actuation assembly, and a detection/visualization system. The cannula extends distally from the body and is sized and configured to be insertable between a choroid and a sclera of a patient's eye. The actuation assembly is operable to actuate the needle relative to the cannula to thereby drive a distal portion of the needle along an exit axis. The cannula may be inserted through a sclerotomy incision and advanced through the choroid to deliver the therapeutic agent adjacent to the potential space between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium layer. The detection/visualization system is operable to detect or visualize penetration of the choroid of a patient's eye and provide feedback to the operator and/or automatic control of the apparatus based on penetration of the choroid.

Abstract: An instrument for clamping a surgical clip has a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The handle assembly has a trigger and an articulation knob. The shaft assembly has an outer ground tube, a middle articulation tube, and a push/pull tube disposed within the middle articulation tube. The trigger is operable to cause longitudinal translation of the push/pull tube. The outer ground tube and the middle articulation tube present mating angled faces sloped in opposing directions. Rotation of the articulation knob causes rotation of the middle articulation tube. Rotation of the middle articulation tube changes the orientation of the angled faces and thus causes articulation of the middle articulation tube and the push/pull tube. The end effector has a pair of jaws configured to apply a surgical clip to a vessel. Longitudinal translation of the push/pull tube causes closure of the pair of jaws.

Abstract: An instrument for clamping a surgical clip has a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The handle assembly has a trigger and an articulation knob. The shaft assembly has an outer ground tube, a middle articulation tube, and a push/pull tube disposed within the middle articulation tube. The trigger is operable to cause longitudinal translation of the push/pull tube. The outer ground tube and the middle articulation tube present mating angled faces sloped in opposing directions. Rotation of the articulation knob causes rotation of the middle articulation tube. Rotation of the middle articulation tube changes the orientation of the angled faces and thus causes articulation of the middle articulation tube and the push/pull tube. The end effector has a pair of jaws configured to apply a surgical clip to a vessel. Longitudinal translation of the push/pull tube causes closure of the pair of jaws.

Abstract: An ultrasonic assembly that is configured to permit selective cutting, coagulation, and fine dissection required in fine and delicate surgical procedures. The balanced blade provides a rounded distal end and concave edges to promote fine dissection and cutting in a variety of surgical procedures. The blade is curved for improved visibility at the blade tip and is designed to provide a multitude of tissue effects: coagulation, cutting, dissection, spot coagulation, tip penetration and tip scoring. The assembly features hand activation configured to provide an ergonomical grip and operation for the surgeon. The assembly further features user selectable blade rotation. A finger switch is placed in the range of the natural axial motion of the user's index finger, whether gripping the surgical instrument right-handed or left handed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a waveguide, a transducer, and a coupling assembly. In some versions the coupling assembly translates the transducer to couple the transducer to the waveguide. For instance, a gear having arcuate troughs may engage pins on the transducer and/or waveguide to mate the transducer to waveguide. A pawl may selectively engage and prevent rotation of the gear. Alternatively, lever arms may cam the transducer into the waveguide. The lever arms may selectively couple to a casing to prevent decoupling of the transducer and waveguide. In another configuration, a locking tab can be slid and locked into a slot to couple the transducer and waveguide. Further still, levers with self-locking pins may engage and couple the transducer to the waveguide. In another version, a rotatable body portion may engage a tab on the transducer to rotate and couple the transducer to the waveguide.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device comprises an end effector, a cutting member, and en electromechanical driver. The end effector comprises a pair of jaws that clamp tissue. The jaws include electrodes that deliver RF energy to clamped tissue. The cutting member cuts tissue clamped between the jaws. The electromechanical driver drives the cutting member. A control module commands the electromechanical driver, and regulates the delivery of RF energy to the electrodes, based on a combination of user input and feedback signals from the electrodes and from the electromechanical driver. The device may provide tactile feedback to the user through the user input feature, based on a load encountered by the cutting member. The device may alert the user when the exterior of end effector makes incidental contact with tissue, to avoid inadvertently burning the tissue. The device may include a removable battery pack to power the electromechanical driver and the electrodes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic clamp coagulator system that is configured to permit selective cutting, coagulation and clamping of tissue during surgical procedures. An elongated portion of the instrument can be configured for endoscopic applications and has an outside diameter of less than 6 mm. The system includes a one-piece torque wrench that is provided with cantilever arms aligned in an annular fashion about the centerline of the torque wrench. The cantilever arms include teeth in an inward perpendicular fashion in relation to cantilever arms. The clamp coagulator includes an outer tube retainer that includes spline gears projecting in a perpendicular fashion along the outer circumference of retainer. Torque is transmitted through the cantilever arms to the spline gears for attaching a handpiece to the clamp coagulator.

Abstract: An apparatus maintains the sterility of a medical device while providing for the insertion of an insertable component into the medical device. The apparatus includes a medical device having a housing sized to contain the insertable component, an active feature, a cap, and a hinge member. A container encases the medical device within a device recess, a cap recess, and a container cover. The insertable component may be inserted into the housing while limiting potential contact with the exterior of the medical device. An alternative assembly comprises an insertion assembly having a handle and the insertable component detachably attached thereto. The medical device comprises a housing, an active feature, and a flexible member. An insertion tube is insertable within the flexible member to limit contact when the insertable component is inserted into the housing. Yet another configuration includes a resiliently hinged door assembly releasable by a release button.

Abstract: An ultrasonic clamp coagulator system that is configured to permit selective cutting, coagulation and clamping of tissue during surgical procedures. An elongated portion of the instrument can be configured for endoscopic applications and has an outside diameter of less than 6 mm. The system includes a one-piece torque wrench that is provided with cantilever arms aligned in an annular fashion about the centerline of the torque wrench. The cantilever arms include teeth in an inward perpendicular fashion in relation to cantilever arms. The clamp coagulator includes an outer tube retainer that includes spline gears projecting in a perpendicular fashion along the outer circumference of retainer. Torque is transmitted through the cantilever arms to the spline gears for attaching a handpiece to the clamp coagulator.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a surgical instrument for operation in an aqueous environment is provided. In at least one embodiment, the surgical instrument may include a hollow sheath and a blade disposed at least partially within the sheath. Coupled to the blade may be at least one ultrasonic transducer, which, in turn, may be coupled to a drive system. The drive system may be configured to deliver gross axial motions to the blade such that the blade translates with respect to the hollow sheath when the drive system is activated. Accordingly, tissue may be cut by the blade with gross axial movement of the blade and/or ultrasonic vibrational motion provided by the ultrasonic transducer(s). In alternative embodiments, the blade may be rotated axially instead of translated with respect to the hollow sheath.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, a battery pack, and a cooling device. The battery pack is operable to power the surgical instrument and may be inserted into the handle assembly. The cooling device is mechanically integrated with the battery pack. The cooling device is further operable to draw heat away from the battery pack while the battery pack delivers power to the surgical instrument.

Abstract: An apparatus for powering a medical device includes a battery pack, a connection feature on the battery pack, and a protective layer. In some versions the protective layer covers the battery pack and the connection feature to provide a fluid tight seal. In some versions, the connection feature comprises at least one electrode, which may pierce the protective layer to establish electrical communication with the medical device from within the protective layer such that a non-sterile battery pack could be used to deliver power to a sterile medical device without compromising sterility of the medical device. The protective layer may form a compartment. The at least one electrode may have a conical shape to facilitate piercing the protective layer.

Abstract: A surgical instrument configured to deliver electrical energy to tissue of a patient includes a handle, a first conductor, and a second conductor. The surgical instrument further includes a first electrode with a first distal portion, a second electrode with a second distal portion, and a third electrode with a third distal portion, wherein each distal portion is configured to contact the tissue. The second distal portion surrounds the first distal portion and the third distal portion surrounds the second distal portion. A first gap is defined between the first distal portion and the second distal portion. A second gap is defined between the second distal portion and the third distal portion. The first electrode includes a sharp end configured to penetrate the tissue and the second distal portion includes a plurality of projections extending toward third distal portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating on tissue includes a body, a shaft, an ultrasonic blade, and an acoustic assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body. The blade is disposed at the distal end of the shaft. The acoustic assembly comprises an acoustic waveguide coupled with the blade, a piezoelectric transducer element, a fastener, and a coupling member. The transducer element defines an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface. The fastener is configured to secure the transducer element relative to the waveguide. The coupling member is configured to provide electrical continuity between the fastener and the inner diameter surface of the transducer element. The outer diameter surface of the transducer element includes an annular recess. Another coupling member is configured to provide electrical continuity between the annular recess of the piezoelectric transducer element and a power source while permitting the piezoelectric transducer element to rotate relative to the body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a pivoting member. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The ultrasonic blade is positioned distal to the shaft assembly. The pivoting member is pivotable with respect to the blade from an open position to a closed position to thereby clamp tissue between the pivoting member and the blade. One or both of the shaft assembly or the pivoting member comprise a guide feature. The guide feature is configured to provide lateral alignment of the distal portion of the pivoting member with the blade as the pivoting member is pivoted to the closed position.

Abstract: An instrument for clamping a surgical clip has a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The handle assembly has a trigger and an articulation knob. The shaft assembly has an outer ground tube, a middle articulation tube, and a push/pull tube disposed within the middle articulation tube. The trigger is operable to cause longitudinal translation of the push/pull tube. The outer ground tube and the middle articulation tube present mating angled faces sloped in opposing directions. Rotation of the articulation knob causes rotation of the middle articulation tube. Rotation of the middle articulation tube changes the orientation of the angled faces and thus causes articulation of the middle articulation tube and the push/pull tube. The end effector has a pair of jaws configured to apply a surgical clip to a vessel. Longitudinal translation of the push/pull tube causes closure of the pair of jaws.

Abstract: An energy-based surgical instrument is configured to permit selective cutting, coagulation, and fine dissection required in fine and delicate surgical procedures. The scissors grip instrument provides for tube-in-tube construction so the device is useful for both open and minimally invasive procedures. The assembly includes a clamping mechanism, including a clamp arm and/or housing which are specifically configured to create a desired level of tissue clamping forces.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a surgical instrument for operation in an aqueous environment is provided. In at least one embodiment, the surgical instrument may include a hollow sheath and a blade disposed at least partially within the sheath. Coupled to the blade may be at least one ultrasonic transducer, which, in turn, may be coupled to a drive system. The drive system may be configured to deliver gross axial motions to the blade such that the blade translates with respect to the hollow sheath when the drive system is activated. Accordingly, tissue may be cut by the blade with gross axial movement of the blade and/or ultrasonic vibrational motion provided by the ultrasonic transducer(s). In alternative embodiments, the blade may be rotated axially instead of translated with respect to the hollow sheath.