Powered surgical instrument

A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, a first endoscopic portion, a motor, and a first end effector is disclosed. The first endoscopic portion is selectively connectable to a distal portion of the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The first endoscopic portion includes a housing adjacent its proximal portion and includes an actuation member. The motor is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the housing of the first endoscopic portion and is operatively connected to the actuation member for moving the actuation member substantially along the longitudinal axis. The first end effector is selectively connectable to a distal portion of the first endoscopic portion and is configured to perform a first stapling function.

Locking mechanism for use with loading units

A loading unit configured for engagement with a surgical instrument having a firing rod is disclosed. The loading unit comprises a proximal body portion, a tool assembly, and a knife assembly. The tool assembly is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the proximal body portion. The knife assembly is movably disposed at least partially within the proximal body portion and includes a proximal end positioned to engage the firing rod, and includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm is biased towards the longitudinal axis via a biasing force. The biasing force is selected to allow the first arm to deflect when the firing rod is advanced. The first arm and the second arm of the knife assembly are configured to engage a firing rod of a surgical instrument as the surgical instrument is being actuated.

Device for implanting a prosthesis in a tissue

A device for implanting a prosthesis 12 in a body tissue equipped with a tubular element 7, within which a prosthesis 12 can slide, and a pressure element 16 for moving said prosthesis 12. The device also comprises a cartridge 5 provided with a seat 31 at its interior, such seat housing the prosthesis 12 and movable under the action of a pusher element 13 from a first position, in which the seat 31 is not facing the tubular element 7, to a second position, in which the seat 31 is in communication with the tubular element 7 in order to allow the insertion of the prosthesis 12 inside the tubular element 7 upon command of the pressure element 16.

Method of maintaining constant movement of a cutting blade of an ultrasonic waveguide

A method of maintaining a constant movement of a cutting blade of an ultrasonic waveguide includes providing an ultrasonic transducer operable to convert a received motional current into a movement of a cutting blade of an ultrasonic waveguide, a measurement circuit connected in a parallel configuration with the ultrasonic transducer, and a variable power source operable to supply current through a set of connection points to the parallel configuration and thereby create the motional current in the ultrasonic transducer. Current is supplied through a set of connection points of the parallel configuration with the variable power source to, thereby, create the motional current in the ultrasonic transducer and the motional current is regulated with a current controller by varying an output of the power source, thereby maintaining a substantially constant rate of movement of the cutting blade across a variety of cutting loads.

See-through display with an optical assembly including a wedge-shaped illumination system

This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. The optical assembly includes a light transmissive wedge-shaped illumination system with angle selective coatings and an LED lighting system coupled to an edge of the wedge. An angled surface of the wedge directs light from the LED lighting system to uniformly irradiate a reflective image display to produce an image that is reflected through the illumination system to provide the displayed content to the user.

DISPOSABLE TIP WITH SHEATH

A disposable tip (20) having a sheath (30) and which is structured to be used with a medical device is provided. The sheath (30) provides protection for the medical device base unit (10). The sheath (30) is sealingly coupled to the tip (20), preferably at an end of the tip (20), proximal to the base unit (10). In this configuration, the sheath (30) may be extended to substantially enclose and protect the base unit (10) from contamination.

Signal processing apparatus

The present invention involves a method and an apparatus for analyzing measured signals, including the determination of a measurement of oxygen saturation and respiration rate in the measured signals during a calculation of a physiological parameter of a monitored patient. Use of this invention is described in particular detail with respect to oximetry-based measurements but extends to other types of measurements.

Reusable pulse oximeter probe and disposable bandage apparatii

A disposable portion of an optical probe is usable to determine at least one physiological parameter. The disposable portion comprises a bandage including adhesive on at least a portion of at least one face thereof. The bandage comprises a first receptacle at a first position. The first receptacle is configured to receive and removably engage a probe emitter. The bandage comprises a second receptacle at a second position. The second position is spaced from the first position. The second receptacle is configured to receive and removably engage a probe detector. The first receptacle at the first position is positioned generally opposite the second receptacle at the second position when the bandage is positioned on an appendage of a patient for sensing a physiological parameter of the patient.

Compositions and methods for molecular labeling

The invention provides barcode libraries and methods of making and using them including obtaining a plurality of nucleic acid constructs in which each construct comprises a unique N-mer and a functional N-mer and segregating the constructs into a fluid compartments such that each compartment contains one or more copies of a unique construct. The invention further provides methods for digital PCR and for use of barcode libraries in digital PCR.

ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION OF SUPER-CONDUCTING NIOBIUM SILICIDE

A method of preparing a superconducting thin film of niobium silicide using atomic layer deposition (ALD) where the superconducting critical temperature of the film is controllable by modulating the thickness of the thin film. The film is formed by exposing a substrate within an ALD reactor to alternating exposures of a niobium halide (NbQx) and a reducing precursor, for example, disilane (Si2H6) or silane (SiH4). A number of ALD cycles are performed to obtain the film thickness and establish the desired superconducting critical temperature between 0.4 K and 3.1 K.