Mechanisms for compensating for drivetrain failure in powered surgical instruments

A surgical apparatus includes an end effector configured to interact with a tissue and a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes at least one drive mechanism operable to effect at least one motion in the end effector. The surgical instrument further includes one or more vibration sensors configured to record vibrations generated by the at least one drive mechanism, wherein the one or more vibration sensors are configured to generate an output signal based on the sensed vibrations, and wherein the output signal is employed to select between an acceptable status, a marginal status, and a critical status of the surgical instrument.

MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

A surgical instrument couplable to an end effector, wherein the surgical instrument includes at least one drive mechanism operable to effect at least one motion in the end effector. The surgical instrument further includes one or more vibration sensors configured to record vibrations generated by the at least one drive mechanism, wherein the one or more vibration sensors are configured to generate an output signal based on the sensed vibrations. The surgical instrument further includes a plurality of frequency filters each defining a center frequency and a frequency bandwidth, wherein the frequency filters are configured to generate a filtered signal based on the received output signal.

Mechanisms for compensating for drivetrain failure in powered surgical instruments

An apparatus for affecting tissue includes an end effector configured to interact with a tissue. The apparatus further includes a surgical instrument that includes one or more drivetrains configured to drive a plurality of gear components in order to perform operations of the surgical instrument, and one or more vibration sensors positioned relative to the one or more drivetrains of the surgical instrument to sense and record vibration information from the one or more drivetrains of the surgical instrument, wherein the one or more vibration sensors are configured to generate an output signal based on the vibration information for comparison to predetermined threshold values to determine a status of the surgical instrument.

Mechanisms for compensating for drivetrain failure in powered surgical instruments

A surgical apparatus includes an end effector configured to interact with a tissue during a plurality of zones of operation. The surgical apparatus further includes at least one drive mechanism operable to effect at least one motion in the end effector during each of the zones of operation. The surgical apparatus also includes one or more vibration sensors configured to record vibrations generated by the at least one drive mechanism during the zones of operation, wherein the one or more vibration sensors are configured to generate an output signal based on the sensed vibrations, and wherein the output signal is employed to determine a status of the surgical apparatus based on predetermined threshold values that are unique to each of the zones of operation.

Surgical stapler with small diameter endoscopic portion

A surgical stapler includes a body portion and a tool assembly. The body portion includes a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion extending distally from the large diameter portion. The large diameter portion supports larger internal components of the device including a lockout assembly adapted to prevent refiring of the stapler to allow the diameter of the small diameter portion of the device to be minimized to facilitate passage of the small diameter portion of the stapler and the tool assembly through an 8 mm trocar.

System and method for fuzzy concept mapping, voting ontology crowd sourcing, and technology prediction

The invention provides a system and method for providing ttx-based categorization services and a categorized commonplace of shared information. Currency of the contents is improved by a process called conjuring/concretizing wherein users' thoughts are rapidly infused into the Map. As a new idea is sought, a goal is created for a search. After the goal idea is found, a ttx is concretized and categorized. The needs met by such a Map are prior art searching, competitive environmental scanning, competitive analysis study repository management and reuse, innovation gap analysis indication, novelty checking, technology value prediction, investment area indication and planning, and product technology comparison and feature planning.

Smart device

An Internet of Thing (IoT) device includes a camera coupled to a processor; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor. Blockchain smart contracts can be used with the device to facilitate secure operation.

Buttress and surgical stapling apparatus

Multilayer structures including a porous layer and a non-porous layer are useful as buttresses when associated with a surgical stapling apparatus.

Processing spoken commands to control distributed audio outputs

A system that is capable of controlling multiple entertainment systems and/or speakers using voice commands. The system receives voice commands and may determine audio sources and speakers indicated by the voice commands. The system may generate audio data from the audio sources and may send the audio data to the speakers using multiple interfaces. For example, the system may send the audio data directly to the speakers using a network address, may send the audio data to the speakers via a voice-enabled device or may send the audio data to the speakers via a speaker controller. The system may generate output zones including multiple speakers and may associate input devices with speakers within the output zones. For example, the system may receive a voice command from an input device in an output zone and may reduce output audio generated by speakers in the output zone.

Substrate processing apparatus and precursor gas nozzle

A substrate processing apparatus includes: a process chamber accommodating substrates; a heating system for heating the process chamber to a predetermined temperature; a precursor gas supply system including a precursor gas nozzle and for supplying a precursor gas from the precursor gas nozzle to the process chamber; a reaction gas supply system configured to supply a reaction gas reacting with the precursor gas in the process chamber; and a control part configured to control the heating system, the precursor gas supply system and the reaction gas supply system to form a film on each of the plurality of substrates by performing a process, while heating the process chamber accommodating the plurality of substrates to the predetermined temperature. The process includes supplying the precursor gas from the precursor gas nozzle to the process chamber and supplying the reaction gas to the process chamber.