A surgical instrument can comprise a channel configured to support a staple cartridge and, in addition, an anvil pivotable between open and closed positions relative to the channel. The surgical instrument can further comprise a cutting member configured to incise tissue positioned captured between the staple cartridge and the anvil and, in addition, means for stopping the cutting member prior to a distal end datum, wherein the distal end datum can be defined by the distal-most staple cavity in the staple cartridge. In such embodiments, the incision within the tissue may not extend beyond the portion of the tissue that has been stapled.

Surgical stapling instrument with an articulatable end effector

A motor-driven surgical instrument having a control assembly for controlling a switch of the instrument. The surgical instrument may comprise a motor control circuit, a drive member, and a slider. The drive member comprises a first shoulder at a first position and a second shoulder at a second position. A first portion of the slider interfaces the drive member such that the slider is moveable in a direction of movement of the drive member when either the first shoulder or the second shoulder of the drive member engages the first portion of the slider. A second portion of the slider actuates a switch of the motor control circuit when the drive member moves the slider to a first position relative to the first switch. In various embodiments, the switches of the control circuit are not embodied as a part of an IC.

Motor-driven surgical cutting instrument with electric actuator directional control assembly

A process and system are disclosed for downloading sensor data, stored in a memory device of a surgical cutting and fastening instrument, to an external or remote computer device. The process may involve storing data from one or more sensors of a surgical cutting and fastening instrument in a memory device of a control unit of the surgical cutting and fastening instrument during a surgical procedure involving the surgical cutting and fastening instrument. Next, after the surgical procedure, a data link between the control unit and the remote computer device is established. Then, the sensor data can be downloaded from the control unit to the remote computer device.

Accessing data stored in a memory of a surgical instrument

A surgical tool system. Various embodiments of the surgical tool system may comprise surgical instrument that has a handle assembly that operably supports a drive system therein for generating drive motions upon actuation of a movable handle portion operably coupled to the handle assembly. An elongated body protrudes from the handle assembly and operably supports a control rod therein that interfaces with the drive system. The surgical tool system further includes at least two surgical tools selected from the group of surgical tools consisting of: manipulators, nippers, scissors, endocutters, tissue thickness measurement devices, staple appliers, clip appliers, syringes for applying glue, sealant, drugs or medicaments and cauterization devices wherein each of the surgical tool within the group of surgical tools at least has a housing that is removably couplable to the elongated body and a drive assembly that is removably couplable to the control rod for receiving the drive motions therefrom.

Interchangeable tools for surgical instruments

A surgical instrument that includes a distal member configured to receive a pneumatically operated tool assembly therein. The instrument may also include pneumatically powered drive member configured to generate at least one actuation motion upon receipt of at least one pneumatic signal from a source of pneumatic power fluidically coupled thereto. A drive shaft assembly communicates with the pneumatically powered drive member for transmitting the actuation motions to the distally mounted pneumatically operated tool. The device further includes a power assist member that communicates with the drive shaft assembly for transmitting additional manually generated actuation motions to the drive shaft assembly.

Pneumatically powered surgical cutting and fastening instrument with a variable control of the actuating rate of firing with mechanical power assist

A variable focus lens comprising a first fluid (A) and a second, non-miscible, fluid (B) in contact over a meniscus. A first electrode (2) separated from the fluid bodies by a fluid contact layer (10), and a second electrode (12) in contact with the first fluid to cause an electrowetting effect whereby the shape of the meniscus is altered. The fluid contact layer has a substantially cylindrical inner wall.

Variable focus lens

A switchable autostereoscopic display device comprising: a display panel having an array of display pixels for producing a display, the display pixels being arranged in rows and columns; an array of lens elements arranged over the display panel for directing the light output of the display pixels so as to provide a stereoscopic image, the lens elements comprising an electro-optic material whose refractive index is switchable by selective application of an electric field between a first value that maintains the light output directing function and a second value that removes the light output directing function; and electrode arrangements provided above and below the lens elements for applying the electric field across the lens elements. At least one of the electrode arrangements comprises first and second electrode layers separated by a dielectric layer, and each electrode layer comprises a plurality of parallel elongate electrodes separated by gaps. The electrodes of each electrode layer are aligned with the gaps of the other electrode layer. In this way, the effect of the gaps on the electric field in the lens elements is reduced.

Autostereoscopic display device

A switchable optical element is described, along with a method of manufacturing such an element. The switchable optical element (1) comprises a fluid chamber (2) including immiscible first and second bodies of fluid (20, 22) disposed relative to one another along an optical axis (A) of the element (1). The second body of fluid (22) is movable in a direction away from the optical axis (A) by electro-wetting action, giving the switchable optical element (1) a changeable transmissivity along the optical axis (A). The switchable optical element (1) is suitable for use as an optical attenuator, e.g. a shutter, filter or diaphragm, and can be conveniently used in place of mechanical alternatives in applications such as cameras, laser resonant cavities, projectors and devices for scanning optical record carriers.

Switchable optical element

An optical scanning device for scanning an optical record carrier. The optical scanning device includes: a radiation source system (661; 761); an optical element (1; 101; 201; 301) comprising a first fluid (A) and a second fluid (B; C) separated from each other by a fluid meniscus (16; 116, 138; 216; 316) having an adjustable configuration; and a control system (20; 120; 220; 320) arranged to adjust the fluid meniscus configuration to introduce a first type of wavefront modification. The first type of wavefront modification causes the radiation beam to be redirected from an input radiation beam path (2; 102; 244; 348) onto one of a plurality of output radiation beam paths (24, 26; 140; 246; 350) which each have a different angular displacement (α, β, Ϝ, δ, e) from the input radiation beam path. The control system is further arranged to adjust the fluid meniscus configuration to introduce a second type of wavefront modification. The second type of wavefront modification is arranged to compensate a wavefront aberration of the radiation beam, the compensated wavefront aberration being adjusted in accordance with the angular displacement.

Optical Scanning Device

The optical analysis system (20) for determining an amplitude of a principal component of an optical signal comprises a multivariate optical element (10) for reflecting the optical signal and thereby weighing the optical signal by a spectral weighing function, and a detector (9, 9P, 9N) for detecting the weighed optical signal. The optical analysis system (20) may further comprise a dispersive element (2) for spectrally dispersing the optical signal, the multivariate optical element being arranged to receive the dispersed optical signal. The blood analysis system (40) comprises the optical analysis system (20) according to the invention.

Bernardus Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hendriks

Papers

Variable focus lens

Autostereoscopic display device

Switchable optical element

Optical Scanning Device

Optical analysis system