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.

Motor driven electrosurgical device with mechanical and electrical feedback

A surgical instrument includes a first power source and a second power source. The first power source is configured to deliver power to a surgical instrument at a first rate of discharge. The second power source is configured to deliver power to the first power source at a second rate of discharge. The first power source and the second power source are positioned within the surgical instrument. The first power source and the second power source are further configured to communicate with a control module. The control module may rely on power from the first power source to drive an end effector of the surgical instrument. The end effector may comprise a harmonic/ultrasonic blade, RF electrosurgical electrodes, powered cutting/stapling features, and/or various other types of components.

Surgical instrument with charging devices

A surgical instrument includes a temperature sensor and a control unit that is operable to deactivate an end effector of the surgical instrument. In some versions the temperature sensor detects the temperature of a transducer, while in others the temperature sensor detects the temperature of the end effector. The surgical instrument may also include a trigger and a trigger position sensor. A force sensor or a position sensor may be included to determine the force and/or position of the transmission assembly. The end effector may also include a force sensor or a micro coil. A surgical instrument having a sensor may be included in a surgical system that includes a control unit and a remote controller. In some instances the remote controller may have one or more force-feedback components. In addition, a device interface and a surgeon interface may be included to remotely adjust the settings of the control unit.

Surgical instrument with sensor and powered control

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.

Medical device with feature for sterile acceptance of non-sterile reusable component

A surgical instrument comprises a body and a shaft assembly. The body includes an energy source such as an ultrasonic transducer. The shaft assembly comprises an end effector and a transmission member such as an acoustic waveguide. The end effector may include a harmonic blade and a pivoting clamp member. One or both of the body or the shaft assembly includes a pivot feature. The pivot feature is operable to secure the shaft assembly to the body. The pivot feature may include a bar defining a pivot axis about which the shaft assembly pivots to secure the shaft assembly to the body. The pivot axis may be perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by the shaft assembly. The pivot feature may also include a pivoting cover configured to cover a recess in the body in which a proximal portion of the shaft assembly is received.

Surgical instrument with pivoting coupling to modular shaft and end effector

A floating mass transducer for assisting hearing in a person is provided. Inertial vibration in the floating mass transducer (100) produces vibrations in the inner ear. In an exemplary embodiment, the floating mass transducer comprises a magnet assembly (12) and a coil (14) secured inside a housing (10) which is attached to bone within the middle ear. The coil is more rigidly secured to the housing than the magnet. The magnet assembly and coil are configured such that conducting alternating electrical current through the coil results in vibration of the magnet assembly and coil relative to one another. The vibration is caused by the interaction of the magnetic fields of the magnet assembly and coil. Because the coil is more rigidly secured to the housing than the magnet assembly, the vibrations of the coil cause the housing to vibrate. The floating mass transducer may generate vibrations in the inner ear by being attached to the skull or through a mouthpiece.

Advanced designs of floating mass transducers

Tinnitus maskers for direct drive hearing devices are provided A circuit generates signals corresponding to sounds to mask tinnitus a user perceives A direct drive hearing device which is coupled to a structure in the user vibrates in response to the signals The vibrating direct drive hearing device stimulates hearing by vibrating the structure to which it is coupled A user may select the frequency, intensity and phase of a tone generated Additionally, a second tone or a background sound may be selected

Tinnitus masker for direct drive hearing devices

The echo canceller is designed to be placed between a hands-free acoustical interface and a communications network. It comprises a plurality of processing paths connected in parallel and each allocated to one of a plurality of adjacent sub-bands taken from the spectrum band of the output signal. Each path comprises an analysis filter receiving the echo-containing signal for transmission after correction, a second analysis filter receiving the incoming signal coming from the network, and feeding an adaptive filter that supplies an estimated echo in the respective sub-band to the subtractive input of the subtracter and a synthesis filter. The adaptive filters in at least some of the sub-bands implement a QR decomposition RLS algorithm on the incoming signal, using the fast version thereof, with or without recursive order.

Disposable audio processor for use with implanted hearing devices

A dual coil floating mass transducer for assisting a person's hearing is provided. Inertial vibration of the housing of the floating mass transducer produces vibrations in the inner ear. A magnet is disposed within the housing biased by silicone springs so that friction is reduced between the magnet and the interior surface of the housing. Two coils reside within grooves in the exterior of the housing which cause the magnet to vibrate when an electrical signal is applied to the coils.

Dual coil floating mass transducers

This invention is a direct hearing system (100) for providing an ultrasonic signal to a portion of the human ear. The direct drive hearing system (100) includes an ultrasonic direct device. The device includes a housing (110) with at least one coil (112) coupled to the housing (110). Inside the housing (110) is a magnet (116), which vibrates at an ultrasonic resonant frequency in direct response to an externally generated electric signal through the at least one coil (112). A biasing mechanism (118), which supports the magnet (116) within the housing (110), is also provided. The magnet (116) is free to move within the housing (110) subject to the retention provided by the biasing mechanism (118). The hearing system (100) is partially or totalling implanted.

Bob H. Katz

Papers

Advanced designs of floating mass transducers

Tinnitus masker for direct drive hearing devices

Disposable audio processor for use with implanted hearing devices

Dual coil floating mass transducers

Ultrasonic hearing system