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.

Powered surgical instrument

A surgical apparatus has a clamp and a stapling mechanism. The clamp has a first jaw and a second jaw to clamp on a body tissue at a desired location for a stapling operation. The stapling mechanism is controlled by a trigger handle or a switch assembly. The surgical apparatus has a controller for providing a delay between clamping and actuating of the firing mechanism of the stapling mechanism. The delay provides for a desired amount of time for tissue compression producing a more uniform staple formation. The surgical apparatus also has an indicator. The indicator provides feedback about the status of the stapling mechanism and also displays a time of tissue compression by the clamp.

Surgical stapler with timer and feedback display

A surgical stapler has a handle assembly including a stationary handle and a trigger. The stapler also has a drive assembly with a body having a working end and a cam member supported on the working end. The cam member is positioned to translate relative to the anvil to maintain the anvil in the closed position during firing of the stapler. The trigger is operatively connected to a power cell. The power cell is operably connected to a motor of the drive assembly. The manipulation of the trigger actuates the power cell such that the power cell powers the drive assembly to effect translation of the cam member relative to the anvil. The stapler also has a channel for supporting the staple cartridge and the motor of the drive assembly controls the actuation sled supported within the cartridge. The actuation sled urges the plurality of staples from the cartridge when the anvil is in the closed position and in cooperative alignment with the staple cartridge.

Battery powered surgical instrument

The surgical stapling apparatus includes a handle assembly, an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly, and an articulation mechanism for articulating a tool assembly. The articulation mechanism includes a first gear rotatably mounted on a transmission shaft and configured to engage a second gear, a clutch interconnecting the second gear and a main shaft; and a yoke shaft coupled to the main shaft and adapted to linearly advance a J-channel, the J-channel operatively connected to an articulation link. A motor assembly may rotate the transmission shaft of the articulation mechanism. Alternatively, the articulation mechanism may include an articulation knob. Users may manually rotate the articulation knob to articulate the tool assembly of the surgical stapling apparatus.

Surgical stapling apparatus with powered articulation

A retraction mechanism allows the full distal retraction of the firing drive from various positions. The retraction mechanism has been developed for use with a hand held surgical apparatus. An embodiment of the retraction mechanism includes a drive member, a first pulley, a second pulley, and a firing drive. The drive mechanism is configured to be driven by a motor. The first pulley is configured to rotate when the motor drives the drive mechanism. The second pulley is movable relative to the first pulley between a proximal position and a distal position. The firing drive is movable relative to the first pulley between proximal and distal positions. In operation, the first pulley rotates in a first direction in response to a distal translation of the firing drive and wherein the firing drive moves proximally upon rotation of the first pulley in a second direction.

Retraction mechanism with clutch-less drive for use with a surgical apparatus

A device for repeated registration of the number of thermal cycles to which a part for medical usage has been subjected has a temperature-sensitive element and/or a pressure-sensitive element arranged in conjunction with the part. This element reversibly changes its physical shape with temperature and/or pressure, variations in pressure being invariably associated with changes in temperature. A registration unit registers this change in shape when it exceeds a specific threshold value, as an indication of the part undergoing, or having undergone, a thermal cycle.

Device for repeated registration of the number of thermal cycles to which a part for medical usage has been subjected

A device for compensating for flow resistance in an expiratory section of a ventilator system has a bellows system whose increase in volume during expiration is regulated by a regulatory device and a control unit, so that expired gas fills the bellows system. The increase in volume is regulated according to values measured for pressure so virtually complete compensation for flow resistance is attained. Pressure is measured with a first pressure gauge located by the bellows system, and a second pressure gauge located by the patient. The device can be a separate apparatus which is connectable to a ventilator, or can be totally integrated into the ventilator.

Device for compensating for flow resistance in a ventilator/respirator

A device for use in an anaesthetic administration apparatus for identifying at least one liquid anaesthetic in the anaesthetic apparatus has a measuring unit for determining at least one parameter related to the refractive index of the liquid anaesthetic, a unit for determining the temperature of the liquid anaesthetic and an analysis unit for identifying the anaesthetic from the determined parameter.

Device for identifying liquid anaesthetics

A system (11) for monitoring changes in a patient's body
resources during breathing aided by a breathing apparatus
(10) comprises means (8) adapted to determine the difference
between corresponding values of either one or both of
moisture content and temperature of each of an inspiration
gas and an expiration gas within the breathing apparatus (10)
as determined by moisture (5) and temperature (6) sensor
elements within a common inspiration/expiration gas flow path
(17); and processing means (7) adapted to process the
determined difference to provide an output (9) related to the
change in the associated body resource useable in the control
of, for example, an inspiration gas pre-conditioning unit
(16) to minimise the determined difference.

System and method for determining changes in body resources during aided breathing

An ultrasonic flow meter for measuring a flow in a measurement channel has a first sensor chamber with a first membrane arranged against the measurement channel and a first transducer arranged at a specific distance from the first membrane, and a second sensor chamber with a second membrane arranged against the measurement channel and a second transducer arranged at a specific distance from the second membrane is described. The first membrane and the second membrane are gas-tight. In order to reduce loads on the membrane, while still allowing the membrane to be made as thin as possible, the first sensor chamber and the second sensor chamber are gas-tight, a first gas line connects the first sensor chamber to the measurement channel and a second gas line connects the second sensor chamber to the measurement channel.

Erik Krahbichler

Papers

Device for repeated registration of the number of thermal cycles to which a part for medical usage has been subjected

Device for compensating for flow resistance in a ventilator/respirator

Device for identifying liquid anaesthetics

System and method for determining changes in body resources during aided breathing

Dual chamber ultrasonic flow meter with membranes having equal pressure on opposite sides thereof