An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The forceps also includes a source of electrical energy connected to each jaw member such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal. A generally tube-like cutter is included which is slidably engaged about the elongated shaft and which is selectively movable about the elongated shaft to engage and cut tissue on at least one side of the jaw members while the tissue is engaged between jaw members.

Vessel sealer and divider

An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes impedance sensing circuitry which measures impedance of tissue, a microprocessor configured to determine whether a tissue reaction has occurred as a function of a minimum impedance value and a predetermined rise in impedance, wherein tissue reaction corresponds to a boiling point of tissue fluid, and an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue.

Vessel sealing system

An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes a pair of spaced apart electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces which each have an insulator disposed therebetween, the conductive surfaces are connected to an electrosurgical energy source. The first jaw member includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator which extends towards the second tissue contacting surface to create a gap therebetween. The cutting element is inactive during the sealing process while the two pairs of electrically conductive surfaces are activated to seal tissue. During the cutting process, the cutting element is energized to a first potential and at least one electrically conductive tissue contacting surface is energized to a different potential to effect a tissue cut through the tissue held between the jaw members along the already formed tissue seal.

Vessel sealing instrument with electrical cutting mechanism

A storage router and method for providing virtual local storage on remote storage devices to devices are provided. Devices are connected to a first transport medium, and a plurality of storage devices are connected to a second transport medium. In one embodiment, the storage router maintains a map to allocate storage space on the remote storage devices to devices connected to the first transport medium by associating representations of the devices connected to the first transport medium with representations of storage space on the remote storage devices, wherein each representation of a device connected to the first transport medium is associated with one or more representations of storage space on the remote storage devices and controls access from the devices connected to the first transport medium to the storage space on the remote storage devices in accordance with the map and using native low level block protocol.

Storage router and method for providing virtual local storage

An endoscopic forceps for treating tissue includes a housing having a shaft affixed thereto which has first and second jaw members attached to a distal end thereof. The forceps also includes an actuator for moving jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are selectively capable of operating in a bipolar mode which enables the jaw members to conduct bipolar energy through tissue held therebetween to treat tissue. The forceps also includes a monopolar element housed within the first jaw member and integrally associated with the knife. The monopolar element is selectively movable from a first position within the first jaw member to a second position distal to the first jaw member. The monopolar element is adapted to connect to the source of electrosurgical energy such that the monopolar element is selectively activateable independent of the bipolar mode.

Bipolar forceps having monopolar extension

A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having a current gain compensation circuit includes a control circuit portion for generating a frequency control signal, and a ring oscillator responsive to the frequency control signal for outputting the VCO output signal. The control circuit includes a control transistor responsive to input control voltage V control . Connected between the source terminal of the control transistor and ground is a resistive element in parallel with an N-channel field effect transistor and a P-channel field effect transistor, each configured to operate in saturation. The resistor, and the N-channel, and P-channel transistors provide parallel current paths which, collectively, form a control current that corresponds to the frequency control signal. As the voltage control signal V control increases beyond a predetermined level, the transistors conduct, and carry a current that is proportional to the square of the input control voltage V control . Accordingly, the magnitude of total control current is dominated by the transistor-provided component, and assumes a square relationship, with respect to the input control voltage. This square-law current-voltage gain characteristic compensates for the inversely mirrored frequency gain characteristic of the ring oscillator in order to attain a reduced frequency gain variation for the overall VCO, with respect to control voltage variations. This reduction in variation translates to a reduced variation in the frequency gain of the VCO with respect to temperature variations when the VCO is used in a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit.

Voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) frequency gain compensation circuit

An architecture comprising a detector, a first pump circuit, a second pump circuit and a comparator. The detector may present a first active operating signal in response to one or more reference signals. In one example, the first active operating signal may be generated in response to a feedback signal having a parameter within a predetermined range. The first pump circuit may be configured to provide a replica pump signal in response to a current adjustment signal and either (i) at least one of the one or more reference signals or (ii) the first active operating signal. The second pump circuit may be configured to provide a voltage control signal in response to the current adjustment signal and either (i) the first active operating signal or (ii) a second, independent active operating signal. The comparator may be configured to provide the current adjustment signal in response to the replica pump signal and the voltage control signal.

Method for reducing static phase offset in a PLL

An apparatus comprising a phase lock loop (PLL) and a lock circuit. The PLL may be configured to multiply an input frequency in response to a lock signal. The lock circuit may be configured to generate the lock signal. The PLL may also be configured to select a reference frequency as (i) the input frequency when in a first mode and (ii) a divided frequency of the input frequency when in a second mode.

Method for phase locking in a phase lock loop

An apparatus comprising a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) within a phase lock loop (PLL) that may be configured to generate an output signal in response to (i) a low gain control input and (ii) a high gain control input. The low gain control input and the high gain control input are generally both active.

Nathan Y. Moyal

Papers

Voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) frequency gain compensation circuit

Method for reducing static phase offset in a PLL

Method for phase locking in a phase lock loop

Method/architecture for a low gain PLL with wide frequency range

Frequency acquisition rate control in phase lock loop circuits