In one aspect, embodiments relate to a system for performing preventative dental laser treatment. The system includes, a code reader configured to read a machine readable code, a processor configured to verify the machine readable code and prevent future verification of the machine readable code, and a laser treatment system configured to perform a laser treatment, based upon the verified machine readable code. The laser treatment system includes a laser arrangement configured to generate a laser beam, an optical arrangement configured to direct the laser beam toward a dental hard tissue, and a laser controller configured to control a parameter of the laser beam in order to heat at least a portion of a surface of the dental hard tissue to a temperature above 400° Celsius.

An operation support device includes a connecting body in which a first support body and a second support body are detachably connected to each other; a first shaft engaging section; a shaft connecting member having a connection engaging section engaged with the first shaft engaging section; and a shaft fixing member. The shaft fixing member is movably installed with respect to a first shaft section or a second shaft section and is configured to selectively form a shaft engagement fixing state in which the connection engaging section is held down to retain an engagement state such that the connection engaging section is engaged with the first shaft engaging section and a second state in which holding down to the connection engaging section is released in accordance with a moved position with a moved position of the shaft fixing member.

A medical device accessory comprising an interface configured to connect the medical device accessory with a medical device for administration of a medical treatment using the medical device and the medical device accessory, a plurality of electrical contacts proximate the interface, the electrical contacts comprising a lead electrical contact adapted to receive an voltage from a power source associated with the medical device and one or more identifying electrical contacts, and at least one conductor providing an electrical connection between the lead electrical contact and the one or more identifying electrical contacts. An arrangement of the one or more identifying electrical contacts connected to the lead electrical contact identifies a characteristic of the medical device accessory.

Systems, devices and methods for managing surgical instruments throughout their lifecycle include disabling a usage based device lockout and providing notifications for devices nearing a usage based lockout. A device adaptor connected inline between a surgical instrument and a power source can be configured to alter a device EEPROM to allow for additional device usage despite a usage based lockout. Notifications and user prompts may be displayed requiring a user to acknowledge that a usage based device lockout has occurred in order to avoid an attempt to use an expired device in a future procedure.

A method of optimizing the irradiation of a target with laser radiation includes selecting and mounting on a laser radiation delivery device either a waveguide or optical fiber type to be used; also, selecting at least the following parameters: selecting the total energy of the at least one train of pulses to be delivered to the target, and selecting the distance from the distal delivery end to the target; then, initiating irradiation of the target for the at least one train of pulses by generating a first laser pulse with sufficient energy (E.sup.i) to form a vapor bubble in a liquid medium; allowing the vapor bubble formed to expand an amount sufficient to displace a substantial portion of the liquid medium from the space between the distal delivery end and the target; and, thereafter, after the selected time delay (T.sup.d) sufficient for the formed vapor bubble to reach its optimum extent, generating a second laser pulse (E.sup.p), the second laser pulse being delivered to the target through the formed vapor bubble.

An apparatus includes a plurality of beads. Each bead includes a housing and a magnet positioned within the housing. The apparatus also includes a plurality of interconnection elements. Each interconnection element movably joins together a corresponding pair of beads. The plurality of beads and the plurality of interconnection elements are sized and configured to form an expandable loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. The apparatus further includes a decoupling element. The decoupling element is positioned along the loop and is configured to selectively release a first portion of the loop from a second portion of the loop in response to application of a threshold force to the at least one decoupling element in a circumferential direction relative to the loop.

A method of manufacturing a bead assembly for a sphincter augmentation device includes initiating 3D printing of a unibody housing such that the unibody housing defines a first opening, a chamber, and a magnet chamber. The method further includes pausing the 3D printing process, inserting a magnet within the magnetic chamber, and then resuming 3D printing of the unibody housing to form a hermetic seal between the magnet chamber and an external surface of the unibody housing.

An apparatus includes a plurality of beads and a linking assembly joining the beads together. The beads include a housing defining a first opening, a second opening, and a chamber extending between the first opening and the second opening. A magnet is contained within the housing. The beads and the linking assembly are arranged in an annular arrangement and sized to form a loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. The loop may move between a contracted and expanded configuration. The loop is magnetically biased toward the contracted configuration by a magnetic bias of the beads. The linking assembly includes a first link element having an elongate body extending in the chamber of the first bead and a sealing element attached to the elongate body housed within the first opening of the first bead to thereby form a hermetic seal.

An electromagnetic surgical ablation system having a generator adapted to selectively provide surgical ablative energy to an ablation probe, and methods of operating same, are disclosed. The system includes a controller operatively coupled to the generator, and at least one tissue sensor probe operatively coupled to the controller. The at least one tissue sensor provides a tissue impedance measurement to the controller. A sensor probe may be designated a threshold probe adapted to sense when tissue is sufficiently ablated, or, a critical structure probe adapted to protect an adjacent anatomical structure from undesired ablation. During an electromagnetic tissue ablation procedure, the controller monitors tissue impedance to determine tissue status, to activate an indicator associated therewith, and, additionally or alternatively, to activate and deactivate the generator accordingly.

A treatment system can include a treatment instrument with an operation input element that has a magnet; and a sensor that detects a parameter that changes with a movement of the magnet together with the operation input element based on an operation of the operation input element. The treatment system can also include a control apparatus that can control the supply of electrical energy to the treatment instrument for operation of the treatment instrument. The control apparatus includes a processor that can determine a relationship between a change in a distance between the sensor and the magnet and a change in the parameter, and to set, based on the relationship, a threshold for switching between an ON state and an OFF state of the supply of the electrical energy to the treatment instrument.