A surgical instrument includes a body, an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm, and a resilient member. The body includes an electrical conductor and defines a longitudinal axis. The clamp arm is pivotably coupled with the body at a pivot assembly. The clamp arm is operable to compress tissue against the ultrasonic blade. The clamp arm includes an electrode operable to apply RF energy to tissue, wherein the clamp arm is configured to be loaded onto and removed from the body at the pivot assembly along a path that is transverse to the longitudinal axis defined by the body. The resilient member is located within the pivot assembly. The resilient member is configured to provide electrical continuity between the electrode of the clamp arm and the electrical conductor of the body.

A surgical instrument includes an end effector that has an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm that is movable relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward a closed position. The ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm are able to receive tissue in the opened position, and the clamp arm is able to clamp tissue against the ultrasonic blade in the closed position. There is a first electrode connected with the clamp arm, and a second electrode associated with the ultrasonic blade. The electrodes are able to apply bipolar radiofrequency (RF) energy to tissue captured in the end effector. The instrument further has a first button for activating the ultrasonic blade to provide a cutting and sealing mode at the end effector. There is also a second button for activating the electrodes to provide a spot coagulation mode at the end effector.

An end effector assembly for a forceps includes first and second jaw members, each including a proximal flange extending therefrom. Each proximal flange defines an aperture extending therethrough configured to receive a pivot assembly including first and second pivot pins. The second proximal flange includes a U-shaped cross section having first and second legs defining a slot therebetween. A guard is disposed between the proximal flanges of the first and second jaw members and includes a U-shaped cross section with first and second legs configured to receive the proximal flange of the first jaw member and seat within the slot of the second jaw member. The guard is configured to eliminate gaps between the proximal flanges of the first and second jaw members during angular rotation of the first and second jaw members between a first, spaced apart position to a second, closer position.

Provided herein are systems, methods and apparatuses for surgical forceps for an easier and safer retrieval of foreign bodies in passages for better quality of care for patients.

According to an aspect, an apparatus includes a handle portion having a first portion and a second portion, a distal portion disposed opposite the handle portion, the distal portion having a first connector contacting portion and a second connector contacting portion, the first connector contacting portion being configured to move with respect to the second connector contacting portion, the distal portion being configured to be disposed in a first configuration and a second configuration, the first connector contacting portion being disposed a first distance from the second connector contacting portion when the distal portion is in the first configuration, the first connector contacting portion being disposed a second distance from the second connector contacting portion when the distal portion is in the second configuration, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and a biasing member configured to bias the distal portion into the first configuration.

Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, including methods and apparatus for dilating ostia, passageways and other anatomical structures, endoscopic methods and apparatus for endoscopic visualization of structures within the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, navigation devices for use in conjunction with image guidance or navigation system and hand held devices having pistol type grips and other handpieces.

An instrument and method for tissue thermotherapy including an inductive heating means to generate a vapor phase media that is used for interstitial, intraluminal, intracavity or topical tissue treatment. In one method, the vapor phase media is propagated from a probe outlet to provide a controlled vapor-to-liquid phase change in an interface with tissue to thereby apply ablative thermal energy delivery.

A surgical instrument includes a body, an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm assembly, and a detent assembly. The clamp arm assembly includes a clamp arm pivotably coupled with the body at a pivot assembly. The clamp arm is operable to compress tissue against the ultrasonic blade. The detent assembly is configured to provide tactile resistance to pivotal movement of the clamp arm relative to the body beyond a predefined pivot angle. The detent assembly is configured to permit pivotal movement of the clamp arm relative to the body beyond a predefined pivot angle upon application of a force sufficient to overcome the tactile resistance.

A surgical tool includes opposing jaws, handles and at least one pressure sensor. Another aspect of a surgical tool includes opposing jaws with each having an organ-contacting surface area of at least 50 mm.sup.2. A further aspect of a surgical tool includes an electronic controller connected to at least one pressure sensor and automatically adapted to calculate or determine an organ-hardness from a sensor when jaws are moved to an organ-compressing position. In yet another aspect of a surgical tool, a pressure sensor is mounted to a pancreas-compressing surface and a displacement transducer or sensor is mounted to and/or located within a handle coupled to the surface, and an electronic controller is mounted to and/or located within the handle for calculating a hardness of a pancreas and/or other organ.

A surgical instrument, has an end effector that includes an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp arm that moves relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position. The clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position. A clamp arm actuator connects to the clamp arm and moves from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to direct the clamp arm from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position. A spacer connects with the clamp arm to inhibit movement of the clamp arm from the intermediate position toward the closed position for maintaining the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.