An apparatus is disclosed which comprises a handle module that is attachable to a detachable shaft module for collectively performing a surgical procedure and an inspection station for connection to the handle module when the handle module is not being used in a surgical procedure. The handle module comprises a handle module memory circuit for storing handle module usage data for the handle module. The inspection station comprises an inspection station processor circuit for determining one or more service recommendations for the handle module based on the handle module usage data stored in the memory of the handle module and based on service recommendation criteria.

The [Ligament End Feel Simulator] has the sole purpose of teaching athletic training students and other medical professionals what laxity of the anterior cruciate ligament feels like without the need for a live injured patient to be present. The novelty of the present invention comes from the non-existence of the present invention in the athletic training profession. Although a person not knowledgeable in the art can look at the present invention and recognize it as being a knee; the average person and even most medical professionals will not know that the device is meant to be used in conjunction with the Lachman manual special test.

A system may include a medical device template for use to implant a medical device having a bottom surface with a periphery and a contour to follow an anatomical feature. The template may include a bottom surface with a periphery and a contour that correspond to the periphery and the contour of the bottom surface of the medical device. The template may be configured to be positioned and orientated over the anatomical feature to facilitate marking skin over the anatomical feature used to determine where to make an incision to implant the medical device. The system may include a frame configured to be worn on a head, with adjustable attachments configured for use to bilaterally position and orientate the templates against the head. The medical device may be configured to be subcutaneously implanted over a skull. The contour may correspond to a contour of the skull.

A surgical simulator for surgical training is provided. The simulator includes a frame defining an enclosure and a simulated tissue model located inside the frame. The simulated tissue model is adapted for practicing a number of surgical procedures including but not limited to transanal excisions and transvaginal hysterectomies. Portions of the frame comprises a material adhesively compatible with the material of portions of the simulated tissue model to secure and suspend the simulated tissue model within the frame. The simulated tissue model may also include simulated vasculature configured to loop through apertures in the frame to secure and suspend the simulated tissue model within the frame.

An operation training apparatus is used in training for operations on living tissue that expands and contracts. The apparatus includes a model body, which mimics the living tissue, a driving device, which moves the model body in a manner mimicking the expansion-contraction, and a controller, which controls a manner in which the driving device is driven. The driving device includes an electroactive polymer actuator.

A method and system for motion tracking of a target organ are provided. A tracking needle is partially inserted into an organ. The needle has a sensor element for obtaining continuous needle orientation information which can be used to determine organ motion due to respiration during percutaneous needle insertion.

A system for simulating a hysteroscopy procedure is disclosed. The system includes a base station adapted to communicate with a computer having a display monitor. A training box is connected to the base station, and includes a housing having a chamber positioned therein. The chamber simulates the shape of a uterine cavity and includes an opening for receiving an instrument. The instrument is adapted for insertion into the chamber for performing hysteroscopy evaluation exercises including targeting and polyp removal exercises.

A surgical instrument comprises an end effector, a shaft, and a housing extending proximally from the shaft. The surgical instrument includes an articulation assembly configured to articulate the end effector relative to the shaft, a firing assembly configured to fire a plurality of staples, for example, and a locking member movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The housing is removably couplable to the shaft when the locking member is in the unlocked configuration and the housing includes a motor configured to drive at least one of the firing assembly and the articulation assembly. The housing also includes a controller in communication with the motor, wherein the controller is configured to activate the motor to reset at least one of the firing assembly and the articulation assembly to a home state when the locking member is moved between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration.

A surgical instrument system is disclosed which comprises a handle and a battery positioned in the handle. The system can further include a power adapter which can be exchanged for the battery and can supply power from an alternate power source. In other instances, the system can include a power adapter which is engageable with the battery to supply power from an alternate power source. The power adapter can be placed in series with the battery. Alternatively, the engagement of the power adapter with the handle can electrically decouple the battery from the handle. Also disclosed herein is a supplemental battery which can be attached to the handle to provide additional power to the handle.

A surgical instrument comprising an interchangeable shaft assembly is disclosed. The interchangeable shaft assembly comprises a shaft portion, an end effector configured to receive a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples, a firing assembly movable from a firing home state to deploy the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge, and an articulation assembly movable from an articulation home state to articulate the end effector relative to the shaft portion. The surgical instrument further comprises a housing detachable from the shaft portion, a circuit configured to transmit a home state input signal in response to an action performed to decouple the housing from the shaft portion, and a controller configured to cause the firing assembly to return to the firing home state and the articulation assembly to return to the articulation home state in response to the home state input signal.