A surgical instrument includes a housing having a shaft extending distally therefrom, an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, a handle assembly coupled to the housing for manipulating the end effector assembly, a deployable assembly, at least one actuator for deploying and retracting the deployable assembly, and a closure member. The closure member is keyed to the actuator(s) and operably positioned relative to the movable handle of the handle assembly such that, upon rotation of the actuator(s) relative to the housing from an un-actuated position to an actuated position, the closure member is urged into contact with the movable handle to urge the movable handle from an initial position to a compressed position, thereby moving the end effector assembly to an approximated position.

A surgical instrument includes a housing having a shaft extending distally therefrom, an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, a handle assembly coupled to the housing for manipulating the end effector assembly, a deployable assembly, at least one actuator for deploying and retracting the deployable assembly, and a closure member. The closure member is keyed to the actuator(s) and operably positioned relative to the movable handle of the handle assembly such that, upon rotation of the actuator(s) relative to the housing from an un-actuated position to an actuated position, the closure member is urged into contact with the movable handle to urge the movable handle from an initial position to a compressed position, thereby moving the end effector assembly to an approximated position.

Methods and apparatus are provided for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation. Thermally-induced renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal energy to heat or cool neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers. In some embodiments, parameters of the neural fibers, of non-target tissue, or of the thermal energy delivery element, may be monitored via one or more sensors for controlling the thermally-induced neuromodulation. In some embodiments, protective elements may be provided to reduce a degree of thermal damage induced in the non-target tissues. In some embodiments, thermally-induced renal neuromodulation is achieved via delivery of a pulsed thermal therapy.

Methods and apparatus are provided for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation. Thermally-induced renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal energy to heat or cool neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers. In some embodiments, parameters of the neural fibers, of non-target tissue, or of the thermal energy delivery element, may be monitored via one or more sensors for controlling the thermally-induced neuromodulation. In some embodiments, protective elements may be provided to reduce a degree of thermal damage induced in the non-target tissues. In some embodiments, thermally-induced renal neuromodulation is achieved via delivery of a pulsed thermal therapy.

A deployment and retraction mechanism for a surgical instrument includes a gear box defining a longitudinal slot, a slider, a ring gear, and a planet gear. The slider is configured to engage a deployable component of the surgical instrument and is translatable along the longitudinal slot between a proximal end, corresponding to a storage condition of the deployable component, and a distal end, corresponding to a use condition of the deployable component. The planet gear is operably engaged with the ring gear and configured to orbit within the ring gear. The planet gear includes an off-center pin rotatably supporting the slider thereon. The planet gear and ring gear are configured such that a one-half orbit of the planet gear within the ring gear translates the slider from one end of the longitudinal slot to the other end of the longitudinal slot.

A deployment and retraction mechanism for a surgical instrument includes a gear box defining a longitudinal slot, a slider, a ring gear, and a planet gear. The slider is configured to engage a deployable component of the surgical instrument and is translatable along the longitudinal slot between a proximal end, corresponding to a storage condition of the deployable component, and a distal end, corresponding to a use condition of the deployable component. The planet gear is operably engaged with the ring gear and configured to orbit within the ring gear. The planet gear includes an off-center pin rotatably supporting the slider thereon. The planet gear and ring gear are configured such that a one-half orbit of the planet gear within the ring gear translates the slider from one end of the longitudinal slot to the other end of the longitudinal slot.

A surgical instrument includes a housing, a rotating assembly including a rotation wheel coupled to the housing, a shaft engaged with the rotation wheel within the housing and extending distally from the housing, an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, a drive assembly slidably disposed within the shaft and operably coupled to the end effector assembly for manipulating the end effector assembly, a knife assembly slidably disposed within the shaft translatable relative to the end effector assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, an elongated insulative sheath slidably disposed about the shaft, and an energizable member slidably disposed within the shaft. The instrument is configured such that rotation of the rotation wheel relative to the housing similarly rotates the shaft, end effector assembly, drive assembly, knife assembly, elongated insulative sheath, and energizable member relative to the housing.

A surgical instrument includes a housing, a rotating assembly including a rotation wheel coupled to the housing, a shaft engaged with the rotation wheel within the housing and extending distally from the housing, an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, a drive assembly slidably disposed within the shaft and operably coupled to the end effector assembly for manipulating the end effector assembly, a knife assembly slidably disposed within the shaft translatable relative to the end effector assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, an elongated insulative sheath slidably disposed about the shaft, and an energizable member slidably disposed within the shaft. The instrument is configured such that rotation of the rotation wheel relative to the housing similarly rotates the shaft, end effector assembly, drive assembly, knife assembly, elongated insulative sheath, and energizable member relative to the housing.

A vestibular electronic orthodontic appliance expediter constituted of a lingual sub-member and a buccal sub-member, the lingual sub-member arranged to fit a lingual contour of a gum of a patient, the buccal sub-member arranged to fit a buccal contour of a gum of the patient; a control circuitry; a power supply; a plurality of lingual electrodes, each associated with a particular tooth socket; and a plurality of buccal electrodes, each associated with a particular tooth socket. Either a first or a second type current is generated between lingual and buccal electrodes responsive to the control circuitry. Biochemical molecules involved in bone remodeling, augmented by the electric currents, may be applied to the expediter as a layer of gel containing those molecules on the expediter surface facing the gum tissue. Temperature control enhances the gel effects. pH measurement, as indicators of the cellular response to the combined treatment is further provided.

A vestibular electronic orthodontic appliance expediter constituted of a lingual sub-member and a buccal sub-member, the lingual sub-member arranged to fit a lingual contour of a gum of a patient, the buccal sub-member arranged to fit a buccal contour of a gum of the patient; a control circuitry; a power supply; a plurality of lingual electrodes, each associated with a particular tooth socket; and a plurality of buccal electrodes, each associated with a particular tooth socket. Either a first or a second type current is generated between lingual and buccal electrodes responsive to the control circuitry. Biochemical molecules involved in bone remodeling, augmented by the electric currents, may be applied to the expediter as a layer of gel containing those molecules on the expediter surface facing the gum tissue. Temperature control enhances the gel effects. pH measurement, as indicators of the cellular response to the combined treatment is further provided.