A lighted electrocautery blade assembly is disclosed for attachment to a handheld electrosurgical instrument, which includes a housing having an LED light assembly at a distal end thereof for illuminating a surgical site, and an electrode operatively associated with the housing and including a distal portion defining an electrocautery blade and a proximal portion defining a connector for electrically coupling with an electrosurgical instrument.

An apparatus, including a handle and a first conductive tube that is attached to and extends from the handle. The first conductive tube is biocompatible, and a distal end of the first conductive tube is configured to be inserted into an orifice of a human being for a medical procedure. The apparatus includes a second conductive tube, that is attached to and is enclosed by the first conductive tube. The first and second conductive tubes together act as an antenna for electromagnetic radiation. An insulated conductive coil is fashioned around and is fixed to the second conductive tube, and the coil generates a signal in response to a magnetic field traversing the coil. The apparatus also includes a transceiver that receives the signal from the insulated conductive coil, and in response generates a radiofrequency signal at a preset frequency and conveys the radiofrequency signal to the second conductive tube for radiation therefrom as electromagnetic energy at the preset frequency.

Disclosed is a surgical instrument that includes a battery assembly, a handle assembly, and a shaft assembly where the battery assembly and the shaft assembly are configured to mechanically and electrically connect to the handle assembly. The battery assembly includes a control circuit configured to generate a digital waveform. The handle assembly includes a first stage circuit configured to receive the digital waveform, convert the digital waveform into an analog waveform, and amplify the analog waveform. The shaft assembly includes a second stage circuit coupled to the first stage circuit to receive, amplify, and apply the analog waveform to a load.

An ablation probe comprising an elongate body extending a length along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end, the first end extending into a housing and the second end comprising an ablation probe tip configured for insertion into a biopsy tract in a patient. In example forms, the elongate body of the ablation probe can be inserted into a patient through an existing trocar needle or biopsy access cannula following completion of a biopsy. In other example forms, the elongate body of the ablation probe defines a lumen. In one example form, the lumen contains a wire for heating the ablation probe tip, which may be composed of graphite, a resistive metal, or another electrically-resistive material. In another example form, the lumen additionally contains a thermocouple or other temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of the ablation probe tip. In any of the above example forms, use of the ablation probe to heat tissue following a biopsy effects cauterization of the tissue, stopping bleeding and reducing or preventing the seeding of additional tumors.

A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly that includes a handle housing. The handle housing comprises two asymmetric portions, a first portion configured to support mechanical and electrical components of the surgical instrument and a second portion comprising a removable cover.

An engagement detection system (EDS) adapted to be positioned between, and in electrical communication with, an electrosurgical generator and an electrosurgical instrument. The EDS adapted to electronically detect that the electrosurgical instrument is inserted into a trocar cannula, and thereafter deliver electrosurgical energy to the instrument. A method of operating an endoscopic electrosurgical instrument inserted into a trocar cannula, as well as a switch assembly are also provided.

A cordless surgical device includes a battery and a memory that stores data in which, with each of a plurality of energy output modes in which living tissue is treated by applying energy to the living tissue, a minimum power necessary to execute the energy output mode is associated, and a processor. The processor monitors a remaining power in the battery, selects an energy output mode in which the minimum power is less than the remaining power in the battery from among the energy output modes, and executes the selected energy output mode. The energy output modes include a normal output mode and an urgent output mode between which types of energy applied to the living tissue are the same. The minimum power corresponding to the normal output mode is higher than the minimum power corresponding to the urgent output mode.

A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a waveguide, a transducer, and a coupling assembly. In some versions the coupling assembly translates the transducer to couple the transducer to the waveguide. For instance, a gear having arcuate troughs may engage pins on the transducer and/or waveguide to mate the transducer to waveguide. A pawl may selectively engage and prevent rotation of the gear. Alternatively, lever arms may cam the transducer into the waveguide. The lever arms may selectively couple to a casing to prevent decoupling of the transducer and waveguide. In another configuration, a locking tab can be slid and locked into a slot to couple the transducer and waveguide. Further still, levers with self-locking pins may engage and couple the transducer to the waveguide. In another version, a rotatable body portion may engage a tab on the transducer to rotate and couple the transducer to the waveguide.

A system for controlling a robotic arm is disclosed. The system includes a robotic arm including a surgical tool, a tool driver, and at least two sensors disposed on the robotic arm to redundantly monitor a status of the robotic arm and to verify an operational parameter of the surgical robotic tool. A central control circuit is configured to measure a first physical property of the robotic arm based on readings from the first sensor, measure a second physical property of the robotic arm based on readings from the second sensor, and determine a status of the robotic arm based on the first and second measurements of the first and second physical properties of the robotic arm.

A sensor is provided for sensing layer removal from a surface. A head has an abrasive portion for contacting the surface and a conducting portion inside the head. This device has a sensor design which provides self-generation of a sensor signal with no power supply to the device head. This simplifies the design of the sensor head, and means it can have a design which is easy to clean with no parts which are easily damaged. In one set of examples, the device is a skin treatment device.