Apparatus, consisting of a power supply having a first electrical connection to a relatively high voltage source and connectable to ablation circuitry in a catheter via a second electrical connection. There are rechargeable first and second subsidiary power sources in the power supply. The apparatus also has a control unit, and a first switch alternately connecting the ablation circuitry to the first and second subsidiary power sources responsively to control signals from the control unit. The apparatus also has a second switch alternately connecting one of the first and second subsidiary power sources to the high voltage source for recharging thereof responsively to the control signals while the one of the first and second subsidiary power sources is disconnected from the ablation circuitry and another of the first and second subsidiary power sources is connected to the ablation circuitry by the first switch.

Various embodiments are directed to methods for use with a surgical device to harvest energy from a surgical generator. The surgical device in use in conjunction with the surgical generator may comprise an energy storage device in electrical communication with a surgical generator to provide energy to charge the energy storage device. The method may comprise the steps of receiving a drive signal from the generator. The method may also comprise directing at least a portion of the drive signal to the energy storage device in a first mode. The method may further comprise directing at least a portion of the drive signal to at least one energy element in a second mode.

A surgical tool system. Various embodiments of the surgical tool system may comprise surgical instrument that has a handle assembly that operably supports a drive system therein for generating drive motions upon actuation of a movable handle portion operably coupled to the handle assembly. An elongated body protrudes from the handle assembly and operably supports a control rod therein that interfaces with the drive system. The surgical tool system further includes at least two surgical tools selected from the group of surgical tools consisting of: manipulators, nippers, scissors, endocutters, tissue thickness measurement devices, staple appliers, clip appliers, syringes for applying glue, sealant, drugs or medicaments and cauterization devices wherein each of the surgical tool within the group of surgical tools at least has a housing that is removably couplable to the elongated body and a drive assembly that is removably couplable to the control rod for receiving the drive motions therefrom.

A portable electrosurgical device (ESD) has a housing, a probe connected to the housing and a heating element connected to the probe for destroying human tissue. The heating element is detachable from the probe and/or the probe with heating element can be detachable from the housing. The user can set a drive signal's electrical characteristics, such as operating frequency, duty cycle, peak voltage and the like for a customized drive signal formed in the ESD based on the heating element used. Memory storage allows for storage of inputted data from a keyboard, downloaded reference documents and information off the Internet from an Ethernet connector that can be displayed for reference on a screen of the ESD. Another even more compact ESD is an integral one-piece portable device having a type of pistol hand-held grip, dis-connectable probe, and a rechargeable, removable battery in the handle provides approximately 30, one-minute treatments on a single battery charge.

Disclosed is a method of controlling a modular battery powered handheld surgical instrument. The surgical instrument including a battery, a user input sensor, a controller, a radio frequency (RF) drive circuit, an ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic transducer drive circuit, and an end effector. The end effector including an electrode electrically coupled to RF drive circuit, an ultrasonic blade acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, and a sensor to measure tissue parameters. The method includes applying an RF current drive signal to the electrode by the RF drive circuit; applying an ultrasonic drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer by the ultrasonic transducer drive circuit to acoustically excite the ultrasonic blade; controlling intensity, wave shape, and/or frequency of the RF current drive signal and the ultrasonic drive signal on a sensed measure of a tissue or user parameter.

Described herein is a microneedle treatment system to reduce fat deposits directly under or in close proximity to skin, and to deliver energy or non-energy treatments to thicken and tighten dermis to treat skin laxity, wrinkles, improve skin scars, and other skin problems. The system can include a disposable patch with a microneedle array, and an overlying mask. The patch can be directly connected to a power source or an overlying mask can be configured to be placed directly over the disposable patch. The overlying mask can include a drive circuitry configured to deliver energy into the microneedle array, a sensor configured for localized sensing, and a telemetry uplink to smart phone, a computer or a computer network. Also described is a method to reduce fat deposits in close proximity to skin, and to deliver energy or non-energy treatments to thicken and tighten dermis using a microneedle array.

Provided is a system including a surgical instrument comprising a handle assembly comprising a handle; a shaft assembly coupled to the handle assembly; and a flexible circuit. The handle assembly comprises a proximal portion of the flexible circuit and the shaft assembly comprises a distal portion of the flexible circuit; the shaft assembly further comprising: an exterior shaft positioned around the distal portion of the flexible circuit and configured to change position while a sub-portion of the distal portion of the flexible circuit remains stationary; and shaft control electronics comprising a stationary portion and a non-stationary portion, the stationary portion coupled to the distal portion of the flexible circuit and the non-stationary portion coupled to the exterior shaft; wherein the stationary portion of the shaft control electronics is configured to measure a distance to the non-stationary portion of the shaft control electronics as the exterior shaft changes position.

A surgical instrument comprises a shaft assembly comprising a shaft and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the shaft; a handle assembly coupled to a proximal end of the shaft; a battery assembly coupled to the handle assembly; a driver configured to drive movement of at least one component of the surgical instrument; a motor powered by the battery assembly and configured to actuate the driver using an output of the motor; and a controller for the motor, configured to perform a limiting operation to the output of the motor when a limiting condition is met, wherein the limiting condition is determined based at least in part on a tissue characteristic.

Systems, devices, and methods are operable to track usage of a surgical instrument and modify the performance of the surgical instrument based on the prior usage of the surgical instrument. Some surgical instruments are designed to have a limited service life beginning at their first use, or a limit to their overall usage in order to ensure safe use of the sensitive instruments. However, a lack of ability to track usage characteristics when the instrument is separated from an external power supply allows for user abuse and avoidance of such safety mechanisms. Adding a battery or capacitor to the instrument may allow for an ability to track usage when the instrument is separated from an external power supply. Implementing special user prompts, device use ratios, and device use half-life upon powering down of an instrument may additionally be used to prevent circumvention of safety features.

A system and method for providing additional power to a hand-held surgical device from a supplemental DC power supply. The hand-held surgical device includes a generator and an internal power supply. The internal power supply is a battery or a capacitor either which can withstand a high-temperature and/or a low-temperature sterilization procedure while within the hand-held surgical device. The supplemental DC power supply can provide alone or in combination with the internal power supply sufficient power to the generator to perform an electrosurgical procedure. The supplemental DC power supply is connected through a detachable cord to the hand-held surgical device. The DC power supply may be outside a sterile surgical environment.