Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes an elongate shaft, an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft and including opposing first and second jaws, and an articulable wrist that interposes the end effector and the distal end, the wrist including a linkage providing one or more lateral arms receivable within a corresponding one or more grooves defined in the first and second jaws, wherein mounting the linkage to the first and second jaws at the corresponding one or more groove generates a jaw pivot where the first and second jaws pivot between open and closed positions.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an illumination portion including an emitter and being configured to radiate illumination light beam onto an imaging subject, the beam having intensity distribution in which light and dark portions are spatially repeated; a controller configured to cause widths of the dark portions to change; an imager configured to acquire a plurality of illumination images of the subject being illuminated with beams in which the widths of the dark portions are different from each other; and at least one processor including hardware, the processor being configured to: create first and second images from each of the illumination images, the first images containing a greater quantity of information about a deep layer of the subject than the second images do; and calculate information about depths of a feature portion in the subject on the basis of changes among the first images and changes among the second images.

Abstract: Provided is a technique for further reducing the scale of an endoscope system. An optical distribution connector according to the present disclosure discloses an optical distribution connector (additional connector) which includes an optical connector portion that is configured to be attachable to and detachable from a processor and realizes an optical connection with the processor, a plurality of medical device mounting portions, each of which is attachable to and detachable from a medical device, and at least one optical element that distributes light emitted from a light source included in the processor in each direction of the plurality of medical device mounting portions. In this optical distribution connector, at least one optical element has a spectral distribution wavelength characteristic defined by the light transmittance and the light reflectance for each of the plurality of wavelength bands of light (see FIG. 5).

Abstract: Disclosed is a delivery device, kit, system, method, etc. for localized fusion of leaflets of a tissue valve, for example, a native heart valve, using an adhesive. The delivery device can have one or more capture features for capturing separate leaflets, for example, the anterior and posterior mitral leaflets. An applicator can be configured to apply a biocompatible adhesive between the captured leaflets, and one or more curing elements can be configured to cure the applied biocompatible adhesive. The kit can have the aforementioned delivery device, and the biocompatible adhesive used therewith. The method can include positioning the aforementioned delivery device adjacent the anterior and posterior mitral leaflets, capturing the mitral leaflets between the paddles of the delivery device, applying a biocompatible adhesive between the captured mitral leaflets via the applicator, and curing the applied biocompatible adhesive via the energy elements to locally fuse the mitral leaflets.

Abstract: A stereo endoscope for capturing a first image which is provided to be observed by a first eye and a second image which is provided to be observed by a second eye, including a shaft with a distal end region, a first image sensor in the distal end region of the shaft, for capturing the first image, and a second image sensor in the distal end region of the shaft, for capturing the second image. The first image sensor and the second image sensor are arranged offset relative to one another in a direction which is parallel to at least either a light-sensitive layer of the first image sensor or a light-sensitive layer of the second image sensor and which is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis the distal end region of the shaft. The first image sensor and the second image sensor are oriented in opposite directions.

Abstract: An endoscopic imaging system for use in a light deficient environment includes an imaging device having a tube, one or more image sensors, and a lens assembly including at least one optical elements that corresponds to the one or more image sensors. The endoscopic system includes a display for a user to visualize a scene and an image signal processing controller. The endoscopic system includes a light engine having an illumination source generating one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation and a lumen transmitting one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation to a distal tip of an endoscope.

Abstract: The invention discloses a plague removal device, comprising, a push catheter, a plaque scraping stent, a support tube, an elastic filter membrane, a guide catheter, and a handle, wherein the plaque scraping stent is a mesh structure sleeved outside the support tube, a distal end of the plaque scraping stent is fixed on a distal end of the support tube, a proximal end of the plaque scraping stent is fixed on a distal end of the push catheter, the support tube is sleeved inside the push catheter; a distance between the distal end of the push catheter and the distal end of the support tube is adjusted by the handle, so that an outer diameter of the plaque scraping stent is varied. The unique structure design of “tapered structure” in the present invention can ensure good compliance during the entry and withdrawal of the stent.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes two jaw members, at least one of which creates conditions of frustrated total internal reflection at a tissue-contacting surface when tissue is grasped between the two jaw members. The first jaw member may include an optical element having a tissue-contacting surface. The medical instrument also includes a light source that provides a light beam for sealing tissue. The light source is positioned so that the light beam is totally internally reflected from an interface between the tissue-contacting surface and air when tissue is not grasped by the jaw members. When tissue is grasped by the jaw members, at least a portion of the light beam is transmitted through that portion of the tissue-contacting surface that is in contact with the tissue. The light source may be movably coupled to a jaw member to scan the light beam and/or to change the incident angle based on optical properties of the tissue.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes two jaw members, at least one of which creates conditions of frustrated total internal reflection at a tissue-contacting surface when tissue is grasped between the two jaw members. The first jaw member may include an optical element having a tissue-contacting surface. The medical instrument also includes a light source that provides a light beam for sealing tissue. The light source is positioned so that the light beam is totally internally reflected from an interface between the tissue-contacting surface and air when tissue is not grasped by the jaw members. When tissue is grasped by the jaw members, at least a portion of the light beam is transmitted through that portion of the tissue-contacting surface that is in contact with the tissue. The light source may be movably coupled to a jaw member to scan the light beam and/or to change the incident angle based on optical properties of the tissue.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a new phacoemulsification tip which can be used during cataract surgery. Particularly, the phacoemulsification tip of the invention physically separates the aspiration function from the ultrasonic energy release point, where the distal region of the tip is blind, and the aspiration port is at a suitable distance from the distal end of the tip of the invention.

Abstract: A cannula system and method for accessing a blood mass in the brain. The system comprises a cannula with a camera mounted on the proximal end of the cannula with a view into the cannula lumen and the surgical field below the lumen. A prism, reflector or other suitable optical element is oriented between the camera and the lumen of the cannula to afford the camera a view into the cannula while minimizing obstruction of the lumen. The system may also include an obturator with a small diameter shaft and a large diameter tip which is optically transmissive, so that a surgeon inserting or manipulating the assembly can easily see that the obturator tip is near brain tissue (which is white) or blood (which is red).

Abstract: A medical probe includes a shaft, a camera, a hollow cutting tool, and an inflatable balloon. The shaft is configured for insertion through a cut in a body of a patient, whereas the shaft includes a working vacuum channel running therethrough. The camera is fitted at a distal end of the shaft and is configured to provide images of a target tissue site in the body. The hollow cutting tool is for insertion over a guidewire in the working vacuum channel of the shaft, whereas the hollow cutting tool is configured to pierce the target tissue site under guidance of images taken by the camera. The inflatable balloon is configured to stabilize the distal end of the shaft, whereas the inflatable balloon is located proximally to the camera so as not to obstruct the images of the target tissue site.

Abstract: An operation system, a surgical system, a control device, a distortion generating body, a surgical instrument and the like for detecting a force acting on an end effector are provided. The surgical system includes an arm including one or more links, an end effector arranged at a tip end of the arm, a first distortion detecting unit that detects distortion generated in the end effector, a second distortion detecting unit that detects distortion generated in the link, and a processing unit that calculates a force acting on the end effector in a living body on the basis of detection results of the first distortion detecting unit and the second distortion detecting unit.

Abstract: A method of controlling movement of the tip of a surgical endoscope from a first position (E) to an intermediate position (E?), the field of view from the tip of the endoscope being at an angle (?) relative to a longitudinal shaft of the endoscope, the method comprising: receiving a command to move from the first position in a first direction; identifying a nominal view point (N) from the tip of the endoscope in the first position; calculating a tip movement path from the first position based on the received command, the identified nominal view point and the angle (?); determining the intermediate position; and moving the tip to the intermediate position, the intermediate position being such that the nominal view point remains within the field of view from the tip.

Abstract: Biopsy caps and seals, and methods for making and using the same may be provided in conjunction with an endoscope assembly. A seal may include a main body including a circumferential outer wall surrounding a central lumen. The seal may include at least one support wall extending radially from the outer wall towards a center of the lumen, and at least one helical flap extending from the support wall helically downward along an inner surface of the outer wall, where the at least one helical flap defines an opening at the center of the lumen. The seal may alternatively include a plurality of projections extending radially inward from the outer wall towards a center of the lumen, where the plurality of projections are arranged in a series of circumferentially and angularly offset layers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosures made herein are directed to facilitating adjustability of operative apparatuses. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosures made herein are directed to mitigating adverse implications of having to adjust a control portion of an operative apparatus to a user-defined setting that is not otherwise a predefined setting position of the control portion. Such adverse implications may arise, for example, due to the time required for performing such adjustment with a required degree of precision. Thereby, such embodiments serve to mitigate, if not eliminate, that manner in which adjusting the control portion of the operative apparatus to the user-defined setting during a procedure can undesirably and/or unacceptably limit efficiency and/or effectiveness of the procedure.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing having an elongated body extending distally therefrom. The elongated body defines a first articulating portion and a second articulating portion. The elongated body defines a lumen therein. An end effector is supported at a distal end portion of the elongated body. A flexible waveguide extends through the lumen of the elongated body. A proximal end portion of the flexible waveguide connects to an ultrasonic transducer. A distal end portion of the flexible waveguide is connected with the end effector. the flexible waveguide defines a first articulating portion having a narrower thickness than a thickness of other portions of the flexible waveguide and a second articulating portion having a narrower thickness than a thickness of other portions of the flexible waveguide.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: an insertion section; an operation section; a bending portion; a longitudinal member for maintaining a constant distance from the operation section to a distal end portion of the insertion section along a longitudinal axis of the insertion section; and a flexible tube portion provided in a movable manner with respect to the operation section and the longitudinal member in a longitudinal axis direction, and making the bending portion extend and contract with movement of the flexible tube portion with respect to the operation section in the longitudinal axis direction.

Abstract: Medical devices for delivering compositions or medical articles to a patient are disclosed. The medical plug delivery devices can include a fluid delivery device (e.g., a syringe), a frame, and a rotatable magazine. The rotatable magazine can include a plurality of chambers that each hold a composition or a medical article (e.g., a medical plug). By rotating the rotatable magazine relative to the frame, material within the chambers of the rotatable magazine can be sequentially deployed to a patient.

Abstract: A medical device and can remove an object inside a biological lumen while allowing a positional change of the device inside the biological lumen. The medical device includes a drive shaft, an outer tube accommodating the drive shaft, a cutting portion fixed to a distal portion of the drive shaft, and a hub unit housing proximal portions of the drive shaft and the outer tube. The hub unit has an operation unit fixed to the outer surface of the outer tube to rotate the outer tube, a first support portion rotatably supporting the operation unit, a first housing having an aspiration port for discharging fluid to outside, and causing communication of an aspiration lumen of the outer tube with the aspiration port, and a first seal between the first housing and the outer tube. The first support portion and the first seal are disposed in parallel along an axial direction.