Abstract: A laparoscopic instrument including a pair of handles pivotally rotatable among at least two lockable positions. The instrument includes two drums attached to respective ones of the handles, a tool drum coupled to one of the drums, and a shaft passing through apertures formed in each of the drums and the tool drum. The drums are rotatable around the shaft to cause the handles to be rotated among the lockable positions. The shaft includes a pair of winglets disposed along a length of the shaft. A push-button is connected to an end of the shaft to slide the shaft relative to the three drums. When the push-button is depressed, the winglets lock the handles together, allowing them to freely rotate about the shaft. When the push-button is released, pins secure one of the drums to a housing to allow rotation of one of the handles relative to the other.

Abstract: A peak contact pressure sensor system comprising: at least one channel comprising a wall, wherein the wall is configured to deform upon engagement with a force or pressure which exceeds a threshold level, and further wherein the channel is filled with a fluid or gas; and a monitor for monitoring changes in the state of the fluid or gas within the at least one channel. A smart tissue retractor system comprising: a retractor; at least one channel carried by the retractor and comprising a wall, wherein the wall is configured to deform upon engagement with a force which exceeds a threshold level, and further wherein the channel is filled with a fluid or gas; and a monitor for monitoring changes in the state of the fluid or gas within the at least one channel.

Abstract: A method is presented for replacing a tool through a sleeve of a laparoscopic instrument without removing the sleeve from a body. The method includes rotating a housing portion of the laparoscopic instrument to expose an end of a first tool to be removed, removing the first tool from the sleeve, and inserting a second tool into the sleeve without removing it from the body.

Abstract: A laparoscopic instrument including a pair of handles pivotally rotatable among at least two lockable positions. The instrument includes two drums attached to respective ones of the handles, a tool drum coupled to one of the drums, and a shaft passing through apertures formed in each of the drums and the tool drum. The drums are rotatable around the shaft to cause the handles to be rotated among the lockable positions. The shaft includes a pair of winglets disposed along a length of the shaft. A push-button is connected to an end of the shaft to slide the shaft relative to the three drums. When the push-button is depressed, the winglets lock the handles together, allowing them to freely rotate about the shaft. When the push-button is released, pins secure one of the drums to a housing to allow rotation of one of the handles relative to the other.

Abstract: A laparoscopic instrument including a first handle and a second handle. The first handle includes a latching mechanism. The second handle is pivotally coupled to the first handle and includes a locking part. The first handle and the second handle are in a locked position when the latching mechanism is engaged with the locking part, and the first handle and the second handle are in an open position when the latching mechanism is disengaged from the locking part. The latching mechanism include a limiting lever that is positioned along the rotational path of the latching lever in order to limit the rotational movement of the latching lever. The latching mechanism allows a surgeon to lock or unlock the handles with the hand that is grasping the handles without using the other hand.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a sleeve that is separable from the remainder of the surgical instrument to facilitate tool exchange without removing the sleeve from a patient's body. The surgical instrument includes a pair of handles coupled to a housing assembly that includes a drum assembly. A knob assembly is coupled to the housing assembly via a bearing shaft having a groove formed thereon for receiving a movable locking plate that is secured to a knob of the knob assembly. The locking plate is movable between a locked and an unlocked position such that in the locked position a tool received in the sleeve is retained within the surgical instrument and in the unlocked position the sleeve is separable from the remainder of the surgical instrument. The sleeve can remain in situ within the patient's body while the tool is exchanged with another one and reinserted into the sleeve.

Abstract: A peak contact pressure sensor system comprising: at least one channel comprising a wall, wherein the wall is configured to deform upon engagement with a force or pressure which exceeds a threshold level, and further wherein the channel is filled with a fluid or gas; and a monitor for monitoring changes in the state of the fluid or gas within the at least one channel. A smart tissue retractor system comprising: a retractor; at least one channel carried by the retractor and comprising a wall, wherein the wall is configured to deform upon engagement with a force which exceeds a threshold level, and further wherein the channel is filled with a fluid or gas; and a monitor for monitoring changes in the state of the fluid or gas within the at least one channel.