Abstract: A suturing device for use with a tubular vessel, tissue or organ including a hollow housing, an activation mechanism and a flexible suture guide. The suturing device includes a suture which may be pre-knotted or include a crimp, anchor or other retaining means. The flexible suture guide of the suturing device is placed around the outer diameter of the tubular vessel, tissue or organ and the activation mechanism causes the suture to be placed around the outer diameter of the tubular vessel, tissue or organ and knotted. The suturing device may include a severing means which severs the suture at the knot.

Abstract: A surgical instrument assembly including a housing containing a specimen retrieval bag and pliable spring, a distal end including a non-blunt tip and a deployment mechanism. The specimen retrieval bag is moved from the stowed position within a hollow housing to a deployed position by sliding a rod from a retracted position within the hollow housing to an extended position that projects at least partially out of the hollow housing. Two portions of a flexible support ring unfold under spring bias from a folding position as the rod enters the extended position to open a mouth of the specimen retrieval bag. The distal end of the assembly has a non-blunt tip which is shaped to puncture human skin. The deployment mechanism may include a rod, slide, grip or handle. The specimen retrieval bag may be comprised of more than one material.

Abstract: A surgical instrument probe or electrode including an longated cannula with a rod having an end effector on a distal end of the elongated cannula and a pencil hub on a proximal end of the elongated cannula. The end effector on the distal end of the elongated cannula may be a hook or a spatula, and the rod may be attached to an electrosurgical energy source to enable the end effector to perform a cauterizing function. The rod may be between about 100 mm to about 400 mm, and include a diameter of less than about 3 mm.

Abstract: A needlescopic scissors end effector assembly includes a pair of jaws or blades pivotable to perform a cutting or shearing operation. The scissors end effector assembly includes a cannula having a diameter between about 1 mm to 5 mm and a needle tip configured for percutaneous operation. The pair of jaws or blades includes cam profile surfaces to interact with an opening defined with the needle tip to actuate opening and closing of the pair of jaws or blades and to prevent backlash effect during the opening and closing of the pair of jaws or blades.

Abstract: A surgical instrument probe or electrode including an elongated shaft with a rod having an end effector on a distal end of the elongated shaft, a sealing means, and a pencil hub on a proximal end of the elongated shaft. The end effector on the distal end of the elongated shaft may be a hook or a spatula, and the rod may be attached to an electrosurgical energy source to enable the end effector to perform a cauterizing function. The rod may be between about 100 mm to about 400 mm and include a diameter of less than about 3 mm.

Abstract: A needle guide assembly for vein access including (a) a guide having a convex portion, a concave portion, an aperture and a stabilization means for stabilizing a vein against moving away and escape puncture, where the concave portion and the convex portion meet each other to define the aperture between the concave portion and the convex portion, each of the convex portion and the concave portion extending away from the aperture in opposite directions from each other in a tapering manner and terminating the tapering at respective locations away from the peripheral edge, the convex portion being made of a transparent or translucent material, the stabilization means being a pair of elongated indentations that extend substantially parallel to each other and between which are the convex portion, the concave portion and the aperture, and (b) a retaining means for retaining the guide to skin.

Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical assembly broadly includes an outer hollow needle which has an outer diameter of 3.0 mm or smaller, and a coaxial surgical instrument having a shaft which extends through the outer hollow needle. The coaxial surgical instrument includes end effectors at the end of the shaft which are biased to an open position such that when the end effectors of the surgical instrument extended out of the needle they open, and they are closed by relative movement of the needle over them. The assembly preferably includes a first fixing element which is used to fix the relative location of the surgical instrument and the needle. The assembly also preferably includes a second fixing element which moves relative to the needle and is located on the outside thereof and which is used to fix the relative location of the needle to the patient.

Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical assembly broadly includes an outer hollow needle which has an outer diameter of 3.0 mm or smaller, and a coaxial surgical instrument having a shaft which extends through the outer hollow needle. The coaxial surgical instrument includes end effectors at the end of the shaft which are biased to an open position such that when the end effectors of the surgical instrument extended out of the needle they open, and they are closed by relative movement of the needle over them. The assembly preferably includes a first fixing element which is used to fix the relative location of the surgical instrument and the needle. The assembly also preferably includes a second fixing element which moves relative to the needle and is located on the outside thereof and which is used to fix the relative location of the needle to the patient.

Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical assembly broadly includes an outer hollow needle which has an outer diameter of 3.0 mm or smaller, and a coaxial surgical instrument having a shaft which extends through the outer hollow needle. The coaxial surgical instrument includes end effectors at the end of the shaft which are biased to an open position such that when the end effectors of the surgical instrument extended out of the needle they open, and they are closed by relative movement of the needle over them. The assembly preferably includes a first fixing element which is used to fix the relative location of the surgical instrument and the needle. The assembly also preferably includes a second fixing element which moves relative to the needle and is located on the outside thereof and which is used to fix the relative location of the needle to the patient.

Abstract: A specimen retrieval assembly including a housing containing a specimen retrieval bag and pliable spring, a distal end including a non-blunt tip, and a deployment mechanism. The specimen retrieval bag is moved from the stowed position within a hollow housing to a deployed position by sliding a rod from a retracted position partially within the hollow housing to an extended position that projects at least partially out of the hollow housing. Two portions of a flexible support ring unfold under spring bias from a folding position as the rod enters the extended position to open a mouth of the specimen retrieval bag. The distal end of the assembly has a non-blunt tip which is shaped to puncture human skin.

Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical assembly broadly includes an outer tube which has an outer diameter of 3.0 mm or smaller, and a coaxial surgical instrument having a shaft which extends through the outer hollow tube. The coaxial surgical instrument includes end effectors at the end of the shaft. The end effectors include spring arms and wire frame clamp elements defining fenestrations. The spring arms are biased to an open position such that when the end effectors of the surgical instrument extend out of the outer tube they open, and they are closed by relative movement of the outer tube over them. The wire frame clamp elements are biased to an open position such that when they extend out of the outer tube they open and they are closed by relative movement of the outer tube over them.

Abstract: A surgical access port assembly including a cannula having a diameter of less than about 3 mm and a tapered hub, capable of attachment to a laparoscopic surgical instrument, connected to the proximal end of the cannula.

Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical assembly broadly includes an outer hollow needle which has an outer diameter of approximately 2 mm or smaller, and a coaxial surgical instrument having a shaft which extends through the outer hollow needle. The coaxial surgical instrument includes end effectors at the end of the shaft which are biased to an open position such that when the end effectors of the surgical instrument extend out of the needle they open, and they are closed by relative movement of the needle over them. The assembly preferably includes a first fixing element which is used to fix the relative location of the surgical instrument and the needle. The assembly also preferably includes a second fixing element which moves relative to the needle and is located on the outside thereof and which is used to fix the relative location of the needle to the patient.

Abstract: Various surgical instruments for laparoscopic procedures are provided for aspirating and retracting a hollow organ such as a gallbladder. The surgical instruments include a needle body and an anchor coupled to the needle body. The anchor is adapted and configured for engaging and retracting the hollow organ, and can be held and deployed from within the needle body or from an outside surface of the needle body. The needle body defines an aperture for permitting aspiration of contents of the hollow organ.

Abstract: A surgical device including a disposable needle assembly, a reusable handle assembly and a retractable slide. A method for inserting and releasing a disposable needle assembly from a reusable handle assembly is included. The handle assembly includes a ratchet mechanism, locking mechanism, arming mechanism and a cage.

Abstract: A surgical device includes an elongated needle body defining an interior lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, having a sharpened distal tip portion. The device further includes an assembly operatively associated with the interior lumen of the needle body. The assembly includes a shaft having an outer surface profile corresponding to an inner surface of the interior lumen of the needle body and a pair of arms extending distally from the shaft. The pair of arms are biased radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and each of the pair of arms having a blunt front surface, wherein one of the arms is in a fixed axial alignment with the sharpened distal tip portion of the needle body such that the arms act as an obturator relative to the sharpened distal tip portion of the needle body to guard the needle body from causing accidental needle tip trauma.

Abstract: A surgical instrument access port assembly and method of use, the surgical instrument access port a surgical instrument has a needle lumen and a surgical access port. The needle lumen extends in a longitudinal direction and includes a needle tip at a distal end, and a body portion at a proximal end, the body portion having at least one recess or finger. The surgical access port has a cannula defining a hollow cannula shaft, and a tapered hub attached to a proximal end of the cannula. The tapered hub includes at least one inner ring configured to abut against the at least one recess or finger while the surgical instrument is inserted into the cannula of the surgical access port.

Abstract: A vascular introducer sheath includes a sheath body having an interior lumen for accommodating a dilator. The vascular introducer further includes a guidewire positioning means operatively associated with the interior lumen of the sheath body for directing a guidewire in either a vascular direction or an arterial direction within a venous system.

Abstract: A needle guide assembly for vein access including (a) a guide having a peripheral edge, a convex portion, a concave portion and an aperture, where the concave portion and the convex portion meet each other to define the aperture between the concave portion and the convex portion, each of the convex portion and the concave portion extending away from the aperture in opposite directions from each other in a tapering manner and terminating the tapering at respective locations away from the peripheral edge, the convex portion being made of a transparent or translucent material, and (b) a retaining means for retaining the guide to skin. A venipuncture method includes retaining the needle guide assembly onto the skin of a patient and using the needle guide assembly to guide a needle to puncture the skin and access a vein.

Abstract: A bladder assembly for a compression apparatus for providing pressure to a limb, where the bladder assembly includes at least one bladder. The bladder includes a first and a second flexible wall secured to one another about a peripheral edge thereof to form an air pocket. The bladder further includes at least one spot weld provided in a predetermined location inward of the peripheral edge connecting the first and second walls to one another to define a plurality of chambers within the air pocket. The bladder assembly may be used in a variety of compression apparatus and the compression apparatus may also include a pressure gauge and pump for controlling an amount of pressure applied to the treatment site via the bladder. The bladder may be configured to provide a gradient pressure profile to the treatment site when filled.