Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical procedure for replacing a hip joint is provided. A main incision is initiated at a point being a projection of a tip of a greater trochanter and extends proximally about a distance in the range of from 1 cm to 8 cm in line with the femoral axis. An inline capsulotomy is performed, while keeping muscles and posterior capsule intact, to expose the hip joint capsule for accessing the hip joint. The femoral canal is prepared for receipt of a femoral implant. The femoral head is resected and removed out of the acetabulum. A step of acetabular preparation is performed using a retractor comprising two tip rails, each tip rail having a plurality of tines. Related tools, devices, systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A surgical stapler comprising a projector configured to project an image onto the tissue of a patient which assists the user of the surgical stapler.

Abstract: An endo-surgical device, system and method are provided. The endo-surgical device includes a flared prow that limits the displacement and rotation of the cannula to keep the knife away from tissues that are not intended to be cut. The endo-surgical tool can be utilized as part of a system for performing an endo-surgical procedure.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for endoscopic surgery having a solid or transparent body and open windows on each of the opposing sides at the distal end, proximate a top open region. The open windows can be arcs or other configurations either open or with bars which are generally integral with the top and extend across the windows. An integrated tissue retractor spring, once activated, extends above the open region and when not activated rests within the open region. A marking member, that can be in fluid contact with a marking reservoir, can be placed at the distal end of the body. In another embodiment the body can be curved using a flexible blade shaft. In a further embodiment the handle has a linear body, containing a blade activation mechanism, at least one activation trigger, and a connector means.

Abstract: An endoscopic incision system includes: an endoscope; a cylindrical member for covering at least a distal end of an insertion section of the endoscope; and at least an incision section for incising a living tissue, the incision section being provided to a distal end of the cylindrical member and being capable of being exposed from the distal end of the cylindrical member outwardly. In this configuration, the radially expanding incision section will not be twisted or bent, and the incision section prevented from inadvertent fall-off can maintain the desirable shape when it is operated and rotated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying the flexor retinaculum of the carpal tunnel, injecting an effective amount of an agent into at least a portion of flexor retinaculum or tissue adjacent thereto, wherein the agent is configured to weaken the flexor retinaculum. The system may further include means for increasing the tensile stress in the flexor retinaculum post-injection using hand exercises, thereby weakening its structural integrity and decreasing the pressure within the carpal tunnel that impairs median nerve function.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of gaining access to a lateral side of a spinal column for a spinal fusion procedure at a surgical site. In an embodiment, the method includes inserting a distal end of a shaft through skin at an entry point into a patient; steering the shaft toward a surgical site using a visualization device to avoid damage to structures between the entry point and the surgical site; and retracting tissue between the entry point and the surgical site to define a pathway for access to the lateral side of the spinal column for a spinal fusion procedure. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A prosthetic mesh and method of use in surgical methods for closure of abdominal incisions and prosthetics for repair of ventral hernias. The mesh provides for a new prosthetic that can be used for closure of laparotomy incisions, in patients at high risk for hernia formation, and in the repair of existing ventral hernias. The mesh utilizes existing multi laminar technology for intra peritoneal mesh, and fashions it in the shape of an intact Rectus Sheath. The mesh matrix can be made of any of the various absorbable or permanent polymer filaments that are woven or knitted into a scaffold for added strength to the abdominal wall closure during the healing phase, and for delivery of bio active substances that contribute to a biochemical milieu that contributes to favorable healing. A permanent non absorbable prosthesis will be desirable in certain circumstances and for particular patients, a slowly dissolving mesh would be ideal in most cases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing of a three-dimensional image data set, wherein the three-dimensional image data set is converted to a data set suitable for a two-dimensional image reproduction. The invention further relates to apparatuses for performing the required calculations and/or for reproduction of the data representations. The invention is particularly appropriate for medical applications of endoscopy, in particular, coloscopy.

Abstract: A lancet integrated test element tape includes a plurality of lancet integrated test elements. The lancet integrated test elements each include a lancet configured to form an incision in tissue and a test element configured to analyze body fluid from the incision in the tissue. A cartridge includes a supply compartment configured to store an unused section of the tape. The tape is folded within the supply compartment to limit damage to the lancet integrated test elements. The cartridge can further include a waste compartment in which a used section of the tape is stored. An indexing mechanism moves the tape between the supply and waste compartments.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator modulates light in response to a life-form bio-potential to provide a bio-potential modulated light output. Modulation can be carried out as a result of capacitive coupling with the bio-potential. Phase, polarization, and intensity light modulation can be used. The light output can then be converted to electronic form for further processing. An optical power splitter is used to split light into multiple portions that are converted to electrical form. A pilot tone is used to achieve high sensitivity and synchronize multiple electro-optic modulators while phase modulation can be used to reduce noise in the bio-potential signal. Low-coherent light may be used as the light source. A housing is provided that can be hermetically-sealed and provided with electro-magnetic shielding.

Abstract: An endo-surgical device, system and method are provided. The endo-surgical device includes a flared prow that limits the displacement and rotation of the cannula to keep the knife away from tissues that are not intended to be cut.

Abstract: A container (2) for tissue preparation for the tissue embedding, having a base body (4), that is formed out cylindrical shaped side wall (5), a floor (6) and several bridges (50). The bridges (50) subdivide the container (2) in several sub-containers (52). The side wall (5) has a plurality of slit shaped openings (12), that extend essentially over the total height of the side wall (5).

Abstract: A medical instrument for endoscopic removal of the saphenous vein has an elongated shaft which hat at the distal end a spatula tip and in whose proximal region is arranged a laterally projecting handle. The instrument further has an endoscopic optical system which has an eyepiece cup that is arranged at the proximal end of the instrument. The handle is joined to the shaft in such a way that an outer side of the instrument facing away from the handle continuously has a surface that, from the distal to the proximal end, is free of projections. The eyepiece cup is arranged in oblique orientation with respect to a longitudinal center axis of the shaft and encloses with the handle, with respect to the longitudinal center axis, an angle of less than 90°.

Abstract: A medical instrument for endoscopic removal of the saphenous vein has an elongated shaft which has at the distal end a spatula tip and in whose proximal region is arranged a laterally projecting handle. The instrument further has an endoscopic optical system which has an eyepiece cup that is arranged at the proximal end of the instrument. The handle is joined to the shaft in such a way that an outer side of the instrument facing away from the handle continuously has a surface that, from the distal to the proximal end, is free of projections. The eyepiece cup is arranged in oblique orientation with respect to a longitudinal center axis of the shaft and encloses with the handle, with respect to the longitudinal center axis, an angle of less than 90°.

Abstract: A surgical hand support apparatus includes a support member having a supporting surface for supporting at least the hand of a patient, a finger restraining member moveable relative to the supporting surface to be positioned to engage the fingers of the patient and a thumb restraining member moveable relative to the supporting surface to be positioned to engage the thumb of the patient. A quick release mechanism is associated with the finger restraining member and the thumb restraining member to lock the respective members at predetermined positions relative to the supporting surface. The apparatus may also include a wrist restraining member to engage the patient's wrist. An instrument support member is associated with the wrist restraining member and is configured to support a surgical instrument.

Abstract: A method for removing a vessel from a patient's body comprises the steps of identifying the vessel to be removing and providing an incision in the patient's body near the identified vessel. An optical dissector is inserted through the incision and tissue is optically dissected away from the surface of the vessel with the optical dissector. The optical dissector is then withdrawn from the body through the incision. An optical retractor is inserted into the body through the incision and is used to retract the dissected tissue away from the surface of the vessel thereby providing space between the dissected vessel and the retracted tissue. The vessel and its side branches are then dissected, ligated and transected and the vessel is then removed from the body through the incision.

Abstract: A surgical hand support apparatus includes a support member having a supporting surface for supporting at least the hand of a patient, a finger restraining member moveable relative to the supporting surface to be positioned to engage the fingers of the patient and a thumb restraining member moveable relative to the supporting surface to be positioned to engage the thumb of the patient. A quick release mechanism is associated with the finger restraining member and the thumb restraining member to lock the respective members at predetermined positions relative to the supporting surface. The apparatus may also include a wrist restraining member to engage the patient's wrist. An instrument support member is associated with the wrist restraining member and is configured to support a surgical instrument.

Abstract: A defogger for the objective lens of a laparoscope provides a channel in a longitudinal direction of the laparoscope. Gas from an insufflator is supplied to the channel exteriorly of a body being operated upon. A deflector is provided at or adjacent the opposite end of the gas flow channel to deflect insufflating gas across the objective lens for maintaining said objective lens clean within said body.

Abstract: A surgical retractor for exposing a carpal ligament through a small transverse incision along the wrist, comprising a blade having an arch-shaped configuration in cross-section which arch becomes generally flat at a tip section thereof, said tip being tapered in plan view and adapted to be initially inserted through the incision to facilitate advancement of the blade along a plane between the ligament and overlying skin and tissue and muscle structures to thereby progressively expose the ligament by distal retraction; and a light conduit extending through the arch of the blade and terminating in spaced relation to the tip to project light toward the tip to illuminate the area being distally retracted between the tip and conduit. A surgical method employing the novel retractor of this invention is also disclosed.