Abstract: A force limiting apparatus for a surgical instrument to prevent too much force being applied to the jaws of the instrument. The instrument has a body with a drive shaft coupled to a pair of jaws, a bearing tube secured to the drive shaft, and a pair of tracks carrying a pivot pin that is biased into one end of the track. A lever is coupled to the pivot pin and abuts the bearing tube to move the bearing tube and close the jaws when squeezed by a user. If the lever is over actuated, the pivot pin will slide along the track against the bias of the spring assembly with the lever pivoting about the bearing tube rather than the pivot pin. As a result, the additional movement of lever does not result in any addition force being transmitted to the drive shaft via the bearing tube.

Abstract: Methods and devices for securing soft tissue to a rigid material such as bone. A tissue capture anchor is described that comprises an anchor body and a spreader such that tissue may be captured or compressed between outside surfaces on the anchor and spreader and inside surfaces of a bone hole to secure the tissue within the hole. A bone anchor is described that comprises an anchor body with expandable tines and a spreader that expands the tines into bone. The spreader captures tissue via a suture loop at the distal end of the bone anchor. Also described is an inserter that can be used to insert the anchor into bone and move the spreader within the anchor to expand the anchor and capture the tissue between the anchor and the bone. Methods are described that allow use of single bone anchor to secure tissue to bone or also to use more than one bone anchor to provide multiple lengths of suture material to compress a large area of soft tissue against bone.

Abstract: A surgical light source system for cooling high-powered arthroscopic light emitters. The surgical light source system includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end with a tube connected to the proximal end. The system also includes a light source at the distal end of the housing which is connected to a remote power source. The system has a plurality of fins extending around the light source within the housing and a remote fan connected to the tube. The remote fan is adapted to draw air across the fins, forming a heatsink within the housing.

Abstract: A trocar assembly includes a trocar including an elongated tubular member extending between a distal end configured to be inserted into a surgical site and a proximal portion including a trocar housing configured for introduction of surgical instruments into the tubular member, wherein the trocar housing includes at least one latch receptacle. The assembly includes a cap, wherein the housing of the cap is attached to the proximal portion of a trocar. The cap includes a housing configured to be removably attached to a proximal portion of a trocar. The housing includes a flow passage therethrough from a distal end of the housing to a proximal opening of the housing. A filter medium is included within the housing spanning the flow passage for filtration of flow through the flow passage.

Abstract: A method for suspension of the CMC joint that minimizes patient irritation/discomfort and damage to the surrounding tissue. Specifically, the method is a method for suspending a first metacarpal in relative position to a second metacarpal. The method includes the steps of: (i) drilling a hole through the first metacarpal; (ii) inserting a drill guide through the hole in the first metacarpal; (iii) advancing the drill guide to a surface of the second metacarpal, and drilling a hole in the second metacarpal; (iv) inserting an anchor into the hole formed in the second metacarpal, wherein the anchor is attached to suture; (v) deploying the anchor within the second metacarpal; (vi) tensioning the suture attached to the anchor; and (vii) fixing the position of the first metacarpal relative to the second metacarpal using the suture.

Abstract: An automated anchor inserter system for drilling a pilot hole and inserting an anchor. The system includes a body having a first end and a second end. An input shaft extends from the first end of the body and a guide tube extends from the second end of the body. The system also includes a first drive shaft recess and a second drive shaft recess within the body. A drill drive shaft is moveable within the input shaft and an inserter drive shaft is moveable within the second drive shaft recess. In a first configuration, the input shaft and the drill drive shaft move distally together through the first drive shaft recess and in a second configuration, the drill drive shaft moves proximally relative to the input shaft. In a third configuration, movement of the drill drive shaft moves the inserter drive shaft.

Abstract: A coating for the electrode of an electrosurgical instrument that increases the capacitance of the electrode. The coating comprises a high permittivity material such as barium titanate, lead zirconate titanate, calcium copper titanate, or a conjugated polymer. The coating may have a thickness of 0.0016 inches and can be included with one of more insulative layers.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for controlling the performance of a pneumatically sealed trocar, wherein the system includes a controller for delivering variable DC voltage to a DC motor, a DC motor operatively connected to the controller for driving a pump operatively connected to a pneumatically sealed trocar, a pump driven by the DC motor for circulating pressurized gas through the pneumatically sealed trocar, and a sensor for sensing pressure and flow parameters between the pump and the pneumatically sealed trocar to provide a feedback control signal to the controller so that the controller can vary the voltage delivered to the DC motor to affect the output pressure and flow of the pump during a laparoscopic surgical procedure.

Abstract: A gas circulation system is disclosed for performing robotically assisted surgical procedures in a surgical cavity of a patient, which includes a multi-lumen tube set including a dual lumen portion having a pressurized gas line and a return gas line, and a single lumen portion having a gas supply and sensing line, a valve sealed access cap for cooperative reception with a first robotic cannula and having an inlet path for communicating with the gas supply and sensing line of the tube set, and a gas sealed access cap for cooperative reception with a second robotic cannula and having an inlet path for communicating with the pressurized gas line of the tube set and an outlet path for communicating with the return gas line of the tube set.

Abstract: A surgical gas delivery system is disclosed for gas sealed insufflation and recirculation, which includes a gaseous sealing manifold for communicating with a gas sealed access port, an insufflation manifold for communicating with the gas sealed access port and with a valve sealed access port, a compressor for recirculating gas through the gas sealed access port by way of the gaseous sealing manifold, a first outlet line valve associated with the insufflation manifold for controlling a flow of insufflation gas to the gas sealed access port, a second outlet line valve associated with the insufflation manifold for controlling a flow of insufflation gas to the valve sealed access port, and a proportional valve associated the insufflation manifold and located upstream from the first and second outlet line valves for dynamically controlling the flow of insufflation gas to the first and second outlet line valves.

Abstract: A manifold assembly for a surgical gas delivery system is disclosed, which includes a manifold body having an inlet port for receiving insufflation gas from a gas source by way of a high pressure regulator, a first outlet port for delivering insufflation gas to a first access port and a second outlet port for delivering insufflation gas to a second access port, a first outlet line valve operatively associated with the first outlet port, wherein the first outlet line valve includes a first electro-mechanical valve actuator for dynamically controlling the flow of insufflation gas to the first access port, and a second outlet line valve operatively associated with the second outlet port, wherein the second outlet line valve includes a second electro-mechanical valve actuator for dynamically controlling the flow of insufflation gas to the second access port.

Abstract: A vane compressor for a surgical gas delivery system is disclosed, which includes a compressor head having an outlet port for delivering pressurized gas to a gaseous sealing manifold communicating with a gas sealed trocar and an inlet port for receiving spent gas from the gaseous sealing manifold by way of the gas sealed trocar, wherein the compressor head is coupled to and driven by a motor.

Abstract: A gas heater for a surgical gas delivery system is disclosed, which includes an elongated tubular body defining an interior flow passage having an inlet port for receiving insufflation gas from a gas source and an outlet port for delivering heated insufflation gas to an insufflation manifold, a dielectric support positioned within the interior flow passage of the tubular body, and a resistive element operatively associated with the dielectric support for heating insufflation gas flowing through the tubular body from the inlet port to the outlet port.

Abstract: A manifold assembly for a surgical gas delivery system is disclosed, which includes a manifold body including an inlet port for receiving gas from an outlet side of a compressor and an outlet port for recirculating gas to an inlet side of the compressor, a bypass valve communicating with the inlet port and the outlet port of the manifold body, an air ventilation valve for dynamically controlling the ingress of air from atmosphere, a smoke evacuation valve for dynamically controlling the egress of gas from the manifold assembly when the gas delivery system is operating in a smoke evacuation mode, and a gas fill for dynamically controlling the receipt of gas from a source of surgical gas.

Abstract: A surgical gas delivery system is disclosed for gas sealed insufflation and recirculation during an endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedure, which includes a gaseous sealing manifold for communicating with a gas sealed access port, a compressor for recirculating gas through the gaseous sealing manifold, and a source of UVC irradiation for sterilizing at least the gas recirculating through the gaseous sealing manifold.

Abstract: A driver assembly with a rotatable and interchangeable cannulated driver shaft for drilling a variety of fasteners. The driver assembly includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end with a first channel extending from the distal end into the elongated body and a second channel extending from a first side of the elongated body into the elongated body. The driver assembly also includes a locking mechanism connected within the elongated body. The locking mechanism is rotatable between a first configuration and a second configuration. A cannulated driver shaft is removably attached to the locking mechanism and is rotatable between the first configuration and the second configuration via the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A soft suture anchor construct is provided for placement in or against tissue or bone. The anchor includes an all-suture anchor having two ends positioned in a first direction in a pre-deployment configuration. In a deployed configuration, the two ends are positioned in a second direction different from the first direction. The suture anchor construct also includes a filament passing through the anchor at a plurality of passing locations, where the filament changes direction at least once along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the anchor and forms at least one slack line. In the pre-deployment configuration, the filament extends a first length between adjacent passing locations, and in the deployed configuration, the filament extends a second length between adjacent passing locations. The second length is shorter than the first length. The suture anchor construct may be deployed in a bone hole with an inserter, anchor driver, or other deployment device.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument is disclosed which includes a proximal handle portion, an elongated tubular body portion extending distally from the proximal handle portion, and a jaw assembly operatively associated with a distal end of the body portion and including a pair of cooperating jaw members mounted for movement between an open position and a closed position, each jaw member having a sealing surface, wherein the sealing surfaces of the jaw members define a vessel sealing gap therebetween when the jaw members are in the closed position, and wherein the vessel sealing gap has a height that varies along an axial extent of the jaw assembly between a proximal end portion of the jaw assembly and a distal end portion of the jaw assembly.

Abstract: A uterine manipulator device includes: an elongated cannulated tube comprising a proximal end and a distal end; a cervical cup having a top proximal portion of a first diameter and a base distal portion of a second smaller diameter, wherein: the base distal portion includes a hole formed therein having a perimeter including a distal end and a proximal end, and including a longitudinal axis positioned therethrough; one of the proximal end of the perimeter and the distal end of the perimeter is angled away from the longitudinal axis and the other of the proximal end of the perimeter and the distal end of the perimeter is in line with the longitudinal axis; and the elongated cannulated tube is positioned through the hole in the cervical cup.

Abstract: A microfracture device for creating small holes in a bone. The microfracture device includes a handle having a body extending along a central longitudinal axis with a proximal end and a distal end; a shaft connected to the distal end of the body, the shaft having a distal tip; wherein the distal tip extends at first angle relative to the central longitudinal axis; a sliding mechanism slidably engaged with a surface of the body and moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration; and wherein the sliding mechanism further comprises a striking surface extending therefrom, wherein the striking surface is positioned at a second angle to the central longitudinal axis that is at least substantially similar to the first angle.