Abstract: A method of calibrating a torque sensor for a motor with a controller includes determining a gain of the torque sensor, zeroing a torque reading of the torque sensor, accelerating the motor at a known rate, and determining an inertia of the motor in response to accelerating the motor. Zeroing the torque reading occurs when the motor is in an unloaded and unactivated condition and accelerating the motor occurs when the motor is in an unloaded condition.

Abstract: Described herein are flexible implantable occluding devices that can, for example, navigate the tortuous vessels of the neurovasculature. The occluding devices can also conform to the shape of the tortuous vessels of the vasculature. In some embodiments, the occluding devices can direct blood flow within a vessel away from an aneurysm or limit blood flow to the aneurysm. Some embodiments describe methods and apparatus for adjusting, along a length of the device, the porosity of the occluding device. In some embodiments, the occluding devices allows adequate blood flow to be provided to adjacent structures such that those structures, whether they are branch vessels or oxygen-demanding tissues, are not deprived of the necessary blood flow.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for patient monitoring are described. The method may include receiving data related to a physiological parameter of a patient. The method may further include displaying information related to the physiological parameter of the patient in order to indicate how the patient is trending. In some cases, the method may include adjusting the received data and determining a subset of the adjusted values to display at a computing device. In some other cases, the method may include displaying a health indicator based on the health record of the patient on the computing device. The position of the health indicator may be based on a medical relationship between the data indicated by the health indicator and the physiological parameter.

Abstract: A stent delivery system can include a core member having a distal portion, where the distal portion is configured to be positioned within a lumen of the stent; a cover having a first end portion coupled to the distal portion of the core member and a free second end portion, the cover having (a) a first position in which the second end portion of the cover is configured to at least partially surround a proximal end portion of the stent while the stent is positioned over the core member in a compressed state, and (b) a second position in which the second end portion of the cover is uncoupled from the stent; and a shoulder coupled to the distal portion of the core member at a location distal to the first end portion of the cover, the shoulder configured to abut the proximal end portion of the stent.

Abstract: In some examples, a catheter includes an elongated body defining an injection lumen, a drainage lumen, and an inflation lumen. The elongated body includes an anchoring member positioned on a proximal portion of the elongated body. A sensor is positioned on a distal portion of the elongated body or distal to a distal end of the elongated body. The medical device includes an active valve positioned in or about the drainage lumen The active valve is configured to move between a closed state in which, when a proximal end of the elongated body is positioned in a bladder of a patient, the active valve is configured to retain fluid in the bladder, and an open state in which the active valve enables drainage of fluid from the bladder via the drainage lumen.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for stent delivery and positioning to cover an access site. A stent delivery system may include a tubular member configured to advance through an access site and a primary constrainment member configured to releasably couple the stent to the tubular member. The stent delivery system may further include a secondary constrainment member at least partially disposed around the primary constrainment member, the stent, and the tubular member. In some cases, the tubular member and the primary constrainment member may be configured to reposition the stent within the body lumen after removal of the secondary constrainment member such that at least a portion of the stent covers the access site after withdrawal of the tubular member, the primary constrainment member, and the secondary constrainment member from the body lumen through the access site.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly and a drive assembly for actuating the tool assembly. The tool assembly includes an anvil assembly that defines a notch and a cartridge assembly that includes a staple cartridge having a cartridge body that supports staples and pushers and an actuation sled that supports a knife. The drive assembly supports a lockout mechanism that is movable between unlocked position and locked positions. The knife includes a protrusion that engages the lockout mechanism to move the lockout mechanism to the unlocked position as the drive assembly is moved from a retracted position towards an advanced position. When a knife is not present within the staple cartridge, the lockout mechanism remains in the unlocked position to prevent advancement of the drive assembly.

Abstract: A surgical access device includes a cannula assembly, a locking collar, a fixation sleeve assembly, and a tip portion. The cannula assembly includes a housing and a tubular member extending from the housing. The locking collar slidably is received on the tubular member. The fixation sleeve assembly is disposed about the tubular member. The fixation sleeve assembly includes a securing member configured to detachably engage the locking collar, and a sleeve extending distally from the securing member. The tip portion detachably is coupled to a distal portion of the tubular member to retain the fixation sleeve assembly on the tubular member. The fixation sleeve assembly is transitionable between a first configuration, in which, the sleeve has a tubular profile, and a second configuration, in which, the sleeve flexes radially outwards to define a fixation anchor configured to secure the surgical access device relative to an opening in tissue.

Abstract: An access assembly includes an instrument valve housing defining a cavity, and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a flange seal member, a seal assembly, a centering mechanism, and a retainer frame assembly. The flange seal member includes an arcuate portion configured to adjustably engage first and second surfaces of the instrument valve housing in a sealing relation. The centering mechanism is configured to bias the valve assembly towards a generally centered position within the cavity. The centering mechanism includes a plurality of coils including inner coil portions operatively secured with the seal assembly, and outer coil portions configured to engage the first surface of the instrument valve housing. The retainer frame assembly includes first and second members. The inner coil portion of the centering mechanism is disposed between seal assembly and the second member of the retainer frame assembly.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus is provided. The surgical apparatus includes a proximal body portion, a distal body portion selectively articulable relative to the proximal body portion at an articulation joint, and a first drive gear disposed within the distal body portion. The distal body portion has a diameter and a length. The length of the distal body portion is substantially the same as the diameter of the distal body portion.

Abstract: A system for stimulating phrenic nerves to provide smooth breathing patterns is provided. More specifically, by identifying contraction threshold voltages for muscles associated with each of the left and right portions of a patient's diaphragm, a phrenic nerve pacing signal customized for each phrenic nerve may be provided to a patient. More specifically, a voltage of a pacing voltage provided to a first phrenic nerve may be less than the contraction threshold while a voltage of a pacing voltage provided to a second phrenic nerve may be greater than the contraction threshold.

Abstract: An end effector includes an upper jaw, a lower jaw, and a staple cartridge assembly that is received within the lower jaw. The staple cartridge assembly includes an actuation sled and a knife sled. A drive beam is received within the lower jaw and is movable between a retracted beam position and an advanced beam position to move the actuation sled and the knife sled from retracted positions to advanced positions. The end effector includes a locking clip to releasably couple the drive beam to the knife sled.

Abstract: A system and method for improving a quality of images for local registration where a position of a sensor is monitored to determine whether a breath hold plateau has been achieved, and following imaging is monitored to determine whether the sensor position has returned to a pre-breath hold position.

Abstract: A surgical end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a jaw member. The blade is adapted to receive ultrasonic and electrosurgical energy and defines a distal face. The jaw member is movable relative to the blade from a spaced-apart to an approximated position for clamping tissue and includes a structural body having a body portion and a distal cap portion. The distal cap portion defines an electrode that receives electrosurgical energy. The jaw member further includes a jaw liner engaged within the body portion and extending therefrom towards the blade such that, in the approximated position, the jaw liner contacts the blade to define a gap distance between the electrode and the distal face to facilitate bipolar electrosurgical tissue treatment upon conduction of bipolar energy between the electrode and the distal face and through tissue in contact therewith.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system includes a surgical robotic arm having an instrument and an instrument drive unit configured to actuate the instrument. The system also includes a storage device and a controller configured to store a save point on the storage device, the save point including configuration data pertaining to at least one of the surgical robotic arm, the instrument drive unit, or the instrument. The controller is further configured to detect an error resulting in a reboot of at least one of the surgical robotic arm, the instrument drive unit, or the instrument. The controller is additionally configured to access the configuration data of the save point after the reboot of at least one of the surgical robotic arm, the instrument drive unit, or the instrument.

Abstract: Access assemblies includes an instrument valve housing and a valve assembly disposed within the cavity of the instrument valve housing. The valve assembly includes a guard assembly, a seal assembly disposed adjacent to the guard assembly, and a centering mechanism for maintaining the seal assembly and guard assembly centered within a cavity of the instrument valve. In embodiments, the seal assembly includes a plurality of seal sections that are movable from an unfolded configuration to folded configuration in which the seal assembly forms a hexagonal member defining an opening to facilitate sealed passage of a surgical instrument. The seal sections may include a tapered inner edge for engaging a surgical instrument inserted through the instrument valve housing.

Abstract: An adjustable airway simulator that allows for different sizes of nasal cannulas to be connected. The simulator may include a fixture body that has a first tube and a second tube at a first end of the body. The second end of the body includes connector to connect a lung simulator. The simulator also includes a first nasal adapter and a second nasal adapter. Each nasal adapter comprising an open cylinder to be rotatably mounted to the first tube or the second tube. Each nasal adapter also includes a port to connect to a prong of a nasal cannula. When one or both of the nasal adapters are rotated, a septal distance between the ports of the first and second nasal adapters changes, which allows for connection to different sized cannulas. Differently sized nasal adapters may also be included to further augment the simulators adaptability to different nasal cannulas.

Abstract: An articulation assembly for a robotic surgical instrument includes a plurality of rotatable but longitudinally fixed lead screws extending between first and second base plates, a collar threaded about each lead screws and configured to translate therealong in response to rotation of the corresponding lead screw, an articulation cable coupled to each collar and defining or having a threaded shaft, and a threaded nipple threaded about each of the threaded shafts. Each threaded nipple is engaged with one of the collars to thereby engage each of the articulation cables with a corresponding one of the collars such that longitudinal translation of the corresponding collar pushes or pulls the corresponding articulation cable. Each threaded nipple is configured for further threading or unthreading about the corresponding threaded shaft to vary a pre-tension on the corresponding articulation cable.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an articulation assembly configured for backlash compensation for use with surgical devices. The articulation assembly includes an articulation lever assembly configured to reduce axial backlash. The articulation assembly further includes an articulation joint configured to reduce lateral backlash.