Abstract: A surgical device comprising: a closure assembly including: (a) a latch unit comprising: (A) a hook latch, having a home position, (B) a forward bias constraint, (C) a rearward bias constraint, and (D) a bias member extending between the forward bias constraint and the rearward bias constraint so that the bias member has a pre-load when the hook latch is in the home position; (b) a movement unit including a bar that is movable relative to the latch unit so that the bar is movable in a prescribed motion into contact with the latch unit to create a locked state; and wherein the bar moves into contact with the hook latch driving the hook latch in a first direction, away relative to the home position, and then the hook latch is moved by the bar in a second direction relative to the home position, and a loading of the bias member is increased from the pre-load when the hook latch is moved in either the first direction away from the home position or the second direction away from the home position.

Abstract: A lithotripsy or other medical laser treatment system can include a lateral actuator to laterally displace a distal portion of a laser fiber, such as can be scanned or otherwise controlled to generate a spatial or spatiotemporal sub-targeting pattern without requiring laterally moving an endoscope carrying the laser fiber in a longitudinal passage such as a working channel. A targeted stone can be selectively weakened along the pattern, such as using lower energy pulses, before being fragmented, such as by a higher energy shock pulse.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for positioning electrodes. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a primary electrode defining a lumen, an elongated secondary electrode slidably receivable within the lumen, and a sheath configured to slidably receive the electrodes and to convey the electrodes toward a target region. A housing is coupled with the sheath and movably mounted to motivate the sheath relative to the target region. A primary actuator is coupled with the primary electrode and slidably coupled with the housing to motivate the primary electrode relative to the sheath. A secondary actuator is coupled with the secondary electrode and movably coupled with the primary actuator to be slidable with the electrodes in concert. The secondary actuator is rotatable independently of the primary actuator to travel along a helical path to motivate the secondary electrode to move relative to the target region independently of the primary electrode.

Abstract: Forceps including a housing, a first body, a second body and a drive shaft. The first body has a passageway extending therethrough. The drive shaft extending through the passageway and connected to the first body such that the first body and the drive shaft are slidable with respect to the housing to drive jaws located at a distal portion of the drive shaft between an open position and a closed position. The second body having a second passageway. The drive shaft extending through the second passageway such that the second body is guided by the drive shaft and is slidable relative to the first body and the drive shaft to displace a blade shaft between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A forceps including a gripping assembly. The gripping assembly includes an upper jaw and a lower jaw. The upper jaw includes a proximal end and a distal end. The upper jaw includes an upper tooth having an upper proximally facing canted tooth surface and an upper distally facing canted tooth surface. The lower jaw includes a proximal end and a distal end. The lower jaw includes a socket having a lower distally facing canted socket surface and a lower proximally facing socket surface. The upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both are moveable so that the gripping assembly moves between an open position and a gripping position, in the gripping position, a gap is defined between the upper distally facing canted tooth surface and the lower proximally facing socket surface.

Abstract: An endoscope sheath comprising: a proximal end; a distal end having a distal end region; a surface extending between and connecting the proximal end and the distal end; and a plurality of positioning devices located along the surface; wherein the sheath is configured to: (1) receive all or a portion of an endoscope having a cylindrical end and (2) provide a conduit for communicating fluid between the proximal end of the sheath and the distal end of the sheath when the endoscope is inserted inside the sheath; and wherein the distal end region of the sheath includes the plurality of positioning devices that secure the cylindrical end of the endoscope against a portion of an inner wall of the surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end so that a fluid barrier is created between the cylindrical end of the endoscope and the inner wall.

Abstract: A biliary diagnostic device comprises a tubular body comprising an outer wall and an internal lumen, and a biliary diagnostic sensor comprising for analyzing biological matter in contact with the tubular body. A method of guiding an endoscope to a bile duct comprises inserting the endoscope into a duodenum, engaging a sensor with biological matter, electrically analyzing biological matter with the sensor to identify an electrical parameter, identifying liver bile in the biological matter from the electrical parameter, and guiding the endoscope through the duodenum based on the bile. A method of identifying biological matter comprises engaging a medical device sensor with biological matter in a bile duct, electrically analyzing biological matter with the sensor to identify an electrical parameter, identifying biological matter from a liver, pancreas or gall bladder from the electrical parameter, and outputting indicia of the biological matter to a user of the medical device.

Abstract: A device comprising: (a) a first working arm; (b) a shuttle located on the first working arm, and (c) a bias device; wherein the bias device biases the first working arm when the shuttle is in a first position, and wherein the bias device is free of biasing the first working arm when the shuttle is in a second position.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing a sheath tip with an angled distal face to conform the sheath to a surface of tissue toward which the sheath is being extended to potentially help reduce or avoid tissue damage upon extending a sheath to convey an elongated instrument for sampling or treatment. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a sheath tip configured to be positioned at an end of a sheath that is extendable toward a tissue at an angle to a surface of the tissue. The sheath tip has a distal end that is angled such that a periphery of the sheath tip at the distal end is configured to generally conform to the surface of the tissue.

Abstract: A medical device for debridement can include an elongate housing, a shaft extending through the housing and distally therefrom, a drive to manipulate the cutter, and a collapsible handle than can to couple with the housing. An elongate grip of the handle can turn aft and be at least partially disposed in the elongate housing for use of the device with pen grip. The elongate grip of the handle can turn fore and extend distally from the housing for use of the device with pistol grip.

Abstract: A lever latching system comprising: a housing; a lever having a latch pin fixedly mounted to the lever, the lever being movably mounted to the housing so that the latch pin moves in an arc; and a latch plate movably mounted to the housing for linear movement with respect to the housing, the latch plate comprising a labyrinth for receiving the latch pin.

Abstract: A medical system is provided comprising a medical device including a handle and a mechanism for moving a distal end of the medical device; an auxiliary medical device comprising a basket retrieval device including a basket sheath disposed over a basket wire and received into a working channel of the medical device; a knob assembly in communication with the basket retrieval device, the knob assembly rotatable so that the basket sheath, wire, or both move within the working channel; and a base removably connecting the auxiliary medical device to the handle wherein the handle and the base are configured to be simultaneously gripped with a hand, and wherein the mechanism is configured to be moved with a first finger to move the distal end of the medical device and the knob assembly is configured to be rotated with a second finger to move the basket sheath wire, or both.

Abstract: An instrument including a first arm, a second arm, and a blade. The first arm includes a lumen in communication with a source of irrigation fluid and one or more outlets in communication with the lumen for delivering the irrigation fluid to a surgical site. The instrument is switchable between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the instrument is configured to deliver a first therapy current through a distal end of the first arm, a distal end of the second arm, or both. In the second configuration, a distal end of the blade extends beyond the distal end of the first arm and beyond the distal end of the second arm.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in the introduction of a flexible wire into a device having a comparable sized lumen. An exemplary apparatus includes a first portion having a distal end, a proximal end, a slot and a lumen exposed at the distal end, the proximal end and the slot, and a second portion having a distal end, a proximal end, a slot and a lumen exposed at the distal end, the proximal end and the slot of the second portion. The second portion is slidably and rotatably received with the lumen of the first portion. A gripping device is attached at the proximal end of the second portion. The gripping device causes at least a portion of the proximal end of the second portion to have a reduced inner diameter when a gripping force is applied to the gripping device.

Abstract: A forceps having a first jaw and a second jaw, where at least one of the first and second jaws is capable of moving between an open position and a closed position. The forceps including an inner shaft located within an outer shaft and extending along the longitudinal axis, and a drive bar coupled to and extending distally from the inner shaft. The drive bar including a pair of drive bar struts extending from a distal portion of the inner shaft and positioned laterally inward of at least one of first and second set of flanges of the first and second jaws. A drive pin is securable to the pair of drive bar struts and the drive bar is translatable within the outer shaft to translate the drive pin to move the first jaw and/or the second jaw between open and closed positions.

Abstract: An endoscope can include an elongated endoscope body. An optical fiber can extend along the endoscope body. The optical fiber can direct therapeutic light and illumination light longitudinally along the optical fiber to a distal portion of the endoscope body. The therapeutic light and the illumination light can have different wavelengths. A wavelength-sensitive light separator, disposed at a distal portion of the optical fiber, can direct the illumination light to exit the optical fiber laterally through a lateral side of the optical fiber at the distal portion of the optical fiber and permit the therapeutic light to exit the optical fiber longitudinally through a distal end of the optical fiber. Examples of suitable wavelength-sensitive light separators can include one or more fiber Bragg gratings that can be obliquely angled, or a diffraction grating disposed on a lateral edge of a length of coreless fiber.

Abstract: A probe of a target identification system can be extended via a first lumen of a viewing instrument, such as for illuminating an area beyond a distal end of the viewing instrument via an optical path of the viewing instrument. An optical response to the illumination of the area can be received via an optical path of the probe and can be split from other optical signals of the optical path. The optical response information can be used to identify characteristics of a target and to adjust parameters of a working instrument such as a working instrument contemporaneously using the probe.

Abstract: A probe of a target identification system can be extended via a first lumen of a viewing instrument, such as for illuminating an area beyond a distal end of the viewing instrument via an optical path of the viewing instrument. An optical response to the illumination of the area can be received via an optical path of the probe and can be split from other optical signals of the optical path. The optical response information can be used to identify characteristics of a target and to adjust parameters of a working instrument such as a working instrument contemporaneously using the probe.

Abstract: A myringotomy device includes a housing; an elongated tube extending from the housing; and a retractable cutting tool extendable through the elongated tube, the cutting tool comprising a blade. The cutting tool is configured such that when advanced, the blade of the cutting tool extends beyond a distal end of the elongated tube. The cutting tool is also configured such that when retracted, the blade is retracted into the elongated tube and a fluid conduit is created from the distal end of the elongated tube to the housing.

Abstract: A method of treating a calculi mass can include using an ultrasonic probe to produce acoustic energy and fragment the mass. The method can include varying the frequency at which fragmentation occurs to treat the mass with a resonant frequency. The ultrasonic probe can have a distal tip for contact with the mass, where the tip has a morphology for concentrating stress on the mass. The ultrasonic probe can have two or more ultrasonic horns to allow for higher voltage and power levels.