Abstract: A medical apparatus, including a lithotripsic device configured to break a stone into one or more fragments in a body lumen and an endoscope which is configured to obtain a captured image in the body lumen. The medical apparatus further includes an image processor which is configured to process the captured image and create a processed image for display on a monitor, and which is also configured to process and display a track of a movement of at least one of the stone or the one or more fragments.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device includes a pair of jaws including a first jaw disposed adjacent to a second jaw. The pair of jaws is movable between open and closed positions. Each jaw comprises an electrode, and each jaw has an active surface. The first jaw active surface is disposed adjacent to the second jaw active surface in the closed position. An actuating member is coupled to one or more of the first and second jaws. The actuating member is configured to move the pair of jaws between the open position and the closed position. In one form, an insulating ring is disposed around the first jaw. In another form, a shield system is disposed on first and second side surfaces of the first jaw and a portion of the first jaw active surface. In yet another form, the shield system forms a lip extending from the first jaw.

Abstract: A probe includes a probe distal end body, a vibration transmission body and a heat dissipation unit. The probe distal end body includes a first electrode. The vibration transmission body is arranged to a proximal end of the probe distal end body. The vibration transmission body transmits ultrasonic vibration generated by an ultrasonic transducer to the probe distal end body, and transmits current to the first electrode. An interior surface of the probe distal end body and an interior surface of the vibration transmission body define an interior space. The heat dissipation unit dissipates heat generated at the probe distal end body, wherein at least a portion of the heat dissipation unit is arranged in the interior space defined by the probe distal end body and the vibration transmission body. A treatment instrument includes the probe and an end effector including a second electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are presented for a therapy delivery device including a catheter, an endoscope and an endoscope shaft, one or more attachment features for attaching the catheter to the endoscope, wherein the catheter has an expandable lumen at a distal end and Wherein the expandable lumen expands upon injection of a therapy at the proximal end of the catheter. Attachment features may be a series of clips along the length of the catheter for attaching to an endoscope or a second lumen on the catheter wherein an endoscope may through one of said. lumens. Targeted therapy delivery may be a hydrogel or a chitosan hydrogel to provide a treatment within a sinus of a patient.

Abstract: A device comprising: a handpiece having one or more attachment ports; a tubeset having one or more attachment features for connecting the tubeset to the one or more attachment ports in the handpiece; a removable tip having an attachment arm for attaching to the one or more attachment ports in the handpiece; wherein the device comprises one or more of the following: the handpiece includes an attachment port that attaches the handpiece to an active lead and a return lead and the device is adapted to use only the active lead or both leads so that the device can switch between bi-polar energy and mono-polar energy; the tubeset has one or more fluid conduits that are in fluid communication with the removable tip, wherein the removable tip is located at a distal end of the device; and the handpiece connects to one or more electrical input lines; the tubeset connects to one or more fluid lines, and the removable tip is free of direct connection to both the one or more electrical input lines and the one or more fluid

Abstract: Medical apparatus includes an endoscope, which includes a distal end configured for insertion into a body cavity and which includes an imaging assembly, configured to capture and output an image of a region of the body cavity in proximity to the distal end. An energy source is configured to emit pulses of energy through an energy guide. A control unit is configured to process the image so as to identify a target mass in the body cavity and to verify that an aiming beam directed through the energy guide is incident on the target mass and, responsively to so verifying, to actuate the energy source to direct a pulse of the energy via the energy guide onto the target mass.

Abstract: A device comprising: a handpiece having one or more attachment ports; a tubeset having one or more attachment features for connecting the tubeset to the one or more attachment ports in the handpiece; a removable tip having an attachment arm for attaching to the one or more attachment ports in the handpiece; wherein the device comprises one or more of the following: the handpiece includes an attachment port that attaches the handpiece to an active lead and a return lead and the device is adapted to use only the active lead or both leads so that the device can switch between bi-polar energy and mono-polar energy; the tubeset has one or more fluid conduits that are in fluid communication with the removable tip, wherein the removable tip is located at a distal end of the device; and the handpiece connects to one or more electrical input lines; the tubeset connects to one or more fluid lines, and the removable tip is free of direct connection to both the one or more electrical input lines and the one or more fluid

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for ablating blood vessels in treatment of uterine fibroids. A monopolar electrode provided on a needle probe is positioned in an artery supplying blood to a uterine fibroid. Energy is supplied to the electrode to ablate the artery. In this way, the uterine fibroid and the surrounding tissues remain relatively undamaged, and the uterine fibroid, deprived of its blood source, is allowed to necrose and eventually shrink.

Abstract: A lithotripter is provided for fragmenting a stone inside a patient's body. In one form, the lithotripter includes a motor having at least two modes of operation and is configured to produce first and second waveforms. A wave guide shaft is configured to transmit the first and second waveforms to the stone. In one form, at least one of the first and second waveforms is provided to the stone at a frequency that is about equal to a natural frequency of the stone. In a variation, the lithotripter may include an ultrasonic driver configured to produce an ultrasonic frequency waveform and a sonic driver configured to produce a sonic frequency waveform. The sonic driver is mechanically coupled to the ultrasonic driver. The ultrasonic driver and the sonic driver may be disposed within a driver housing. In another variation, the lithotripter may include a brushless DC motor.

Abstract: A tip element for a lithotripter is provided. The tip element includes a proximal end configured for attachment to a waveguide of the lithotripter and a distal end configured for placement against at least one urinary tract stone. The lithotripter transmits energy from the tip element to the at least one urinary tract stone to break up the at least one urinary tract stone into fragments. The tip element may further include a tip element passage that extends between the proximal end and the distal end. The tip element passage communicates with a lumen of the waveguide for at least one of suctioning and irrigating a urinary tract. The distal end has one or more sharp edges to maintain contact between the at least one urinary tract stone and the distal end during suctioning. The distal end may be configured to limit the size of fragments from the at least one urinary tract stone drawn into the tip element passage during suctioning.

Abstract: Medical apparatus, including a local medical tool and a remote medical tool, located remotely from the local medical tool. The apparatus includes a lockable joint, physically connected to the local medical tool, that is operable in a locked state or in an unlocked state. A handle is physically connected to the lockable joint, so that in the locked state of the joint, movements of the handle are directly transferred to corresponding movements of the local medical tool. The apparatus includes sensors that are configured, in the unlocked state of the joint, to measure motions of the handle with respect to the lockable joint. The apparatus also includes a controller, which in the unlocked state of the joint receives indications of the motions of the handle with respect to the lockable joint, and which is configured to apply the indications to generate corresponding motions for the remote medical tool.

Abstract: A microdebrider comprising: (a) a handpiece; (b) an interchangeable tip connected to the handpiece; (c) an outer tube rotatably connected to the interchangeable tip, the outer tube including an outer tube window; (d) an inner tube extending at least partially through the outer tube, the inner tube including an inner tube window; (e) a lock selector connected to the inner tube; and (f) a bias device; wherein the bias device is movable, and upon movement of the bias device into contact with the lock selector the inner tube is immobilized so that the inner tube window is aligned with the outer tube window, aligned with a wall of the outer tube, or in a condition therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a hollow sleeve member with an open interior section and a sleeve proximal and a sleeve distal end. Two or more probes are disposed within the open interior section and extending beyond the sleeve distal end when in a deployed position. Distal ends of the probes have a lateral space between each other. One or more tissue manipulators are disposed at the distal end of each of the at least two probes. The hollow sleeve member and the two or more probes move axially relative to each other to reduce the lateral space. A method of closing a vaginal cuff of a vaginal canal is also provided.

Abstract: An article and method are presented wherein an implant member is provided that is expandable in at least one direction, the implant adapted for use within an area adjacent vocal folds of a patient, the implant member comprising two or more segments, and a subcutaneous access port providing access for injection of a bulking agent into the implant member.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical assembly is for use in female pelvic surgical procedures. A first shaft includes a uterine manipulator, a second shaft that fits over the first shaft includes a colpotomy cup and first and second electrodes, and a third shaft can be provided over the second shaft and carries a seal for maintaining pneumoperitoneum. The colpotomy cup uses the first and second electrodes for resecting uterine tissue. Incision and resection may be performed by positioning the colpotomy cup near the cervico-vaginal junction, activating the first electrode, and moving one or both of the electrodes.

Abstract: A uterine manipulator for manipulation of a uterus of a patient is provided. The uterine manipulator has an articulation section having a proximal end and a distal end. The articulation section defines a channel therethrough. An elongate tensioning member extends through the channel of the articulation section. A tension release mechanism is connected to the tensioning member. The tension release mechanism is configured to selectively relax and tighten the tensioning member. A manipulator end is disposed at the distal end of the articulation section. The manipulator end is configured to be inserted into a vaginal canal and the uterus of the patient.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a host processor, which is configured to receive video data encapsulated in a standard definition transmission format, and to store the encapsulated video data in a memory. The apparatus further includes a data converter, which is configured to receive high definition video data as a sequence of packets and to encapsulate the sequence of packets in the standard definition transmission format. The data converter is also configured to convey the encapsulated packets to the host processor so that the host processor stores the packets in the memory.

Abstract: A method for imaging, including capturing an initial image of a surface under investigation using a first endoscope, and delineating within the initial image a target region of interest surrounded by an initial image peripheral region, the target region of interest having a location defined with respect to the initial image peripheral region. The method includes capturing a subsequent image of the surface under investigation using a second endoscope and identifying in the subsequent image, by comparison with characteristics of the initial image peripheral region, a subsequent image peripheral region corresponding to the initial image peripheral region. The further includes computing the location of the target region of interest in the subsequent image in response to the identified subsequent image peripheral region.

Abstract: A device comprising: a handpiece having one or more attachment ports; a tubeset having one or more attachment features for connecting the tubeset to the one or more attachment ports in the handpiece; a removable tip having an attachment arm for attaching to the one or more attachment ports in the handpiece; wherein the device comprises one or more of the following: the handpiece includes an attachment port that attaches the handpiece to an active lead and a return lead and the device is adapted to use only the active lead or both leads so that the device can switch between bi-polar energy and mono-polar energy; the tubeset has one or more fluid conduits that are in fluid communication with the removable tip, wherein the removable tip is located at a distal end of the device; and the handpiece connects to one or more electrical input lines; the tubeset connects to one or more fluid lines, and the removable tip is free of direct connection to both the one or more electrical input lines and the one or more fluid

Abstract: Medical apparatus consisting of a first imaging device including a first image sensor having a first field of view, and a second imaging device including a second image sensor having a second field of view smaller than the first field of view. The apparatus also includes a processor configured to process a first image acquired by the first image sensor so as to generate a first processed image having a first image magnification, and to process a second image acquired by the second image sensor so as to generate a second processed image having a second image magnification. The processor is also configured to adjust the first image magnification to be equal to the second image magnification so as to form an adjusted first image, and to generate a stereoscopic image based on the adjusted first image and the processed second image.