Abstract: A system and method for abdominal surgery is disclosed. The system can have one or more end effectors that can be attached to an introducer and/or tray and inserted into the abdomen through a large puncture through the patient's umbilicus. The end effector can have a surgical tool, such as a grasper. The system can have a manipulatable control arm that can be inserted into the abdomen through a small puncture through the patient's body wall. The end effector can be attached to the control arm and simultaneously or concurrently detached from the introducer or tray. The control arm can then manipulate the end effector to perform the surgery.

Abstract: Catheter including an inner tubular member having a fluid lumen defined therein and an exterior surface. The exterior surface defining a first distal flow port and a second distal flow port. An outer tubular member is movable relative to the inner tubular member in a proximal direction and having an interior surface. A first pressure chamber is defined between the exterior surface and the interior surface, and between a first distal seal assembly and a first proximal seal assembly. A second pressure chamber is defined between the exterior surface and the interior surface, and between a second distal seal assembly and a second proximal seal assembly. Fluid introduced through the fluid lumen pressurizes the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber to generate a respective force at the first proximal seal assembly and to the second proximal seal assembly to urge the outer tubular member in the proximal direction.

Abstract: A tunneler device is provided. The tunneler device includes a handle formed on a proximal end thereof configured for operable engagement by a user, a shaft extending distally from the handle, a collet supported on the distal end of the shaft, the collet including a plurality of distally extending fingers defining a longitudinal opening, the opening being configured to receive an end of a catheter tube and a connector configured for operable engagement with the collet, wherein the connector is configured to bias the fingers of the collet radially inward upon engagement of the connector with the collet.

Abstract: A tissue grasping forceps and needle holder. A pair of movable arms are pivotably connected about a pivot connection, with each arm having a handle portion on one side and a working portion on the opposite side of the pivot connection. The working portions interengage when the handle portions are closed to a minimum spaced relation. The working portion has a clamp components and jaw component, with the clamp component comprising a plurality of synchronous teeth located to interlock when the handle portions are in the minimum spaced relation. The jaw component comprises a plurality of regularly spaced tines, with the tines being joined in pairs when the handle portions are in the minimum spaced relation with a gap between the tines, and an interstice between each spaced pair.

Abstract: A medical device includes a surgical needle attached to a hollow tubular suture. The suture is constructed of macroporous hollow tubular wall that facilitates and allows tissue integration into the suture core subsequent to introduction to the body, thereby preventing suture pull-through and improving biocompatibility.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for performing minimally invasive surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical device is provided that includes an elongate shaft having an end effector at a distal end thereof. The end effector can be configured to be movable between a first configuration in which the end effector is longitudinally aligned with or linear relative to the shaft and a second configuration in which the end effector is articulated at an angle beyond 45 degrees relative to the shaft. With the end effector in the first configuration or in the second configuration, the device can be configured to allow selective actuation of the end effector.

Abstract: A method and device for reducing the damaging effects of radiant energy, blast, or concussive events includes applying pressure to at least one jugular vein to reduce the egress of blood from the cranial cavity during or before the incidence of the imparting event. Reducing blood outflow from the cranial cavity increases intracranial volume and/or pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid to reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury and injuries to the spinal column. Reducing blood outflow further increases the intracranial pressure and volume, and thereby increases the pressure and volume of the cochlear fluid, the vitreous humor and the cerebrospinal fluid to thereby reduce the risk of injury to the inner ear, internal structure of the eye and of the spinal column. In addition, increasing intracranial pressure and volume reduces the likelihood of brain injury and any associated loss of olfactory function.

Abstract: A music pacifier (100) includes a pacifier frame (101) and a nipple (102) which locates at the one side of the frame and a container (106) locates on the other side of the frame. Within the container (106), there is a music IC & power supply (108), an insulating house (109), and a vibrating transducer (110). The insulating house (109) made of soft material is used to insulate the vibration produced. The vibrating transducer (110) is used to convert the pre-stored music into vibration. It locates in the above-mentioned house and connects with the above-mentioned music IC. There is also a vibrating tongue (111) which is used to pass the vibration produced by the above-mentioned vibrating transducer to an infant's jaw, including a contacting part (114) of the above-mentioned vibrating transducer which locates in the above-mentioned house as well as a tongue (113) which protrudes from the above-mentioned house and extends into the above-mentioned nipple.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the position of a surgical instrument (1) with respect to a solid (3) tracked by a navigation system (2), wherein the instrument (1) comprises a fixed part (11) that is rigidly fixed to the solid (3) and a mobile part (12) that is attached to the fixed part by screws (13), the device (4) comprising: a stem (41) comprising a tip (42) suited to the head (130) of the screws (13), a motorized system (45) for driving the stem (41) in rotation, a communication device with the navigation system (2), such that the navigation systems (2) transmits to the motorized system (45) the number of turns to apply to the stem (41) to reach the target position of each screw (13).

Abstract: A first embodiment can be a device comprising a means to reduce SLOSH energy absorption in a fluid containing organism by reducing the flow of one or more outflow vessels of the cranium by compressing said vessels.

Abstract: Surgical devices are disclosed herein that generally include an intracorporeal elbow joint to facilitate translational movement of an end effector while allowing a body portion of the surgical device and a trocar or working channel through which the device is inserted to be maintained in a fixed angular orientation relative to the patient. This allows a plurality of such devices to be used effectively with a single incision or access device. Such devices also generally provide end effector movement with six degrees of freedom, while maintaining a mechanical linkage between the user and the end effector and while mimicking and/or mirroring natural user movement. Various methods related to such devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A textile-reinforced medical dilation balloon is provided, including a woven tubular textile sleeve with substantially longitudinal thermoplastic warp threads and at least one weft thread woven substantially perpendicular relative to the warp threads, where the sleeve defines a sleeve lumen. A medical dilation balloon is disposed within the sleeve lumen, and an adhesive coating substantially covers the inner and outer surfaces of the sleeve, attaching it to the balloon.

Abstract: An integrated tourniquet system enables the user to establish with suitable warnings, and with timely user confirmation, individualized maximum pressure levels in the cuff that may be above normal maximum pressure levels. Also provided is a rapid and accurate method of testing for leakage in the cuff and connectors. The system is adapted for communication to remote devices for receiving and providing information relating to the pressure levels, tests, etc.

Abstract: A nasal dilator and method of making nasal dilators are provided. The dilator may have a composite base element of at least two regions, the base element having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface of the base element having a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed thereon; the base element further including a spring element which imparts return memory into the base element so that the base element returns towards a planar conformation during use. The spring element has elastic memory effected by differential properties in the at least two regions.

Abstract: Surgical assemblies and related methods are disclosed that provide for the transmission of high levels of actuation torque to a rotary mechanism of an end effector supported by an independently rotatable main shaft without causing undesirable rotation of the main shaft. An input drive shaft is coupled with both the rotary mechanism and the main shaft via a transmission and a rotational coupling so that the main shaft is passively subjected to a counteracting torque opposite in direction to the actuation torque transmitted to the rotary mechanism so as to inhibit rotational driving of the main shaft by the transmitted actuation torque.

Abstract: A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with surgical tools and a camera extending out of its distal end. To supplement the view provided by an image captured by the camera, an auxiliary view including articulatable arms of the surgical tools and/or camera is generated from sensed or otherwise determined information about their positions and orientations are displayed along with indications of range of motion limitations on a display screen from the perspective of a specified viewing point.

Abstract: To perform a tool exchange in a medical robotic system, tool is retracted back into an entry guide from a deployed position and pose so that an assistant in the operating room may replace it with a different tool. While the tool is being retracted back towards the entry guide by user action, its configuration is changed to an entry pose while avoiding collisions with other objects so that it may fit in the entry guide. After the tool exchange is completed, a new tool is inserted in the entry guide and extended out of the guide by user action to the original position of the old tool prior to its retraction into the entry guide while the tool's controller assists the user by reconfiguring the new tool so as to resemble the original deployed pose of the old tool prior to its retraction into the entry guide.

Abstract: A vascular endoprosthesis (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) includes a radially-expandable first segment and a radially expandable second segment. The vascular endoprosthesis further includes first and second coupling elements. The first coupling element extends from the proximal end of the first segment toward the distal end of the second segment, and the second coupling element extends from the distal end of the second segment toward the proximal end of the first segment. The first and second coupling elements cooperate one with another to couple the first and second segments together when the vascular endoprosthesis is in a delivery configuration and to decouple the first and second segments when the vascular endoprosthesis is in a deployed configuration.

Abstract: A medical device for blood flow restoration and/or for use as an implantable member in a human vessel includes a self-expanding member, a guidewire, and a connection mechanism. The self-expanding member includes a plurality of cells and filaments having specific ranges of thicknesses, widths, and heights. The self-expanding member can take on a volume-reduced coiled form with overlapped edges, and can generate optimal radial forces against a vessel wall and/or thrombus when deployed and expanded.

Abstract: A forceps includes first and second shafts, each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof. At least one jaw member is moveable from an open to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. At least one jaw member is configured for reciprocation of a blade therethrough. A trigger assembly includes a trigger and at least one linkage coupled to the trigger and to the blade such that rotation of the trigger translates the blade between the retracted and the extended position. An interference member moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position is also provided. The interference member is configured to engage the linkage(s) when in the locked position to inhibit translation of the blade from the retracted to the extended position.