Abstract: A compression device for freeing a ring trapped on a digit includes a rigid outer body. The rigid outer body includes a digit cavity extending from a cavity opening at a body proximal end of the body towards a body distal end of the body, a fluid inlet, and a fluid flow path fluidly connecting the fluid inlet to one or more inflation chambers positioned in the digit cavity. The body proximal end includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and two laterally spaced-apart side portions. At least one side portion is distally recessed as compared to the upper and lower portions to accommodate an interdigital fold. At least one flexible bladder lines the digit cavity, each flexible bladder defining at least one wall of one of the one or more inflation chambers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forming a handle apparatus may include shaping a strip of composite material with a flexible central portion, two grips, and two end portions. The strip may be bent onto itself such that the end portions are fastened together by a fastening device. The handle apparatus may also include a hole disposed in the flexible central portion through which a tool actuator may be passed.

Abstract: A deployment device for positioning a soft tissue repair prosthesis includes a self-expanding support body releasably attachable to the prosthesis. The support body may be removably insertable into a pocket of the prosthesis. A handle coupled to the support body facilitates positioning the patch and/or removal of the support body from the pocket. The support body may substantially occupy the pocket in an expanded configuration. The handle may be arranged to direct a pulling force to the outer peripheral edge of the support body and/or cause a portion thereof to be pulled downward and below the body during withdrawal of the deployment device from the prosthesis. The support body may include support segments pivotally coupled together and foldable to collapse the support body for insertion into and removal from the pocket. One or more resilient support members may be provided for collapsing and expanding the support body and the prosthesis.

Abstract: A surgical fastener deployment system may include a plurality of coil fasteners having a head and coil body. In some embodiments, the head is comprised of a bioabsorbable polymer. In one embodiment, the coil body may be comprised of a shell and a core and one of the shell and the core may be comprised of one of a magnesium alloy or a bioabsorbable polymer, and the other of the shell and core is formed of the other of the magnesium alloy and the bioabsorbable polymer. The coil body may also include an internal channel which may have a support coil disposed within.

Abstract: A system for stapling tissue comprises a flexible endoscope and an operative head including a pair of opposed, curved tissue clamping jaws sized to pass through an esophagus, the jaws being moveable with respect to one another between an open tissue receiving configuration and a closed tissue clamping configuration, a first one of the curved jaws including a stapling mechanism and a second one of the jaws including a staple forming anvil surface, the stapling mechanism including staple slots through which staples are fired arranged in a row extending from a proximal end of the first jaw to a distal end thereof in combination with a control handle which, when the operative head is in an operative position within one of a patient's stomach and esophagus, remains outside the patient, the control handle including a first actuator for moving the jaws relative to one another and a second actuator for operating the stapling mechanism.

Abstract: A suture anchor comprises a tubular body having an axial bore therethrough and having one or more purchase enhancements on an exterior surface of the body adapted to enhance purchase of the body within a bone hole, such as threads. A lateral port passes through the body from the bore to the exterior surface. A length of suture for attaching soft tissue to bone passes down along the exterior surface over the one or more purchase enhancements, over a distal end of the body, up into the bore through and then back out of the bore and up along the exterior surface over the one or more purchase enhancements.

Abstract: A forceps includes a handle, a shaft having a proximal end coupled to the handle, and an end effector assembly coupled to a distal end of the shaft. The forceps includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member for grasping tissue therebetween. One or both of the first and second jaw members may include one or more needles extending therefrom. The one or more needles are in fluid communication with a fluid conduit extending along one or both of the first and second jaw members. The fluid conduit couples to a source of contrast agent to enable selective delivery of the contrast agent through the one or more needles.

Abstract: A surgical fastener includes a head section and a tissue snaring section. The head section includes an arm member pivotably disposed on an outer surface of the head section. The tissue snaring section defines a longitudinal axis and extends away from the head section. At least one helical thread defined along an outer surface of the tissue snaring section. The tissue snaring section is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis in a first radial direction, and the arm member is configured pivot outwardly from the head section in the first radial direction.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for microelectronic animal identification are disclosed. The microelectronic animal identification device includes an inserter configured to releasably holding the microelectronic chip at a distal end of the inserter, and an actuator configured to release the microelectronic chip from the inserter when the distal end of the inserter is inserted into a substrate of an animal body part. The microelectronic animal identification system includes a microelectronic chip and delivery system, a pigment marking device, a media transfer assembly for producing a pigment mark, a tissue sample device, and a data management system providing traceability of the animal and the materials used.

Abstract: A device for treating a tissue defect including a grasper including a pair of arms movable between a tissue receiving configuration and a tissue gripping configuration, a needle extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and including a first lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, the needle slidably received between the arms so that the needle is movable between a non-extended configuration, in which the distal end of the needle is proximal the distal ends of the arms, and an extended configuration, in which the distal end of the needle is distal of the distal end of the arms, and a first suture element slidably housed within the first channel and deployable therefrom to be anchored in a first target tissue into which it is inserted, the first suture element including a first cross member attached to a distal end of a first suture.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a surgical instrument including: an end tool including a first jaw and a second jaw configured to rotate independently; an operator including a pitch operator controlling a pitch motion of the end tool, a yaw operator controlling a yaw motion of the end tool, and an actuation operator controlling an actuation motion of the end tool; an operating force transmitter including a first jaw wire connected with the first jaw to transmit an operation of the operator to the first jaw, a second jaw wire connected with the second jaw to transmit an operation of the operator to the second jaw, and one or more differential members transmitting a rotation of the yaw operator or the actuation operator to the first jaw or the second jaw via the first jaw wire or the second jaw wire; and a connector configured to extend in a first direction (X axis) and having one end portion coupled to the end tool and the other end portion coupled to the operator to connect the operator and th

Abstract: A system for stapling tissue comprises a flexible endoscope and an operative head including a pair of opposed, curved tissue clamping jaws sized to pass through an esophagus, the jaws being moveable with respect to one another between an open tissue receiving configuration and a closed tissue clamping configuration, a first one of the curved jaws including a stapling mechanism and a second one of the jaws including a staple forming anvil surface, the stapling mechanism including staple slots through which staples are fired arranged in a row extending from a proximal end of the first jaw to a distal end thereof in combination with a control handle which, when the operative head is in an operative position within one of a patient's stomach and esophagus, remains outside the patient, the control handle including a first actuator for moving the jaws relative to one another and a second actuator for operating the stapling mechanism.

Abstract: Automatic dilator devices for generating minimally invasive access apertures for surgical procedures or endoscopic surveillance. The automatic dilators comprise a number of spreader tubes nested one inside the other. The devices deploy automatically by means of coupled mechanical mechanisms which insert one spreader after the other distally into the patient's tissue. Each spreader moves distally into the tissue by means of a screwing action, by which rotation is converted into linear motion of the neighboring spreader, immediately external to it, by means of interaction between a helical thread form on a surface of a spreader being engaged by a section of thread, or by one or more protrusions on the opposing face of the next spreader external to the rotating spreader. Such a combination of helical thread and follower enables a rotatory mechanism to be used to deploy one nested spreader tube after the other, by continuous rotary motion.

Abstract: A crushing tip dramatically increases a contact area between the crushing tip ultrasonic vibrated and a crystalline lens, compared to conventional crushing tips, and can efficiently crush and emulsify the crystalline lens. In the crushing tip, which is inserted into the crystalline lens of an eye of a patient at a time of an eye surgery for crushing, sucking, and discharging the crystalline lens by providing the ultrasonic vibrations, one or a plurality of partition walls is provided in such a way as to cross a through hole inside the through hole of a cylindrical tip main member. A tip of the partition wall may project from a tip of the tip main member, and a projecting portion may extend to an outer peripheral edge of the tip main member in a width direction as well.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for implanting an intraocular lens into an eye are described. For example, an intraocular lens injector may include a plunger and an injector body that includes an insertion depth guard and a nozzle extending therefrom. The insertion depth guard is disposed at a distal end of the injector body to limit a distance that the nozzle penetrates the eye. The intraocular lens injector may also include a biasing element configured to generate a counterforce to distal movement of the plunger through the injector rod. An example intraocular lens injector may include a biasing element to produce a counterforce that opposes advancement of the plunger through the injector body. The counterforce provides for a more continuous advancement of the plunger while reducing or substantially eliminating abrupt changes in the rate at which the plunger is advanced through the injector body.

Abstract: Laparoscopic tool shafts and devices and methods for enhancing their rigidity in general or in specific directions are provided. Laparoscopic tool shafts having rigid external shafts and relatively rigid rods and laparoscopic tool shafts having flexible external shafts and relatively rigid rods are also provided.

Abstract: A medical device handle may include a handle housing including a cavity disposed within the handle housing. The medical device handle may include a carriage assembly disposed within the cavity and operatively connected to the tubular member and the medical implant, the carriage assembly being longitudinally movable between a distal position and a proximal position by rotation of a control knob with respect to the handle housing, the control knob being disposed around a proximal end of the handle housing. The carriage assembly may include a carriage member, a first sliding member, a second sliding member, and a locking element configured to releasably fix the first sliding member and the second sliding member relative to the carriage member. The locking element may be rotatable relative to the handle housing.

Abstract: A readily implantable knotless suture anchor that de-couples the angle of insertion of the anchor from the tissue passage step and other steps of conventional procedures. An anchor provides an internal locking mechanism configured such that: suture knots do not have to be tied; suture and tissue tension can be easily adjusted intraoperatively; and suture passage and tensioning can be done at a variety of positions and angles. A method includes: passing a first suture through a patient's tissue and then through a loop of a shuttle suture; pulling the free end of the shuttle suture until the first suture passes through an internal suture locking mechanism; applying tension in the first suture until adequate tension is achieved with respect to the tissue; automatically engaging an internal locking member; and securing the first suture against further relative movement with respect to the anchor.

Abstract: An arthroscopic needle having partial cuts or serrations along one side of a circular, hollow needle shaft allows the needle to bend, or articulate, by drawing a pull strip bar, defined by a thin strip along the interior side closet to the serrations in the hollow shaft, for compressing along the cuts to draw uncut segments into closer arrangement for curving the needle in the direction of the compressed side. The selectively articulating, or “bendable” needle that curves in response to a rotating knob provides for insertion of surgical attachment anchors in difficult-to-reach areas of meniscal tissue. The disclosed articulating needle has the ability to bend and access more anterior and posterior zones of meniscal repairs than conventional rigid needle approaches.

Abstract: The disclosure provides examples of a surgical needle for entering a joint space through tissue, such as the hip joint. The surgical needle includes a stylet movable within a hollow body. The hollow body has at one end, a tip of a bevel for cutting tissue and at another end, a feedback member providing a surgeon with tactile feedback. The stylet has at one end, a resistance reducing member that when positioned a preset distance from the bevel reduces the resistance of the surgical needle through tissue. At the other end of the stylet is a stylet hub. In some examples of the surgical needle, the stylet hub includes a proximal stop, stylet locking member and/or locking member. The surgical needle advantageously provides tactile feedback, reduces resistance, and minimizes or prevents damage to delicate structures.