Abstract: The present technology is directed to implantable medical devices for draining fluid from a first body region to a second body region. Some embodiments of the present technology provide adjustable devices that are selectively titratable to provide various levels of therapy. For example, the adjustable devices can have a drainage element with a lumen extending therethrough, a flow control element, and an actuation assembly. The actuation assembly can drive movement of the flow control element to change a dimension of and/or a flow resistance through the lumen, thereby increasing or decreasing the relative drainage rate of aqueous from an eye. In some embodiments, the actuation assembly and the flow control element together operate as a ratchet mechanism that can selectively move the flow control element between a plurality of positions and lock the device in a desired configuration until further actuation of the actuation assembly.

Abstract: A heart valve anchor apparatus may include a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The body may include a first radially expandable portion at the proximal portion of the body, a second radially expandable portion at the distal portion of the body, and a root portion extending from the first radially expandable portion to the second radially expandable portion, the root portion having an outer extent. The first radially expandable portion may be configured to self-expand to an outer extent greater than the outer extent of the root portion when radially unconstrained. The second radially expandable portion may be configured to self-expand to an outer extent greater than the outer extent of the root portion when radially unconstrained. In an unstressed configuration, the body may define a longitudinal centerline that extends away from a plane tangent to the root portion.

Abstract: The invention discloses an integrated tumor resection instrument and a simulation training system. The resection device comprises an imaging system, a minimally invasive incision, a processor, an operating device, a resection executing mechanism and a positioning control device. The operating device is connected to the input end of the processor, the resection actuating mechanism is provided with a resecting driver, and the positioning control device and the resecting driver are both connected to the output end of the processor; the simulation training system comprises the steps of designing a manikin; arranging the imaging system; integrated resection. The resection device can resect the whole tumor along the edge of the tumor, thereby avoiding the incomplete resection and even tumor recurrent caused by crushing in the process of resecting the tumor. The simulation training system can train an operator to quickly master the resection skill and operation of various positions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of determining control data for increasing the braking force exerted by a braking mechanism of a mechatronic articulable arm on at least one or all joints connecting the arm elements of the mechatronic articulable arm to a level of braking force which is higher than the level required for locking the joint or joints, respectively. The control data is determined in dependence on both the relative position between the mechatronic articulable arm and an anatomical body part of patient, and a locking state of the mechatronic articulable arm.

Abstract: In a surgical method, an access sheath is provided by a tube of a braided material. A first end of the sheath may be folded. The first end, folded or unfolded, is grasped with a distal end of a tool, which is then inserted into the nose of a patient. Advancing the tool pulls the distal end of the sheath into the nose of the patient. The sheath is then released from the tool and the tool is withdrawn. A portion of the sheath may be optionally cut off to shorten the sheath to a desired length. Typically the sheath has a total length of 70 to 180 mm and an outside diameter of 12 to 50 mm. The sheath may have a constant outside diameter along its length. The sheath may comprise silicone on the braided material.

Abstract: An imaging probe includes a camera or endoscope with an external detector array, in which the probe is sized and shaped for surgical placement in an eye to image the eye from an interior of the eye during treatment. The imaging probe and a treatment probe can be coupled together with a fastener or contained within a housing. The imaging probe and the treatment probe can be sized and shaped to enter the eye through an incision in the cornea and image one or more of the ciliary body band or the scleral spur. The treatment probe may include a treatment optical fiber or a surgical placement device to deliver an implant. A processor coupled to the detector can be configured with instructions to identify a location of one or more of the ciliary body band, the scleral spur, Schwalbe's line, or Schlemm's canal from the image.

Abstract: Suture locking clamps for securing prostheses such as heart valves or annuloplasty rings with sutures and without using knots improve the ease of implantation. The clamps have opposed clamp halves separated by a slot opening to one side and surrounded by a biasing member such as one or more C-clip springs. Sutures pass laterally into the slot which is held open by a retention member positioned between the clamp halves. The locking clamp slides along the sutures into position, the tension of the sutures is adjusted, and the retention member removed to allow the biasing member to clamp the sutures between the clamp halves. A delivery tool used to deliver and deploy the locking clamps contains a number of clamps within a delivery tube in a stack and bonded together for safety and a common retention member. The tool has a longitudinal channel on one side for entry of sutures.

Abstract: Provided is a robotic system that includes a surgical instrument with a wrist including an elongate shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end, a wrist extending from the distal end of the elongate shaft, and an end effector extending from the wrist. The end effector may include a first jaw and a second jaw, the first and second jaw being moveable between an open position in which ends of the jaws are separated from each other, and a closed position in which the ends of the jaws are closer to each other as compared to the open position. The surgical instrument may also include at least one rotary cutter extending from the wrist and positioned at least partially within a recess formed in a face of the first jaw.

Abstract: Methods for improving luminal gain when performing angioplasty at a zone of attention located at a blood vessel in a person's vascular system is provided. An intravascular device including an expandable portion secured to a distal portion of a catheter tube is provided. An incising element is provided on the expandable portion. The expandable portion is positioned at a first end of the zone of attention, placed in an expanded position, and moved along at least a portion of the zone of attention such that the incising element contacts at least a portion of atherosclerotic material located therein. An angioplasty device is positioned at the zone of attention and expanded.

Abstract: An access device for a minimally invasive procedure can include a port body defining an instrument channel for a medical instrument, a radial extension extending at least partially outward from the body in a radial direction. The radial extension can extend from a distal end of the port body. The radial extension can define an imaging device cavity defined therein spaced from the port body and opening distally from the radial extension. The imaging device cavity can be configured to receive an imaging device therein for providing images within a field of view that is at least partially distal of the port body.

Abstract: A prosthetic mitral valve has an interior stent and an exterior mesh surrounding the interior stent. The prosthetic mitral valve is released from a capsule and self-expands within a native mitral valve. The exterior wire mesh has a first portion with an enlarged diameter sized for placement above a mitral annulus and a second portion with a reduced diameter for contacting the mitral annulus. Capturing elements are provided on the interior stent. The capturing elements extend in a ventricular direction beyond the exterior wire mesh and then turn in an atrial direction for trapping native mitral leaflets against an outer surface of the wire mesh. A plurality of valve leaflets is provided within the interior stent for replacing the function of the native mitral valve.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a state of an end effector of an ultrasonic device is disclosed. The ultrasonic device including an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency. The electromechanical ultrasonic system further including an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. The method including applying, by an energy source, a power level to the ultrasonic transducer; measuring, by a control circuit coupled to a memory, an impedance value of the ultrasonic transducer; comparing, by the control circuit, the impedance value to a reference impedance value stored in the memory; classifying, by the control circuit, the impedance value based on the comparison; characterizing, by the control circuit, the state of the electromechanical ultrasonic system based on the classification of the impedance value; and adjusting, by the control circuit, the power level applied to the ultrasonic transducer based on the characterization of the state of the end effector.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a robotic surgical system and a corresponding method. The system includes at least one robot arm and a radiation source coupled to the robot arm. The system also includes a surgical table having a digital imaging receiver configured to output an electrical signal based on radiation received from the radiation source. A controller having a processor and a memory is configured to receive the electrical signal and generate an initial image of a patient on the surgical table based on the electrical signal. The controller transforms the initial image to a transformed image based on an orientation of the radiation source.

Abstract: An artificial chordae tendineae implantation system includes a clamping device, a puncture device, a pushing device, and a detection device. The pushing device includes a pushing shaft. The clamping device includes a clamping push rod that receives an artificial chorda tendineae, and a distal clamp and a proximal clamp for cooperatively clamping a valve leaflet. The detection device includes one probe that is movably disposed in the pushing shaft. A probe outlet is provided at one of a clamping surface of the proximal clamp and a clamping surface of the distal clamp, and a probe accommodation chamber corresponding to the probe outlet is provided at the other one. When the clamping device is closed, the distal end of the probe protrudes from the probe outlet and is accommodated in the probe accommodation chamber, and whether the valve leaflet is clamped is detected.

Abstract: A control system for a surgical instrument for use with a surgical system. The surgical system includes a first device and a second device, which can include a surgical hub, a visualization system, or a robotic system. The control system includes an RFID scanner and a control circuit coupled to the RFID scanner. The control circuit is configured to receive data from RFID tags associated with the devices, determine a communication protocol for communicating with the devices, and accordingly cause the surgical instrument to utilize the determined communication protocol to establish a communication link between the surgical instrument and the devices.

Abstract: A medical tool includes, a deflectable distal end, at least a pull wire, and a deflection assembly. The at least pull wire having a first end coupled to the distal end of the medical tool and configured to be moved for deflecting the distal end. The deflection assembly is coupled to a second end of at least the pull wire and is configured to control a deflection of the distal end. The deflection assembly includes a first gear having a first rotation axis, and a second gear, having a second rotation axis and including a jagged surface for integrating with the first gear. The jagged surface is slanted relative to the second rotation axis, and when the first gear rotates, the second gear is configured to be rotated by the first gear, to move along the second rotation axis and to deflect the distal end by moving the pull wire.

Abstract: A medical device has an artificial contractile structure including at least one contractile element adapted to contract a hollow body organ in such a way that said contractile element is adapted to be in a resting position or in an activated position, the activated position being defined with the contractile element constricting the hollow body organ and the resting position being defined with the contractile element not constricting the hollow body organ. The medical device further includes a tensioning device adapted to apply a force so as to tighten the contractile element around the hollow body organ. The contractile element further includes a closure for forming the contractile element into a closed loop around said hollow body organ, the closure having a plurality of lips arranged to engage the contractile element.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for a surgical tool or a surgical robotic system. An end effector of the surgical tool is coupled to a tool driver. An actuator is driven by a motor of the tool driver and configured to drive a degree of freedom of the end effector. One or more processors are configured to receive a position command describing a desired position for the end effector, translate the desired position to a command for a joint associated with the end effector, calculate a compensation term to compensate for a source of hysteresis for backlash and/or compliance, and send a motor command for the motor coupled with the actuator based on the compensation term and the command for the end effector.

Abstract: An ultrasonic device may include an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency, the electromechanical ultrasonic system further including an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. A method of delivering energy to the ultrasonic device may include measuring a complex impedance of the ultrasonic blade coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, comparing the measured complex impedance to stored values of complex impedance patterns associated with ultrasonic blade functions, and applying, an algorithm to control a power output to the ultrasonic transducer based on the comparison. The method may further include delivering energy to the ultrasonic device based on a state or condition of an end effector, in which the state or condition of the end effector corresponds to a state of only sealing a tissue or of spot coagulating the tissue.

Abstract: A surgical tool incorporates a suture guide with and ananchor driver supporting an anchor where the anchor is maintained at a distance from the suture guide until release of a detent mechanism. Thereafter, the anchor is allowed to move into proximity to the suture guide, fixing a suture supported by the suture guide to a substrate, the entire procedure being achievable with a single hand.