Abstract: An electrosurgical system can include an electrosurgical generator, a feedback circuit or controller, and an electrosurgical tool. The feedback circuit can provide an electrosurgery endpoint by determining the phase end point of a tissue to be treated. The electrosurgical system can include more than one electrosurgical tool for different electrosurgical operations and can include a variety of user interface features and audio/visual performance indicators. The electrosurgical system can also power conventional bipolar electrosurgical tools and direct current surgical appliances.

Abstract: A simulated abdominal wall model that is ideal for practicing laparoscopic first entry surgical techniques is provided. The model includes a simulated abdominal wall portion captured between two frame elements of a support. The support is connectable to a surgical trainer. When connected to the trainer, the model provides a penetrable abdominal tissue portion for accessing an internal cavity of the trainer. The simulated abdominal wall includes a plurality of layers including a skin layer, a fabric posterior rectus sheath layer, a simulated fat layer of low-resilience polyurethane foam and at least two layers that provide distinctive haptic feedback upon penetration of the simulated transversalis fascia and muscle layers. The simulated abdominal wall includes a simulated umbilicus across several layers of simulated tissue.

Abstract: A portable surgical training device is provided. The trainer includes a top cover spaced apart from a base to form a simulated body cavity for locating model organs that are substantially obscured from the field of view of the user. The top cover includes a video display, fixed insertion ports and interchangeable inserts containing simulated tissue layers. The training device has open sides for demonstrating and training lateral surgical techniques including a simulated or live tissue colon attached to a support leg for simulating transanal minimally invasive surgery. A training endoscope with an adjustable focal length for use with the trainer and, in particular, with optical trocars is disclosed. The surgical trainer can be angled and is well suited for training laparoscopic surgery techniques and demonstrating surgical instruments.

Abstract: A cannula assembly having a retention member and a method of manufacture of the cannula assembly is provided. The cannula assembly includes a cannula and a sleeve disposed around the cannula from a proximal end to a distal end. The sleeve can include a balloon formed by a stretch blow molding process following local heating once advanced over the cannula. Once formed, the balloon can be conditioned to constrict against the cannula. A conditioning aid can be advanced over the balloon when it is still formable to constrict the balloon against the cannula.

Abstract: A portable surgical training device is provided. The trainer includes a top cover spaced apart from a base to form a simulated body cavity for locating model organs that are substantially obscured from the field of view of the user. The top cover includes a video display, fixed insertion ports and interchangeable inserts containing simulated tissue layers. The training device has open sides for demonstrating and training lateral surgical techniques including a simulated or live tissue colon attached to a support leg for simulating transanal minimally invasive surgery. A training endoscope with an adjustable focal length for use with the trainer and, in particular, with optical trocars is disclosed. The surgical trainer can be angled and is well suited for training laparoscopic surgery techniques and demonstrating surgical instruments.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing the seeding of cancerous cells during morcellation of a tissue specimen inside a patient's body and removal of the tissue specimen from inside the patient through a minimally-invasive body opening to outside the patient are provided. One system includes a cut-resistant tissue guard removably insertable into a containment bag. The tissue specimen is isolated and contained within the containment bag and the guard is configured to protect the containment bag and surrounding tissue from incidental contact with sharp instrumentation used during morcellation and extraction of the tissue specimen. The guard is adjustable for easy insertion and removal and configured to securely anchor to the body opening. Protection-focused and containment-based systems for tissue removal are provided that enable minimally invasive procedures to be performed safely and efficiently.

Abstract: Embodiments of a circumferential retractor having an attached supporting, manipulating or positioning tool are described. The retractor optionally includes a sealing member associated with an external member of the retractor and an external support structure that may be used with the retractor and positioning tool as needed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing the seeding of cancerous cells during morcellation of a tissue specimen inside a patient's body and removal of the tissue specimen from inside the patient through a minimally-invasive body opening to outside the patient are provided. One system includes a cut-resistant tissue guard removably insertable into a containment bag. The tissue specimen is isolated and contained within the containment bag and the guard is configured to protect the containment bag and surrounding tissue from incidental contact with sharp instrumentation used during morcellation and extraction of the tissue specimen. The guard is adjustable for easy insertion and removal and configured to securely anchor to the body opening. Protection-focused and containment-based systems for tissue removal are provided that enable minimally invasive procedures to be performed safely and efficiently.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to tack-free gels and to methods for manufacturing a tack-free gel pad, in which a discontinuous layer of fluorinated ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene is permanently bonded to the gel pad to provide a tack-free coating. The gel pad may be incorporated into a gel cap to provide a surgical access device having a tack-free surface.

Abstract: A medical tubing being flexible and kink-free as gas insufflation tubing and non-collapsible as suction/irrigation tubing is provided. The tubing is lightweight and thin-walled. The tubing has a generally rigid but thin walled with a structural shape or is generally soft and thin-walled tubing with a hard re-enforcement.

Abstract: A surgical valve includes a housing with a proximal housing portion and a distal housing portion cooperating to define a gel cavity. A seal material is disposed in the gel cavity and includes a gel having flow characteristics and incompressible characteristics. A distal guide tube is provided to facilitate retrograde insertion of a surgical instrument into the seal material. During assembly, pressure is applied by the housing portions to the seal material in order to form a circumferential seal and to close an instrument channel. Manufacture can be facilitated by use of a mandrel for maintaining the structural elements in axial alignment. Complimentary screw threads disposed between the first and second housing portions can be used to pressurize the gel and thereby create a locking force on an inserted instrument. Detented tabs can be provided to facilitate control of this locking force.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a kink-resistant tube having drainage holes is provided. A wire is coated with plastic material and wound around a mandrel forming a plurality of windings. The wound coated wire is heated until the plastic coating material melts and bonds the wire windings to form a wire-reinforced sheath having wire-containing sections and non-wire containing sections. Alternatively, a coated or non-coated wire is wound around a mandrel together with separate polymer filament material and then heated. A filament having an elongated cross-section may be employed with the major axis of the elongated cross-section substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sheath. At least one non-wire containing section is identified by passing light through at least one wall of the wire-reinforced sheath. Image capture and analysis via an optical system and microprocessor automatically identify regions to target a drill for forming holes in the non-wire containing sections.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical training device for training laparoscopic first entry surgical techniques. The training device includes a simulated abdominal wall that is penetrable with an optical trocar. A receptacle containing a tissue simulation is located inside the receptacle. The tissue simulation is observable via scope placed inside the optical trocar. Upon penetration of the one or more of the simulated abdominal wall and receptacle, the tissue simulation appears to translate distally relative to the simulated abdominal wall. The distal translation is effected by a variety of ways including the release of negative pressure inside the receptacle upon penetration and the expansion of an elastic wall of the receptacle with the introduction of fluid under pressure into the receptacle.

Abstract: A cannula assembly having a retention member and a method of manufacture of the cannula assembly is provided. The cannula assembly includes a cannula and a sleeve disposed around the cannula from a proximal end to a distal end. The sleeve can be pre-formed by a stretch blow molding process then advanced over the cannula. The sleeve includes an inflatable balloon and an annular ring distal the inflatable balloon. The cannula includes an annular recess. The annular ring is sized to have an interference fit with the annular recess.

Abstract: A simulated abdominal wall model that is ideal for practicing laparoscopic first entry surgical techniques is provided. The model includes a simulated abdominal wall portion captured between two frame elements of a support. The support is connectable to a surgical trainer. When connected to the trainer, the model provides a penetrable abdominal tissue portion for accessing an internal cavity of the trainer. The simulated abdominal wall includes a plurality of layers including a skin layer, a fabric posterior rectus sheath layer, a simulated fat layer of low-resilience polyurethane foam and at least two layers that provide distinctive haptic feedback upon penetration of the simulated transversalis fascia and muscle layers. The simulated abdominal wall includes a simulated umbilicus across several layers of simulated tissue.

Abstract: Phase end point determination is provided to automatically halt the application of energy to tissue. Prior to the application of energy, the phase end point determination is identified by measuring the product of permittivity and conductivity of the tissue to be treated. An electrosurgical system can include an electrosurgical generator, a feedback circuit or controller, and an electrosurgical tool. The feedback circuit can provide an electrosurgery endpoint by determining the phase end point of a tissue to be treated. The electrosurgical system can include more than one electrosurgical tool for different electrosurgical operations and can include a variety of user interface features and audio/visual performance indicators. The electrosurgical system can also power conventional bipolar electrosurgical tools and direct current surgical appliances.

Abstract: A cannula assembly having a retention member and a method of manufacture of the cannula assembly is provided. The cannula assembly includes a cannula and a sleeve disposed around the cannula from a proximal end to a distal end. The sleeve can be pre-formed by a stretch blow molding process then advanced over the cannula. The sleeve includes an inflatable balloon and an annular ring distal the inflatable balloon. The cannula includes an annular recess. The annular ring is sized to have an interference fit with the annular recess.

Abstract: A cannula assembly having a retention member and a method of manufacture of the cannula assembly is provided. The cannula assembly includes a cannula and a sleeve disposed around the cannula from a proximal end to a distal end. The sleeve can include a balloon formed by a stretch blow molding process following local heating once advanced over the cannula. Once formed, the balloon can be conditioned to constrict against the cannula. A conditioning aid can be advanced over the balloon when it is still formable to constrict the balloon against the cannula.

Abstract: A portable surgical training device is provided. The trainer includes a top cover spaced apart from a base to form a simulated body cavity for locating model organs that are substantially obscured from the field of view of the user. The top cover includes a video display, fixed insertion ports and interchangeable inserts containing simulated tissue layers. The training device has open sides for demonstrating and training lateral surgical techniques including a simulated or live tissue colon attached to a support leg for simulating transanal minimally invasive surgery. A training endoscope with an adjustable focal length for use with the trainer and, in particular, with optical trocars is disclosed. The surgical trainer can be angled and is well suited for training laparoscopic surgery techniques and demonstrating surgical instruments.

Abstract: A portable surgical training device is provided. The trainer includes a top cover spaced apart from a base to form a simulated body cavity for locating model organs that are substantially obscured from the field of view of the user. The top cover includes a video display, fixed insertion ports and interchangeable inserts containing simulated tissue layers. The training device has open sides for demonstrating and training lateral surgical techniques including a simulated or live tissue colon attached to a support leg for simulating transanal minimally invasive surgery. A training endoscope with an adjustable focal length for use with the trainer and, in particular, with optical trocars is disclosed. The surgical trainer can be angled and is well suited for training laparoscopic surgery techniques and demonstrating surgical instruments.