Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds, compositions containing same and methods for inhibiting STAT3 and/or STAT5 activity or for the treatment of a cell proliferative disorder such as a cancer using a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or hydrate thereof, wherein R and R1, different, are selected from the group consisting of wherein when one of R and R1 is a —H, the other of R and R1 is a cyclopentyl moiety, R2 is a benzyl substituted with 1-5 halogens, preferably —Cl or —F, and R3 is selected from the group consisting of —H or —OH.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension are provided. The system comprises an implantable actuator that compresses the pulmonary artery.

Abstract: The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to combination heart assist systems, methods, and devices that include both an electrical therapy device and a mechanical heart assist device. Various operational modes can be implemented using these embodiments, including a synchronized pacing mode, an internal CPR mode, and an internal workout mode.

Abstract: The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to combination heart assist systems, methods, and devices that include both an electrical therapy device and a mechanical heart assist device. Various operational modes can be implemented using these embodiments, including a synchronized pacing mode, an internal CPR mode, and an internal workout mode.

Abstract: The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to combination heart assist systems, methods, and devices that include both an electrical therapy device and a mechanical heart assist device. Various operational modes can be implemented using these embodiments, including a synchronized pacing mode, an internal CPR mode, and an internal workout mode.

Abstract: A guide tube has an oblong cross-sectional shape. A first surgical instrument passes through one end of the oblong shape, and a second surgical instrument passes through the other end of the oblong shape. An imaging system is on the guide tube, in some aspects at the guide tube's distal end. In some aspects the guide tube and the instruments are telemanipulatively controlled.

Abstract: Two surgical instruments are inserted through a guide tube. The surgical instruments exit at an intermediate position of the guide tube and are oriented to be substantially parallel to the guide tube's longitudinal axis as they exit. A stereoscopic image capture component is on the guide tube between the intermediate position and the guide tube's distal end. The image capture component's field of view is generally perpendicular to the guide tube's longitudinal axis. The surgical instruments and the guide tube are telemanipulatively controlled.

Abstract: A surgical instrument extends through a guide tube and exits at an intermediate position of the guide tube. The instrument includes a parallel motion mechanism that changes the position of a distal end of the surgical instrument without changing the orientation of the distal end. An image capture component is at the distal end of the guide tube, and a joint allows the image capture component to move while the intermediate position remains stationary. The configuration allows a cross section of the guide tube to be oblong. In some aspects, a joint for the image capture component is placed between exit ports for surgical instruments, which allows the guide tube cross section to be further reduced.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is inserted through a guide tube. The surgical instrument exits at an intermediate position of the guide tube and is oriented to be substantially parallel to the guide tube's longitudinal axis as it exits. A stereoscopic image capture component is on the guide tube between the intermediate position and the guide tubers distal end. The image capture component's field of view is generally perpendicular to the guide tube's longitudinal axis. The guide tube is jointed to allow the image capture component to be moved. The surgical instruments and the guide tube are telemanipulatively controlled.

Abstract: The distal end of a surgical instrument is movable in all six Cartesian degrees of freedom independently of other components of a telemanipulated surgical system. The surgical instrument extends trough a guide tube. The distal end is moved by actuators that are telemanipulatively controlled.

Abstract: A guide tube for a minimally invasive surgical system has a single channel that accepts two or more surgical instruments. The channel has two or more bores, and a body segment of each instrument extends through a unique one of the bores. A slot connects two of the bores along the length of the channel. A distal component of one of the instruments is larger than the instrument's bore, and so the component slides through the slot, and in some aspects through some or all of the other bore, as the instrument is inserted through the guide tube. After the instrument has been inserted, a second instrument can then be inserted through the other bore.

Abstract: A guide probe is telemanipulatively advanced past an intermediate tissue structure. The guide probe is locked in position and a guide tube is advanced over the guide probe. The guide tube is then locked in position, the guide probe is withdrawn, and a surgical instrument is inserted through the guide tube. In aspects of the invention, the guide tube and the surgical instrument are telemanipulatively controlled.

Abstract: A medical robotic system has a robot arm holding an instrument for performing a medical procedure, and a control system for controlling movement of the arm and its instrument according to user manipulation of a master manipulator. The control system includes at least one joint controller that includes a controller having programmable parameters for setting a steady-state velocity error and a maximum acceleration error for the joint's movement relative to a set point in response to an externally applied and released force.

Abstract: A medical robotic system has a robotic arm holding a medical device, and a control system for controlling movement of the arm according to operator manipulation of an input device. If the medical device is being commanded to a state exceeding a limitation by a threshold amount, then the control system disengages control of the medical device by the input device, servos the arm so that it remains in its current state, servos the input device so that it is set at a position such that a force being applied on the input device remains at its current level, requests the operator to lighten hold of the input device, sets a parameter associated with the input device upon detecting such lightened hold so that the medical device is commanded to a different state that does not exceed the limitation, and reengages control of the medical device by the input device.

Abstract: Surgical accessories are presented in vivo and used by surgical tools in the surgical site to perform additional tasks without the need to remove the tools from the surgical site for tool change or instrument loading. Examples of in vivo accessories include fastening accessories such as surgical clips for use with a clip applier, single working member accessories such as a blade which can be grasped and manipulated by a grasping tool for cutting, sheath accessories that fit over working members of a tool, flow tubes for providing suction or introducing a fluid into the surgical site, and a retraction member resiliently biased to retract a tissue to expose an area in the surgical site for treatment. The accessories can be introduced into the surgical site by a dedicated accessory introducer, or can be supported on the body of a surgical tool inserted into the surgical site and be manipulated using another surgical tool in the surgical site.

Abstract: An articulate minimally invasive surgical instrument with a flexible wrist to facilitate the safe placement and provide visual verification of the ablation catheter or other devices in Cardiac Tissue Ablation (CTA) treatments is described. In one embodiment, the instrument is an endoscope which has an elongate shaft, a flexible wrist at the working end of the shaft, and a vision scope lens at the tip of the flexible wrist. The flexible wrist has at least one degree of freedom to provide the desired articulation. It is actuated and controlled by a drive mechanism located in the housing at the distal end of the shaft. The articulation of the endoscope allows images of hard-to-see places to be taken for use in assisting the placement of the ablation catheter on the desired cardiac tissue.

Abstract: A robotic surgery system comprises a mounting base, a plurality of surgical instruments, and an articulate support assembly. Each instrument is insertable into a patient through an associated minimally invasive aperture to a desired internal surgical site. The articulate support assembly movably supports the instruments relative to the base. The support generally comprises an orienting platform, a platform linkage movably supporting the orienting platform relative to the base, and a plurality of manipulators mounted to the orienting platform, wherein each manipulator movably supports an associated instrument.

Abstract: Tool force information is provided to a user of a telesurgical system using an alternative modality other than force reflection on a master manipulator, such as providing the information on user-visible, user-audible, or haptic “buzz” or “viscosity” indicators, so as to allow expanded processing, including amplification, of the information, while not significantly affecting the stability of the telesurgical system or any closed-loop control systems in the telesurgical system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an articulate minimally invasive surgical instrument with a flexible wrist to facilitate the safe placement and provide visual verification of the ablation catheter or other devices in Cardiac Tissue Ablation (CTA) treatments. In one embodiment, the instrument is an endoscope which has an elongate shaft, a flexible wrist at the working end of the shaft, and a vision scope lens at the tip of the flexible wrist. The flexible wrist has at least one degree of freedom to provide the desired articulation. It is actuated and controlled by a drive mechanism located in the housing at the distal end of the shaft. The articulation of the endoscope allows images of hard-to-see places to be taken for use in assisting the placement of the ablation catheter on the desired cardiac tissue.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing a surgical procedure on a beating heart of a patient. Methods are provided which include positioning an end effector in close proximity to a surgical site on the heart, the end effector being mounted on a robotically controlled arm. The motion of the surgical site is monitored and end effector tracking command signals computed in response to the monitored motion of the surgical site. The tracking command signals are forwarded to actuators operatively associated with the robotically controlled arm to cause the arm to move the end effector generally to track motion of the surgical site. The method further includes inputting an end effector movement command signal, and forwarding the end effector movement command signal to the actuators to cause the end effector to move relative to the surgical site so as to perform at least part of the surgical procedure.