Abstract: A cannula having a sleeve with a body having proximal and distal ends and defining a through passageway. First structure is provided on the body to define a first shoulder to abut a tissue wall through which the body extends. Second structure is provided on the body to define a second shoulder to abut a tissue wall through which the body extends. The first and second structures are spaced from each other to permit the first and second shoulders to abut separate, spaced tissue walls through which the body extends.

Abstract: An instrument for delivering a pre-tied suture assembly, having a needle carrying a thread with a noose thereon, into a body cavity. The needle has a pointed free end to puncture a tissue and guide movement of the needle and thread therethrough. The instrument has an elongate body with proximal and distal ends. Structure is provided on the body for holding the needle in a transfer position with the pointed free end of the needle shielded to prevent inadvertent puncture of a tissue as the suture assembly is introduced into a body cavity through the instrument. The body has a noose receiving portion to be surrounded by the noose with the needle in its transfer position to prevent the noose from closing upon itself.

Abstract: An instrument for facilitating the tying of a suture during a surgical procedure. The instrument has a body with a first structure for releasably holding a first portion of a suture and a second structure, spaced from the first holding structure, for releasably holding a second portion of the suture. Actuating structure is provided to selectively cause the first holding structure to hold and release the first portion of the suture and causing the second holding structure to hold and release the second portion of the suture.

Abstract: A surgical instrument having first and second cooperating jaws that are movable relative to each other selectively between open and closed positions, structure for normally urging the jaws from their open position towards their closed position with a first predetermined force, there further being structure for urging the jaws towards the closed position therefor with a second predetermined force that is greater than the first predetermined force.

Abstract: A guide structure for facilitating the performance of internal surgery. The guide structure has a guide tube with proximal and distal ends. The guide tube defines an internal, through working passageway. Structure is provided for bending the distal end of the guide tube within a range of bend angles from a location remote from the distal end of the guide tube and for releasably holding the distal end of the guide tube at a preselected bend angle within the range of bend angles.

Abstract: A surgical instrument having a body with a rear proximal end and a forward distal end and a grip assembly attached to the body for facilitating holding and manipulation of the surgical instrument by the hand of a user. The grip assembly has front and rear handles that are movable relative to each other between first and second positions. The rear handle has a surface to be comfortably held in the palm of a hand holding the surgical instrument. A working tip operating mechanism is provided. A working tip is mounted to one of the operating mechanism and body at a first location on the body for movement between first and second positions. The rear handle is connected to the body so that the rear handle surface is in a fixed position relative to the first body location throughout the range of relative movement of the front and rear handles between their first and second positions.

Abstract: A jig for consistently orienting surgical instrument. The jig has a base for placement against a tissue in the vicinity of where a surgical procedure is to be performed, a yoke, an instrument support sleeve on the yoke and defining a passageway for the introduction of a surgical instrument to be inserted into the tissue, structure for supporting the yoke on the base for movement relative to the base, and structure for maintaining the yoke in a plurality of selected positions relative to the base.

Abstract: A rotational surgical instrument including a working head connected to a rotatable, pencil-like handle. The handle includes a casing with distal and proximal end caps, an elongated outer member extending into the casing, and a actuation link extending from the distal end cap through the casing and elongated member to the working head. An actuating mechanism is positioned distally from the distal end cap about the proximal portion of the elongated member for slidably actuating the working head between and open and closed positions. A compression spring is included in the passageway of the casing around the actuation link between the proximal end cap and the proximal end of the elongated member to return the working head to the nonactuated position. Keyed surfaces are included within the passageway of the casing and attached to the distal end of the casing and the proximal end of the elongated member for preventing rotation of the elongated member with respect to the casing and actuation link.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the safe removal of a mass from within a body cavity. The apparatus has a membrane that can be selectively placed in a) an expanded state wherein the membrane defines an internal space for reception of a mass to be removed from the cavity and b) a collapsed state wherein the membrane occupies less space than it does in its expanded state. The membrane has an entryway that is in communication with the internal space defined by the membrane with the membrane in its expanded state. Structure is provided for closing the membrane entryway from a location remote drom the entryway.

Abstract: A cannula for extension through a tissue into a cavity and having: a cylindrical sleeve defining a hollow passageway through which a surgical instrument can be directed, with the sleeve having a) a proximal end to be manipulated by a user in directing the sleeve into an operative position through the body tissue into the body cavity, b) a distal end which projects into the body cavity with the sleeve in its operative position, and c) a cylindrical outer surface; expandable structure at the distal end of the sleeve for preventing withdrawal of the sleeve from the tissue with the expandable structure in an expanded state, the expandable structure being collapsible from its expanded state, wherein it projects radially beyond the outer surface of the sleeve sufficiently to prevent passage of the distal end of the sleeve and expandable structure thereon through an incision having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the outer cylindrical surface of the sleeve, to a collapsed state in which the expanda

Abstract: An instrument of the type having a casing with a leading edge to be engaged with tissue that is to be laser treated, a laser fiber with a body having an emitting end, and structure for mounting the laser fiber to the casing so that the emitting end of the laser fiber is in a fixed position with respect to the casing and thereby a tissue that is to be treated and engaged by the leading end of the casing.

Abstract: A biopsy device consisting of a housing, a coring section on the housing having a cylindrical wall with a leading cutting edge to be bored into a tissue from which a biopsy sample is to be taken and an internal hollow space bounded by an inside surface of the cylindrical wall for accepting a sample of a tissue which the cutting edge has penetrated; a severing blade with a severing edge mounted to the cylindrical wall at least partially inside of the hollow space for pivoting movement between (a) a first position wherein the severing edge is adjacent to the inside wall surface and (b) a second position wherein the severing edge is radially inwardly with respect to the cylindrical wall from the position of the severing edge in the first position, so that as the severing blade moves from the first position to the second position, the severing edge cuts across a tissue core in the internal hollow space to allow the core to be separated from the remainder of the tissue; and structure for selectively moving the sev

Abstract: A clamping device for positioning and holding gynecological instruments, such as uterine instruments, or the like. The device is illustrated in the form of a forceps having handles located at one end, and clamps located at the opposite end for selectively clamping onto at least a portion of the cervix. A second clamp is located intermediate the ends of the forceps for releasably clamping onto the gynecological instrument to hold the instrument in proper position relative to the uterus.

Abstract: A laparoscopic cannula is provided having a sleeve defining a hollow passageway through which a surgical instrument can be directed and having a proximal end and a distal end which projects into a cavity with the sleeve in its operative position, expandable structure at the distal end of the sleeve which is selectively expandable and collapsible and which prevents withdrawal of the sleeve in its expanded state, structure for selectively expanding and collapsing the expandable structure, a retaining collar with a tapered surface, and cooperating structure on the sleeve and collar for permitting movement of the collar relative to the sleeve towards the sleeve distal end whereby body tissue through which the sleeve is directed can be captured between the tapered collar surface and expandable structure to maintain the sleeve in its operative position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument having an elongated stem with first and second jaws selectively movable towards and away from each other between open and closed positions, an arm with an elongate edge mounted to one of the jaws for movement between (a) a first, entry position wherein the length of the edge is aligned lengthwise of the elongate stem and (b) a second, support position wherein the length of the edge is transverse to the position that the edge assumes with the arm in its first position, and structure for manually moving the arm selectively between its first and second positions.

Abstract: A suction device is provided having a tube connectable at its proximal end to a vacuum source and open at its distal end to provide suction at the distal end. A porous barrier is located within the tube distal end, being either a rigid screen filter or supporting a compressible filter which is drawn against the barrier by the tube vacuum. The filter alternatively may be secured to a housing which is securable to the tube distal end. The device further has a second tube disposed around the first tube, with the second tube being closed at opposite ends around the first tube to define an irrigation channel therebetween. The channel is connected to an irrigation source and has discharge openings at its distal end. The suction and irrigation functions of the channels can be reversed with the small openings in the outer channel defining a rigid screen during suction.

Abstract: A device for use in laser surgery has a first jaw and a second jaw pivotable to engage the first jaw to clamp tissue therebetween. The first and second jaws may be manually pivoted and secured together for clamping. The second jaw has a slot therethrough which is open to the first jaw to provide a guide for laser cutting. A third jaw is also provided for clamping tissue between it and the first jaw, said third jaw also having a slot therethrough and open to the first jaw. The jaws are pivoted to the distal end of a sleeve with a hollow interior. Control rods extend through the sleeve interior and connect to the respective jaws in an overcenter configuration. The control rods may, at the proximal end of the sleeve, be manually manipulated in order to pivot the jaws for manipulation at the surgical site.

Abstract: An instrument according to the present invention comprises a casing, an exposed working head with an associated movable element, an actuating link slidably mounted relative to the casing for moving the element and an actuator mechanism with a control portion for sliding the actuating link. The actuating link is biased slidably in a first direction relative to the casing which urges the jaws, blades, etc. to a closed position. Upon radially depressing the control portion, the actuator mechanism causes the actuating link to move against the spring bias slidably in a direction opposite to the first direction. Structure is provided to selectively lock the jaws on the working head in an open position. Successive depressions of the control portion of the actuator mechanism alternatingly lock the jaws open and closed. Because the jaws are urged to a closed position, the user does not have to maintain constant closing pressure during use yet the user has the ability to easily lock the jaws in an open position.

Abstract: A forceps-type surgical instrument includes a tubular handle for grasping by a user and defining a longitudinal axis about which the handle can be rotated by a user's hand and fingers, the handle having an open distal end. A pair of forceps blades have proximal ends fixed within the tubular handle and distal ends projecting from the open end of the handle and terminating in functional jaws. The blades are spring biased toward a spread condition. An actuator member on the tubular handle is operative through the handle with at least one of the forceps blades for closing the blades in response to operating the actuator member by the user's finger.

Abstract: An intra-abdominal organ stabilizer, manipulator and retractor includes an elongated tube for insertion through an introducer into an abdominal cavity. A rod is telescopingly received and axially movable within the tube. A stabilizer tip is secured to the distal end of the rod and axially movable therewith into and out of the distal end of the tube. The stabilizer tip includes a pair of relatively stiff juxtaposed support arms laterally flexible between closed positions for movement into and out of the tube, and spread positions when projecting partially or fully beyond the end of the tube for retracting, manipulating or stabilizing organs, tissue or the like during a medical procedure.