Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw cartridge that includes a guide bar formed from an inner plate and opposed outer plates, the inner plate defining a head. The cartridge has a blade that is disposed against the head of the inner plate. The inner plate may comprise an inner tine and/or two opposed outer tines. The inner tine may be formed to define the head against which the blade is disposed. The outer tines may extend distally so as to define a space between the outer tines in which the blade is seated.

Abstract: A surgical tool with cable-based steering assembly and lock assembly. An outer tube is coupled to a handle, and an inner member includes a tissue working member. The inner member may be an inner tube rotatably disposed in the outer tube and including a flexible neck aligned with links coupled to the outer tube. A steering unit is configured to be actuated to simultaneously tension and slacken steering cables to cause relative pivoting of the links so as to provide a bend or curve. The lock assembly is configured to be actuated to place simultaneous tension on the steering cables to compress the links against each other and inhibit further pivoting of the links against side loading from the tissue. The links may be shaped to have a frame that is tube-shaped with the frames of the links have the same inner and outer diameters as the outer tube.

Abstract: Surgical systems and methods for tracking physical objects near a target site during a surgical procedure are provided, the surgical system employs a navigation system and a surgical instrument; an instrument tracker is provided on the surgical instrument and a patient tracker is provided on the patient's target tissue; the system and method is configured to detect an error condition compromising accuracy of the navigation guidance and to track and monitor a tool-to-bone offset.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including an articulating region. An outer tube and an inner tube are axially fixed to one another distal to the articulating region and axially movable relative to one another proximal to the articulating region. Relative movement of the inner and outer tubes provides for articulation of the articulating tube assembly to a curved configuration. A working tool may be removably directed through a central cannula defined by the inner tube. The working tool may include a shaft having a flexible region configured to be arranged within the articulating region. The shaft may rotate within the inner tube with the articulating tube assembly in the curved configuration. The working tool may include a housing hub configured to be coupled with a handle to removably position the flexible region within the articulating region. Multiple working tools may be interchangeably directed through the central cannula.

Abstract: Surgical systems and methods for tracking physical objects near a target site during a surgical procedure are provided, the surgical system employs a navigation system and a surgical instrument; an instrument tracker is provided on the surgical instrument and a patient tracker is provided on the patient's target tissue; the system and method is configured to detect an error condition compromising accuracy of the navigation guidance and to track and monitor a tool-to-bone offset.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including an articulating region. An outer tube and an inner tube are axially fixed to one another distal to the articulating region and axially movable relative to one another proximal to the articulating region. Relative movement of the inner and outer tubes provides for articulation of the articulating tube assembly to a curved configuration. A working tool may be removably directed through a central cannula defined by the inner tube. The working tool may include a shaft having a flexible region configured to be arranged within the articulating region. The shaft may rotate within the inner tube with the articulating tube assembly in the curved configuration. The working tool may include a housing hub configured to be coupled with a handle to removably position the flexible region within the articulating region. Multiple working tools may be interchangeably directed through the central cannula.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system including an endoscope having an elongated housing extending between a proximal instrument end and a distal instrument end. The surgical instrument system may further include an irrigation sleeve having a sleeve body extending between a proximal sleeve end and a distal sleeve end. The irrigation sleeve may further have a first lumen and a second lumen spaced out of fluid communication with the first lumen, the first lumen formed in the sleeve body for receiving at least a portion of the elongated housing of the endoscope with the distal instrument end arranged adjacent to the distal sleeve end. The second lumen may be formed in the sleeve body and extend between a lumen inlet adapted for fluid communication with an irrigation source and a lumen outlet arranged to direct irrigation fluid toward the distal instrument end.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a surgical system. The surgical system comprises one or more surgical instrument assemblies and a surgical navigation system. The surgical instrument assemblies comprises a tracking device capable of being tracked by the surgical navigation system. The surgical system is also configured to allow the user to define one or more alert zones relative to anatomical structures of the patient and/or a surgical pathway. The surgical system further comprises an alert device in communication with the surgical navigation system, such that the alert device is configured to provide a user-perceptible alert to the surgeon or medical professional based on the position of the surgical instrument, as determined by the surgical navigation system, relative to the defined alert zones and/or surgical pathway.

Abstract: An irrigation sleeve, for use with a surgical system that comprises an irrigation source and a surgical tool having a tube to support a cutting accessory having a head, in turn comprises a body extending between proximal and distal ends. A first lumen formed in the body receives the tube. The head is adjacent the distal end. A second lumen formed in the body is spaced from the first lumen and comprises proximal and distal regions thereof. The proximal region of the second lumen extends from an inlet for fluid communication with the source, to a transition. The distal region of the second lumen is spaced out of fluid communication with the first lumen and extends from the transition to an outlet to direct fluid adjacent to the head.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for use on a patient. A tube assembly comprises an outer tube having a curved region, an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and comprising a single lumen, and a handle coupled to the outer tube. A viewing assembly is disposed within the single lumen. An actuation assembly is coupled to the inner tube and configured to steer the viewing assembly. The handle and the actuation assembly are complimentarily arranged such that the outer tube is positionable and the viewing assembly is steerable a user grasping the tube assembly with a single hand. The single lumen may define an irrigation flow path in communication with a fluid source and provide pressurized irrigation flow. An interior tube may be provided comprising an articulating region configured to articulate between a substantially curved condition and a substantially straight condition. Methods of manipulating an instrument are also disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw cartridge that includes a guide bar formed from an inner plate and opposed outer plates, the inner plate defining a head. The cartridge has a blade that is disposed against the head of the inner plate. The inner plate may comprise an inner tine and/or two opposed outer tines. The inner tine may be formed to define the head against which the blade is disposed. The outer tines may extend distally so as to define a space between the outer tines in which the blade is seated.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw for use with a complementary blade assembly that includes a static bar. The saw includes a head over which the blade assembly bar is seated. A coupling rod is able to be mounted to the head to move along the longitudinal axis of the rod. The coupling rod has a head that, as result of the longitudinal movement of the rod is moved towards and away from the head. A blade assembly may be disposed on the saw head adjacent the coupling rod. The coupling rod can be positioned in a run state so that the rod head abuts the bar of the blade assembly so as to hold the blade assembly to the saw head. Alternatively, the coupling rod can be repositioned in a load state the rod head is spaced from the saw head. This allows the blade assembly to be removed and replaced.

Abstract: A rongeur cutting system and method of operating said system. The rongeur cutting system may comprise a cutting unit that includes an outer tube and a cutting implement capable of both oscillation and longitudinal movement within the outer tube. The rongeur cutting system may also comprise a handpiece including a power source and spindle for actuating the cutting implement. The method of operating the rongeur cutting system may comprise operating the rongeur cutting system in a manual mode and/or operating the rongeur cutting system in a power mode. The manual mode includes moving the cutting implement longitudinally within the outer tube to manually cut tissue without utilizing the power source, and the power mode includes actuating a motor to manipulate the cutting implement within the outer tube while moving the cutting implement longitudinally within the cutting tube.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw cartridge that includes a guide bar formed from an inner plate and opposed outer plates, the inner plate defining a head. The cartridge has a blade that is disposed against the head of the inner plate. The inner plate may comprise an inner tine and/or two opposed outer tines. The inner tine may be formed to define the head against which the blade is disposed. The outer tines extend distally so as to define a space between the outer tines in which the blade is seated.

Abstract: A cutting system including a surgical saw and a blade assembly is described. The blade assembly may comprising a blade bar, a blade head, and a tag. The tag may comprise a memory containing data related to one or more characteristics of the blade assembly. The surgical saw may comprise a saw processor for receiving data from the tag of the blade assembly and be configured to regulate the operation of the saw based on the one or more characteristics of the blade assembly. The one or more characteristic of the blade assembly comprises may comprise a blade assembly length, a blade geometry, and a blade teeth geometry. A method of navigating a surgical saw is also described. The method may comprise attaching a blade to the saw, touching a pointer to reference points on the blade, and determining the position and orientation of a distal end of the blade.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade cartridge that includes a guide bar formed from an inner layer and opposed outer plates. The inner layer comprising an outer tine extending distally from the proximal end of the guide bar. An outer surface of the outer tine forms a section of a side surface of the guide bar. A side weld may be formed along the side surface of the guide bar. The cartridge may include a blade coupled to the guide bar, the blade comprising a web disposed between the two outer plates. The blade may include a blade head integral with and located distal to the web, the head formed with teeth located distal to the guide bar, the teeth having a sufficient thickness to form a kerf able to receive the guide bar. A method of forming the cartridge is also contemplated, including welding the inner layer to the outer plates.

Abstract: A rongeur cutting system and method of operating said system. The rongeur cutting system may comprise a cutting unit that includes an outer tube and a cutting implement capable of both oscillation and longitudinal movement within the outer tube. The rongeur cutting system may also comprise a handpiece including a power source and spindle for actuating the cutting implement. The spindle is designed to allow the cutting implement to oscillate while simultaneously moving longitudinally relative to the spindle. The handpiece may further comprises an advancement and retraction assembly that selectively displaces the cutting implement so the distal end of the cutting implement can be advanced towards and retracted away from the distal end of the outer tube. The method of operating the rongeur cutting system may comprise manually operating the system to move the cutting implement longitudinally while periodically actuating the power source to simultaneously oscillate the cutting implement.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing spine surgery. A retractor may be positioned within a patient to facilitate maintaining a volume of fluid at the surgical site. The retractor includes an opening capable of receiving one or more surgical instruments, for example, a cutting instrument and an endoscope. A cutting member of the cutting instrument is submerged and operated within the volume of fluid to resect tissue, for example, within the intervertebral disc space. The volume of fluid is maintained at the surgical site improves cooling of the surgical site and visualization of the surgical site via the endoscope during resection. The volume of fluid is maintained at the surgical site via the surgical system. The surgical system may include a sensor for measuring the level of fluid in the retractor, an inflow source and an outflow source in fluid communication with the retractor, and a controller controlling the surgical system.

Abstract: The saw blade comprising a bar and a blade. The distal end of the bar formed with a distal end opening and a discharge port formed in at least one of the top and bottom faces that opens into the distal end opening, the discharge port for discharging debris. The bar is formed with a geometric feature for receiving a coupling member to hold the bar to the saw, the geometric feature being an opening that extends through the bar. The blade having a blade base disposed in the distal end opening of the bar and a blade crown that extends forward from the blade base and forward of the distal end of the bar.

Abstract: An optical tracker usable with a surgical object, the optical tracker includes a tracker frame including a mounting body, which defines an instrument engaging aperture having a longitudinal axis, and an offset body protruding proximally from the mounting body. The instrument engaging aperture is configured to receive a proximal region of the surgical instrument such that the longitudinal axis of the tracker is aligned with an axis of the surgical instrument. The tracker may further include a tracking array coupled to the tracker frame and comprising a mounting fixture and a plurality of LED emitters coupled thereto. The optical tracker may further comprise at least three apex points defined by the tracker frame that extend to a height above the LED emitters.