Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes jaws having an electrode configuration utilized to electrically modify tissue in contact with one or more electrodes. The instrument is removably connectable to an electrosurgical unit via an electrosurgical connector extending from the instrument and a receptacle on the electrosurgical unit. The electrosurgical instrument is rotatable without disrupting electrical connection to the electrodes of the jaws. One or more of the electrodes is retractable. The electrosurgical unit and instrument optimally seals and/or cuts tissue based on identifying the tissue and monitoring the modification of the tissue by the application of radio frequency energy.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes jaws having an electrode configuration utilized to electrically modify tissue in contact with one or more electrodes. The instrument is removably connectable to an electrosurgical unit via an electrosurgical connector extending from the instrument and a receptacle on the electrosurgical unit. The electrosurgical instrument is rotatable without disrupting electrical connection to the electrodes of the jaws. One or more of the electrodes is retractable. The electrosurgical unit and instrument optimally seals and/or cuts tissue based on identifying the tissue and monitoring the modification of the tissue by the application of radio frequency energy.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes jaws having an electrode configuration utilized to electrically modify tissue in contact with one or more electrodes. The instrument is removably connectable to an electrosurgical unit via an electrosurgical connector extending from the instrument and a receptacle on the electrosurgical unit. The electrosurgical instrument is rotatable without disrupting electrical connection to the electrodes of the jaws. One or more of the electrodes is retractable. The electrosurgical unit and instrument optimally seals and/or cuts tissue based on identifying the tissue and monitoring the modification of the tissue by the application of radio frequency energy.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes jaws having an electrode configuration utilized to electrically modify tissue in contact with one or more electrodes. The instrument is removably connectable to an electrosurgical unit via an electrosurgical connector extending from the instrument and a receptacle on the electrosurgical unit. The electrosurgical instrument is rotatable without disrupting electrical connection to the electrodes of the jaws. One or more of the electrodes is retractable. The electrosurgical unit and instrument optimally seals and/or cuts tissue based on identifying the tissue and monitoring the modification of the tissue by the application of radio frequency energy.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes jaws having an electrode configuration utilized to electrically modify tissue in contact with one or more electrodes. The instrument is removably connectable to an electrosurgical unit via an electrosurgical connector extending from the instrument and a receptacle on the electrosurgical unit. The electrosurgical instrument is rotatable without disrupting electrical connection to the electrodes of the jaws. One or more of the electrodes is retractable. The electrosurgical unit and instrument optimally seals and/or cuts tissue based on identifying the tissue and monitoring the modification of the tissue by the application of radio frequency energy.

Abstract: The application relates to a hand access laparoscopy device having a gelcap, a retainer, a sleeve and a retention ring. The gelcap includes gel that is bonded to a cap. The cap includes an inner cylindrical wall to which the gel in bonded, thereby providing a sealing area between the device and the wound in a body wall. By securing the gel to the inner cylindrical wall, the thickness of the gel and corresponding cap is minimized along with the overall footprint of the device. With the gel thickness reduced and able to be substantially flush, the “doming” phenomenon produced by insufflation of a patient's abdomen is reduced.

Abstract: The application relates to a hand access laparoscopy device having a gelcap, a retainer, a sleeve and a retention ring. The gelcap includes gel that is bonded to a cap. The cap includes an inner cylindrical wall to which the gel in bonded, thereby providing a sealing area between the device and the wound in a body wall. By securing the gel to the inner cylindrical wall, the thickness of the gel and corresponding cap is minimized along with the overall footprint of the device. With the gel thickness reduced and able to be substantially flush, the “doming” phenomenon produced by insufflation of a patient's abdomen is reduced.

Abstract: A surgical access device including a valve housing and an instrument receiving element mounted in the valve housing having an aperture for flexibly receiving and directing instruments having a wide range of diameters. The instrument receiving element includes a braid or mesh tube generally shaped like an hourglass. The surgical access device may include an access septum seal molded from a gel material. The surgical access device can flexibly engage instruments having diameters ranging from about 3.5 mm to about 12.9 mm.

Abstract: A surgical access device including a valve housing and an instrument receiving element mounted in the valve housing having an aperture for flexibly receiving and directing instruments having a wide range of diameters. The instrument receiving element includes a braid or mesh tube generally shaped like an hourglass. The surgical access device may include an access septum seal molded from a gel material. The surgical access device can flexibly engage instruments having diameters ranging from about 3.5 mm to about 12.9 mm.

Abstract: A steerable kink resistant access device is provided having an elongated body and a steerable portion. The access sheath has an outside diameter sufficiently small so that it may be inserted into a body cavity or conduit. The access sheath typically has two internal lumen, a first lumen sized and configured as an access to a surgical site and a second lumen sized and configured to contain a tensioning device that, when acted upon, will deflect the steerable portion. The tensioning device may be directly or remotely attached to an actuation device that operates to control the tensioning and loosening of the tensioning device.

Abstract: A duckbill check valve and septum combination includes a hollow elastomeric body having an open proximal end, a closed distal end and a pair of opposed flat portions that form a distal edge. The distal edge includes a slit having a periphery that is smaller than the periphery of the instrument inserted therethrough. The slit provides a zero seal in the absence of an instrument and an instrument seal in the presence of an instrument. A shield including a tubular member and a plurality of blades protruding distally from the distal end of the tubular member may be placed inside the check valve and operates to center and guide the surgical instrument through the blades before expanding the slit of the check valve. An instrument inserted into the check valve stretches the distal portion of the duckbill valve to form a septum-like seal around the inserted instrument.

Abstract: A balloon trocar includes a cannula assembly including a cannula and an outer sleeve fitting over the cannula. The distal end of the outer sleeve is proximal to the distal end of the cannula. A balloon is coupled to a distal portion of the sleeve and a distal portion of the cannula. The outer surface of the cannula includes a plurality of longitudinal channels for transmitting gas or fluid to the balloon. A bolster having a gel pad at its distal portion is slidably mounted to the cannula assembly and may be locked in a desired position. In use, the trocar is inserted into an incision through a body wall and into a body cavity. The balloon is inflated and the cannula assembly pulled proximally against the incision while the bolster is slid distally to the body wall and locked in place to seal the incision with the compressed balloon.

Abstract: A trocar is provided with a cannula and a housing and valve assembly disposed in the housing which forms a housing seal, and instrument seal, and in some cases a zero seal. A gel material is included in the valve and provides the valve with superior flotation properties for maintaining the instrument seal even when the instrument is moved off-axis.

Abstract: A surgical wound retractor is adapted to dilate a wound stretchable to a desired diameter, the retractor includes a first ring having a diameter greater than that desired for the wound and being adapted for disposition interiorly of the wound. A second ring has a diameter greater than that desired for the wound and is adapted for disposition exteriorly of the wound. A plurality of retraction elements are disposed in a generally cylindrical relationship to each other, between the first ring and the second ring. These elements extend through the wound to exert a radial retraction force on the wound which is dependent on the distance separating the first ring and the second ring Retraction elements, both distensible and non-distensible are contemplated with appropriate attachment means at the rings to provide for variations in the retraction force. With a suitable retraction sleeve, a third ring can be provided to form a circumferential retainer to vary the retraction force.

Abstract: An incrementally adjustable wound retractor, which provides access to a body cavity, includes an inner ring having a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, an outer ring having an annular axis and a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, and a flexible sleeve disposed in a generally cylindrical form between the inner and outer rings. The outer ring includes first and second circular tubes spaced apart axially with each including a lumen having a rigid, noncompliant split hoop placed therein. The outer ring may be rolled over itself and around the annular axis to retract the sleeve with sufficient force to stretch the incision to the desired diameter. A gel cap seal may be coupled to the outer ring outside of the biological body to seal the opening produced by the wound retractor between the body cavity and outside the body cavity.

Abstract: An incrementally adjustable wound retractor, which provides access to a body cavity, includes an inner ring having a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, an outer ring having an annular axis and a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, and a flexible sleeve disposed in a generally cylindrical form between the inner and outer rings. The outer ring includes first and second circular tubes spaced apart axially with each including a lumen having a rigid, noncompliant split hoop placed therein. The outer ring may be rolled over itself and around the annular axis to retract the sleeve with sufficient force to stretch the incision to the desired diameter. A gel cap seal may be coupled to the outer ring outside of the biological body to seal the opening produced by the wound retractor between the body cavity and outside the body cavity.

Abstract: The trocar system includes a cannula insertable through a body wall using an obturator having a distal tip. A traction tread disposed interiorly of the obturator inverts at the distal tip and extends proximally along the outer surface of the obturator or cannula. At the distal tip the tread can facilitate parting rather than cutting the tissue Along the outer surface, the tread can engage the tissue to pull it proximally along the advancing obturator. This produces counter forces which can result in a net proximal force facilitating distention of the abdominal wall and separation of the abdominal wall from internal organs The traction tread can be axially and/or radially continuous.

Abstract: A surgical guide clip is provided that comprises connectors and jaws attached at each end to the connectors. The jaws being piovtable to open the jaws and having aspects of ratcheting mechanisms to provide incremental closing of the jaws together.

Abstract: A trocar fixation device includes a cannula and an elongate tube mounted onto and coupled to the exterior surface of the cannula with the distal end of the cannula extending distally beyond the distal end of the elongate tube. The elongate tube includes a plurality of slits cut at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the elongate tube. The trocar fixation device is activated by rotating the proximal-end region of the elongate tube in a first direction and is deactivated by rotating the proximal-end region of the elongate tube in a second direction, opposite to the first direction. Activation of the trocar fixation device compresses the material positioned between adjacent slits and forces the material radially outwardly, away from the exterior surface of the cannula, thereby forming ridges. Deactivation of the trocar fixation device returns the exterior surface of the elongate tube to a substantially smooth condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hand access laparoscopy device having a gelcap, a retainer, a sleeve and a retention ring The gelcap includes gel that is bonded to a cap. The cap includes an inner cylindrical wall to which the gel in bonded, thereby providing a sealing area between the device and the wound in a body wall. By securing the gel to the inner cylindrical wall, the thickness of the gel and corresponding cap is minimized along with the overall footprint of the device.