Abstract: The torque enhancing apparatus including a first socket and a second socket coupled to the first socket, including an extendable moment arm. The torque enhancing apparatus includes a ball pivotably and captively held between the first socket and the second socket. The torque enhancing apparatus may include one or more extendable moment arms. The extendable moment arm or arms are configured such that they provide a mechanical advantage for moving the first socket and the second socket relative to one another. The torque enhancing apparatus may include a first socket, a second socket coupled to the first socket including four extendable moment arms. The torque enhancing apparatus including a ball pivotably held between the first socket and the second socket.

Abstract: A suture fastening assembly includes a central hub having a base portion having an aperture that extends therethrough and a base securing surface that extends along a base securing ramp extending along an axis that forms an acute angle with an axis of the central hub. The assembly also includes a locking collar configured to be coupled to the central hub, the locking collar including a collar securing ramp having a collar securing surface that extends along a collar ramp axis forming an acute angle with the hub axis. When a segment of suture is disposed through the aperture of the base portion and when the locking collar is secured to the central hub, a first portion of the suture is engaged by portions of the base securing surface and a second portion of the suture is engaged by portions of the collar securing surface.

Abstract: A retractor member includes a body portion extending along a longitudinal axis and being at least partially defined by a first lateral perimeter edge and a second lateral perimeter edge that each extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. The body portion additionally includes an upper surface and a lower surface that each extends between the first lateral perimeter edge and the second lateral perimeter edge. A first lateral support portion is coupled to the body portion at a first location at or adjacent to the first lateral perimeter edge, and a second lateral support portion is coupled to the body portion at a second location at or adjacent to the second lateral perimeter edge. A first coupling portion is disposed at a top end portion of the first lateral support portion and a second coupling portion is disposed at a top end portion of the second lateral support portion.

Abstract: A suturing device for minimally invasive surgery includes a state indicator coupled to a portion of a needle. When the needle displaces between a first needle position and a second needle position along a needle axis in a first actuation cycle, the needle rotates about the needle axis from a first rotational position to a second rotational position such that the state indicator transitions from a first visual indication to a second visual indication. When the needle displaces between the first needle position and the second needle position along the needle axis in a second actuation cycle, the needle rotates about the needle axis from the second rotational position to a third rotational position, and the state indicator transitions from the second visual indication to a third visual indication.

Abstract: A device includes a selection lever pivotably coupled to a housing, a shaft coupled to the housing, and a distal end assembly coupled to the shaft. When the selection lever is in a first position and an actuation lever is pivoted from a first position to a second position, a tip of the first needle extends from a first position across a first tissue bite area to a second position in which the tip is disposed within a first ferrule recess of a receiver portion of the distal end assembly. When the selection lever is in a second position and the actuation lever is pivoted from the first position to the second position, a tip of the second needle extends from a first position across a second tissue bite area to a second position in which the tip is disposed within a second ferrule recess of the receiver portion.

Abstract: A device for vessel harvesting is disclosed. The device for vessel harvesting includes a distal housing, a dissector coupled to the distal housing, a drive element coupled to the dissector, and an actuator coupled to the drive element. The device for vessel harvesting may also include a rotatable dissector, a shaft coupled to the distal housing having a first articulation joint movable within a first plane, and a second articulation joint movable within a second plane, which is substantially perpendicular to the first plane, a barrel chain drive element coupled to the rotatable dissector, and an actuator coupled to the drive element. The device for vessel harvesting may also include a member slidably engaged to the distal tip.

Abstract: A retractor member includes a body portion extending along a longitudinal axis and being at least partially defined by a first lateral perimeter edge and a second lateral perimeter edge that each extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. The body portion additionally includes an upper surface and a lower surface that each extends between the first lateral perimeter edge and the second lateral perimeter edge. A first lateral support portion is coupled to the body portion at a first location at or adjacent to the first lateral perimeter edge, and a second lateral support portion is coupled to the body portion at a second location at or adjacent to the second lateral perimeter edge. A first coupling portion is disposed at a top end portion of the first lateral support portion and a second coupling portion is disposed at a top end portion of the second lateral support portion.

Abstract: A medical device assembly includes a hinge rod having a first portion and a second portion, and a pedestal is coupled to the second portion of the hinge rod, the pedestal having a top surface, and portions of the pedestal cooperate to define a trough that is configured to hold a first portion of a vessel on the top surface of the pedestal. A retainer is movably coupled to the pedestal, and the retainer has a planar member having a lower surface configured to oppose the top surface of the pedestal. A joint member is coupled to the hinge rod, and a clamp assembly is releasably coupled to the joint member such that when the clamp assembly is in a locked configuration, the hinge rod is not repositionable, and when the clamp assembly is in an unlocked configuration, the hinge rod is repositionable.

Abstract: A surgical instrument guide assembly includes a main guide portion that includes a shaft portion extending along a longitudinal axis and a body portion extending along the longitudinal axis, and a proximal end of the shaft portion is disposed at a distal end of the body portion. The main guide portion further includes a first lumen and a second lumen that each extends along the longitudinal axis from a proximal end at a proximal end of the body portion to a distal end at a distal end of the shaft portion. A seal portion is coupled to the proximal end of the body portion of the main guide portion, and the seal portion includes a first port and a second port formed in a seal wall of the seal portion. The seal portion is selectively displaceable from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: A surgical access system is disclosed. The surgical access system having a cannula may include a distal tip having one or more longitudinal channels distributed around a circumference of the distal tip, and one or more circumferential channels around the distal tip. The surgical access system also includes an obturator coaxially insertable within the cannula which may include a distal tip and a retractable cutting element having an actuator. The surgical access system also includes an articulation interface. The surgical access system may also include a distal tip of the cannula that may further include one or more bridges distributed circumferentially along the one or more circumferential channels of the distal tip. The obturator further may include an elongated tube and a slidable plunger element configured to control fluid flow inside the elongated tube of the obturator.

Abstract: Another surgical device is also disclosed. The surgical device includes a flexible distal tip, which may also include a distal opening, a shaft interface opening on a proximal end of the flexible distal tip, an intermediate opening located between the distal opening and the shaft interface opening, and a channel coupling the shaft interface opening and the intermediate opening. The device may also include a hollow shaft connected to the shaft interface opening, a handle coupled to the hollow shaft, a suture locking device slidable within the handle, and a sliding actuator coupled to the hollow shaft.

Abstract: A surgical snare assembly is disclosed. The surgical snare assembly has a suture fastener having an entrance and an exit. The surgical snare assembly also has first and second suture engaging loops. The surgical snare assembly further has first and second handles configured such that: a) movement of the first handle a first distance away from the suture fastener causes the first suture engaging loop to move through the suture fastener from the exit to the entrance; and b) movement of the second handle a second distance away from the suture fastener causes the second suture engaging loop to move through the suture fastener from the entrance to the exit.

Abstract: A surgical suturing device is disclosed. The surgical suturing device may include a first or a second tissue gap, a first pair of needles configured to be movable across the first tissue gap, a second pair of needles configured to be movable across the second tissue gap, and a first suture having first and second ends. The surgical suturing device also includes a second suture having first and second ends and a needle actuator which selectively engages either: the first pair of needles to drive them through the first tissue gap and into communication with the first end of the first suture and the first end of the second suture, respectively; or the second pair of needles to drive them through the second tissue gap and into communication with the second end of the first suture and the second end of the second suture.

Abstract: A length indicator for use with a minimally invasive surgical device for vessel harvesting includes a shaft that extends along a shaft axis, and a tether is disposed at a first end of the shaft, the tether being configured to be coupled to the minimally invasive surgical device. A plurality of reference tabs extend from the shaft, and each of the plurality of reference tabs extend along a tab axis. A first distance along the shaft axis separates a tab axis of a first of the plurality of reference tabs and a tab axis of a second of the plurality of reference tabs, and a second distance along the shaft axis separates the tab axis of the second of the plurality of reference tabs and a tab axis of a third of the plurality of reference tabs, with the first distance being equal to the second distance.

Abstract: An instrument for crimping one or more suture fasteners to one or more corresponding surgical sutures is disclosed. The instrument also includes at least one shaft having one or more receiving faces, one or more anvils, one or more hammers, one or more pushers moveable in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the at least one shaft and configured to engage at least one of the hammer and the anvil for urging the hammer and the anvil together; and a loading tool. The loading tool may also include a target cover defining one or more snare guides, a target tray coupled to the target cover, one or more suture fasteners, one or more snare loops, and at least one handle.

Abstract: A suture security device is disclosed. The suture security device also includes a latch, a plate, and an actuator coupled to the latch and operable to move the latch away from the plate. The suture security device may also include a first latch array, a second latch array, a plurality of plates, a first actuator coupled to the first latch array and operable to move the first latch array away from the plurality of plates, and a second actuator coupled to the second latch array and operable to move the second latch array away from the plurality of plates.

Abstract: A surgical port is disclosed. The surgical port has a cannular channel. The surgical port also has one or more suture slots in communication with the cannular channel. The surgical port further has a pair of cam grips for each of the one or more suture slots, each pair of cam grips comprising opposing gripping arms configured to allow suture to be pulled through the opposing gripping arms in a direction away from the cannular channel and to resist suture movement in a direction towards the cannular channel.

Abstract: A wearable physical shield is disclosed. The shield includes a visor; a flexible extension coupled to the visor, and a collar coupled to the flexible extension. The visor can include a visor cavity, and the flexible extension can include a flexible extension cavity, wherein a seal is located between the visor cavity and the flexible extension cavity, such that the seal at least partially restricts movement of air between the visor cavity and the flexible extension cavity. The collar is configured to be placed around a neck of a person with a single hand for moving the collar from an open position to a closed position, where first and second arms of the collar are closed around the neck of the person.

Abstract: A cardiac retractor is disclosed. The cardiac retractor has an outer tube. The cardiac retractor also has a fixed collar fixedly coupled to a proximal end of the outer tube. The cardiac retractor further has a fixed link fixedly coupled to a distal end of the outer tube. The cardiac retractor also has an inner tube rotatable within the outer tube. The cardiac retractor further has a fixed key coupled to a proximal end of the inner tube and configured to rotate the inner tube relative to the outer tube. The cardiac retractor also has a keyed link coupled to a distal end of the outer tube.

Abstract: A rotation adapter for a minimally invasive surgical apparatus is disclosed. The rotation adapter has a proximal journal and a distal journal. The rotation adapter also has a rotation index coupled between the proximal and distal journals. The rotation adapter further has an actuator input and an effector output. A rotation adapter receiver for a minimally invasive surgical apparatus is also disclosed. The rotation adapter receiver has opposing beams and a proximal bushing coupled between the opposing beams. The rotation adapter receiver also has a distal bushing coupled between the opposing beams. The rotation adapter receiver further has a rotation constraint coupled between the opposing beams and positioned between the proximal and distal bushings.