Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a needle, a catheter, and an actuator assembly. The needle extends distally from the body. The needle has an inner wall defining a needle lumen. The needle lumen is in fluid communication with a fluid port of the body. The catheter is slidably disposed in the needle lumen. The catheter has a catheter lumen. The first actuator assembly is configured to translate the catheter within and relative to the needle. The apparatus may also include an actuator assembly that is configured to rotate the needle relative to the body. The apparatus may be used to first deliver a leading bleb of fluid to the subretinal space in a patient's eye via the needle. The apparatus may then be used to deliver a therapeutic agent to the subretinal space in the patient's eye via the catheter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a needle, a catheter, and an actuator assembly. The needle extends distally from the body. The needle has an inner wall defining a needle lumen. The needle lumen is in fluid communication with a fluid port of the body. The catheter is slidably disposed in the needle lumen. The catheter has a catheter lumen. The first actuator assembly is configured to translate the catheter within and relative to the needle. The apparatus may also include an actuator assembly that is configured to rotate the needle relative to the body. The apparatus may be used to first deliver a leading bleb of fluid to the subretinal space in a patient's eye via the needle. The apparatus may then be used to deliver a therapeutic agent to the subretinal space in the patient's eye via the catheter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a needle, a catheter, and an actuator assembly. The needle extends distally from the body. The needle has an inner wall defining a needle lumen. The needle lumen is in fluid communication with a fluid port of the body. The catheter is slidably disposed in the needle lumen. The catheter has a catheter lumen. The first actuator assembly is configured to translate the catheter within and relative to the needle. The apparatus may also include an actuator assembly that is configured to rotate the needle relative to the body. The apparatus may be used to first deliver a leading bleb of fluid to the subretinal space in a patient's eye via the needle. The apparatus may then be used to deliver a therapeutic agent to the subretinal space in the patient's eye via the catheter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a needle, a catheter, and an actuator assembly. The needle extends distally from the body. The needle has an inner wall defining a needle lumen. The needle lumen is in fluid communication with a fluid port of the body. The catheter is slidably disposed in the needle lumen. The catheter has a catheter lumen. The first actuator assembly is configured to translate the catheter within and relative to the needle. The apparatus may also include an actuator assembly that is configured to rotate the needle relative to the body. The apparatus may be used to first deliver a leading bleb of fluid to the subretinal space in a patient's eye via the needle. The apparatus may then be used to deliver a therapeutic agent to the subretinal space in the patient's eye via the catheter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a needle, a catheter, and an actuator assembly. The needle extends distally from the body. The needle has an inner wall defining a needle lumen. The needle lumen is in fluid communication with a fluid port of the body. The catheter is slidably disposed in the needle lumen. The catheter has a catheter lumen. The first actuator assembly is configured to translate the catheter within and relative to the needle. The apparatus may also include an actuator assembly that is configured to rotate the needle relative to the body. The apparatus may be used to first deliver a leading bleb of fluid to the subretinal space in a patient's eye via the needle. The apparatus may then be used to deliver a therapeutic agent to the subretinal space in the patient's eye via the catheter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a needle, a catheter, and an actuator assembly. The needle extends distally from the body. The needle has an inner wall defining a needle lumen. The needle lumen is in fluid communication with a fluid port of the body. The catheter is slidably disposed in the needle lumen. The catheter has a catheter lumen. The first actuator assembly is configured to translate the catheter within and relative to the needle. The apparatus may also include an actuator assembly that is configured to rotate the needle relative to the body. The apparatus may be used to first deliver a leading bleb of fluid to the subretinal space in a patient's eye via the needle. The apparatus may then be used to deliver a therapeutic agent to the subretinal space in the patient's eye via the catheter.

Abstract: A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler. The assembly has a cartridge body having a support portion with a plurality of staple cavities with openings. There is also a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each the staple is removably stored within the staple cavity. Each the staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration. The assembly also includes a compressible tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured within the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers the staple cavity openings. The compressed tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator comprising a lyophilized foam having a hemostatic agent embedded therein.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a needle, a catheter, and an actuator assembly. The needle extends distally from the body. The needle has an inner wall defining a needle lumen. The needle lumen is in fluid communication with a fluid port of the body. The catheter is slidably disposed in the needle lumen. The catheter has a catheter lumen. The first actuator assembly is configured to translate the catheter within and relative to the needle. The apparatus may also include an actuator assembly that is configured to rotate the needle relative to the body. The apparatus may be used to first deliver a leading bleb of fluid to the subretinal space in a patient's eye via the needle. The apparatus may then be used to deliver a therapeutic agent to the subretinal space in the patient's eye via the catheter.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for use in the performance of minimally invasive orthopaedic procedures, including apparatus and methods for use in the performance of such procedures under the visualization of an endoscope, are herein disclosed. Such procedures include a minimally invasive intramedullary nailing procedure, a minimally invasive bone graft harvesting procedure, a minimally invasive pelvic osteotomy procedure, an orthopaedic implant revision procedure, and a minimally invasive percutaneous bone plating procedure.

Abstract: A staple having a crown, a deformable leg extending from the crown, and a spring extending from the crown configured to compress tissue between the spring and the deformable member. Owing to the flexibility of the spring, the staple can accommodate a wide range of tissue thicknesses while still compressing the tissue captured therein. As a result, a single staple design can be used in a wide variety of surgical procedures thereby reducing the amount of staple designs that must be provided to the surgeon. In at least one embodiment, the staple includes a crushable member. This crushable member can include a plastically deformable first portion and an elastically deformable second portion. The present invention can also include, in various embodiments, a crown, a first deformable member extending from the crown, and means for compressing the tissue against the first deformable member.

Abstract: A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler. The assembly has a cartridge body having a support portion with a plurality of staple cavities with openings. There is also a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each the staple is removably stored within the staple cavity. Each the staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration. The assembly also includes a compressible tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured within the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers the staple cavity openings. The compressed tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator comprising a lyophilized foam having a hemostatic agent embedded therein.

Abstract: Apparatus (20, 120, 300) and methods for use in the performance of minimally invasive orthopedic procedures, including apparatus and methods for use in the performance of such procedures under the visualization of an endoscope (22), are herein disclosed. Such procedures include a minimally invasive intramedullary nailing procedure, a minimally invasive bone graft harvesting procedure, a minimally invasive pelvic osteotomy procedure, an orthopedic implant revision procedure, and a minimally invasive percutaneous bone plating procedure.

Abstract: A device for drawing tissues together and creating an anastomosis comprises a main guide wire (66, 86) suitable to receive and draw anastomotic devices (10; 16; 24) in order to draw together portions (A; B) of tissues to be joined by means of anastomosis. The main guide wire (66, 86) is suitable to be shaped like an open ring crossing the portions (A, A?; B, B?) of tissues to be joined by means of anastomosis (66, 86), wherein the ends of the main guide wire (66, 86) are different and distinguishable from each other. The main guide wire (66, 86) has a tubular or hollow structure suitable to house at least one needle for a push or radiofrequency perforation of the tissues.

Abstract: A method and device for endoscopic harvesting of blood vessels from a patient for use in subsequent procedures. The device having a two piece headpiece. A vessel to be removed is inserted into the headpiece and the top and bottom portions of the headpiece are alternatively extended in reciprocating fashion to dissect above and below the vessel. The headpiece having electrodes for ligation of any side branch vessels which are uncovered in the dissection process.

Abstract: A device for drawing tissues together and creating an anastomosis comprises a main guide wire (66, 86) suitable to receive and draw anastomotic devices (10; 16; 24) in order to draw together portions (A; B) of tissues to be joined by means of anastomosis. The main guide wire (66, 86) is suitable to be shaped like an open ring crossing the portions (A, A?; B, B?) of tissues to be joined by means of anastomosis (66, 86), wherein the ends of the main guide wire (66, 86) are different and distinguishable from each other. The main guide wire (66, 86) has a tubular or hollow structure suitable to house at least one needle for a push or radiofrequency perforation of the tissues.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for accessing the abdominal cavity of a patient in order to perform a medical procedure therein. In one embodiment the method includes the step of inserting a guide wire into the upper gastrointestinal tract, via a gastric opening in the gastric wall and an abdominal opening in the abdominal wall of the patient, the guide wire having a first end that extends from the mouth of the patient, and a second end that extends from the abdominal opening of the patient. The method further includes providing an access device in the form of an elongated sheath having a lumen therethrough, attaching the first end of the guide wire to the distal end of the elongated sheath, and pulling the second end of the guide wire to position the access device into the upper gastrointestinal tract, wherein the distal end of the access device extends into the abdominal cavity while the proximal end of the access device extends out of the mouth of the patient.

Abstract: A bone plating apparatus includes a handle having extending therefrom a tissue expander for insertion through a skin incision and through the subcutaneous tissue surrounding a fractured bone. A bone plate may be secured to the handle during advancement of the tissue expander so as to deliver the bone plate to a desired location proximate to the fractured bone. Both the tissue expander and the bone plate may be advanced to the desired location proximate to the fractured bone under the visualization of an endoscope. A screw alignment jig is secured to the handle and has a guide hole which aligns with an access hole of the tissue expander. The alignment of the guide hole and the access hole allow for percutaneous screw insertion into the delivered bone plate. A method for plating a fractured bone is also disclosed.

Abstract: A medical device for use on a bodily organ includes a concave support element that is removably attachable to the surface of the bodily organ, thereby defining an enclosed space adjacent to the bodily organ. The enclosed space is fluidly connected to a fluid management system for circulating a fluid inside of the enclosed space. The medical device also has an energy transfer element mounted to the concave support element and electrically connected to a control unit. In some embodiments, the energy transfer element transmits intense ultrasound energy in a frequency range of 1–30 megahertz, and the fluid acoustically couples the energy transfer element to the bodily organ, and the fluid also cools the energy transfer element.

Abstract: A surgical instrument useful in harvesting blood vessels such as veins and arteries and for manipulating and grasping tissue. The instrument has a pair of jaws and a closing tube to open and close the jaws.

Abstract: A medical instrument for positioning an internal organ during surgical and diagnostic procedures is provided. In one embodiment, the medical instrument includes a body having a tissue grasping element and an actuating member effective to move the tissue grasping element between an open position and a closed position. The body also includes a flexible member which has a portion secured to the body and at least one free end. In use, the tissue grasping element grasps or penetrates a portion of the tissue on or near the body organ. Tension can then be applied to the flexible member to reposition and secure the body organ.