Abstract: A rotary unit includes a first taper tubular portion which is contiguous to a first axial direction side of a unit main body portion and in which a first unit end of the rotary unit is positioned, an outer diameter of the first taper tubular portion becoming smaller toward the first axial direction. The rotary unit includes a first projecting portion extended on an outer peripheral portion of the first taper tubular portion with projecting toward an outer peripheral direction and wound toward a first around-axis direction as the first projecting portion extends from the first axial direction toward a second axial direction.

Abstract: A spiral unit includes a base tube extended along a longitudinal axis and made of a first thermoplastic resin, and a fin disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the base tube along a fin axis spirally extended around the longitudinal axis and made of a second thermoplastic resin. The fin includes a strip portion provided in a state of being bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the base tube and spirally extended along the fin axis. The second resin being mixed with a magnetic material in the strip portion.

Abstract: A rotary unit includes a first taper tubular portion which is contiguous to a first axial direction side of a unit main body portion and in which a first unit end of the rotary unit is positioned, an outer diameter of the first taper tubular portion becoming smaller toward the first axial direction. The rotary unit includes a first projecting portion extended on an outer peripheral portion of the first taper tubular portion with projecting toward an outer peripheral direction and wound toward a first around-axis direction as the first projecting portion extends from the first axial direction toward a second axial direction.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure (e.g., a cardiac bypass procedure) on a patient comprises introducing at least one medical instrument into a patient (e.g., percutaneously), conveying control signals from a remote controller to a drive unit, and operating the drive unit in accordance with the control signals to actuate at least one tool respectively located on the medical instrument(s) to transversely secure a first anatomical vessel (e.g., a blood vessel) to a sidewall of a second anatomical vessel (e.g., another blood vessel). In one method, the control signals are conveyed from the remote controller to the drive unit in response to user commands. The user commands may be movements made at a user interface that correspond to movements of the medical instrument(s).

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient comprises introducing a medical instrument into a patient (e.g., percutaneously), conveying control signals from a remote controller to a drive unit, and operating the drive unit in accordance with the control signals to actuate the tool located on the medical instrument to secure a stent to an anatomical vessel (e.g., a blood vessel, such as an abdominal aorta). The tool may be a sewing tool that is controlled to stitch the stent to the anatomical vessel. In one method, the control signals are conveyed from the remote controller to the drive unit in response to user commands. The user commands may be movements made at a user interface that correspond to movements of the medical instrument.

Abstract: A robotically controlled surgical instrument includes a first jaw and a second jaw used to grasp an item, and a drive mechanism that increases the force applied to the item grasped. The drive mechanism and the jaws can be provided with an accommodating mechanism that allows continued movement of the drive mechanism towards a locked position even after the jaws contact a larger item so that the drive mechanism can move to the locked position when grasping items of different sizes.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure (e.g., a suturing procedure or sewing procedure) on a patient is provided. The method comprises introducing a first medical instrument within the patient external to an anatomical vessel, introducing a second medical instrument within the patient internal to the anatomical vessel, conveying control signals from a remote controller to a drive unit, and operating the drive unit in accordance with the control signals to actuate a first tool (e.g., a surgical tool) on the first medical instrument and a second tool (e.g., a surgical tool) on the second medical instrument, in unison, to perform the medical procedure at a target region on the anatomical vessel.

Abstract: An anatomical model comprising: an inner lumen; and an outer lumen, wherein the inner lumen is disposed inside of the outer lumen so as to create a space therebetween; and further wherein a fluid is disposed within the space, interior to the outer lumen and exterior to the inner lumen, whereby the inner lumen can accurately simulate the mucous membrane lining a mammalian tract.

Abstract: A robotic medical system and method of performing a medical procedure on a patient are provided. Control signals are conveyed from a remote controller to a drive unit, and a drive unit is operated in accordance with the control signals to advance a first medical instrument within an anatomical vessel (e.g., a blood vessel) of the patient, to advance a second medical instrument outside of the anatomical vessel, and to respectively actuate first and second tools located on the first and second medical instruments, in unison, to perform at least one of a suturing procedure and a sewing procedure on the anatomical vessel. The control signals may be conveyed from the remote controller to the drive unit in response to user commands. The user commands may be movements made at a user interface that correspond to movements of the first and second medical instruments.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient comprises introducing a medical instrument into the patient via a natural body orifice, conveying control signals from a remote controller to a drive unit, and operating the drive unit in accordance with the control signals to advance the medical instrument to a target region via the natural body orifice, and to actuate a tool on the medical instrument to perform the medical procedure at the target region. In one method, the control signals are conveyed from the remote controller to the drive unit in response to user commands. The user commands may be movements made at a user interface that correspond to movements of the medical instrument.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient comprises introducing a medical instrument into a patient (e.g., percutaneously), conveying control signals from a remote controller to a drive unit, and operating the drive unit in accordance with the control signals to actuate the tool located on the medical instrument to secure a stent to an anatomical vessel (e.g., a blood vessel, such as an abdominal aorta). The tool may be a sewing tool that is controlled to stitch the stent to the anatomical vessel. In one method, the control signals are conveyed from the remote controller to the drive unit in response to user commands. The user commands may be movements made at a user interface that correspond to movements of the medical instrument.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure (e.g., a cardiac bypass procedure) on a patient comprises introducing at least one medical instrument into a patient (e.g., percutaneously), conveying control signals from a remote controller to a drive unit, and operating the drive unit in accordance with the control signals to actuate at least one tool respectively located on the medical instrument(s) to transversely secure a first anatomical vessel (e.g., a blood vessel) to a sidewall of a second anatomical vessel (e.g., another blood vessel). In one method, the control signals are conveyed from the remote controller to the drive unit in response to user commands. The user commands may be movements made at a user interface that correspond to movements of the medical instrument(s).

Abstract: A medical system and method of performing a medical procedure on a patient are provided. An electrical controller directs an electromechanical driver to bend an elongated member back upon itself to place a active work element in a working relationship with an intermediate work element, and to respectively control the active work element and intermediate work element, in unison, to perform a medical procedure. The electrical controller may be remote from the electromechanical driver, and may be coupled to the electromechanical driver via external cabling. The electrical controller may have a user interface for receiving commands from a user. In this case, the movements made at the user interface correspond to movements of the medical instrument.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient comprises conveying control signals from a remote controller to a drive unit, intraluminally introducing a first medical instrument within the patient, extraluminally introducing a second medical instrument within the patient, and operating the drive unit in accordance with the control signals to actuate a first tool on the first medical instrument and a second tool on the second medical instrument, in unison, to perform the medical procedure at a target region within an anatomical vessel. In one method, the control signals are conveyed from the remote controller to the drive unit in response to user commands, which may be movements made at a user interface that correspond to movements of the medical instrument.

Abstract: Apparatus for accessing a bodily passageway, the apparatus comprising: a flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end, a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, and a lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end, the lumen being sized to receive matter to be transported through the bodily passageway; and an external thread disposed over the distal end of the tube, the external thread having a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the tube is disposed in a bodily passageway, rotation of the tube about the longitudinal axis will result in longitudinal motion of the tube along said bodily passageway.

Abstract: A system of rotate-to-advance medical devices including catheters, dilators, occluders, stents, suprapubic catheters and camera introducers configured with external screw threads and depending substantially on rotation for means of advancement and emplacement in mammalian genitourinary and gastrointestinal passages and organs.

Abstract: A robotically controlled surgical instrument includes a first jaw and a second jaw used to grasp an item, and a drive mechanism that increases the force applied to the item grasped. The drive mechanism and the jaws can be provided with an accommodating mechanism that allows continued movement of the drive mechanism towards a locked position even after the jaws contact a larger item so that the drive mechanism can move to the locked position when grasping items of different sizes.

Abstract: A robotic medical apparatus for performing a medical procedure or application on an anatomy, said apparatus comprising: a first medical instrument member having a working end adapted to be disposed at an internal target area at which the medical procedure or application is to be performed; and a second medical instrument member having a working end adapted to be disposed at an internal target area at which the medical procedure or application is to be performed. The first medical instrument member is disposed so as to extend into the anatomy at a first ingress location and passing intraluminally; and the second medical instrument member is disposed so as to extend into the anatomy at a second ingress location different than said first ingress location and passing extraluminally.

Abstract: A thin-walled elastic sheath that can be stretched axially over an elongated imaging device to closely conform to the device and isolate the device from an external environment, and a method of forming such a sheath, are shown and described. The method includes the steps of heating at least a portion of a sheet of an elastomeric material to an elevated temperature to form a malleable heated portion of the sheet, pressing an elongated forming tool against the sheet at a location central with respect to the heated portion of the sheet, stretching the heated portion of the elastomeric material with the forming tool until an elastic conforming portion of the sheet is conformed to at least a portion of the length of the forming tool, and removing the forming tool from the conforming portion of the sheet to leave the thin-walled, elastic sheath having a wall thickness approximately equal to or less than 0.006 inches.

Abstract: A thin-walled elastic sheath that can be stretched axially over an elongated imaging device to closely conform to the device and isolate the device from an external environment, and a method of forming such a sheath, are shown and described. The method includes the steps of heating at least a portion of a sheet of an elastomeric material to an elevated temperature to form a malleable heated portion of the sheet, pressing an elongated forming tool against the sheet at a location central with respect to the heated portion of the sheet, stretching the heated portion of the elastomeric material with the forming tool until an elastic conforming portion of the sheet is conformed to at least a portion of the length of the forming tool, and removing the forming tool from the conforming portion of the sheet to leave the thin-walled, elastic sheath having a wall thickness approximately equal to or less than 0.006 inches.