Abstract: A medical device to protect a body opening, the medical device including a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end a proximal ring attached to the proximal end of the sleeve, and a guard assembly located a distal end of the sleeve.

Abstract: A medical device to protect a body opening, such as a vagina. The medical device may include a lumen and anchoring structure(s) for securing the device in the body opening. In some embodiments, the medical device includes a sleeve, a proximal ring attached to a proximal end of the sleeve, and a distal ring attached to a distal end of the sleeve.

Abstract: A medical device to protect a body opening, the medical device including a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end a proximal ring attached to the proximal end of the sleeve, and a guard assembly located a distal end of the sleeve.

Abstract: An instrument access device (1) comprises an instrument seal, a wound retractor for retracting a wound opening (2), and an opening element for at least partially opening the seal to facilitate insertion of an instrument (6) through the seal. The instrument seal comprises a gelatinous elastomeric seal (3) with a pinhole opening (4) extending therethrough, and a housing (5) around the seal (3). The opening element may be employed to at least partially open the pinhole opening (4) to facilitate insertion of the instrument (6) through the pinhole opening (4). The opening element comprises a sheet (11) of flexible material. The sheet (11) is movable distally relative to the seal (3) between a rest configuration and an opening configuration. In the rest configuration the sheet (11) is substantially planar.

Abstract: A seal comprises a first sealing member and a second sealing member. The sealing members each have an accessway to facilitate access from one side of the sealing member to the other side of the sealing member. The accessways are offset to facilitate sealed access of an object through the sealing members.

Abstract: A surgical access system (100) comprises an access port (5), a rigid cannula having a shaft (11) and a laparoscopic surgical instrument (101). The access port (5) comprises a seal (6) and a retractor. The retractor comprises a distal O-ring (71), an outer proximal ring member (77), an inner proximal ring member (78) and a sleeve (72). The sleeve (72) extends distally from the inner proximal ring member (78) to the distal O-ring (71) in a first layer, is looped around the distal O-ring (71), and extends proximally in a second layer between the inner proximal ring member (78) and the outer proximal ring member (77). The instrument (101) comprises a shaft (103) with a rigid proximal region (104), a flexible intermediate region (105), and a rigid distal region (106). The instrument shaft (103) may be inserted through the cannula shaft (11). The instrument (101) has a rigid end effector (107) releasably coupled to the distal end (108) of the instrument shaft (103).

Abstract: An apparatus (650) for inserting a distal ring (9) of a wound retractor device (2) through a wound opening comprises a bladeless tip (641) for creating the wound opening by forcing tissue apart, and a conveying device (5) for conveying the distal ring (9) through the wound opening. The conveying device (5) comprises a hook element (6) for engaging the distal ring (9) to convey the distal ring (9) through the wound opening, and a receiver housing (651) for receiving a seal (652) and a proximal ring (653) of the wound retractor device (2) to hold the seal (652) and the proximal ring (653) externally of the wound opening, and thus maintain a sleeve portion of the wound retractor device (2) in tension, during conveying of the distal ring (9) through the wound opening.

Abstract: An evertable tube having a lumen therethrough, an inflation port for inflating the tube, and a self-closing valve at the inflation port. The tube has an inflation port for inflating the tube to grip a member, such as a probe, in the lumen. Advancement of the member, for example through a colon, will then cause eversion of the tube. The inflation port is provided in the form of an aperture in the outer wall of the tube. The valve comprises a sheath extending from the port along a wall of the tube. The sheath may be fixed to the wall of the tube. The sheath may alternatively be integrally formed with the wall of the tube. The sheath extends from the inflation port along the wall of the tube parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube to an open end of the sheath.

Abstract: An assembly for advancing a colonoscope through the colon comprises a colonoscope 2, a tube 4 and means for steering the tube 4. The steering means comprises a series of wires 20 extending along the tube 4 to the tube distal end 5 to which the wires 20 are attached. By pulling on one or more wires 20 from a proximal end of the tube 4, the tube distal end 4 may be steered by an operator as desired. The stiffness of the colonoscope 2 may be increased or decreased in use.

Abstract: An instrument access port comprises a retractor (811) for retracting the sides of an incision (813) and a valve (829) for sealing around an instrument (814) inserted through the retracted incision (813). The retractor (811) comprises a distal member for insertion into the incision (813), a proximal member for location externally of the incision (813) and a retracting member for extending between the distal member and the proximal member. The valve (829) is coupled to the retractor (811) to define a low profile sealed instrument access port.

Abstract: A wound protector and retractor device 1 comprises a sleeve 2, a distal member provided by a distal ring 3 of resilient material and a proximal member provided by a proximal ring 4. The sleeve 2 is led around the ring 3 and is free to move axially relative to the distal ring 3 somewhat in the manner of a pulley. The proximal ring 4 is fixed to the sleeve 2, in this case at the proximal inner end thereof. The sleeve 2 terminates in a handle or gripping portion which is reinforced by a gripping ring 15. The sleeve extends from the proximal ring 4 and the distal ring 3 is contained between inner and outer layers 2a, 2b of the sleeve 2. The resilient distal ring 3 is scrunched up and inserted through the incision 6. The sleeve 2 is then pulled upwardly. On pulling of the sleeve 2 upwardly the outer layer 2b is pulled up while the inner layer 2a is drawn around the proximal ring 3.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprising a body and first and second arms attached to one end of the body. A common inflation lumen extends along the body and branches into each of the arms. An expandable balloon is provided on each arm so as to be in fluid communication with the lumen of each arm. The catheter further includes a guide wire lumen in each of the arms. A method for dilating a narrowed bifurcated vessel is also disclosed.