A heart size measuring tool includes a tubular body, a flexible measuring cord having length indicia, a measuring cord support mechanism movable between retracted and extended states with respect to the body, and an actuating mechanism to move the measuring cord support mechanism. When in the retracted state the measuring cord support mechanism is positioned within the tubular body with the measuring cord in a collapsed position. When the measuring cord support mechanism is in the extended state the measuring cord extends around a portion of a heart to be measured. A scale on the body can be used in connection with the indicia on the measurement cord to provide a reading of the heart size.

A pressure sensing balloon retractor for use in brain surgery to avoid mechanical injury to brain tissues. The balloon retractor includes an inflatable balloon that can be inserted in-between brain tissues to increase accessibility during surgery. A pressure transducer connected to a microcontroller senses the pressure of the retractor, and this retractor pressure is compared to the patient’s mean arterial pressure derived from a blood pressure monitor in order to determine whether the pressure exceeds the threshold for brain injury. A load cell can be used to calibrate the microcontroller to remove the effect of elastic pressure on the pressure transducer’s measurements.

An implantation system and methods of inserting an implant are disclosed. The method includes the step of making an incision in an abdominal wall with an instrument positioned within an abdominal cavity. The method further includes the steps of forming a pocket between a first surface of the abdominal wall and a second surface of the abdominal wall, such that the incision defines an opening into the pocket, inserting an implant through the opening and into the pocket, and closing the opening such that the implant is captured within the pocket.

Provided is a surgical instrument including a first holding member, a sleeve member, a linkage member, a second holding member, a hook member and an opening/closing member. The second holding member is pivotally connected to the first holding member and when the second holding member moves relative to the first holding member, the linkage member is moved inside the sleeve member so as to drive the opening/closing member to move relative to the hook member. Through the movement of the opening/closing member of the surgical instrument, surrounding soft tissues, blood vessels or nerves that have strayed into the hook member can be pushed out so as not to be damaged by the hook member during surgery.

A closure system for delivering a sealant to an arteriotomy. A distal section of the closure system can include overlapping inner and outer sleeves that can expand with expansion of the sealant. A proximal section of the closure system can include a handle portion and a sheath adapter extending from the handle portion. The handle portion can comprise one or more actuators that when depressed or engaged can assist in deployment of the sealant in the arteriotomy and can further include tamping of the sealant and/or retraction of an expandable member. The sheath adapter can removably engage a side port or an irrigation line of a standard procedural sheath. When the sheath adapter is secured to the procedural sheath, movement of the closure system can also move the procedural sheath.

Vertebral probes for fusionless spinal surgeries and related surgical methods. In some embodiments, the probe may comprise a shaft having one or more tapering portions. Some embodiments may further comprise one or more non-tapering portions. The probe may further comprise a distal tip extending from a shelf or ledge that may allow for penetration of the tip therethrough with a first force and be configured to inhibit further advancement of the probe by requiring a second force substantially greater than the first force to achieve further advancement.

A specimen collection device and a method of using the specimen collection device are disclosed herein. In some aspects, the specimen collection device allows for the individual collection of specimens via a removable specimen tray that can easily be swapped during a procedure. The specimen collection device includes a flexible sealing element for the continual use of suction during the procedure even when the specimen tray is not inserted.

A method of controlling an end effector of a robotically-controlled surgical instrument may include receiving a first input signal indicative of a high grip level input at a master grip input mechanism that controls a slave gripping force of the end effector; receiving a second input signal indicative of a user's readiness to operate the surgical instrument to perform a first surgical procedure; and outputting a locking signal in response to receiving the first input signal and the second input signal together to lock one or more degrees of freedom of the surgical instrument during the first surgical procedure.

A system for treating tissue includes a first fastener including a first anchoring element at a distal end thereof for anchoring the first fastener in a first target portion of tissue extending about a periphery of a tissue defect to be treated and a first suture extending from a proximal end thereof. The system also includes a second fastener including a second anchoring element at a distal end thereof for anchoring the second fastener in a second target portion of tissue extending about a periphery of a tissue defect to be treated and a second suture extending from a proximal end thereof. Furthermore, the system includes a cinch element disposed about both of the first and second sutures and slidable therealong such that a tension applied to the first and second sutures draws the first and second fasteners toward one another to close the tissue defect.

Various articulating tools for endoscopic placement of fasteners are disclosed. The tool can comprise a multi-angle articulating screwdriver. The tool can have an elongate shaft with an articulating driver head at a distal end. The tool can rotate the articulating driver head to drive fasteners, such as screws, to a surgical site. The articulating driver head can articulate with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft to enable the fastener to be driven at various angle. The tool can be coupled to a powered handpiece power and can transmit torque from the handpiece to the driver head.