A surgical stapler is provided that includes a spring loaded lift that automatically adjusts a staple cartridge and/or staple formation between a range of sizes. The lift is automatically released as the staple firing mechanism begins its forward translation of the firing sequence. The automatic one-way adjustment also adjusts the staple cartridge while maintaining the cartridge parallel to the anvil to provide consistent staple formations.

A surgical instrument that comprises an elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis. A surgical end effector is pivotally coupled to the elongate shaft assembly for selective pivotal travel relative thereto about an articulation axis that is laterally offset from the shaft axis and extends transversely relative thereto. An end effector driver link is operably coupled to the surgical end effector and an articulation driver that is supported for longitudinal travel in distal and proximal directions upon application of articulation motions thereto. A flexible de-articulation member is coupled to the elongate shaft assembly and the surgical end effector to apply de-articulation motions to the surgical end effector.

A device and method is provided herein for esophageal impingement of a patient's aorta. The device may be inserted into a patient's esophagus and positioned at the location where the esophagus passes over the patient's aorta. In this position, an actuation device is used to apply pressure to the patient's aorta through their esophagus to impinge or occlude the aorta to stop or significantly reduce hemorrhaging. A manually operable actuator handle enables a physician to manipulate a head assembly of the device through three distinct degrees of freedom of movement so as to control placement and direction of force against the patient's esophagus and, in turn, their aorta.

A medical device including a handle body having a proximal end and a distal end, a spool on the handle body and to move between the distal end and the proximal end of the handle body, a catheter extending from the distal end of the handle body, an actuator attached to the spool and extending through the catheter, such that the actuator is removably connected to one or more dispensable devices at a distal end of the catheter, a spool controller to prevent connection with another of the dispensable devices to the actuator after a predetermined number of dispensable devices have been dispensed by the medical device.

A joint clamp for a surgical retractor system includes clamps, a cam bolt, and a cam lever. The cam bolt passes through the clamps. A cam lever comprising a cam head pivotally attached an upper portion the cam bolt to permit rotation about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cam bolt. The cam head includes an outer surface that results in a distance between the pivot axis and an upper surface of the clamps being greater when the cam lever is rotated about the pivot axis to a clamping position than when the cam lever is rotated about the pivot axis to a non-clamping position. The clamping force may be calibrated or set via a cam bolt having an adjustable length and/or via a setting screw.

A surgical instrument is disclosed comprising an end effector including a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is rotatable relative to the second jaw, and a closure system configured to close the first jaw during a closure stroke. The surgical instrument further comprises an articulation joint rotatably connecting the end effector to the shaft, an articulation system configured to articulate the end effector relative to the shaft, and a firing system operably engaged with the electric motor, wherein the firing member is configured to move through the end effector during a firing stroke. The surgical instrument further comprises a first rotatable member configured to selectively synchronize the motion of the firing system with the motion of the articulation system and a second rotatable member operably engageable with the articulation system, wherein the closure system is configured to stop the rotation of the second rotatable member.

Implant bending instruments disclosed herein can have a plurality of bending elements that can be symmetrically driven to bend or contour an implant, such as a spinal rod. A single actuator handle can be moved to drive a compound gear train and move the bending elements to intersect an implant-receiving channel and bend an implant received therein. Instruments of the present disclosure can have an increased mechanical advantage than conventional bending instruments thereby allowing for an increased amount of force to bend an implant. A locking pawl can selectively prevent counter rotation of the gear train such that the handle can be actuated a plurality of times to achieve a desired contour angle.

A modular retractor may include a first body portion that houses a distraction mechanism for opening and closing a first arm and a second arm. A first pivoting member may be coupled to a distal end of the first arm and a second pivoting member may be coupled to a distal end of the second arm, for example. A first blade attachment mechanism may be coupled to the first pivoting member and a second blade attachment mechanism may be coupled to the second pivoting member. The first and second blade attachment mechanisms may be configured to couple to first and second blades and be independently inclinable. Various embodiments may include at least one connection point for connecting to at least one additional retractor module. Various embodiments may include at least one quick connect coupler for connecting to a snap on table mount.

An occluder device is provided for occluding a cardiovascular defect or a gap between a medical device and adjacent body tissue, the device including a compliant balloon defining a fluid-tight balloon chamber and a balloon channel forming a longitudinal passage from a proximal to a distal side of the balloon, the balloon including a fluid port for filling a fluid into the balloon chamber. A tip and a base are coupled to the distal and the proximal sides of the balloon, respectively. At least one connecting strut is attached to the tip and to the base. An elongate actuator is disposed longitudinally slidable in the balloon channel and connected to the tip, and longitudinally slidable with respect to the base so as to set a distance between the tip and the base. A lock is configured to maintain the distance between the tip and the base. Other embodiments are also described.

A method of operating a medical device comprises electrically connecting a power device to the medical device. The method further comprises sensing at least one characteristic of the medical device with the power device. The method further comprises adjusting or maintaining one or more characteristics of an electrical connection feature of the power device according to the at least one observed characteristic such that the electrical connection feature of the power device is operationally compatible with an electrical connection feature of the medical device. The method further comprises operating the power device according to an operational profile associated with the medical device.