Surgical instruments are disclosed comprising a firing assembly including a fuse having a plurality of operating states.

A method comprises the steps of: fixing a distal end of a first member of a surgical instrument with tissue, the surgical instrument including a second member having a longitudinal passageway configured for disposal of the first member and being connected with a navigation component such that the distal end is disposable with the passageway at a selected distance from the navigation component, the navigation component being positioned relative to a sensor to communicate a signal representative of an orientation of the first member; removing the second member from the first member; and connecting a third member with the first member along the orientation such that a distal end of the third member is fixed with the tissue. Systems, spinal implants, constructs and instruments are disclosed.

Bone anchors and surgical instruments (e.g., bone taps, drivers, etc.) are disclosed herein that include integrated guide tips. Use of these anchors or instruments can eliminate one or more of the steps in a conventional bone anchor installation procedure, improving surgical efficiency and safety. For example, a surgical instrument can include a guide projection configured for insertion through a cannulation formed in a bone anchor when the surgical instrument is coupled to the bone anchor. The surgical instrument can also include various mechanisms for adjusting the position of the guide projection relative to the bone anchor. The guide projection can replace the needle, stylet, and guidewire used in typical insertion procedures. The bone anchor can also include integrated tapping features to eliminate the need for a separate bone tap instrument. Thus, in some embodiments, targeting, tapping, and driving the bone anchor can be performed in a single step.

A medical device for removing an object in a body cavity includes a rotatable drive shaft having a lumen, a cutter at a distal portion of the shaft and by which the object is cut, a first rotation connection portion at a proximal portion of the shaft and by which a rotational force is transmitted to the shaft, a first fluid connection portion at the proximal portion and through which the object is removed with a fluid, and a handle including a second rotation connection portion connectable to the first rotation connection portion, a second fluid connection portion connectable to the first fluid connection portion, a rotation driving source connected to the second rotation connection portion and generating the rotational force, and a fluid driving source moving the fluid from the distal to proximal portions of the shaft via the first and second fluid connection portions.

A surgical instrument, and methods for its use, is described that includes clamp heads that can be nestled within or extended from a tubular sheath by longitudinal movement of the clamp heads' tines with respect to the tubular sheath. One of the tines includes an arch that slides against a mouth and inside wall of the tubular sheath, causing the clamp heads to open or close. The clamp heads close lightly, to within a predetermined (or zero) distance from one another, gently grasp an ultrathin polymer substrate seeded with cells, and pulls it within the sheath such that the substrate curls and folds to protect the cells.

An improved trocar device or instrument configured for single or multiple uses is disclosed. The improved trocar device has a novel flexible surgical assembly including an introducer component or a handle with scissor-like members with a channel formed within to accommodate a shaft component that slides within the channel. The introducer component may be squeezed or compressed to cause a locking mechanism to engage the shaft component to secure it and maintain it steady near the active area of the surgical procedure. The improved trocar device or instrument is coupled to a monitoring system for automatically monitoring the penetration route and behavior of the trocar device held by a robotic arm or a surgeon to assist either one with navigating the trocar shaft into a patient's body.

Briefly, the invention relates to a surgical tool and method for forming a pilot bore by inserting a guide wire into bone. The surgical tool is constructed and arranged for use in conjunction with X-ray or ultrasound machines. More particularly, the device includes a cannulated hand grip and driving tool used for the rotation of a bone or pedicle screw into bone. The rear portion of the hand grip includes a slide assembly that is suited to grip a guide wire. The slide assembly includes a user adjustable stop to control the sliding movement of the guide wire. The rear surface of the slide is constructed to be impacted with a hammer or similar device, whereby the stop prevents the guide wire from penetrating the bone further than desired. Should it be desired that the wire be retracted, a jack member is included to allow the wire to be precisely retracted. The hand grip is securable to various surgical driving tools for the purpose of providing the ability to cooperate with various brands of pedicle screws and other surgical implants for spinal procedures.

An endovascular apparatus for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises an elongate endovascular element such as a wire. The element has a proximal section, a distal tip section of smaller diameter than the proximal section; and a distally-tapering intermediate section extending between the proximal and distal tip sections. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer, mechanically coupled to the proximal section of the element for ultrasonically activating the element, hence exciting the distal tip section to facilitate crossing through the obstruction. A catheter surrounds the element, leaving at least part of the distal tip section of the element protruding distally beyond a distal end of the catheter.

A surgical robotic system includes a robotic arm, an elongated slide coupled to the robotic arm, and an instrument drive unit coupled to a track defined by the slide. The instrument drive unit is configured to move along the track and includes a motor configured to interface with an electromechanical instrument to actuate functions of the electromechanical instrument. The slide is configured to rotate relative to the robotic arm about a longitudinal axis defined by the instrument drive unit.

An endovascular apparatus for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises: an elongate endovascular element such as a wire; an ultrasonic transducer, mechanically coupled to the endovascular element for ultrasonically exciting a distal tip portion thereof to facilitate the crossing through the obstruction, and one or more damping features, mechanically coupled to the endovascular element to attenuate lateral displacement of the endovascular element at positions away from the distal tip portion.