A surgical instrument (100) for placement of a movement restriction device (10) for use in a surgical procedure for treating reflux disease in a patient. The instrument comprises a sleeve (113) and a holding device (111) configured to engage the movement restriction device, wherein the holding device is configured to be placed within the sleeve and be displaceable in relation to the sleeve. The instrument further comprises a first handling portion (101) connected to the sleeve, and a second handling portion (102) connected to the holding device. The handling of at least one of the first and second handling portion creates relative displacement of the holding device in relation to the sleeve, which disengages the holding device from the movement restriction device for performing the placement of the movement restriction device.

Navigation system and method for tracking movement of a patient during surgery. Image data is acquired by imaging the patient with a base layer of a skin-based patient tracking apparatus secured to the patient's skin. The skin-based patient tracking apparatus includes a plurality of optical surgical tracking elements. A computer processor arrangement is adapted to implement a navigation routine. The patient position is registered to the image data. The movement of the patient is tracked based on movement of the plurality of optical surgical tracking elements. The movement of the patient's skin is tracked by determining positions of the optical surgical tracking elements both before and after a deformation of the skin-based patient tracking apparatus. Movement of the patient's skin results in corresponding movement of the surgical tracking elements to provide a dynamic reference frame for use in continuously tracking movement of a patient's skin during surgery.

A needle bender for custom bending of needles to different desired needle bend radii is provided. The needle bender can include abase and a shaper coupled to the base through a support member. The shaper may have a plurality of grooves corresponding to different desired needle bend radii. A leverage arm with a needle slide disposed on one end may be rotatably coupled to the support arm.

When a needle is inserted along the base into one of the grooves in the shaper and at least partially into the needle slide, the leverage arm can be actuated toward the base to thereby bend the needle to the desired needle bend radius. The needle bender may also include a lock plate between the base and the shaper that can be actuated toward the shaper to further secure the needle to the shaper.

A drainage device may include a catheter including a proximal end and a distal end. The drainage device may further include a hub coupled to the proximal end of the catheter. The hub may include a fastener element configured to secure the distal end of the catheter. In some aspects, the fastener element may be a hinged element. In some aspects, the drainage device may further include a puncture element including a tip and an expander portion. In still other aspects, the puncture element may also include an attachment portion.

Provided herein are expandable devices, rail systems, and motorized devices, in one embodiment, an expandable device comprises an expandable sac having a tool housed therein. The expandable device is optionally configured for operation while inside a body cavity. The expandable device optionally comprises at least one rail in the sac, and at least one railed device coupled to the rail for movement there on. Movement of the railed device on the rail is provided by, for example, a motor such as an electromagnetic motor or an inch-worm type motor. Expandable devices can be used, for example, to perform minimally invasive medical procedures requiring access to a body cavity. Expandable devices can also be used, for example, to provide safe and stable transport of instruments to the body cavity.

A hemostasis aiding device for use at wound sites associated with venous access procedures.

A buttress is applied to an end effector of a surgical stapler. The buttress is loaded on a platform of a buttress applier cartridge. The end effector is closed upon the platform. An adhesive layer of the buttress secures the buttress to the end effector. The buttress is thus adhered to the end effector when the end effector is opened. The end effector is then actuated on tissue of a patient, thereby stapling the buttress to the tissue.

An apparatus for surgical lighting is disclosed. The apparatus includes a light emitting element formed with a light source encapsulated within an outer layer. The outer layer includes a biocompatible material. A power supply is coupled to the light source. The apparatus includes an actuating mechanism that controls power from the power supply to the light source to emit light along a surgical area. The light emitting element provides enhanced illumination and other surgical advantages.

Certain embodiments are directed to a laryngoscopy device and methods of use thereof, the device having a curved, hollow stylet with a handle and a flexible bougie contained at least partially within the hollow stylet, the bougie being extendable out of the end of the stylet for use in guidance of a hollow endotracheal tube.

A method of performing brain surgery on a patient having a skull and brain tissue, that starts by creating an opening, having a rim, in the skull. The method uses an assembly for facilitating brain surgery that includes a curved frame, defining an inward dimension and an outward dimension; a plurality of spatula arm subassemblies, each including a spatula arm frame clamp, releasably attached to the frame, a spatula arm held and supported by the spatula arm frame clamp and a spatula extending from the inward end of the spatula arm of the spatula arm subassembly. The assembly is clamped to the rim and the spatula arms are positioned so that the spatulas engage the brain tissue in a manner that facilitates surgery.