Described are means for the direct and continuous connection of a catheter to the lumen of any tubular anatomical structure, or ductus, without medically significant leakage. A port implanted at the body surface with piping to a periductal collar allows drug or radionuclide delivery that bypasses the upstream lumen. The port allows injection, infusion, aspiration, or attachment of an automatic ambulatory pump. A superparamagnetic nanoparticle carrier-bound drug, for example, can be introduced into the lumen to pass downstream until the particles, with or without the drug still bound, are drawn into the lumen wall by a magnetized jacket surrounding the ductus. Such constitutes a method of drug targeting whereby a segment of a vessel or the territory supplied by a branch of that segment can be circumscribed for exposure to the drug. A jacket with side-entry connector positioned in surrounding relation to a lesion requiring treatment can itself be magnetized.

A self-expanding retractor is described for placement within the vaginal canal of a post-partum female to aid in performing a vaginal repair. The retractor provides improved exposure and enhanced visualization of an episiotomy or vaginal laceration repair site. The retractor is typically in the form of a foldable, trapezoidal frame defining a central aperture, and includes anterior stability posts at its corners and a panel spanning the central aperture. The panel is typically in the form of a surgical gauze pad for absorbing blood and fluids entering the surgical field. The retractor can be folded by a user for placement within the vaginal canal and then released, which allows it to expand to hold back swollen tissues from obstructing the repair site. The retractor is typically lightweight and compact and is configured to minimize slippage during use.

A tissue protector has a body structure having a longitudinal extending thin web. The body structure has an unconstrained first shape configured to form a nerve shield and is configured to shrink about a longitudinal axis to a smaller constrained second shape sized to fit into a lumen of a cannula. Preferably, the second constrained shape is oval or round having a maximum diameter equal or less than an inside diameter of the lumen. The body structure is configured to return to the first shape when the cannula is withdrawn or returned to this shape as the implant advances.

Cooling systems are described herein that may be used in connection with one or more attached devices to cool patient tissue. The disclosed cooling systems include a refrigeration unit containing a thermoelectric element in thermal communication with a heat exchanger, a fluid pump in fluid communication with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, tubing connecting the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, a fluid cooling element in thermal contact with the thermoelectric element, and a temperature sensor positioned to detect a temperature of fluid within the tubing. The temperature of fluid within the tubing can be controlled by a control unit having a user interface and a power controller to adjust cooling power to the thermoelectric element. Various types of devices can be configured to receive and circulate cooled fluid from the cooling systems, such as retractor blades, retractor shims, cooling pads, and scope sheaths.

A diffuser for use with a wound retractor and configured to deliver gases includes an interface tube for connecting to a gases supply and a diffuser interface positioned at a proximal end of the interface tube, the diffuser interface configured for delivering gases received from the gases supply through the interface tube, and the diffuser interface comprising a diffusion mechanism configured to deliver gases in a diffusion direction. A wound retractor with an integrated diffuser is also disclosed. The wound retractor includes an upper ring, a lower ring, a sleeve extending between and connecting the upper ring to the lower ring, and an integrated diffuser interface having a gases inlet and a diffusion mechanism.

A tissue retention belt for retracting and retaining tissue in a position that permits access to a body portion of a patient for a medical procedure includes a flexible elongate body, a gripping portion affixed to the elongate body at the intermediate portion, and at least one attachment surface disposed at a proximal portion and/or a distal portion of the elongate body. The elongate body may include a first material having a first coefficient of friction, and the gripping portion may include a non-adhesive second material having a second coefficient of friction greater than the first coefficient of friction and defining a slip resistant exterior gripping portion. The tissue retention belt can be positioned or wrapped around a patient's body (e.g., pannus, thigh) such that the gripping surface contacts and grips the patient's skin to retract and retain the skin at the position to provide access for a medical procedure.

Described here are devices, systems, and methods for moving and/or supporting an internal organ or other tissue, such as during minimally-invasive surgery. Generally, a system for moving and/or supporting tissue may comprise a magnetic control component and a retractor having at least one magnetic portion. The retractor may have a first low-profile configuration for passing through an incision into a surgical site within a patient and a second expansive configuration for engaging tissue. The magnetic control component may be placed over the surgical site external to the patient and generate a magnetic field to manipulate the retractor and engaged tissue.

The invention discloses an in vivo large organ turnover and fixing device applied in minimally invasive surgery, which comprises a device A and a device B which can be connected detachably, the device A comprises a connector I, a connecting rod I, a joint part and a control part I, the connector I is fixedly connected with the inner end of the connecting rod I, the control part I extends into the abdominal cavity through a minimally invasive hole on the abdominal cavity, the joint part is fixedly connected to the inner end of the control part I, and the movable end of the joint part is connected with the connecting rod I; the device B comprises a connector II, a connecting rod II and a control part II, the control part II extends into the abdominal cavity through a minimally invasive hole on the abdominal cavity, the connecting rod II is connected with the inner end of the control part II, and the connector II is fixedly connected with the connecting rod II. The invention relates to the technical field of surgical operating instruments, in particular to an in vivo large organ turnover and fixing device applied in minimally invasive surgery, which improves the turnover efficiency and precision of large organs under minimally invasive conditions and provides a guarantee for the minimally invasive surgery of liver transplant recipients.

A tissue retention belt for retracting and retaining tissue in a position that permits access to a body portion of a patient for a medical procedure includes a flexible elongate body, a gripping portion affixed to the elongate body at the intermediate portion, and at least one attachment surface disposed at a proximal portion and/or a distal portion of the elongate body. The elongate body may include a first material having a first coefficient of friction, and the gripping portion may include a non-adhesive second material having a second coefficient of friction greater than the first coefficient of friction and defining a slip resistant exterior gripping portion. The tissue retention belt can be positioned or wrapped around a patient's body (e.g., pannus, thigh) such that the gripping surface contacts and grips the patient's skin to retract and retain the skin at the position to provide access for a medical procedure.

The present disclosure relates to the field of tissue dissection. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to medical devices which lift and retract tissue during a dissection procedure to improve visualization of the target tissue and mitigate obstruction of dissection tools. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a tissue retraction device which moves from a constrained to relaxed configuration to immobilize and retract the dissected portion of target tissue during a dissection procedure.