An apparatus for preventing deployment failure or damage of a movable portion of a treatment device via a force limiting element in the treatment device.

Surgical tools that can be used in single port laparoscopic procedures can include a low-profile handle assembly to minimize tool interference adjacent the incision site. For example, a handle assembly for a surgical instrument can have a generally in-line configuration extending linearly along a central longitudinal axis of an elongate shaft of the instrument. A linkage mechanism including a trigger, an actuation link, and an actuation shaft can be positioned within the in-line handle. The linkage mechanism can be pivoted between an open position in which end effectors of the instrument are open and a toggle position in which the end effectors are locked closed. A locking mechanism such as a ratchet mechanism can also be used to lock the end effectors. A surgical dissector can include gripping jaws having a curved profile or an angled elongate shaft to minimize tool interference and maximize visibility within a procedure site.

A steerable instrument for endoscopic and/or invasive type of applications includes an elongated tubular body and at least one actuation means at a proximal side of the steerable instrument and at least one bendable zone at a distal side of the steerable instrument, the at least one actuation means being arranged to control bending of the at least one bendable zone by means of longitudinal elements. The instrument further includes first, second and third cylindrical elements; at least one tangential spacer; and at least one lip shaped portion formed on at least one of the first cylindrical element or the third cylindrical element.

An articulating surgical implement (1) comprising: an elongate body (2) having a proximal end (4) and a distal end (5) and a longitudinal axis (6); a grip (7) on the proximal end for holding the surgical implement; a surgical implement head (8) formed on the distal end of the elongate body, and having surgical implement jaws (10, 11), the surgical implement head having a first joint (13) It that allows the surgical implement jaws to move relative to each other to open and close for gripping or cutting; a second joint (12) on the distal end of the elongate body for changing the angle of the surgical implement head relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body; a mechanism comprising a control lever (35), a control rod (39) and a linkage arm (40) for changing the angle of the surgical implement head relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body through an angular range of movement by pivoting about an axis of rotation of the second joint; and a mechanism comprising a pulley wheel (50) and a push/pull wire (51) for opening and closing the surgical implement jaws. The surgical implement head may be a rongeur and is operable at 90 degrees to the elongate body in either an upbite or downbite position. It has an angular range of movement of 180 degrees. A desired angle of the surgical implement head is selected by a user, for example for tissue removal from a target site.

An articulating surgical implement (1) comprising: an elongate body (2) having a proximal end (4) and a distal end (5) and a longitudinal axis (6); a grip (7) on the proximal end for holding the surgical implement; a surgical implement head (8) formed on the distal end of the elongate body, and having surgical implement jaws (10, 11), the surgical implement head having a first joint (13) It that allows the surgical implement jaws to move relative to each other to open and close for gripping or cutting; a second joint (12) on the distal end of the elongate body for changing the angle of the surgical implement head relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body; a mechanism comprising a control lever (35), a control rod (39) and a linkage arm (40) for changing the angle of the surgical implement head relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body through an angular range of movement by pivoting about an axis of rotation of the second joint; and a mechanism comprising a pulley wheel (50) and a push/pull wire (51) for opening and closing the surgical implement jaws. The surgical implement head may be a rongeur and is operable at 90 degrees to the elongate body in either an upbite or downbite position. It has an angular range of movement of 180 degrees. A desired angle of the surgical implement head is selected by a user, for example for tissue removal from a target site.

An end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members movable between an open and closed position to grasp tissue therebetween. First and second proximal flanges extending proximally from the second jaw member and defining a space therebetween, a proximal flange extend proximally from a proximal portion of the first jaw member and define a cam slot. A cam driver operably is coupled to the proximal flange of the first jaw member to define a space between the cam driver and the proximal flange of the first jaw member. A cam bar is disposed within the space defined between the cam driver and the proximal flange of the first jaw member. The cam bar includes a cam pin configured to move within a cam slot of the cam driver to move the first jaw member relative to the second jaw member between the open position and the closed position.

An end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members movable between an open and closed position to grasp tissue therebetween. First and second proximal flanges extending proximally from the second jaw member and defining a space therebetween, a proximal flange extend proximally from a proximal portion of the first jaw member and define a cam slot. A cam driver operably is coupled to the proximal flange of the first jaw member to define a space between the cam driver and the proximal flange of the first jaw member. A cam bar is disposed within the space defined between the cam driver and the proximal flange of the first jaw member. The cam bar includes a cam pin configured to move within a cam slot of the cam driver to move the first jaw member relative to the second jaw member between the open position and the closed position.

A steerable instrument for endoscopic and/or invasive type of applications, such as in surgery, which has an elongated tubular body having a proximal end part with a first actuation flexible zone having a first diameter and a distal end part having a first distal flexible zone having a second diameter that is different from the first diameter. A cylindrical diameter adaptation section is arranged to connect the proximal end part to the distal end part such that a flexion in a radial direction relative to a longitudinal center axis of the longitudinal tubular body of the first actuation flexible zone results in an amplified or attenuated flexion of the first distal flexible zone.

A steerable instrument for endoscopic and/or invasive type of applications, such as in surgery, which has an elongated tubular body having a proximal end part with a first actuation flexible zone having a first diameter and a distal end part having a first distal flexible zone having a second diameter that is different from the first diameter. A cylindrical diameter adaptation section is arranged to connect the proximal end part to the distal end part such that a flexion in a radial direction relative to a longitudinal center axis of the longitudinal tubular body of the first actuation flexible zone results in an amplified or attenuated flexion of the first distal flexible zone.

A surgical system includes a tubular shaft having a wall defining an outer surface and an inner surface disposed about an inner space, the tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The surgical system also includes at least one light emitter and at least one light sensor disposed at the distal end of the tubular shaft, and one or more leads or conductors electrically coupled to the at least one light emitter or the at least one light sensor. The one or more leads may be disposed in clearances defined by first and second jaws. Alternatively or in addition, the one or more conductors may be formed on a flexible substrate, and the flexible substrate may have a deformed state in which the substrate is disposed in the inner space.