A fixed depth skin flap elevator device is provided. The device includes an elongated handle having a proximal end and a distal end. The device further includes an upper arm and lower arm mounted to, so as to extend longitudinally from, the distal end of the handle. The upper arm overlays the lower arm. At least free ends of the upper and lower arms are spaced apart by a distance which is equal to a pre-determined cutting depth. A blade is supported on the lower arm at about its free end. Translation of at least the lower arm within a tissue interior results in separation of a deeper tissue from a surface tissue at a pre-determined cutting depth to form an undermined skin and subcutaneous surface tissue flap of uniform thickness. A method of using the device is also provided.

Apparatus for locating an incision on a patient, the apparatus comprising: an elongate guide element for guiding a cutting tool to a location at a distal end of the guide element; an optical emitter for emitting an optical beam, the optical emitter being attached to the guide element so that the beam is directed to the distal end of the guide element; and an incision location template slidably attached to the guide element, the incision location template comprising a first feature adapted to be optically correlated with an anatomical feature of the patient and a second feature adapted to be optically aligned with an impingement point of the beam on the patient.

A medical device is disclosed for cutting an object in a body lumen. The medical device includes a rotation structure having a cutting portion and an outer surface of the cutting portion including a notch, and wherein a width of at least a proximal portion of the notch increases toward a proximal end of the notch; and a drive shaft connected to a motor and configured to be connected to the rotation structure to drive a rotation of the rotation structure.

A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler. The assembly has a cartridge body having a support portion with a plurality of staple cavities with openings. There is also a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each the staple is removably stored within a staple cavity. Each the staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration. The assembly also includes a compressible tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured within the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers the staple cavity openings. The compressed tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator comprising a lyophilized foam having an anti-microbial agent embedded therein.

A medical device for removing an object in a body cavity, includes a rotatable drive shaft, a cutter attached to a distal end portion of the drive shaft and by which the object is cut, and one or more first sensors disposed on a distal side of the cutter, wherein each of the first sensors is configured to detect contact with the object or a biological tissue and output a signal indicating whether the first sensor is contacting the object or the biological tissue.

A system for implanting an anchor into bone, the system comprising a curved cannulated guide for percutaneous insertion, having a proximal end and a distal end; a flexible drill insertable through the curved guide from the proximal end to the distal end, the flexible drill having a shaft having a flexible portion; and a flexible inserter for inserting a suture anchor into a bore at the anatomical site formed by the flexible drill, the flexible inserter having a shaft having a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portions of both the flexible drill and flexible inserter include a series of discrete, interlocking segments.

An end effector assembly configured for use with a surgical instrument or surgical system includes first and second jaw members each including an outer jaw housing, a tissue-treating plate, and a longitudinally-extending channel therethrough. At least one of the first or second jaw members is pivotable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position. A cutting mechanism is configured to cut tissue grasped between the jaw members. The cutting mechanism may include an activation member coupled to a knife and configured to advance the knife transversely between the jaw members, a heat-activated elongated sheet configured to un-roll to advance a cutting edge thereof transversely between the jaw members, or a clutch and spring mechanism configured to deploy a knife longitudinally between the jaw members.

Systems, instruments, and methods for surgical navigation with verification feedback are provided. The systems, instruments, and methods may be used to verify a trajectory of a surgical tool during a procedure. The systems, instruments, and methods may receive one or more captured images of an anatomical portion of a patient; execute a surgical plan to insert the surgical tool into the anatomical portion; receive sensor data collected from one or more sensors being inserted into the anatomical portion; determine whether the sensor data corresponds to the surgical plan; and send, in response to determining that the sensor data does not correspond to the surgical plan, an alert indicating that the surgical tool is not being inserted according to the surgical plan. The one or more sensors may be attached to the surgical tool.

An endoluminal access device including an outer sheath defining a lumen and a guide assembly. The guide assembly includes an expandable portion configured to be transitioned between a collapsed configuration having a first diameter and an expanded configuration having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The expandable portion includes a first arm defining a first lumen and an aperture in communication with the first lumen. The expandable portion is configured to expand outwardly from a central longitudinal axis when the expandable portion transitions to the expanded configuration and to deflect inwardly toward the central longitudinal axis when the expandable portion is transitioned to the collapsed configuration. The endoluminal access device further includes an endoluminal tool deliverable from the first lumen of the first arm and outwardly from the aperture of the first arm.

An electromechanical surgical system having an instrument housing for connecting with a shaft assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The end effector is an articulating end effector and the system includes a cable tensioning system for tensioning the articulation cables. The system includes a clutch mechanism for preventing slippage of a drive cable.