This document relates to devices and methods for the treatment of heart conditions. For example, this document provides devices and methods for treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, including diastolic heart failure, by performing a pericardial modification procedure. The methods for treating diastolic heart failure of a patient include: creating an opening in a parietal layer, and only in the parietal layer, of a pericardial tissue of the patient. The creation of this opening reduces pressure exerted by the pericardial tissue on a heart of the patient.

This document relates to devices and methods for the treatment of heart conditions. For example, this document provides devices and methods for treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, including diastolic heart failure, by performing a pericardial modification procedure. The methods for treating diastolic heart failure of a patient include: creating an opening in a parietal layer, and only in the parietal layer, of a pericardial tissue of the patient. The creation of this opening reduces pressure exerted by the pericardial tissue on a heart of the patient.

Disclosed is a four-jawed combinational scissor-grasper surgical tool for use in laparoscopy. Cutting and grasping functionalities are respectively enabled via movement of a pair of such specially contoured jaw members sliding against or splaying apart from the other pair. Also disclosed are means for achieving selectable interlocking of jaw members and mechanical linkage for their actuation by human user.

Disclosed is a four-jawed combinational scissor-grasper surgical tool for use in laparoscopy. Cutting and grasping functionalities are respectively enabled via movement of a pair of such specially contoured jaw members sliding against or splaying apart from the other pair. Also disclosed are means for achieving selectable interlocking of jaw members and mechanical linkage for their actuation by human user.

A surgical instrument includes a drive housing, a spline, a carriage, an elongate shaft assembly, an end effector, and an activating mechanism. The at least one spline includes a drive gear rotatable with the spline. The elongate shaft assembly extends from the carriage. The activating mechanism includes a barrel cam extending along a rotational axis and having a first cam profile radially extending about the rotational axis. The barrel cam is operatively coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the drive gear is configured to actuate the activating mechanism to move at least a portion of the end effector. The first cam profile defines a plurality of slopes relative to the rotational axis such that the first cam profile is configured to drive movement of the end effector or the elongate shaft assembly at different rates according to the plurality of slopes.

A surgical instrument includes a drive housing, a spline, a carriage, an elongate shaft assembly, an end effector, and an activating mechanism. The spline includes a drive gear rotatable via the spline. The shaft assembly extends from the carriage. The activating mechanism is housed in the carriage and includes a barrel cam extending along a rotational axis. The barrel cam has a first cam profile radially extending about the rotational axis. The barrel cam is operatively coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the drive gear is configured to actuate the activating mechanism to move at least a portion of the end effector. The first cam profile defines a first operational section, a second operational section, and an operational transition positioned between the first and second operational sections. The first and the second operational sections extend from the operational transition in opposite directions.

A circumcision apparatus is provided. The circumcision apparatus includes a first surgical scissors and a second surgical scissors. The first surgical scissors include two first clips and one pair of blades, and the second surgical scissors include one second clip and one pair of blades. In the circumcision operation, after the foreskin is cut by the first surgical scissors along the direction of the shaft of the penis, the two first clips clamp a part of the foreskin near a first incision. After the foreskin is cut further by the second surgical scissors along the circumference of the penis, the second clip clamps another part of the foreskin near a second incision. Therefore, bleeding from the first and second incisions can be effectively reduced.

A circumcision apparatus is provided. The circumcision apparatus includes a first surgical scissors and a second surgical scissors. The first surgical scissors include two first clips and one pair of blades, and the second surgical scissors include one second clip and one pair of blades. In the circumcision operation, after the foreskin is cut by the first surgical scissors along the direction of the shaft of the penis, the two first clips clamp a part of the foreskin near a first incision. After the foreskin is cut further by the second surgical scissors along the circumference of the penis, the second clip clamps another part of the foreskin near a second incision. Therefore, bleeding from the first and second incisions can be effectively reduced.

Provided are Scissors for an endoscope that include a scissor mechanism part that includes a pair of scissor members connected to each other by a first spindle, and cuts a target site by opening and closing of the one scissor member and the other scissor member with the first spindle as a fulcrum; and an electrode part in which a monopolar electrode (electrode part) is formed on a distal end part of the one scissor member of the one scissor member and the other scissor member. An operator can quickly and extensively cut the target site by using the scissor mechanism part by the pair of scissor members, or can stop bleeding at the target site or cut the target site by using the electrode part.

Provided are Scissors for an endoscope that include a scissor mechanism part that includes a pair of scissor members connected to each other by a first spindle, and cuts a target site by opening and closing of the one scissor member and the other scissor member with the first spindle as a fulcrum; and an electrode part in which a monopolar electrode (electrode part) is formed on a distal end part of the one scissor member of the one scissor member and the other scissor member. An operator can quickly and extensively cut the target site by using the scissor mechanism part by the pair of scissor members, or can stop bleeding at the target site or cut the target site by using the electrode part.