A method of operating a surgical system including an endoscope, a treatment tool, an overtube, and a sheathing tube. The method includes the following steps: removing the treatment tool from the sheathing tube inserted into a body cavity through a body wall in a state where the sheathing tube is covering an outer circumference of the overtube into which an insertion part of the endoscope and an insertion part of the treatment tool are inserted, while keeping a state where the sheathing tube is covering the outer circumference of the overtube; removing the endoscope from the overtube while keeping a state where the sheathing tube is covering the outer circumference of the overtube; and removing the sheathing tube from the body wall while keeping a state where the sheathing tube is covering the outer circumference of the overtube.

The present invention relates to a puncture device for creating a TIPS shunt, comprising a puncture needle, a sheath, the sheath being arranged to surround the puncture needle, the puncture needle being slidably arranged inside the sheath so that the puncture needle can be moved between a first position in which the puncture needle protrudes beyond the distal end of the sheath and a second position where a tip of the puncture needle is retracted into the sheath, the sheath and the puncture needle being arranged so that in the second position, blood can be aspirated into the sheath through a gap between the puncture needle and the sheath, a locking means, the locking means being arranged for releasably locking the puncture needle in the first and/or the second position.

Catheter exchange systems and methods may use a cutting tool to sever an encrusted catheter. The cutting tool may include a flexible cannula to encompass and move along the encrusted catheter. A sheath may selectively cover the cutting tool. The cutting tool may selectively transition between a first position in which the cutter is within the sheath and a second position in which the cutting tool is extended beyond the sheath to sever a suture of the catheter. A locking stylet may be used to secure the position of the encrusted catheter and remove the encrusted catheter.

A retention mechanism for a surgical access assembly is provided. The retention mechanism includes a planar base having first and second extensions each with a free end, a first locking member disposed on the free end of the first extension, and a second locking member disposed on the free end of the second extension. The first locking member includes a U-shaped body having a first set of opposed, inwardly facing teeth. The second locking member includes a U-shaped body having a first set of opposed, outwardly facing teeth configured engage the first set of opposed, inwardly facing teeth when the retention mechanism is in a locked condition. The first set of opposed, inwardly facing teeth and the first set of opposed, outwardly facing teeth are configured to be spaced apart from each other when the retention mechanism is in an unlocked condition.

Systems and methods for automated docking include a linkage, a docking arm located near a distal end of the linkage, a docking support mechanism, and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to detect a docking port using the docking support mechanism and actuate the linkage based on the detection to align the docking arm with the docking port, move the docking arm toward the docking port, and dock the docking arm to the docking port. In some embodiments, to actuate the linkage based on the detection, the one or more processors are configured to align the docking arm with an alignment point of the docking port, align an alignment axis of the docking arm with an alignment axis of the docking port, rotationally align the docking arm with the docking port, and reduce a relative distance between the docking arm and the docking port.

An access device for placing a medical article within a body space includes a needle, a dilator, and a medical article. The needle can include an elongated needle body with a distal end and a hub from which the needle body extends. The elongated needle body can include at least one side fenestration and an outer diameter. The dilator can be slideably disposed on the needle body and include a dilator hub and an elongated dilator shaft that extends from the dilator hub. The dilator shaft can include at least one side fenestration in communication with the needle side fenestration. The dilator shaft can also include an inner diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the needle. The medical article can include a tubular section and a hub. The tubular section can be disposed on the dilator and define a space between the medical article and the dilator in communication with the needle side fenestration through the dilator side fenestration. At a least portion of the medical article can be configured to allow visual determination of the presence of a body fluid within the space.

A retractor member is configured for insertion through a channel of an access member and for moving soft tissue at a treatment site that is accessible through the channel. The retractor includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end and spaced from each other along a longitudinal direction. The distal end defines a retractor blade and the body defines a first surface and a second surface opposite each other along a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The retractor includes an attachment device configured to selectively attach the body to a portion of the access member such that the body is extendable through the working channel while the body is attached to the portion of the access member.

A modular signal interface system for providing electrical communication with a surgical instrument when the surgical instrument is inserted into a cannula of a trocar. The system includes a signal interface adapter and an instrument connector. The signal interface adapter is provided on, or adapted to be mounted on a trocar, and includes central aperture extending therethrough and a proximal face having a plurality of conductive contacts. The instrument connector is provided on or adapted to be mounted on a shaft of a surgical instrument, and includes a central aperture extending therethrough and a distal face having a plurality of conductive contacts. The signal interface adapter and the instrument connector are adapted for mating engagement such that, when matingly engaged, their central apertures are axially aligned and predetermined ones of the plurality of contacts of the signal interface adapter are in conductive contact with predetermined ones of the plurality of contacts of the instrument connector.

A safety mechanism is disclosed configured for shielding a distal tip of an elongate medical device. The safety mechanism includes a sheath having a body defining a lumen extending axially and including a shroud extending axially and having one or more sheath apertures disposed therethrough. The safety mechanism further includes a clip, comprising one or more arms, each including a tab, a plate, and a grip, the tab including a keyhole aperture. The first arm and the second arm configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration, and an elongate biasing member extending from the first arm to the second arm and configured to bias the first arm and the second arm towards the second configuration. Transitioning from the first configuration to the second configuration disengages the sheath from a needle hub and engages the sheath with a tip of the elongate medical device.

A surgical port assembly for use with surgical instruments includes a body including an exterior surface and an interior space defined by an interior surface of the body. The surgical port assembly includes a control interface including a plurality of drive members coupled to the body and controllable to apply a force to a different portion of a shaft of an surgical instrument, when the shaft is disposed within the interior space, to move a distal portion of the surgical instrument to a desired position within a body cavity.