An assembly for facilitating brain surgery performed through an opening having a rim, created in the skull of a patient and having a curved frame, defining an inward dimension and an outward dimension. Also, at least one clamp arm subassembly is attached to the frame, and has a clamp arm frame clamp, releasably attached to the frame; a clamp arm having a longitudinal dimension, releasably held and supported by the clamp arm frame clamp, and adjustable relative to the frame clamp along the longitudinal dimension; and a skull clamp, supported by the arm, and adapted to clamp onto the rim. Further included is at least one spatula arm subassembly, which has a spatula arm frame clamp, releasably attached to the frame; a spatula arm held and supported by the spatula arm frame clamp; and a spatula extending from the inward end of the spatula arm of the spatula arm subassembly.

A medical device including an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The medical device may further include an end-effector disposed at the distal end of the elongate member. The end-effector may include a plurality of arms pivotally connected to one another, wherein each arm includes a tissue-contacting surface, a first portion of the tissue-contacting surface including a plurality of ridges configured to grasp tissue. Further, the tissue-contacting surface may include a channel oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the medical device.

A medical device including an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The medical device may further include an end-effector disposed at the distal end of the elongate member. The end-effector may include a plurality of arms pivotally connected to one another, wherein each arm includes a tissue-contacting surface, a first portion of the tissue-contacting surface including a plurality of ridges configured to grasp tissue. Further, the tissue-contacting surface may include a channel oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the medical device.

The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for partly isolating a target biological structure. The device may include a main body comprising a front face and a rear face, the main body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end may be arcuate in a first state and may be substantially planar in a second state. The device may further include one or more balloons disposed on the distal end of the main body. Each of the one or more balloons is deflated in the first state and each of the one or more balloons is inflated in the second state. The distal end of the main body is configured to deform to be substantially planar when each of the one or more balloons are inflated in the second state.

A closed loop granular jamming apparatus is disclosed including a three-dimensional membrane structure filled with granular material. Fluid is evacuated from the structure which induces a jamming effect, whereas the viscosity of the granular media increases with increasing particle density. The thin membrane conforms to the shape of the granular material. Decreasing enclosed volume and increasing packing density prevents particles from distributing within the confined space, inducing the aggregate to behave as a solid. In the jammed state, the apparatus is resistive to force and change of shape. The apparatus is returned to the unjammed state by releasing the vacuum. The size and shape of the apparatus may be repeatedly adjusted by alternating between the jammed and unjammed states. The closed loop granular jamming apparatus may include toroidal and cylindrical shapes with articulating inserts and compliant spines.

A method of performing brain surgery on a patient having a skull and brain tissue, that starts by creating an opening, having a rim, in the skull. The method uses an assembly for facilitating brain surgery that includes a curved frame, defining an inward dimension and an outward dimension; a plurality of spatula arm subassemblies, each including a spatula arm frame clamp, releasably attached to the frame, a spatula arm held and supported by the spatula arm frame clamp and a spatula extending from the inward end of the spatula arm of the spatula arm subassembly. The assembly is clamped to the rim and the spatula arms are positioned so that the spatulas engage the brain tissue in a manner that facilitates surgery.

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for the diagnosis and removal of the devitalized and/or dead cell material formed in the lid margin to attempt to restore a normal lid margin. In this manner, the devitalized and/or dead cell material are removed or the amount present is reduced or no longer present to prevent, reduce, or affect the transport of lipid secreted by the meibomian glands to the tear film to reduce evaporative dry eye and improve dry eye conditions in patients. The diagnosis and removal of devitalized and/or dead cell material may be performed at desired intervals. Patients that suffer from conditions that block meibomian gland orifices, partial, infrequent, or inhibited blinking resulting in reduced lipid secretions from meibomian glands, and/or blockages in meibomian gland channels reducing secretion of lipids through the meibomian gland orifices may require more frequent diagnosis and treatment to remove devitalized and/or dead cell material.

A surgical evacuation apparatus and method for evacuating a biological material from a body cavity. The surgical evacuation apparatus has a shaft and a scoop extending from a distal end of the shaft. The shaft has a supply inlet for connecting to a pressurized fluid source and an outlet for connecting to a vacuum source. An evacuation channel extends from the scoop to the outlet. A fluid supply channel extends in the shaft from the supply inlet towards the distal end and intersects the evacuation channel proximate the scoop. Material desired to be removed from the body cavity is collected in the scoop by a user. The biological material collected in the scoop is broken up by a fluid stream from the supply channel and is drawn into the evacuation channel by a vacuum applied by the vacuum source and is removed from the body cavity.

An approach is provided for delivering therapeutic materials to an intervertebral disc via a sub-ligamentous space. The approach includes positioning a tool at an interface of a longitudinal ligament and an outer surface of the intervertebral disc, in which the interface is the sub-ligamentous space. The tool may include a first needle and a second needle housed within the first needle. An insertion end of the first needle may include a shallow beveled end. The approach includes inserting the insertion end of the first needle into the sub-ligamentous space. The approach includes deploying the second needle from within the first needle into at least one of an annulus and a nucleus of the intervertebral disc. The approach includes delivering the therapeutic materials to the at least one of the annulus and the nucleus.

An assembly for facilitating brain surgery performed through an opening having a rim, created in the skull of a patient and having a curved frame, defining an inward dimension and an outward dimension. Also, at least one clamp arm subassembly is attached to the frame, and has a clamp arm frame clamp, releasably attached to the frame; a clamp arm having a longitudinal dimension, releasably held and supported by the clamp arm frame clamp, and adjustable relative to the frame clamp along the longitudinal dimension; and a skull clamp, supported by the arm, and adapted to clamp onto the rim. Further included is at least one spatula arm subassembly, which has a spatula arm frame clamp, releasably attached to the frame; a spatula arm held and supported by the spatula arm frame clamp; and a spatula extending from the inward end of the spatula arm of the spatula arm subassembly.