The cannula (1) comprises a tube (2) with a front end (4) at which there is provided at least one suction opening (10), and with a back end (3) intended to be connected to a source of vacuum; in the tube (2) there being defined at least one longitudinal flow conduit (8, 9) for the aspirated material; and an imaging apparatus (11, 12) capable of supplying first signals or data allowing the generation of a visual representation of the environment in close proximity to the front end of the tube (2) of the cannula (1) down to a first depth or distance, and second signals or data allowing the generation of a visual representation of the environment around the front end of the tube (2) of the cannula (1) down to a second depth or distance, greater than the said first depth or distance.

The concentration of substance in blood is measured non-invasively, with high accuracy and with simple configuration. Laser light 100 generated by a light source 10 is locally irradiated on the body epithelium F of a subject, and the resulting diffused reflected light 200 is detected by a light detector 40. The laser light 100 has a wavelength of 9.26 μm. The laser light 100 is generated by converting and amplifying pulsed excitation light 101 from an excitation light source 11 to a long wavelength. A plate-shaped window 300 that is transparent to mid-infrared light is brought in close contact with the body epithelium F. The glucose concentration in interstitial fluid can be calculated using normalized light intensity calculated from a signal ratio of signals from a monitoring light detector 16 and light detector 40.

A surgical device is provided that includes a jaw portion with a first jaw and a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw. The surgical device also includes a shaft portion coupled to a proximal end of the jaw portion. A driver is configured to cause relative movement of the jaw portion and the shaft portion. The driver may be configured to cause the jaw portion to pivot relative to the shaft portion about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to first and second longitudinal axes defined by the jaw portion and the shaft portion, respectively. The driver may also be configured to cause at least a portion of the jaw portion to rotate relative to the shaft portion about the first longitudinal axis. Advantageously, the surgical device includes a surgical member, e.g., a cutting element and/or a stapling element, disposed within the first jaw.

The length of an optical fiber from a portion aligned with the rear end of an insertion needle to a fixing portion is a length obtained by adding a predetermined extra length to a linear distance between the rear end of the insertion needle in a case where the insertion needle is located at a protruding position (insertion position) and an optical fiber fixing position of a grip portion. There is provided a fiber feeding adjustment mechanism that suspends the optical fiber with a first suspension portion and a second suspension portion so as to make a detour in a state in which there is no slack, and changes the detour length continuously according to the movement of the insertion needle in a case where the insertion needle moves between the retracted position and the protruding position, thereby maintaining a state in which the optical fiber is suspended without slack.

Devices for retracting tissue during a minimally-invasive, posterior spinal fusion procedure include a blade positionable along a passageway device connected to a connecting element implanted in a vertebra of the spine, such that the blade covers at least a portion of a longitudinal opening of the passageway device. The blade may be coupled to the passageway device by receiving the passageway device with a receiving portion. Systems for displacing the vertebrae of the spine include first and second extenders, the distal ends of each of which are configured to engage the connecting elements. Each extender may include a shaft configured to be securely engaged within a cage of the respective connecting element. The devices and systems of the present invention may be used in connection with an interbody fusion technique performed through an opening extending between the passageway devices, and an intermediate retractor blade may provide additional tissue retraction.

A catheter for debulking of an undesired deposit from an inner surface of at least one of a blood vessel wall and a stent located in a blood vessel, the catheter having a tip section comprising: circumferentially-directed laser optics; and a circular-action cutter, wherein said circumferentially-directed laser optics is configured to transmit laser radiation for modifying an area of the undesired deposit thereby preparing said area for penetration of said cutter, wherein said cutter is configured to cut through said modified area and thereby debulk at least a part of the undesired deposit. In addition, a catheter for pacemaker and ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) lead extraction is disclosed.

A system may comprise a first catheter having a first steerable segment and a second catheter disposed within the first catheter. The second catheter may have a second steerable segment. The system may also comprise an imaging element supported at a distal end of the second catheter, a coil reference sensor supported at a distal portion of the second catheter, and a processor in electrical communication with the coil reference sensor. The processor may be configured to determine a position of a distal portion of the first catheter with reference to the coil reference sensor.

A fastener cartridge can include, one, a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities and, two, a plurality of fasteners positioned in the fastener cavities. The cartridge body can further comprise extensions extending from the deck having different sizes and/or configurations. The extensions can control the flow of tissue relative to the deck and/or support the fasteners as they are ejected from the fastener cavities.

Registration of a surgical image acquisition device (e.g. an endoscope) using preoperative and live contour signatures of an anatomical object is described. A control unit includes a processor configured to compare the real-time contour signature to the database of preoperative contour signatures of the anatomical object to generate a group of potential contour signature matches for selection of a final contour match. Registration of an image acquisition device to the surgical site is realized based upon an orientation corresponding to the selected final contour signature match.

In some embodiments, a microsurgical instrument includes a trocar having a rigid, hollow shaft formed with a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the shaft. The distal end of the shaft may be shaped for tissue penetration. The instrument may further include a composite microcannula slidably engaged with the trocar in the lumen. The microcannula includes a light guide and a flexible hollow tube having an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the lumen in the trocar. Other embodiments include placing the microcannula in the lumen of the trocar, illuminating the end of the trocar by illuminating the end of the microcannula, advancing the trocar from a selected entry point on an eye into a selected structure in the eye, and extending the illuminated end of the microcannula from the trocar into the selected structure.