A wrist joint, such as for a surgical instrument, may include a first disc, a second disc adjacent the first disc, a drive tendon connecting the first disc and the second disc. The first disc and the second disc may include respective opposing gear features that intermesh with one another. The first disc and the second disc may further include opposing load bearing surfaces. In response to tensioning the drive tendon, the first and second discs rotate relative to each other. The first and second discs may have a maximum rotational range of motion greater than about +/−45 degrees relative to each other.

A device sized and shaped for insertion into a body comprising: at least one mechanical limb comprising: a support segment; a first flexible section extending from the support segment and terminating in a coupling section; and a second flexible section extending from the coupling section and terminating in a tool or a connector for a tool; wherein a long axis of one or more of the flexible sections is bendable in a single bending plane; wherein a long axis length of the first flexible section is at least double a maximum extent of the first flexible section perpendicular to a flexible section long axis; wherein a long axis length of the second flexible section is at least double a maximum extent of the second flexible section perpendicular to a flexible section long axis.

An endoscope for removing tissue at a surgical site includes an elongated tubular body insertable within a mammalian cavity of a patient. An instrument channel extends between a first opening at a distal end and a second opening at a proximal end of the tubular body and is sized and configured to receive a surgical cutting assembly that includes an aspiration channel configured to remove material entering the endoscope via a distal end of the surgical cutting assembly. A torque generation component configured to generate torque is positioned within the distal end and configured to provide the generated torque to a coupling component. The coupling component is positioned at the distal end of the elongated tubular member and configured to actuate a cutting component of the surgical cutting assembly responsive to actuation of the torque generation component.

Systems and methods are provided in which intraoperatively acquired surface data is employed to verify the correspondence of an intraoperatively selected spinal level with a spinal level that is pre-selected based on volumetric image data. Segmented surface data corresponding to the pre-selected spinal levels may be obtained from the volumetric image data, such that the segmented surface data corresponds to a spinal segment that is expected to be exposed and identified intraoperatively during the surgical procedure. The segmented surface data from the pre-selected spinal level, and adjacent segmented surface data from an adjacent spinal level that is adjacent to the pre-selected spinal level, is registered to the intraoperative surface data, and quality measures associated with the registration are obtained, thereby permitting an assessment or a determination of whether or not the pre-selected spinal surface (in the volumetric frame or reference) is likely to correspond to the intraoperatively selected spinal level.

Systems and methods for monitoring food intake include an air pressure sensor for detecting ear canal deformation, according to some implementations. For example, the air pressure sensor detects a change in air pressure in the ear canal resulting from mandible movement. Other implementations include systems and methods for monitoring food intake that include a temporalis muscle activity sensor for detecting temporalis muscle activity, wherein at least a portion of the temporalis muscle activity sensor is coupled adjacent a temple portion of eyeglasses and disposed between the temple tip and the frame end piece. The temporalis muscle activity sensor may include an accelerometer, for example, for detecting movement of the temple portion due to mandibular movement from chewing.

Cutting tools, systems and methods for navigated procedures are provided. A cutting tool (e.g. oscillating blade, etc.) for a power tool has an optically trackable feature in a defined positional relationship relative to a cutting feature of the cutting tool. The trackable feature may include reflective material applied to a surface (e.g. a recessed blade surface). The trackable feature is be imaged by a camera integral with or attached to the power tool and provided to a computing unit of a navigation system to determine a relative pose of the cutting feature and camera. The camera may also track a patient's bone such that the computing unit may determine a relative position of the bone and camera. The unit then computes a relative pose of the cutting feature with respect to the patient's bone and provides same for determining display information and/or to a robotic controller for procedural control.

Disclosed is a localizer system. The localizer system may be incorporated into a navigation system for tracking a tracking device. Generally, the localizer may include a transmitting coil array and a field shaping assembly.

An object or body-mounted camera apparatus for recording surgery is provided that is adapted for tracking a relevant visual field of an on-going operation. To help maintain visibility and/or focus of the visual field, specific machine learning approaches are proposed in combination with control commands to shift a physical positioning or a perspective of the camera apparatus. Additional variations are directed to tracking obstructions based on the visual field of the camera, which can be utilized for determining a primary recording for use when there are multiple cameras being used in concert.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

A medical telepresence system comprising: an interface to receive a plurality of data feeds from a live medical procedure, at least one data feed comprising a video signal capturing the live medical procedure; a hierarchical encoder to encode the plurality of data feeds using a first tier-based hierarchical data coding scheme, wherein encoded data from the hierarchical encoder is decodable by a first set of computing devices for viewing, the first set of computing devices being communicatively coupled to the hierarchical encoder using a first network connection; a transcoder to convert from the first tier-based hierarchical data coding scheme to a second tier-based hierarchical data coding scheme, wherein encoded data from the transcoder is receivable by a second set of computing devices for viewing, the second set of computing devices being communicatively coupled to the transcoder using a second network connection, the second network connection being of a lower quality than the first network connection; and a recorder to store the output of the hierarchical encoder as a set of tier-based files for later retrieval, wherein each of the set of tier-based files represent different levels of quality.