Apparatus and methods are provided for performing a medical procedure using a stapler apparatus including a reusable handle portion including a shaft include proximal and distal ends, a disposable end effector attached to the distal end of the shaft of the reusable handle carrying one or more staples. For example, the end effector may include first and second jaws movable relative to one another between open and closed positions, the first jaw carrying a cartridge which includes the one or more staples. A Doppler sensor, cutting element, thermal element, and/or grasper may be provided on the end effector. The end effector is introduced into a patient's body, tissue is positioned/locked between the jaws, and a plurality of staples are deployed into the tissue. The Doppler sensor is used to confirm that blood flow has discontinued in the stapled tissue, and the cutting element is actuated to sever the stapled tissue.

Devices and methods for allowing for improved assisted ventilation of a patient. The methods and devices provide a number of benefits over conventional approaches for assisted ventilation. For example, the methods and devices described herein permit blind insertion of a device that can allow ventilation regardless of whether the device is positioned within a trachea or an esophagus. In addition, the methods and device allow for timed delivery of ventilations based on a condition of a thoracic cavity to increase the amount and efficiency of blood flow during a resuscitation procedure.

A medical device for penetrating a bone structure including a processing unit having a transfer function that associates an electrical conductivity value S with a depth value d, wherein the processing unit is configured to detect a threshold selected from amongst an absolute threshold, a relative threshold and a critical gradient, and to emit a warning signal and/or control signal responsive to detection of the threshold.

Systems, methods and devices for use in tracking are described, using optical modalities to detect spatial attributes or natural features of objects, such as, tools and patient anatomy. Spatial attributes or natural features may be known or may be detected by the tracking system. The system, methods and devices can further be used to verify a calibration of a tool either by a computing unit or by a user. Further, the disclosure relates to detection of spatial attributes, including depth information, of the anatomy for purposes of registration or to create a 3D surface profile of the anatomy.

A device comprises a miniature transducer having an altered backing geometry that can be placed within different casing sizes of an imaging probe device. The backing geometry extends along a longitudinal axis of the imaging probe and provides an angle (e.g., 45-degree angle) configured to reflect ultrasound and/or light waves/signals in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the imaging probe. This design is configured to enable ultrasound and/or light waves/signals to be redirected and dampened within the transducer to preserve a suitable signal to noise ratio while minimizing the required depth of the backing.

A system for closing a blood vessel includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and configured to be held in the hand of a user, an elongate body extending from the distal end of the housing, a distal housing having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of the elongate body and having a cavity including an opening on a side of the distal housing, a lumen passing through the elongate body and terminating at the cavity of the distal housing and configured to couple to a vacuum source, a sensor carried by the distal housing adjacent the cavity and configured for identifying a blood vessel, wherein the lumen is configured to maintain a vacuum within the cavity when a probe having a vessel closure module is inserted within the lumen and the vessel closure module is within the cavity.

A device for expanding tissue comprises at least one fluid delivery tube and at least one fluid delivery element in fluid communication with the at least one fluid delivery tube. The at least one fluid delivery tube comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween. The device is constructed and arranged to perform a near full circumferential expansion of luminal wall tissue. Systems and methods are also provided, including a system for expanding tissue layers and treating tissue proximate to the expanded tissue layers.

A surgical system includes a surgical instrument, including a shaft assembly having a distal end and an end effector at the distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw movably coupled relative to the first jaw for clamping tissue therebetween, and an optical sensor for detecting the tissue. The surgical system also includes a generator configured to supply a therapeutic energy to the first jaw or the second jaw, and a pass-through device configured to be connected between the surgical instrument and the generator. The pass-through device includes a therapeutic energy connector configured to operatively couple the generator to the surgical instrument for transmitting the therapeutic energy from the generator to the first jaw or the second jaw, and at least one optical component configured to transmit light to the optical sensor and to receive light from the optical sensor.

Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure are directed to an apparatus comprising an intra-body electrode, and a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-based coating. The PEDOT-based coating is on a surface of the intra-body electrode. And, the PEDOT-based coating includes a PEDOT-backbone doped with counter ions and cross-linked to a photoreactive polymer and a photoreactive-hydrophilic polymer.

In general, devices, systems, and methods for fiducial identification and tracking are provided.