This application describes a braided cord containing a braided sheath and optionally a core surrounded by the braided sheath. The braided cord has changing cross-sectional area ranging from 0.0004 mm.sup.2 to 30 mm.sup.2 and contains one or more sections having a tapering angle ranging from 1° to 60° when observed in one direction along the cord axis. The change in the cross-sectional area of the cord can be achieved by changing the thickness of the braided sheath and/or changing the cross-sectional area of the core when the core is present. The thickness of the braided sheath can be adjusted by changing the size and/or twist level of one or more sheath strands, changing the pick count of the braided sheath, and/or using one or more shaped sheath strands. This application also describes a process of producing the braided cord with changing cross-sectional area.

A dual-motion rotation and retraction system for forming a pathway to a patient's intervertebral disc space includes a dilator, retractable dual-blade assembly, and dual-motion retractor. The dilator may feature a narrow rectangular, elliptical, or elongated configuration body for insertion parallel to the fibers of the psoas muscle, including an angle of 0 to 90 degrees to the patient's spine. The dual-blade assembly includes opposing blade subassemblies, each having a blade bordered by adjustable wings, along with built-in lighting and video capabilities. The dual-blade assembly may be passed over the dilator at the insertion orientation. The dual-motion retractor may be disposed about the dual-blade assembly and dilator and employed to both rotate the dual-blade assembly and the dilator 0 to 90 degrees to a final rotated orientation parallel to the intervertebral disc space and to retract the opposing blade subassemblies away from one another to create the surgical pathway. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Systems and methods for coating surgical needles are provided.

Embodiments relate to a system for providing a first fluid and a second fluid. The system includes a catheter hub, a flexible cover, and a catheter. The flexible cover is configured to attach to the catheter hub and provide a seal therewith. The catheter is configured to be at least partially arranged within the catheter hub and the flexible cover and pass through the seal. The catheter includes a primary lumen and a secondary lumen, wherein the primary lumen is configured to provide the first fluid at a distal end of the catheter, and the secondary lumen is configured to provide the second fluid at each of a plurality of apertures arranged on an outer radial wall of the catheter.

The invention relates to a correlated set for minimal invasive surgery comprising a surgical instrument and a pattern generating member, a surgical system, a training kit, a method of training and a meth of performing a minimal invasive surgery. The surgical instrument comprises a handle portion, a surgical tool and a body portion connecting the handle portion to the surgical tool. The pattern generating member comprises a pattern light source and a projector for projecting a light pattern. The projector is adapted for being at least temporarily fixed to the body portion of the surgical instrument such that a movement of said surgical tool results in a correlated movement of said projector.

A suturing device is provided that includes a handle with a rod extending therefrom and a needle member into which the rod is inserted to engage therewith. A suture is attached to an outer surface of the needle member. The needle member includes expandable fins formed at a proximate end thereof that expand after the needle member is passed through a tissue to prevent a backward movement of the needle member in a suturing procedure.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an encoded cinching mechanism for use with an implant delivery sleeve. The delivery sleeve includes: an enclosure having a first portion, an orifice, and a throat disposed between the first portion and the orifice; and a cinching mechanism disposed about the throat, in which the cinching mechanism comprises a plurality of demarcations each of which are indicative of a sized opening of the throat.

A uterine manipulator includes a handle and a central shaft that extends distally from the handle. The central shaft includes a distal end portion supporting a balloon. The central shaft also supports a cervical cup. An occluder shaft is slidably supported on the central shaft. A non-inflatable plug is secured to the occluder shaft and configured to move with the occluder shaft as the occluder shaft slides along the central shaft.

The present invention discloses a surgical stapler instrument. The surgical stapler instrument comprises a handle assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. A bottom jaw is detachably coupled to the distal end of the handle assembly. The bottom jaw having a staple cartridge surface, configured to eject one or more staples. Further, a top jaw is detachably coupled to the bottom jaw toward the distal end of the handle assembly. The top jaw comprises a staple pocket disposed over an anvil surface of the top jaw and configured to bend the ejected one or more staples and deliver into targeted tissues. An effective friction coefficient (μe) of the staple pocket of the top jaw is lower than the staple cartridge surface of the bottom jaw to achieve optimized stapling.

A device may include a flexible tube comprising: a distal end, a proximal tip, the proximal tip comprising a suction line extension being configured for placement in a uterine cavity of a uterus after childbirth, a tube center of the flexible tube; and at least one lumen around the tube center, the at least one lumen comprising a suction line, the suction line being in communication with a source of negative pressure and the suction line extension, the suction line extension being configured for applying the negative pressure to the uterine cavity using the source of the negative pressure thereby causing mechanical hemostasis of bleeding blood vessels of a uterine wall of the uterine cavity. Embodiments include an anchoring mechanism being proximate to the suction line extension along the flexible tube, the anchoring mechanism being configured for maintaining the suction line extension in a desired position within the uterine cavity.