Some embodiments provide a soft tissue device, such as a transverse carpal ligament cutting device having one or more balloons that are deflated when the device is in an inactive position and are inflated when the device is in an active position. Other embodiments provide a soft tissue cutting method, such as a method of cutting a transverse carpal ligament that uses a soft tissue cutting device.

A method and set of instruments are disclosed particularly useful for carpal tunnel surgeries that allow a precision cut in the transverse carpal ligament (TCL) without direct vision or exposure of the ligament, except for its most proximal edge, but with guidance and safety of the cutting knife, eliminating or, at least very much decreasing, the probability of cutting lines in the wrong direction and inadvertent (iatrogenic) lesions to the surrounding structures. In one preferred embodiment the instrument comprises: a uniquely shaped cannulated guide rod, through which passes a flexible metal guide needle (33) which serves as a guideline for a uniquely shaped cutting knife or fasciotome (25) having a cannulated finger-like prong in the inferior edge of the blade portion of the knife.

A gastrocnemius knife and retractor system and kit includes a surgical knife and a soft tissue retractor. The soft tissue retractor is configurable to move from a collapsed mode to an expanded mode and back again, and can be inserted through a small incision when in the collapsed mode. Once inside the incision, the soft tissue retractor is expanded to permit visualization and accessibility of the surgery site. The surgical knife is then introduced and guided along a path in the frame of the soft tissue retractor, thereby incising the desired tissue. Once the tissue is incised, the surgical knife is withdrawn, followed by the soft tissue retractor after it is collapsed.

A carpal tunnel release surgical tool has an elongate main body supporting a blade at one end thereof for insertion through a wrist incision. The blade moves between a working position protruding from the main body for cutting the transverse carpal ligament, and a stored position in which the blade is retracted to shield the cutting edge. A light source on the body in proximity to the second end thereof emits light for illuminating the ligament to be cut while the tool is inserted in the body of the patient. An actuator member is supported on the body in operative connection to the blade for actuation by an operator to displace the blade between the working position and the stored position of the blade while the bladed end of the body remains inserted to allow removal of the tool after cutting the ligament.

A uniportal surgical device having a slotted clear cannula, a blade and a housing, wherein the cannula is attached to the housing, and wherein the blade is enclosed in the housing and is slidable into the cannula is disclosed. The device further has a device for locking a viewing device in place relative to other components of the device. A method for a performing an operative procedure on a target tissue in a subject using the uniportal surgical device is also described.

An embodiment includes an apparatus for carpel tunnel syndrome surgery. The apparatus comprises: a shaft including a shaft proximal end, a shaft distal end, and a shaft long axis, wherein the shaft distal end comprises a raised edge; a linkage included within the shaft; a blade coupled to a distal end of the linkage; wherein (a)(i) an axis parallel to the shaft long axis intersects the raised edge but does not intersect the shaft, (a)(ii) the raised edge is curvilinear, (a)(iii) the raised edge includes a first lateral edge portion, a second lateral edge portion, and a middle edge portion between the first and second lateral edge portions; and (a)(iv) the first and second lateral edge portions are both proximal to the middle edge portion. Other embodiments are described herein.

An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes a micro endoscope having steering, rotation and tool control function which can be utilized for insertion using a needle and catheter for performing arthroscopy and endoscopic procedures.

A surgical device includes a cannula for use in combination with one or more surgical implements. The cannula includes a base member at a proximal end, a sidewall connected to the base member; and a bore defined by the base member and the sidewall. The sidewall further has an opening into the bore between axially-extending edges of the sidewall. The base member includes a combination track including a first section and a second section. The first section is an opening through the base member into the bore and the second section is an opening into an action area outside of the bore and radially between the edges of the sidewall. The combination track is configured to slidably receive a first surgical implement through the first section and into the bore and slidable receive a second surgical implement through the second section and into the action area.

Systems and methods are described for correcting sagittal imbalance in a spine including instruments for performing the controlled release of the anterior longitudinal ligament through a lateral access corridor and hyper-lordotic lateral implants.

An endoscopic surgical device having a slotted clear cannula, a blade and a housing, wherein the cannula is attached to the housing, and wherein the blade is enclosed in the housing and is slidable into the cannula is disclosed. The blade is enclosed within the housing and cannula, and has a horizontally-oriented pushing component and a vertically-oriented cutting component that protrudes through the slot of the cannula. The device further has a device for locking a viewing device in place relative to other components of the device. A method for a performing an operative procedure on a target tissue in a subject using the endoscopic surgical device is also described.