Disclosed are an extruded honeycomb catalyst, a process for preparing the catalyst, a method for reducing NOx in the exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine by using the catalyst, and a method for treatment of the emission gas generated from power plant comprising exposing the emission gas to the catalyst.

Methods for accessing a disc space of a patient as a part of an interbody fusion, as well as the tools employed therewith. An exemplary method may include inserting a leading end of a tool into the patient's back at a location on the posterior surface that is laterally offset from a patient's spinous process and disc. The tool's initial entry into the patient may be from a posterior approach. As the tool is advanced along its designated path, it begins to deviate from the posterior approach towards a lateral approach. When the leading end reaches the disc, it may access the disc from a lateral or substantially lateral location. The tool may be used to access the disc location, to remove disc material, to deliver a cutting tool for removing the disc material, and other steps associated with the spinal interbody fusion procedure.

System and methods for channeling a path into bone include a trocar having a proximal end, distal end and a central channel disposed along a central axis of the trocar. The trocar includes a distal opening at the distal end of the trocar. The system includes a curved cannula sized to be received in the central channel, the curved cannula comprising a curved distal end configured to be extended outward from the distal opening to generate a curved path extending away from the trocar. The curved cannula has a central passageway having a diameter configured to allow a treatment device to be delivered through the central passageway to a location beyond the curved path.

A system and an apparatus for guiding an instrument may be provided, the apparatus comprising a main body; a holding member for holding an instrument, the holding member coupled to the main body; and one or more actuating members configured to effect movement of the holding member such that said movement of the holding member is capable of providing rotational movement of an instrument about a pivot point external the apparatus. The holding member may preferably be configured to co-operate with a compliance device, said compliance device capable of holding the instrument.

A surgical instrument retainer can include a proximal component and a distal component. The proximal component can include a head, a first body, and a proximal plurality of projections. The distal component can define a second instrument bore and a body bore and can include a distal plurality of projections. The can head engageable with the end effector coupler to position the instrument retainer within the end effector coupler.

An access needle is provided. The access needle includes a needle housing and a needle shaft having a portion disposed within the needle housing. The access needle also includes a lumen within the needle shaft, an entry port at a proximal end of the needle shaft, and a needle tip at a distal end of the needle shaft. The access needle also includes an exit port on a sidewall of the needle shaft, wherein the exit port is disposed nearer the distal end of the needle shaft than the proximal end, and wherein the lumen extends from the entry port to the exit port. The exit port a reduced diameter from the needle shaft. Guide surfaces in the vicinity of the exit port help to reduce snagging or drag of the guide wire. The access needle tip can be formed from nitinol and the guide surfaces can be formed from UV or AB glue. A system and a method for using the access needle are also provided.

Transradial access devices, systems, and methods. An exemplary device of the present disclosure for providing access to a vessel or other luminal organ and to prevent overperforation of the same including a needle having a needle tip and at least one current element positioned thereon or embedded therein at or near the needle tip, a sheath positioned around at least part of the needle, and a protractor in communication with the needle, whereby engagement of the protractor causes the needle tip to protract from the sheath through the aperture, and whereby release of the protractor causes the needle tip to retract through the aperture into the sheath. Activation of the at least one current element can facilitate vasodilation of the vessel or other luminal organ.

An anatomical sensing system-guided prostate procedure device that includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end. The housing may be divided into a distal housing section, a mid housing section, and a proximal housing section, wherein the distal housing section is configured for insertion into the anus and retention in the rectum of a subject. The device further includes an instrument convergence point disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the convergence point configured to allow an instrument pass though the instrument convergence point at a variable angle; and an instrument angle orienting system at the proximal end of the housing, the angle orienting system directing an orientation of the variable angle about the convergence point. Methods of the using an anatomical sensing system-guided prostate procedure device and system including the same.

The invention relates to a surgical apparatus, in particular a navigation probe for localizing and treating lesions in a brain, comprising a telescopically expandable body member having an anterior end, a posterior end, and comprising a top part and a bottom part, the bottom part having at least one groove extending for a particular length in a longitudinal direction of the bottom part between said anterior end and said posterior end, the top part being placed on said bottom part and having at least one engaging element that extends into said at least one groove so as to mount the top part on the bottom part moveable in said longitudinal direction, wherein the body member has a substantially circular or polygonal cross-section in the assembled state of the bottom part and the upper part.

A device for securing an ablation tool may have a backbone and a securing portion including a body and a cover, the body slides along the backbone to a lower position and then the cover affixedly receives a head member of the ablation tool. In another version, a leg portion is removably attachable to the securing portion and an upper portion projects out of the opening in the body portion from above and removably attaches to the leg portion that fits into the opening from below. In another version, a rotatable securing portion has a first portion pivotably connected to the leg portion, a second portion affixedly receive the head member when the securing portion rotates closed and a third portion affixedly attaches to the leg portion when the securing portion rotates closed. If the head member does not fit with the cover, a one-piece or two-piece adaptor is used.