A surgical access apparatus is presented including a cannula having a housing and a cannula shaft, the cannula shaft defining an internal lumen and a slot in communication with the internal lumen and an obturator insertable through the internal lumen of the cannula. The obturator includes an obturator shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a tip member disposed at the distal end of the obturator shaft, the tip member configured to form an incision through tissue. An outer surface of the obturator shaft and the tip member defines a channel for receiving and directing insufflation fluid into a body cavity, a portion of the same channel also configured to guide a surgical instrument, such as a suture passer/grasper for closing an incision, towards and through the slot. In this way, the cannula and obturator can be employed both for forming an incision at the beginning of a surgical procedure and for closing the same incision at the conclusion of the surgical procedure.

An endoscope and methods of use thereof are provided, which includes at least one multi-functional extending arm supporting a plurality of imaging, lighting and other sensory elements. The arms provide a mounting platform upon which cameras, lights and sensors may be mounted to generate multiple-angled images and video, arena-like lighting and other data for performing a minimally-invasive surgical (MIS) procedure. The arms may be inserted through a single portal in the endoscope and extended outward in multiple directions from the single portal once inserted into a body cavity. The endoscope may also include support arms which support the extending arms within the body cavity and a stabilization plate which anchors the endoscope to an external surface of the body. An endoscopic tool with optical, lighting and other sensors integrated into a functional end is also provided.

An instrument access device (500) comprises a distal O-ring (11) for insertion into a wound interior, a proximal member for location externally of a wound opening and a sleeve (12) extending in two layers between the distal O-ring (11) and the proximal member. The proximal member comprises an inner proximal ring member (25) and an outer proximal ring member (24) between which the sleeve (12) is led. A seal housing (300) is mounted to the inner proximal ring member (25). A gelatinous elastomeric seal (302) with a pinhole opening (303) therethrough is received in the housing (300). An instrument may be extended through the seal (302) to access the wound interior through the retracted wound opening in a sealed manner.

Embodiments of a surgical access port system that comprises a retractor that is adapted for being coupled to a cap and that is particularly useful in natural orifice surgery are described. The retractor comprises an outer ring, wherein the outer ring is configured to be disposed proximate the natural orifice of the patient and substantially surround the orifice; a tubular body; a funnel segment extending between and coupling the outer ring and the tubular body, wherein the funnel segment provides a diametric reduction between the relatively large diameter of the outer ring and the relatively smaller diameter of the tubular body, which is sized to fit within a natural orifice with minimal distention of the orifice; and an inflatable member disposed around the distal end of the tubular body, the inflatable member sized and configured to fit snugly around the tubular body in the deflated condition and to expand against the wall of the natural orifice in the inflated state to thereby stabilize and retain the retractor within the orifice.

A method of using a surgical modular robotic assembly including an interchangeable motor pack, a hand-held surgical instrument, and a robotic surgical instrument is disclosed. The method includes releasably attaching an interface portion of the interchangeable motor pack to the hand-held surgical instrument, causing the interchangeable motor pack to drive a first surgical tool of the hand-held surgical instrument, stopping the interchangeable motor pack from driving the first surgical tool, disconnecting the interface portion from the hand-held surgical instrument, and releasably attaching the interface portion of the interchangeable motor pack to the robotic surgical instrument.

Systems and methods for preventing the seeding of cancerous cells during morcellation of a tissue specimen inside a patient's body and removal of the tissue specimen from inside the patient through a minimally-invasive body opening to outside the patient are provided. One system includes a cut-resistant tissue guard removably insertable into a containment bag. The tissue specimen is isolated and contained within the containment bag and the guard is configured to protect the containment bag and surrounding tissue from incidental contact with sharp instrumentation used during morcellation and extraction of the tissue specimen. The guard is adjustable for easy insertion and removal and configured to securely anchor to the body opening. Protection-focused and containment-based systems for tissue removal are provided that enable minimally invasive procedures to be performed safely and efficiently.

The present disclosure relates to a local anesthetic delivery device for delivering anesthetic to a nerve block site comprising a surgical mechanism for establishing a reference plane for identifying the nerve block site, wherein the surgical mechanism establishes the reference plane at the peritoneum and uses a known fixed distance to the nerve plane above to accurately locate the nerve block site and deliver anesthesia.

An access port is disclosed for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures performed within a patient's abdominal cavity, which includes a body defining a bore configured to guide at least one surgical instrument into the abdominal cavity, and concave and convex anchoring regions for securing the access port relative to the abdominal cavity.

A trocar system includes a trocar assembly and a force sensor system. The trocar assembly includes a housing and an elongated cannula that extends from the housing. The force sensor system includes a force sensor supported on the trocar assembly, a control unit disposed in electrical communication with the force sensor, a processor, and a memory. The memory has instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor, cause the trocar system to sense, with the force sensor, a force applied through the trocar system, determine, with the control unit, if the force exceeds a predetermined threshold, and selectively output a signal through the control unit that indicates that the force exceeds the predetermined threshold.

A trocar is used by inserting a distal end thereof into a body cavity of a patient. The trocar includes: an inner tube that has a center pipeline; an outer tube that is disposed so as to cover an outer periphery of the inner tube and has a front end that is positioned rearward of a front end of the inner tube; an annular channel that is formed between the inner tube and the outer tube and has an ejection port at the front end position of the outer tube; and a flow control member that is provided on the inner tube at a position forward of the front end of the outer tube and facing the ejection port, the flow control member having an inclined surface located at the rear end that slants radially outward.