A portable and passive safety intraosseous device to allow for direct introduction of medications, etc., within the intermedullary space of a subject patient's bone or, if needed, the removal of certain substances from such a subject patient's bone. Such a device permits direct drilling and placement of a cannula within the subject bone with access external to the subject patient's skin, permitting, as well, connection of a tube for such introduction/removal purposes. The ability to provide a passive safety unit allows for facilitated utilization in, for instance, emergency situations with the entire device provided for utilization thereof. The device includes a drilling component with a permanently attached stylet and a removable cannula, a power supply for a single drilling operation, a mechanism to draw the stylet back into the drill component after use and disengagement from the cannula, and an automatic closure that activates with the separation of the cannula.

An obturator assembly with a rotatable and cannulated obturator shaft for inserting a cannula into a human joint space. The obturator assemblies includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end with a channel extending along an inner surface of the elongated body. The obturator assembly also includes a locking mechanism connected within the elongated body. The locking mechanism is rotatable between a first configuration and a second configuration. A cannulated obturator shaft is attached to the locking mechanism and is rotatable between the first configuration and the second configuration via the locking mechanism. The obturator assembly has a latch assembly connected to the cannulated obturator shaft which is rotatable between the first configuration and second configuration via the locking mechanism. The latch assembly securely and removably attaches to a cannula.

A steerable guidewire. The steerable guidewire is fabricated includes an outer tube, an inner tube, a hub, and a distal articulating region. The steerable guidewire hub can be removed to permit advancement of catheters over its proximal end followed by re-attachment of the hub to permit deflection of the distal end of the steerable guidewire.

The present invention relates to a puncture device for creating a TIPS shunt, comprising a puncture needle, a sheath, the sheath being arranged to surround the puncture needle, the puncture needle being slidably arranged inside the sheath so that the puncture needle can be moved between a first position in which the puncture needle protrudes beyond the distal end of the sheath and a second position where a tip of the puncture needle is retracted into the sheath, the sheath and the puncture needle being arranged so that in the second position, blood can be aspirated into the sheath through a gap between the puncture needle and the sheath, a locking means, the locking means being arranged for releasably locking the puncture needle in the first and/or the second position.

An access port or retractor tube provides access through tissue to a surgical site or field, such as at the brain or spine, in a minimally invasive manner. The access port permits a user to clearly view and access the surgical field, including areas medial thereto, in a minimally invasive manner by dilating or separating tissue rather than cutting tissue. Neuro monitoring and neuro navigation are tools essential to neuro surgery to protect vital and eloquent tissues. Combining navigation and monitoring into the access ports/retractor tubes would enable the surgeon to be more precise and efficient during minimally invasive procedures while still being maximally effective in protecting non operative tissues.

A tissue removal device and method of using the device to remove tissue from a patient is provided. The tissue removal device comprises a tissue removal probe and a sheath slideable relative to the probe. The probe has a tissue removal element, and the sheath has a portion that exposes the tissue removal element. The sheath distal end may be pre-shaped to bend when slid distal to the probe. The probe may have a window through which the tissue removal element is exposed.

A surgical access system comprises a wound retractor comprising an outer anchor, an inner anchor, and a flexible, tubular sheath extending therebetween. Embodiments of the outer anchor comprise an outer ring rotatable around an annular axis thereof, thereby rolling the sheath therearound when retracting an incision or opening in a body wall. The sheath comprises a plurality of fibers or strands that improve the abrasion and puncture resistance thereof. Consequently, the surgical access system is useful in procedures in which damage to the sheath is likely, for example, orthopedic hip replacement, and spinal procedures. In some embodiments, the sheath tapers from the outer ring to the inner ring.

An apparatus includes a slotted tube having a plurality of first slots and a plurality of second slots; an imager disposed in the slotted tube, the imager having a plurality of corners arranged in the plurality of first slots; and a plurality of light guides disposed in the plurality of second slots.

A vascular closure device assembly, comprises a sheath comprising: a sheath main body defining a channel therethrough, a sheath engagement portion, and a sheath mounting portion located at a proximal end of the sheath main body. The assembly comprises a housing within which the sheath mounting portion is secured such that the sheath is rotatable relative to the housing, and such that the housing inhibits axial displacement of the sheath relative to the housing. The assembly also includes a dilator comprising a dilator main body, and a dilator engagement portion extending from the dilator main body towards the sheath. The dilator engagement portion is configured to engage the sheath engagement portion such that axial displacement of the dilator relative to the sheath causes the sheath to rotate relative to the housing, and wherein the housing is configured to inhibit axial displacement of the sheath during rotation.

A method for creating a tract for percutaneous endoscopic guided gastrointestinal tube creation including the steps of providing a puncture wire having a sharp tissue penetrating tip shielded in a sheath, the puncture wire slidable within the sheath and releasably lockingly engaged thereto; inserting the puncture wire and sheath in a first direction through a working channel of an endoscope to exit the channel of the endoscope, then releasing the puncture wire from the sheath and advancing the puncture wire from the sheath while visualizing via the endoscope the position of the puncture wire, and further advancing the puncture wire through the visceral wall and then the abdominal wall of a patient. Subsequent methods to position a percutaneous gastrointestinal catheter after initial wire puncture are described.