A surgical stapler for stapling the tissue of a patient is disclosed. The surgical stapler comprises a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and an end effector. The end effector comprises a tissue compression surface, a plurality of staples, and an anvil comprising staple forming pockets, wherein the anvil is movable toward the tissue compression surface during a closing stroke to clamp the patient tissue against and tissue compression surface. The surgical stapler further comprises an anvil closing system configured to move the anvil through the closing stroke, a staple firing system configured to deploy the staples during a staple firing stroke, and means for clamping and holding the patient tissue during the staple firing stroke and moving the end effector relative to the patient tissue after the staple firing stroke.

A biopsy marker may include three shaped portions arranged sequentially along an axis, each shaped portion having a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface. A first narrow portion connects a first of the three shaped portions to a second of the three shaped portions. A second narrow portion connects the second of the three shaped portions to a third of the three shaped portions. The first narrow portion is twisted about the axis such that the first surface of the first shaped portion is at a first angle to the first surface of the second shaped portion. The second narrow portion is twisted about the axis such that the first surface of the second shaped portion is at a second angle to the first surface of the third shaped portion.

Embodiments relate to transformative shape-memory polymer tissue cavity markers and corresponding systems and deployment methods. In one embodiment, a tissue cavity marker for delivery to a tissue cavity via a minimally invasive surgical incision includes a transformative body having a first three-dimensional shape in a permanent state and a second three-dimensional shape different from the first three-dimensional shape in a temporary state, the transformative body comprising a shape-memory polymer material and being automatically transformable between the temporary state for delivery to a tissue cavity and the permanent state for residence within the tissue cavity by application of a stimulus; and at least one radiopaque marker coupled to the transformative body.

A device for attaching a localization marker to the lower jaw of an individual. The marker includes an inner face provided with two attachment lugs including an intra-oral portion having a general U-shape adapted for coming into contact with the outer face of the teeth of the lower jaw, an extra-oral portion including an attachment element for the marker, a connecting portion connecting the intra-oral portion and the extra-oral portion. The attachment element includes two recesses each adapted for receiving a respective lug of the marker, the recesses being separated by a tab adapted for being elastically deformed when one of the lugs is engaged in a respective recess so as to exert a pressure force on the lug.

Improved mapping and ablation procedures and corresponding devices are provided. A variety of methods and apparatuses can be used for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias by identifying the location of an arrhythmia source and ablating that source. The methods and apparatuses can provide an improved means of electrical mapping of the heart to identify the location of the arrhythmia source and advancing an ablation electrode to that location so that it may be ablated.

A surgical stapler for stapling the tissue of a patient is disclosed. The surgical stapler comprises a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, a plurality of staple clusters, and an end effector. The end effector comprises a tissue compression surface and an anvil movable toward the tissue compression surface during a closing stroke, an anvil closing system configured to move the anvil through the closing stroke, and a staple firing system configured to deploy a staple cluster positioned in the end effector during a staple firing stroke. The surgical stapler further comprises a tissue cutting system configured to cut the patient tissue during a tissue cutting stroke and a propulsion system configured to move the end effector relative to the patient tissue during a propulsion stroke.

A marker delivery device includes a handle, an elongate cannula, a push rod assembly, and a plunger. The handle includes a first bore disposed within a portion of the handle. The elongate cannula extends distally from the handle along a longitudinal axis. The push rod assembly includes a mating feature. The push rod assembly is disposed within the first bore and extends distally through the cannula. The plunger is disposed within the first bore proximally of the push rod assembly and includes an engagement feature. The engagement feature is removably coupled to the mating feature. The engagement feature is configured to de-couple from the mating feature when the plunger translates the push rod assembly distally.

A tissue segmentation device, controller, and methods therefore are disclosed. The device has an active electrode, a return electrode, a mechanical force application mechanism, voltage and current sensors, and a controller. The controller has a processing component, configured to assign a circuit status to a circuit comprising the at least one electrode. IF (PF≈0) and ((Vrms/Irms)≥T), THEN the circuit status is “open”. IF (PF≈0) and ((Vrms/Irms)<T), THEN the circuit status is “short”. PF is a power factor of power applied to the electrosurgical device. T is a threshold value.

A surgical stapler for stapling the tissue of a patient is disclosed. The surgical stapler comprises a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and an end effector extending from the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises a plurality of staples and an anvil configured to deform the staples. The surgical stapler further comprises a firing mechanism configured to deploy the staples, a sensor configured to detect a target, a controller configured to calculate the firing path based on the target, and a motorized drive system configured to move the end effector toward the target along the firing path.

Improved mapping and ablation procedures and corresponding devices are provided. A variety of methods and apparatuses can be used for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias by identifying the location of an arrhythmia source and ablating that source. The methods and apparatuses can provide an improved means of electrical mapping of the heart to identify the location of the arrhythmia source and advancing an ablation electrode to that location so that it may be ablated.