Systems and methods for accessing, stabilizing and sealing a device attached to a tissue surface comprising a tissue attaching device having an outer base ring defining an opening therethrough and a distally projecting tissue attachment element. The systems variously utilize annular sealing flanges distally attached to the outer base ring outside or inside the tissue attachment element to create a fluid tight seal. The systems variously utilize coils with regions of differing pitch to create sealing tissue pressure. Methods for installing an apical attaching device with a transapical port into a patient, comprising assessing the patient's viability for installation of the apical attaching device by determining an Index of Tissue Elasticity (ITE).

Disclosed herein are a range of stiffening mechanisms or systems that assist or enable holding a pose or shape of a flexible body (1010, 216, 410, 420, 801). These stiffening mechanisms may be part of the steering mechanism (500, 800), may be separately actuated and/or may themselves also enable steering of the flexible elongate device (400). Further, the stiffening mechanisms may use information from sensor (826) systems, such as a shape sensor (222, 314, 426) in the form of an optical fiber, a plurality of EM sensors (426, 826) distributed along the length of a flexible device, and/or navigation systems, such as a sensor system (108) that computes the approximate location of medical instruments (such as a flexible body) within the anatomy of the patient and/or medical tools that are delivered through a main lumen (411, 811) of the flexible body (1010, 216, 410, 420, 801), to inform a control system (112, 116) which then controls formation and holding of a shape of the flexible body (1010, 216, 410, 420, 801).

A surgical instrument system is disclosed which comprises a distal end and a staple cartridge assembly comprising staples removably stored therein. The instrument system further comprises a firing drive including an electric motor and a firing member operably couplable with the electric motor. The electric motor is operable to advance the firing member toward the distal end during a staple firing stroke to eject the staples from the staple cartridge. The electric motor is operable to retract the firing member away from the distal end during a retraction stroke. The surgical instrument system further comprises a manually-operated bailout mechanism operable to perform the retraction stroke in lieu of the electric motor, a controller, and a display in communication with the controller. The controller is configured to display the progress of the retraction stroke when the firing member is being manually retracted by the bailout mechanism.

Disclosed is an instrument that may an interior tube and an external tube. The exterior tube may be fixed relative to an interior tube, where the interior tube may rotate or oscillate relative to the exterior tube. Further, the two tubes may be co-bent such that an angle is formed by both of the tubes.

A device and method for delivering a synthetic mesh or graft for anatomical repair at a defect site. A plurality of flexible arms is connected to the synthetic mesh or graft. Grasping jaws are individually controlled at or near a proximal end of the device for connection of the graft and release of the graft at the surgical site. The flexible arms, with graft attached are positioned through a surgical incision to the defect site. An actuator positions the flexible arms to assume a radial array at the surgical site, unfolding and spreading the graft for attachment. The length of each flexible arm is individually adjustable to adapt to the size and shape of the graft selected for installation at the defect site to repair the defect.

According to one embodiment, a coil sheath is provided which is formed by spirally winding a wire and having a plurality of unit loops arranged side by side in a direction of an axis, wherein each unit loop includes a plurality of non-circular loops each having a long axis portion and a short axis portion, a dimension of the long axis portion is longer than a short axis portion of the other loops, and, in front view seen in an axial direction, each unit loop includes a central space including the axis and a plurality of peripheral spaces located around the central space.

A programmable medical wire system includes a programmable wire assembly that includes: a core conductor; at least one actuator conductor electrically coupled to the core conductor, the actuator conductor being programmed to move toward a predetermined shape based on actuation; at least one selective conductor electrically coupled to the actuator conductor and configured to be electrically energized to actuate the actuator conductor to move toward the predetermined shape; at least one emitter configured to produce electromagnetic radiation of a given wavelength coupled to the programmable wire assembly; and at least one detector configured to receive emissions of the emitter and communicate signals of the emission remotely from the emitter. One or more of the selective conductors can be energized to activate the actuator conductors and/or core conductor and cause the actuator conductors and/or core conductor to bend or twist in a preprogrammed manner and return to original shape when deenergized. When de-energized, the actuator conductor and/or core conductor can resume its natural shape.

Embodiments of the invention include an electrosurgical system with a controller, a fluid control unit electrically coupled to the controller, and an electrosurgical wand with a lumen having a coil-supported inner tubular member. Some embodiments include methods of manufacturing components of the electrosurgical system.

Provided are a bending structure and a flexible tube for a medical manipulator, which comprise a corrugated tube portion having a corrugated portion in which crests and troughs are alternately arranged in the axial direction and being bendable according to expansion and contraction of the crests and the troughs, and insertion holes provided on the corrugated portion to pass the drive wires in the axial direction.

Medical instruments with variable bending stiffness profiles are disclosed. A medical instrument can include a bending stiffness profile comprising a plurality of bending stiffness zones of substantially constant bending stiffness separated by transition zones. The bending stiffness profile can be achieved by modulating various modalities of the medical instrument along its length. A compound medical instrument can include a scope telescoping within a sheath. A variable bending stiffness profile of the compound medical instrument can be modulated by adjusting the relative position of the scope and the sheath.