A surgical device for cutting bone or tissue in a patient can include a cutting blade having a rigid portion, a flexible portion, and a liner to provide a seal to the flexible portion. The blade has an outer member and an inner member disposed within a lumen of the outer member. The inner member has a rigid portion and a flexible portion. The liner can be disposed within a lumen of the inner member and can engage the rigid portion such as to retain the liner adjacent to the flexible portion of the inner member.

An arthroscopic surgical device including: a body with a proximal end, a distal end, and a body longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end; the body including: an elongated sheath arranged along a sheath longitudinal axis, the sheath including: a sheath flexible portion; and a lumen running longitudinally through the sheath; an elongated spine arranged along a spine longitudinal axis, the spine connected to the sheath, the spine including a spine joint; wherein the spine is rigid in a direction of elongation of the spine; wherein the sheath longitudinal axis and the spine longitudinal axis are aligned, for at least a portion of a sheath longitudinal length, wherein the flexible portion axially overlaps with the spine joint, bending the spine joint thereby bending the flexible portion.

A steering tool includes an internal tube disposed inside an external tube. The internal and external tubes are arranged for longitudinal axial movement relative to one another. A distal end of the internal tube is fixedly joined to a distal end of the external tube. At least one of the internal and external tubes is slotted near the distal end thereof, and the longitudinal axial movement causes bending of the distal ends of the tubes.

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprises an end effector that has a shaft coupled thereto that is coupled to a robotic system. A tool mounting portion includes an electric, DC motor connected to a drive train in the shaft for powering the drive train. A power pack that comprises at least one charge-accumulating device connected to the DC motor for powering the DC motor is provided.

Provided is a pressure guide wire, including a proximal portion (1), an intermediate portion (2) and a distal portion (12), the intermediate portion (2) is composed of one or more woven layers, wherein each woven layer includes a plurality of woven wires, the distal portion (12) includes a sensor housing (4) that holds a pressure sensor (5) and a head end assembly (11), the head end assembly (11) includes a developing spring (9) and a head end core wire (11) nested within the developing spring (9). The pressure guide wire having such a structure has good flexibility and supportability, meanwhile, the cost of the pressure guide wire can be reduced due to the low cost of the woven wire and the weaving process.

An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The articulation drive assembly is configured to drive the articulation section to deflect the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis from a non-articulated configuration to an articulated configuration. The articulation drive assembly includes a rotatable housing, a static member, and an indication feature. The rotatable housing is rotatably coupled to the body. The static member is fixed relative to the body. The indication feature is configured to indicate when the end effector is deflected into the non-articulated configuration. The indication feature includes a ridge and a cantilever arm. The ridge extends from an exterior surface of the rotatable housing. The cantilever arm defines a slot configured to house the ridge when the end effector is in the non-articulated configuration.

Methods for performing certain medical procedures wherein a steerable endoluminal punch is used to not only gain access but to create a channel or punch through tissue, thus facilitating follow-up therapeutic procedures. The distal end of the steerable endoluminal punch is controllably articulated by the operator using a control device at the proximal end.

Provided is a pressure guide wire, including a proximal portion (1), an intermediate portion (2) and a distal portion (12), the intermediate portion (2) is composed of one or more woven layers, wherein each woven layer includes a plurality of woven wires, the distal portion (12) includes a sensor housing (4) that holds a pressure sensor (5) and a head end assembly (11), the head end assembly (11) includes a developing spring (9) and a head end core wire (11) nested within the developing spring (9). The pressure guide wire having such a structure has good flexibility and supportability, meanwhile, the cost of the pressure guide wire can be reduced due to the low cost of the woven wire and the weaving process.

Articulation devices, systems, methods for articulation, and methods for fabricating articulation structures make use of balloon arrays, with inflation of the balloons locally altering articulation. Inflation fluid may be directed toward the balloons from an inflation fluid source via a series of channels, the balloons and channels included in a helical multi-balloon assembly. The balloons may be supported by encasing the helical balloon assembly in a polymer matrix, such as by winding the balloon assembly onto a mandrel and dip-coating some or all of the assembly in an elastomer such as a silicone, a urethane, or the like. The balloons may be supported by one or more spring, with loops of the spring(s) optionally being inward of the balloons, outward of the balloons, or interspersed between the balloons, and/or a mesh tube, braid, or other compliant materials may be included. Articulation balloon arrays may be disposed in an annular space bordered by inner and outer tubular sheaths, with a portion of one or both sheaths being axially slidable relative to the balloons so as to facilitate elongation and bending.

An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The articulation drive assembly is configured to drive the articulation section to deflect the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis from a non-articulated configuration to an articulated configuration. The articulation drive assembly includes a rotatable housing, a static member, and an indication feature. The rotatable housing is rotatably coupled to the body. The static member is fixed relative to the body. The indication feature is configured to indicate when the end effector is deflected into the non-articulated configuration. The indication feature includes a ridge and a cantilever arm. The ridge extends from an exterior surface of the rotatable housing. The cantilever arm defines a slot configured to house the ridge when the end effector is in the non-articulated configuration.