A surgical device for performing surgery includes a handle assembly, an elongate member extending from the handle assembly, an articulation mechanism, and an adapter. The elongate member has articulating and straight sections. The articulating section is configured to articulate with respect to the straight section. The adapter rotatably couples the elongate member with the articulation mechanism such that when the elongate member is in a first rotational orientation with respect to the articulation mechanism, the articulating section articulates toward a first direction relative to the straight section upon movement of the handle assembly towards the first direction with respect to the straight section and when the elongate member is in a second rotational orientation with respect to the articulation mechanism, the articulating section articulates toward a second direction relative to the straight section upon movement of the handle assembly towards the first direction with respect to the straight section.

A surgical instrument including a housing, an endoscopic portion, a shaft portion and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The shaft portion is selectively connectable to a distal end of the endoscopic portion. The end effector is selectively connectable to a distal end of the shaft portion.

A surgical stapler including an anvil, a staple cartridge, and a buttress material removably retained to the anvil and/or staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the staple cartridge can include at least one staple removably stored therein which can, when deployed, or fired, therefrom, contact the buttress material and remove the buttress material from the anvil and/or staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, the anvil can include at least one lip and/or groove configured to removably retain the buttress material to the anvil until deformable members extending from the surgical staple are bent by the anvil and are directed toward and contact the buttress material.

A catheter for removing tissue from a body lumen and for providing information relating to the body lumen. The catheter includes a tissue cutting element that rotates relative to the catheter body and is mounted to the drive shaft for imparting rotation to the tissue cutting element. An energy emitting element of the catheter rotates relative to the catheter body and is rotatable independently of the tissue cutting element.

The present invention relates to an extraction device (10) for extracting foreign bodies from a patient, comprising a flexible extractor (11), a stiffening device (12) and connection means (13) for connecting the flexible extractor (11) to said stiffening device (12).

A tool has a handle and an elongate shaft that extends distally from the handle. A distal portion of the shaft is inserted into a subject during a surgical procedure. An optical fiber delivers laser energy to a tip at the distal portion of the shaft. The tip includes a mechanical cutting mechanism including a moving part that absorbs the laser energy, thermally conducts the absorbed energy to tissue that is disposed between the moving part and another part, and moves with respect to the other part in order to cut tissue that is disposed between the parts using a mechanical force that is lower than a mechanical force that would be required to cut the tissue in the absence of the laser energy. Other embodiments are also described.

An electromechanical surgical device includes a motor system configured to drive drive-shafts and a steering cable arrangement. A control system may be provided for controlling the motor system. A remote control unit may also be provided for controlling the motor system via the control system. Optical or Hall-effect devices, may be provided for determining the position of the elements of the surgical instrument based on the detected rotation of the drive-shafts. A memory unit stores a plurality of operating programs or algorithms, each corresponding to a type of surgical instrument attachable to the electro-mechanical surgical device. The control system reads or selects from the plurality of operating programs or algorithms, the operating program or algorithm corresponding to the type of surgical instrument attached to the electromechanical surgical device.

A medical treatment tool includes an elongated insertion section; a grasper supported by a distal end of the insertion section so as to be openable and closable; a generator disposed at a proximal end of the insertion section and generating a force to drive the grasper; a transmitter transmitting the force generated by the generator to the distal end of the insertion section; an amplifier amplifying the force transmitted through the transmitter; and a toggle amplifying and converting the force amplified by the amplifier into a force directed to open or close the grasper.

An intravascular intervention system can include a manipulation member sized for insertion into a blood vessel and an intervention member coupled to the manipulation member. The manipulation member can include a longitudinally extending tube having a helical cut extending along the tube. The helical cut can have an axial length of at least 50 cm and be continuous along the axial length. The intervention member can be compressible to a collapsed configuration for delivery to an endovascular treatment site through a catheter and be self-expandable from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration.

The present invention is an access sheath comprising a tube or sheath with a passageway primarily for endoscopic procedures accessing the ureter through the bladder. The sheath has a bend limiting feature to limit the bend angle or bend radius. The sheath exhibits flexibility up to this limit at which point it becomes rigid. Excessive force is required to bend the sheath beyond the bend limit and would result in the kinking of the tubular frame.