A steerable instrument for endoscopic and/or invasive type of applications, such as in surgery, which has an elongated tubular body having a proximal end part with a first actuation flexible zone having a first diameter and a distal end part having a first distal flexible zone having a second diameter that is different from the first diameter. A cylindrical diameter adaptation section is arranged to connect the proximal end part to the distal end part such that a flexion in a radial direction relative to a longitudinal center axis of the longitudinal tubular body of the first actuation flexible zone results in an amplified or attenuated flexion of the first distal flexible zone.

A parallel kinematic mechanism apparatus includes a frame, a handle and an input joint that connects having at least two independent and functionally parallel paths for transmission of motion coupling the handle to the frame. A first path includes a first intermediate body connected to the frame by a first connector and to the handle by a third connector while the second path that is independent from the first path includes a second intermediate body that is connected to the frame by a second connector and to the handle by a fourth connector. The first connector and the fourth connector both allow rotation in a first rotational direction and restrict rotation in a second rotational direction and the second and third connectors allow rotation in the second rotational direction and restrict rotation in the first rotational direction.

A method of dispensing surgical fasteners includes providing an applicator instrument having a housing with a cartridge opening, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a firing system disposed within the housing for dispensing surgical fasteners, and an actuator for activating the firing system. The method includes forming a surgical opening in tissue, inserting a distal end of the elongated shaft into the surgical opening, inserting a cartridge containing a plurality of first surgical fasteners into the cartridge opening, and engaging the actuator for dispensing one of the first surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft. While maintaining the distal end of the elongated shaft inside the surgical opening, the cartridge is removed from the cartridge opening, a second cartridge containing a plurality of second surgical fasteners is inserted into the cartridge opening, and the actuator is engaged for dispensing one of the second surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft.

This invention is directed to a medical device having a longitudinal axis, and including a handle and a catheter. The handle can include a body having a proximal end and a distal end, an actuator moveably coupled to the body, and a handle control member coupled to the actuator, wherein the actuator can be configured to move relative to the body to move the handle control member. The catheter can include a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the body can be configured for releasable coupling. The catheter can also include a steering section located along the shaft and a catheter control member coupled to the steering section, wherein the catheter control member can be configured to move relative to the shaft to move the steering section relative to the longitudinal axis. The medical device can also include a securing member configured to move relative to at least one of the handle and the catheter to releasably couple the handle control member to the catheter control member.

An exemplary embodiment provides a steering gear (13) for a surgical instrument (1), which can be arranged at the proximal end (3) of a shaft (2) that defines a longitudinal axis (B) and has a bending mechanism (9) at the distal end (5). The steering gear (13) has two controllable and adjustable motorised drives and is designed to transfer the adjustment angles of the two controllable and adjustable motorised drives to a spatial alignment of a swash plate (14) which is designed to control the distal bending mechanism (9) of the surgical instrument (1). The swash plate (14) is arranged in a steering ring (19), and each of the two controllable and adjustable motorised drives has a drive shaft (17a, 17b) driven by a motor (17, 17′), each of which is connected to the steering ring (19) directly and operatively connected via a force transmitter (16, 16′), wherein the two force transmitters (16, 16′) which are arranged on the drive shafts (17a, 17b) each define a drive axis (C, C′), directly contacting the steering ring (19) at an effective section (W). The steering ring (19) is cardanically suspended on a fastening device which has position sensors (23, 24, 25) on its cardan axes. Furthermore, a surgical instrument (1) with a steering gear (13) and a method for controlling the position of a steering ring (19) of a steering gear (13) are disclosed.

A surgical stapling apparatus. Various embodiments include a rotatable elongated body that extends from a rotatable shroud on handle assembly and has a distal end configured for attachment to a disposable loading unit. The apparatus further includes a lockable rotation system for selectively locking the rotatable shroud to prevent rotation thereof about a longitudinal axis.

The disclosure provides a surgical apparatus comprising: a steerable member that is bendable and comprises a plurality of bending segments with channels therein; and a plurality of bending actuation wires that are arranged to pass through the steerable member and cause the steerable member to bend, the steerable member comprising at least one outwardly opening lumen through which the bending actuation wires pass.

The disclosure provides a surgical apparatus comprising: a steerable member that is bendable and comprises a plurality of bending segments with channels therein; and a plurality of bending actuation wires that are arranged to pass through the steerable member and cause the steerable member to bend, the steerable member comprising at least one outwardly opening lumen through which the bending actuation wires pass.

In various embodiments, a tissue thickness compensator can comprise a compressible extracellular matrix and a bioabsorbable material dispersed within the extracellular matrix, wherein the bioapsorption of the bioabsorbable material is configured to leave behind channels in the extracellular matrix. The tissue thickness compensator can also comprise generation means for generating the ingrowth of tissue into the channels. In at least one embodiment, the tissue thickness compensator can comprise dissolvable wicking members which, when dissolved, can leave behind channels in the tissue thickness compensator. In certain embodiments, the tissue thickness compensator can comprise at least one rupturable capsule.

A surgical instrument with a handle for a surgical instrument is provided, comprising a first arm and a second arm, wherein at least one of the arms being movable with respect to the other between an open and closed position. An end effector such as a pair of opposing jaws for grasping tissue may be disposed at the distal end of the two arms. At the proximal end of each arm is a finger loop, or some other suitable means for holding by the handle, which are used to actuate the arms between the open and closed position. At least one of the finger loops is arranged to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the arm from which it extends, for example, the finger loop may be connected to the arm by a hinged connection, or any other suitable connection for enabling the finger loop to be pivotably rotated.