A surgical trajectory alignment device is disclosed, including an alignment trajectory guide holding portion shaped to receive and secure an alignment trajectory guide along a longitudinal patient entry axis, the longitudinal patient entry axis falling within a plane. The surgical trajectory alignment device further includes a first alignment trajectory guide holding portion activator operable to rotate an alignment trajectory guide secured by an alignment arm holding portion within the plane; and a second alignment trajectory guide holding portion activator operable to translate an alignment trajectory guide secured by the alignment arm holding portion in a direction away from the plane.

A surgical robot/instrument system comprising a holding arm whose distal end portion has a gripping or holding device arranged thereon, the latter being designed to hold a trocar or a surgical instrument in an exchangeable fashion, and a surgical instrument with a minimally invasive design comprising an instrument shaft whose distal end portion supports an instrument tip via a joint, said instrument tip supporting an effector of the surgical instrument. The surgical robot/instrument system comprises drives by means of which functions such as actuating the effector, inclining or bending of the effector at its joint to the instrument shaft, rotating the effector around its longitudinal axis and/or rotating the instrument shaft, moving the instrument shaft in its shaft direction as well as moving the instrument shaft transverse to the shaft direction can be effected. The drives for effecting at least the instrument-internal functions, such as actuating the effector, inclining or bending the effector at its joint to the instrument shaft and rotating the effector around its longitudinal axis are provided internally on or in the surgical instrument. The drives for effecting the instrument-external functions, such as moving the instrument shaft transverse to the shaft direction, are provided externally on/in the holding arm.

Devices and methods are provided for performing a medical procedure using a trans-septal approach. The device includes a dilator including a proximal end, a distal end terminating in a distal tip, and a lumen extending between the dilator proximal and distal ends, and a needle device including a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into the dilator lumen and terminating in a sharpened distal tip. The needle is movable relative to the dilator to selectively expose the needle device distal tip distally from the dilator lumen and advance the dilator relative to the needle device. The dilator may have a complex tapered shape on its distal tip, e.g., including first and second tapered regions. The needle device may include an inner needle including the sharpened distal tip and an outer tube including a substantially blunt distal end that slidably receives the inner needle.

Embodiments for a Mooreville Needle Introducer, and methods for using and making the same are disclosed. The Mooreville Needle Introducer can be constructed of a first part and a second part that can be joined together to form an enclosure for receiving a pusher. The first part and the second part can also be formed with pairs of complementing adapters that fasten together for secure alignment. The first part can be detached from the second part by applying force to a set of handles. When the first part and the second part are detached, they can be effectively cleansed and sterilized, eliminating any lingering bacteria.

The present invention is directed to an automated vessel puncture device, methods of mapping three-dimensional views of subcutaneous vessels and methods for providing simultaneous real-time diagnostic assay.

A surgical device and methods of using the surgical device are disclosed. The surgical device includes a trocar, a cannula releasably mounted on the trocar, and a propulsion system operatively connected to the trocar. The cannula includes a hub, and has a central opening through which the trocar extends. The propulsion system is operable to drive the trocar axially in a forward direction away from a proximal end of the surgical device.

An automatic vessel access device based on real time volumetric ultrasound is provided. The automatic vessel access device comprises a probe configured to generate a VOI image of a candidate vessel in a real time volume ultrasound scan mode, a control device coupled to the probe, and at least one motor coupled to the control device. The control device comprises at least one processing module configured to determine at least one control parameter based on the VOI image, and a driver module coupled with the at least one processing module and configured to drive the at least one motor to automatically access the candidate vessel according to the at least one control parameter.

An apparatus is provided for assisting breast biopsy. The apparatus includes a biopsy guide, a support system that effects three-dimensional movement of the biopsy guide and a system for registering coordinates of a remote center of motion (RCM) of the biopsy guide with a coordinate system on an image of a breast obtained from a parallel plate radiology imager. The biopsy guide has a mounting plate and a needle gun mount and ultrasound transducer mount on the mounting plate in a common plane. A biopsy needle of a needle gun mounted on the needle gun mount and an image plane of an ultrasound transducer mounted on the ultrasound transducer mount have longitudinal axes in or parallel to the common plane, which intersect at the RCM. The position of the RCM with respect to the biopsy guide is unchanged when the needle gun and/or ultrasound transducer moves on the biopsy guide.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and establishing access to a target within the body, such as placing an access needle into a renal capsule into the human body. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices and methods for performing a percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) procedure accurately and efficiently while minimizing exposure of the medical professional to harmful radiation.

A device for insertion of a flexible needle or other such instrument into a tissue, incorporating a collapsible support guide which supports that part of the needle which has not yet penetrated the tissue, preventing it from buckling, and an arrangement which pulls the needle from its proximal end to provide sufficient force for the penetration process. The collapsible support guide can be a pair of flexible strips connected along their length and enclosing the needle along its uninserted length in order to support it, with a mechanism at the distal end of the device to peel the strips from the needle as it is inserted. Insertion can be achieved by a pair of rollers engaging and advancing the strips distally. Alternatively, a telescopic support tube can be used to support the needle, the tube collapsing telescopically as the needle is inserted, to maintain clearance above the needle.