A chest tube insertion device includes a semi-rigid curvilinear sheath body having a distal end and a proximal end, a lumen defined axially through the sheath body from the distal end to the proximal end, the lumen including a distal end opening at the distal end and a proximal end opening at the proximal end, and a tapered pneumostatic tube clamp at the distal end of the sheath body, the tube clamp including one or more clamp tabs angled radially inward toward the distal end opening. The chest tube insertion device is supported during insertion into the chest cavity by a stylet. The chest tube insertion device is also removable from a chest tube when a free end of the chest tube is positioned in the chest cavity of a patient.

A guard for providing a cut-resistant pathway through a body orifice or incision to circumferentially protect tissue at the margin is provided. The guard is made of flexible, cut-resistant mesh material having a plurality of interwoven thermosetting filaments. The guard has a central lumen and at least one flared end. The flared end, which serves to anchor the guard in the body opening, is deformable into a reduced configuration to facilitate its insertion and removal. The layer of mesh stretches laterally to increase the diameter of the central lumen. The flexibility and expandability of the guard allows the guard to conform to body openings of different sizes. The guard may include a drawstring to cinch the flared distal end from the proximal end. The guard is thermoset with the flared distal end that is biased to spring back to its normal, undeformed configuration when released from a deformed configuration.

A surgical access device has a cannula tube with a collar coupled to a proximal region of the cannula tube. A balloon is attached to the cannula tube. The collar includes a receptacle and an inflater is insertable into the receptacle. The inflater has a body with a chamber and a first compound. A cap is attached to one end of the body and has a cavity containing a second compound. A membrane is disposed between the body and the cap and is configured to keep the first and second compounds separate. A button extends through an opening of the cap and a piston is coupled to the button. The piston includes a spike extending away from the button and is translatable in the cap between a rest position and an actuated position. The actuated position is defined by a portion of the spike penetrating the membrane such that the first compound interacts with the second compound generating a gas that is communicated to the balloon via a groove of the cannula tube.

An introducer sheath is described. The introducer sheath may include a tubular body. The tubular body may extend from a distal end toward a proximal end. The tubular body may include a lumen. The lumen may at least partially be defined by a wall. A channel may be disposed within the wall. The channel may be configured to receive a guidewire. The tubular body may include an expandable portion expandable to increase a cross-sectional area of the lumen.

Surgical visualization systems and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for providing visualization during surgical procedures. Systems and methods herein can be used in a wide range of surgical procedures, including spinal surgeries such as minimally-invasive fusion or discectomy procedures. Systems and methods herein can include various features for enhancing end user experience, improving clinical outcomes, or reducing the invasiveness of a surgery. Exemplary features can include access port integration, hands-free operation, active and/or passive lens cleaning, adjustable camera depth, and many others.

An example introducer is disclosed. An example introducer includes an inner liner including a lumen, a distal region and at least one folded portion extending along the distal region. The introducer also includes a reinforcing member having a length and including at least one spine extending along the length of the reinforcing member. The introducer also includes a sheath disposed along at least a portion of the introducer, wherein the sheath includes at least one perforation, wherein material adjacent to the at least one folded portion is removed from a distal portion of the introducer to form a tip region. The introducer also includes a tip member disposed along the tip region.

An attachment (1) for a trocar cannula (3) having an access valve (12) located in a proximal end (5) thereof comprises a housing (20) defining an instrument passageway (29). An operating member (43) having an instrument bore (46) is slideable in the instrument passageway (29) from a disengaged state disengaged from the access valve (12) to an engagement state extending through the access valve (12) with the access valve (12) in the open state and shielded from an instrument passing therethrough. A pair of detecting probes (55) carried on a carrier (50) and extending into the instrument bore (46) are urgeable distally from a first state to a second state by a distal end of an instrument being urged distally in the instrument bore (46) for in turn urging the operating member (43) from the disengaged state to the engagement state. A proximal seal (40) in the instrument passageway (29) is urged from a non-sealing state to a sealing state by the operating member (43) being urged from the disengaged state to the engagement state.

A surgical probe and a method for forming and enlarging an access opening through a psoas muscle to provide for minimally invasive lateral approach for surgical access to a lumber intervertebral disc. A distal end portion of the probe is equipped with an electrode useful for confirming proper location of the probe and includes an inflatable dilator body for enlarging an access opening through tissue adjacent to a spinal column. The probe includes a cannula through which a K wire can be extended to anchor the probe to a patient.

Surgical visualization systems and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for providing visualization during surgical procedures. Systems and methods herein can be used in a wide range of surgical procedures, including spinal surgeries such as minimally-invasive fusion or discectomy procedures. Systems and methods herein can include various features for enhancing end user experience, improving clinical outcomes, or reducing the invasiveness of a surgery. Exemplary features can include access port integration, hands-free operation, active and/or passive lens cleaning, adjustable camera depth, and many others.

A vaginal dilation device is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the vaginal dilation device is that it is configured to dilate vaginal tissue during labor to prevent tissue damage. Another feature of the vaginal dilation device is that it can be manually controlled to dilate vaginal tissue, or can be automatically controlled to dilate vaginal tissue. In some embodiments, the vaginal dilation device is configured to measure a force applied by the device to tissue. In other embodiments, the vaginal dilation device is configured to apply a constant force to tissue. In other embodiments, the vaginal dilation device is configured to expand at a constant rate. Methods associated with use of the vaginal dilation device are also provided.