Disclosed herein are multiple cannulas defining a lumen sized and dimensioned to receive one or more medical instruments, an inflatable outer membrane attached to an outer surface of the cannula, and at least one activator that reversibly pressurizes a fluid contained in the outer membrane to fill or pressurize the outer membrane.

An end effector for a surgical robotic system, comprising a main body, one or members, and an adjustment mechanism. The main body has an interior sidewall and an opening extending through the main body. The one or more members are located within the main body and extend into and retract from the opening to vary a diameter of the opening through which a tool may be inserted. The adjustment mechanism coupled to the one or more members for varying the diameter of the opening, and comprises a collar coupled to the one or more members such that rotation of the collar in a first direction causes the one or more members to move away from the interior sidewall to reduce the diameter of the opening, and rotation in a second direction causes the one or more members to move towards the interior sidewall to increase the diameter of the opening.

A loading dilator may include a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may include a first proximal end, a first distal end, and a first outer surface extending between the first proximal end and the first distal end. The second portion may include a second proximal end, a second distal end, and a second outer surface extending between the second proximal end and the second distal end. The first outer surface may include a plurality of slits extending along at least a portion of the length of the first portion. The plurality of slits may be spaced apart circumferentially around a longitudinal axis of the first portion. The length of the second portion may be smaller than the length of the first portion.

Disclosed herein is a system for treatment including a sheath introducer and a catheter or other device. The system can have a floating hemostasis valve comprising a seal through which the shaft of the catheter can extend. The floating hemostasis valve can have elastic bellows which can allow the seal to move orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the sheath introducer in response to an orthogonal movement of the shaft of the catheter. The elastic bellows can be configured to deform to allow the orthogonal movement of the floating hemostasis valve.

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.

A depth limiter that is configured to couple with a cannula of a surgical access device. The depth limiter includes first and second user contact portions and first and second biasing features. The first biasing feature includes a first resilient portion and a first gripping surface. The second biasing feature includes a second resilient portion and a second gripping surface. The first and second resilient portions are configured to move the respective first and second gripping surfaces from a fixed configuration to a movable configuration when the respective first and second user contact portions are actuated. In the fixed configuration, the first and second gripping surfaces collectively restrict axial movement of the depth limiter by directly contacting the cannula. In the movable configuration, the first and second gripping surfaces extend parallel to a longitudinal axis and allow for axial movement of the depth limiter relative to the cannula.

A cannula and method include a shaft portion having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the oppositely disposed distal end along the longitudinal axis. A hub is attached to the proximal end of the shaft portion and includes a transverse portion, which extends transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft portion. An opaque marker is disposed on the transverse portion at a position corresponding to an expanded size of an expandable element such that the opaque marker indicates the expanded size in an imaging system image.

A dilation system for accessing a surgical target site to perform surgical procedures. In one version, the dilation system includes a wedge assembly and an actuating mechanism. The wedge assembly comprises includes a base and a plurality of blades extending from the base so that the distal end of the blades extend away from the base. The mechanism is operably associated with the blades so as to cause the distal end of the blades to move from a closed condition to an expanded condition.

An expandable introducer sheath with an interlock dilator. The present technology provides an expandable sheath with a step feature inside its distal opening, and a dilator with an interlock that includes a catch surface configured to engage with the step feature and resist further relative movement so that the body of the dilator is prevented from exiting the distal end of the expandable sheath. This interlocking engagement may allow the dilator to be used to extend and maintain tension on the expandable sheath during insertion into a patient, and then to be retracted from the expandable sheath by pulling the dilator in the opposite direction. The present technology also provides a dilator hub with a spring mechanism configured to achieve and maintain a desired tension on the expandable sheath and to prevent overextension of the expandable sheath when the dilator is being inserted into the expandable sheath.

Embodiments of a surgical access port system that comprises a retractor that is adapted for being coupled to a cap and that is particularly useful in natural orifice surgery are described. The retractor comprises an outer ring, wherein the outer ring is configured to be disposed proximate the natural orifice of the patient and substantially surround the orifice; a tubular body; and various stabilizing mechanisms surrounding the tubular body, sized and configured to stabilize and retain the retractor within the orifice. The stabilizing embodiments described herein are useful in all natural orifices and are of particular use in the vaginal surgery.