A face mask (90) comprises an instrument shielding apparatus (91) which comprises an instrument shielding device (92) which is connected to the face mask (90) by an adapter (89). The adapter (89) comprises an instrument accommodating housing (15) through which an instrument bore (25) extends therethrough. The instrument accommodating housing (15) terminates at one end in a first main port (20) engageable with an instrument port (7) of the face mask (90), and in the other end in a second main port (23). The instrument shielding device (92) comprises a shielding sleeve (95) a first end (96) of which is secured by a coupling ring (98) to the second main port (23) of the adapter (89), and a second end (97) of which is secured in a storage chamber (94) of a sleeve storing housing (93) of the instrument shielding device (92). The sleeve storing housing (93) is sealably engageable with a proximal end (58) of an endoscope (10), and the shielding sleeve extends from a collapsed stored state in the storage chamber (94) to the adapter (89) for shielding the endoscope (10).

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and methods to assist in the introduction of an instrument into a patient, and more particularly to medical devices for measuring and/or monitoring forces applied during introduction of an access sheath through a body lumen.

This invention relates generally to a medical device, and more specifically, to a vaginal surgical apparatus. In one embodiment, a vaginal device includes, but is not limited to, a shaft, the shaft including at least a space to at least partially accommodate a cervix; and a slot to secure a tenaculum; and a stopper that is positionably adjustable along at least a portion of a length of the shaft.

Systems and methods can be employed for trans-tympanic membrane access to the middle ear for delivery of a therapeutic agent, for example, to the round window niche adjacent to the cochlea under direct visualization. The systems and methods can also be used to improve accessibility and visualization for various otological surgical procedures, such as, but not limited to, cholesteatoma removal, tympanic membrane repair and ossicular chain repair.

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.

A surgical instrument for accessing an opening in the vaginal wall of a patient. The instrument comprising an elongated main part, an elongated member having a proximal end fixed to a distal end of the elongated main part by means of a first adjustable joint having a pivotal axis, for adjusting a first angle between the main part of the instrument and the elongated member between 0 and 180 degrees. The elongated member has a length allowing the elongated member to be placed such that it extends through the opening in the vaginal wall when the elongated main part is arranged in the vagina of the patient, the length thereby allowing the flexible tip to be placed in a position, wherein it at least partly encloses the rectum or colon of the patient.

A system for performing minimally invasive procedures in a working space within a body lumen of a patient including a flexible catheter configured to receive a working instrument therethrough. The flexible catheter has a working space expanding system positioned at the distal portion, the working space expanding system including first and second flexible elements movable from a non-expanded insertion position to an expanded position forming an expanded region to expand the working space within the body. The first and second flexible elements are connected at a distal region by a coupling structure. A stabilizing member stabilizes the distal portion of the flexible catheter.

An apparatus for spreading tissues. The apparatus includes a sheath member including an open end, a closed end, and a barrel extending between the open end and the closed end; and at least one flap-tip for engaging with tissues, wherein the at least one flap-tip is attached to the sheath member, each flap-tip projecting from the sheath member, wherein the at least one flap-tip is moved in response to movement of the sheath member.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

Everting balloon systems and methods for using the same are disclosed herein. The systems can be configured to access and dilate body lumen and cavities. For example, the systems can be used to dilate the cervix and access the uterine cavity. The systems can also be used to occlude the cervix. The systems can also be used to occlude the urethra.