The present invention is an access sheath comprising a tube or sheath with a passageway primarily for endoscopic procedures accessing the ureter through the bladder. The sheath has a bend limiting feature to limit the bend angle or bend radius. The sheath exhibits flexibility up to this limit at which point it becomes rigid. Excessive force is required to bend the sheath beyond the bend limit and would result in the kinking of the tubular frame.

Applicator for injecting a bulking agent at one or more selected submucosal positions in a periurethral tissue of a female patients' urethra. The applicator comprises a lance, such as a cystoscope with a distal end provided with one or more optical sensors, and a needle guide with a bore receiving the lance. The needle guide comprises needle channels at different angular positions, each needle channel extending between a needle entrance surface and an opposite shoulder surface. The needle channels are oriented to direct a needle via external peripheral tissue of the urethral meatus to a submucosal position at a urethra section, e.g., within the optical scope of the optical sensor.

A tissue guard includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen therethrough. A plurality of torsion springs is included, each torsion spring having a first leg and a second leg and a spring defined therebetween. The first leg of each torsion spring is operably engaged to the distal end of the elongated body. Two or more petals extend from the distal end of the elongated body, each petal is operably engaged to the second leg of one of the torsion springs. The petals are movable between a first, compressed configuration wherein the petals are compressed relative to one another against the bias of the plurality of torsion springs to facilitate insertion of the tissue guard within an access device or natural orifice and a second, expanded configuration to facilitate engagement of the petals beneath the access device or within the natural orifical to secure the tissue guard therein.

An operative cannula includes an elongate shaft that includes a wall structure and a channel extending along the wall structure. The wall structure defines an interior pocket sized to receive a tubular member and is configured to grasp the tubular member when the tubular member is disposed within the interior pocket. The channel is configured to allow passage of an instrument from a proximal end region of the elongate shaft through a distal end region of the elongate shaft.

A medical device may include a plurality of links reciprocally movable between a loose configuration having a first rigidity and a compact configuration having a second rigidity greater than the first rigidity, wherein application of a force to a distalmost link of the plurality of links when the plurality of links are in the loose configuration causes the plurality of links to change orientation relative to one another, and application of the force to the distalmost link when the plurality of links are in the compact configuration does not cause the plurality of links to change orientation relative to one another.

Example embodiments relate to surgical devices, systems, and methods. The system may include a port assembly and instrument arm assembly. The port assembly may have first and second end sections. The first end section may include a first end channel and first gate assembly. The second end section may include a second end channel, second gate assembly, and anchor port. The first and second gate assemblies may be configurable to transition between an open position to allow access through the first and second end channels, respectively, and a closed position to prevent access to same. The instrument arm assembly may include a shoulder section securable to the anchor port, first arm section secured to the shoulder section, elbow section secured to the first arm section, second arm section secured to the elbow section, wrist section secured to the second arm section, and end effector section secured to the wrist section.

A surgical access assembly includes a cannula, a valve housing attached to the cannula, and a valve assembly positioned in the valve housing. The valve assembly includes a centering mechanism with a hoop and fingers, a ring with a flange at one end of the ring, a retainer having first and second discs, a guard having a frame and flaps attached to the frame, and a seal with petals attached to a support. The guard is at least partially disposed in the first disc and the seal is at least partially disposed in the second disc.

A medical device for use during a gynecological procedure includes a main body, an attachment rim disposed at a first end of the main body, and a valve securing element disposed at a second end of the main body. A valve is disposed between the main body and the valve securing element.

Systems and methods for preventing the seeding of cancerous cells during morcellation of a tissue specimen inside a patient's body and removal of the tissue specimen from inside the patient through a minimally-invasive body opening to outside the patient are provided. One system includes a cut-resistant tissue guard removably insertable into a containment bag. The tissue specimen is isolated and contained within the containment bag and the guard is configured to protect the containment bag and surrounding tissue from incidental contact with sharp instrumentation used during morcellation and extraction of the tissue specimen. The guard is adjustable for easy insertion and removal and configured to securely anchor to the body opening. Protection-focused and containment-based systems for tissue removal are provided that enable minimally invasive procedures to be performed safely and efficiently.

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.