A visual insufflation obturator is provided. The obturator includes seals, valves, screens and/or various other tip features to eliminate the ingress of fluids, matter and/or gas that can disrupt the visual field of the laparoscope disposed within the obturator. The obturator provides additional features such as lens and anti-fog features to further increase visibility of the scope, efficiently insufflate the patient and ultimately provide an access channel into the insufflated abdomen once the visual insufflation obturator is removed.

A delicate tissue retraction system for use with a navigation probe having a probe shaft and a probe tip at a distal end of the probe shaft. The delicate tissue retraction system includes a retractor and an introducer that is removably installed within the retractor. The introducer has a wall forming a hollow channel extending from a proximal introducer end to a distal introducer end. A mount is integrally formed with the introducer and extends from the distal introducer end into the channel. The mount is positioned to surround the probe tip when the navigation probe is at a fully inserted position within the introducer with the probe tip at the distal introducer end.

An endoscope and related method comprise a proximal handle and a distal shaft having an insertion end. A housing comprising a camera assembly may be mounted on an insertion end of the shaft and include at least one lens and an image sensor. The camera assembly housing is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the long axis of the shaft, giving the camera assembly a variable field of view. The rotatable camera assembly housing may be mounted to the insertion end of the shaft so that the rotatable housing of the camera assembly comprises the distal-most element of the endoscope shaft or insertion end. The endoscope may include a circuit board having a first portion disposed within the proximal handle and one or more extension portions that extend within the shaft to the camera assembly and/or to a light source near the distal end of the shaft. At least one light emitter may be mounted on the insertion end of the shaft and configured to project light in a direction either toward or away from the field of view of the camera assembly. The light emitter may also be mounted on the camera assembly housing to direct light toward the field of view of the camera assembly. Power and communication lines can be co-located within a lumen of the shaft of the endoscope used for fluid irrigation or suction.

An improved transparent bladeless obturator includes a proximal handle, a distal-end portion and a shaft therebetween, the handle and the shaft including a generally-aligned axis aperture, the distal-end portion including a transparent tip, from the distal end to the proximal end, the transparent tip divided into a top-portion, a spear-portion, a transition-portion and a base-portion; the top-portion includes an apex and a rotary-wall extending axially from the apex to the proximal end and gradually increasing in a transverse direction, the rotary-wall limiting a hollow cone; the main-portion including a main-body wall, the rotary-wall and the main-body wall extend to be intersected and form a circular field of vision; the sweeping-wall extends axially from the distal end to the proximal end and gradually increases in a transverse direction; and the spear-portion includes the first transverse-portion and the second transverse-portion.

A surgical access system includes a clip, a cannula, and an obturator. The clip includes a first housing half and a second housing half. The first and second housing halves have first end portions pivotably coupled together and second end portions having respective first and second fastener portions. The clip is movable between an open position in which the second end portions are spaced apart from each other and a closed position in which the first and second fastener portions of the second end portions are engaged with each other. The cannula and the obturator are retained between the first and second housing halves when the clip is in the closed position.

A surgical access assembly and method of use is disclosed. The surgical access assembly comprises an outer sheath and an obturator. The outer sheath and obturator are configured to be delivered to an area of interest within the brain. Either the outer sheath or the obturator may be configured to operate with a navigational system to track the location of either within the brain. Once positioned at a desired location, the obturator is removed, leaving a distal end of the outer sheath adjacent an area of interest, and creating a working corridor. Interrogation of the area of interest may be performed to evaluate a disorder and/or abnormality, as well as evaluate treatment regimes. Interventional devices may also be introduced to the area of interest, as well as a variety of treatments.

The present invention provides minimally invasive subdural evacuating systems and methods of use thereof. The subdural evacuating systems include a cutting component and a rod component, wherein the rod component provides an external physical indicator that the surface of the dura mater has been reached, permitting the cutting component to accurately pierce the dura mater with minimal to no risk of damaging any adjacent anatomy.

The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein the cutting member is relatively movable with respect to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, one of the anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot which is configured to receive at least a portion of the cutting member and guide the cutting member as it is moved relative to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In these embodiments, the slot can define a path having linear and/or curved portions. In various embodiments, the path can include a curved portion having a first portion that extends away from the shaft axis and a second portion that extends toward the axis. In one embodiment, the path can include a curved portion defined by an arc corresponding to an angle greater than 90 degrees.

A transseptal puncture system that includes a needle member that includes a distal end, a proximal end and defines a first lumen therethrough, a dilator that includes a distal end, a proximal end and defines a second lumen therethrough, a sheath that includes a distal end, a proximal end and defines a third lumen therethrough, a needle control device that is configured to move the needle member a predetermined distance from a stowed position to a deployed position and a guidewire that includes a distal end and a proximal end and is movable within the first lumen. The needle member is movable within the second lumen and the distal end of the needle member is configured to puncture the septum. The dilator is movable within the third lumen.

An endoscope has a pannable camera at the distal end of its insertion shaft, the pannable camera assembly being pivotable to provide a range of a field of view that can be equal to or greater than 180 degrees. A terminal light emitting element may be mounted to the camera assembly in order to illuminate the immediate field of view of the camera sensor regardless of the rotational position of the camera assembly. A fluid-carrying conduit of the insertion section may also be used to house functional components, including the camera assembly, actuation cables, a communications cable connected to the camera sensor, and/or a fiberoptic cable providing light to the light emitting element. A distal section of the endoscope handle may be rotatable relative to a proximal handheld section of the endo scope handle, a rotary encoder being provided to convert the rotational position of the insertion shaft relative to the handle into a signal for the purpose of image orientation correction by an electronic processor.