Methods of chest tube insertion include using an insertion device including 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 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 while suction is maintained.

Example embodiments relate to surgical systems. The system includes an end-effector assembly having an instrument. The system includes a first arm assembly. A distal end of first arm assembly is securable to the end-effector assembly. The system includes an elbow joint assembly. A distal end of elbow joint assembly is secured to a proximal end of first arm assembly. A proximal end of elbow joint assembly is secured to a distal end of second arm assembly. The second arm assembly includes a first elbow drive assembly. The first elbow drive assembly includes an integrated motor for driving the elbow joint assembly to pivotally move the first arm assembly relative to an axis. The second arm assembly also includes a second elbow drive assembly. The second elbow drive assembly includes an integrated motor for driving the elbow joint assembly to pivotally move the first arm assembly relative to another axis.

A trocar is used by inserting a distal end thereof into a body cavity of a patient. The trocar includes: an inner tube that has a center pipeline; an outer tube that is disposed so as to cover an outer periphery of the inner tube and has a front end that is positioned rearward of a front end of the inner tube; an annular channel that is formed between the inner tube and the outer tube and has an ejection port at the front end position of the outer tube; and a flow control member that is provided on the inner tube at a position forward of the front end of the outer tube and facing the ejection port, the flow control member having an inclined surface located at the rear end that slants radially outward.

Example embodiments relate to surgical systems. The surgical system includes a port assembly and instrument arm assembly. The port assembly includes a central access channel, anchoring portions, and anchor channels. The instrument arm assembly includes a shoulder section, first arm section, shoulder joint portion, elbow joint portion, second arm section, wrist section, end instrument, and instrument arm anchor segment. The instrument arm anchor segment includes an anchor body and instrument arm anchor portion. The anchor body is secured to the shoulder section. The anchor body is inserted through one of the anchor channels. The instrument arm anchor portion secures to one of the anchoring portions when the anchor body is housed in one of the anchor channels. The central access channel remains as an open access channel through the port assembly when the instrument arm anchor portion is anchored to one of the anchoring portions.

A port site closure instrument includes a pair of wings and a body having proximal, central, and distal portions. The proximal portion defines a proximal suture aperture and first and second needle apertures. The central portion defines third and fourth needle apertures. A first needle channel is defined through the body communicating the first and third needle apertures. A second needle channel is defined through the body communicating the second and fourth needle apertures. The distal portion defines distal suture apertures. A first suture channel is defined by the body communicating the proximal and distal suture apertures. The pair of wings is pivotally supported by the distal portion of the body. Each of the wings define a suture slot such that a suture exiting one of the distal suture apertures and positioned in the suture slots is aligned with one of the first or second needle channels.

A surgical access device assembly includes a cannula hub and a cannula tube. The cannula tube extends distally from the cannula hub along a longitudinal axis. The cannula tube defines a working channel. The cannula tube includes a tissue engagement feature and a balancing feature. The balancing feature is configured to promote lateral stability of the cannula tube and the cannula hub relative to the body cavity wall of the patient. The balancing feature includes a proximal portion of the cannula tube having a first wall thickness. The balancing feature also includes a distal portion of the cannula tube having a second wall thickness that is greater than the first wall thickness. At least a portion of the proximal portion is proximal relative to the tissue engagement feature. At least a portion of the distal portion is distal relative to the tissue engagement feature.

The present disclosures describe devices and methods to repair cartilage defects using arthroscopic surgical methods. The disclosed devices include a cannula assembly including a cannula body, a dam seal sub-assembly disposed proximally from the cannula body, and an obturator inserted coaxially through both the cannula body and the dam seal sub-assembly; an articulated arthroscopic cutting tool; a ring curette; a square curette; a rake curette; a matrix shuttle delivery device for delivering a cell-seeded support matrix including chondrocytes; and an applicator tool.

A method of suturing a trocar path incision in a tissue of a patient with an obturator includes inserting the obturator through the tissue such that a shaft of the obturator extends through a tissue opening about the trocar path incision and a distal tip of the obturator is positioned within a cavity of the patient. The method also includes directing the suture via a suturing feature with the obturator inserted through the tissue in order to direct the suture relative to the tissue. Furthermore, the method includes closing the tissue opening about the trocar path incision with the suture.

Medical systems, devices and methods for creation of autologous tissue valves within a mammalian body are disclosed. One example of a device for creating a valve flap from a vessel wall includes an elongate tubular structure having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a longitudinal axis; a first lumen having a first exit port located on the distal portion of the elongate tubular structure; a second lumen having a second exit port located on the distal portion of the elongate tubular structure; a recessed distal surface on the distal portion of the elongate tubular structure, wherein the recessed distal surface is located distally to the first exit port; and an open trough on the recessed distal surface extending longitudinally from the first exit port.

A device for accessing a cavity includes a tube and a trocar. The trocar extends through the tube and includes a handle, a sheath, and a tip member. The sheath is opposite the handle. The tip member is disposed in the sheath. The tip member is biased in an extension direction away from the handle. The tip member also includes an indicator indicating a position of the tip member relative to the handle.