Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for articulating medical instruments. In one aspect, the instrument includes a wrist having at least two degrees of freedom of movement, and an end effector coupled to the wrist. The end effector can include an upper jaw, a lower jaw, and a firing mechanism configured to form staples in tissue. Actuation of the firing mechanism can be decoupled from the movement of the wrist in the at least two degrees of freedom.

A pad assembly, system and method of securing a patient onto an operating table when the patient is in the Trendelenburg position. The pad assembly and system is used to support and hold a patient on a medical procedure table during a medical procedure performed while the table, and thus the patient lying thereon, is in an inclined position, such as the Trendelenburg position. The pad assembly and system has characteristics which promote improved securing to eliminate shifting and/or sliding due to gravitational forces when the patient's body is in the Trendelenburg position, as well as promote a secure holding of the patient in a desired position on the table, in order to minimize injury to the patient. The pad assembly and system further has improved channels to allow for drainage of fluids that may otherwise be trapped between the patient's body and the OR Table during the surgical procedure.

A device comprises a base. A support is attached to the base. The support is shaped to receive a calf of a person and adapted to receive a wire or pin for securing a tibia of a person. A foot plate is attachable to the base. The foot plate has a plurality of attached members. The members are configured for receiving at least a first wire or pin to fix a foot of the person relative to the foot plate while the foot plate is oriented normal to a superior-inferior direction of the foot. The foot plate is rotatable relative to the base while the foot plate is attached to the base.

Support pad assemblies and person support apparatuses are disclosed. A person support apparatus includes a base frame, a longitudinal frame coupled to the base frame, and a support deck supported on the longitudinal frame. The longitudinal frame extends in a longitudinal direction and the support deck is adjustable from a planar configuration to a concave configuration or a convex configuration.

A medical head holder includes at least two opposing engagement members configured to engage the head of a patient, a frame, connector and coupling members, and a force applicator. The frame includes first and second frame sections which are displaceably coupled with each other, wherein each frame section supports at least one of the engagement members. The connecting member guides the first and second frame sections for displacement relative to each other, and selectively detachably fixes the frame sections with each other. The coupling member is selectively fixed to the second frame section and displaceably couples the second engagement member with the second frame section. The force applicator is detachably coupled to the second frame section and acts on the coupling member so as to cause the second engagement member to be displaced and/or fixed relative to the second frame section.

According to the present disclosure, a patient support device includes a patient support top, a support bracket, and a catch assembly that is slidably attached to the support bracket and that is operable to receive a connector of the patient support top.

The present invention relates to a head support for supporting a patient's head while the patient is in a prone position. The head support comprises a body of compliant material whose shape provides a forehead support region, at least one further support region for supporting a lower portion of the patient's face, and a void which accommodates the patient's eyes, nose and mouth in use. According to one aspect of the invention, a viewing opening is provided which faces laterally and provides in use a line of sight from the exterior of the head support into the void, the viewing opening having a periphery which is an unbroken loop.

A surgical frame and method for use thereof is provided. The surgical frame is capable of reconfiguration before, during, or after surgery. The surgical frame includes a translating beam that is moveable between at least a first lateral position and a second lateral position. The translating beam is used to join a first support portion and a second support portion of the surgical frame to one another, and movement of the translating beam affords access to a patient receiving area.

The present inventive subject matter describes a device and system for positioning, adjusting, and stretching a patient's extremity for surgical procedures where alignment is critical and minute adjustments may be required repeatedly. The device helps in maintaining the patient's extremity stationary, once the physician has selected the precise position for the elected procedure. The device uses using a combination of an articulating and a rotating frame, support plates and support rings that are attached to the extremity surgical positioning system. The system acts as a limb splint that is firmly attached to the surgical table. The support plates are attached to the patient via a series of adjustable straps preventing the extremity from moving independently of the support plate. A locking rack and gear configuration has adjustable locking pivot points that are positioned along and within the outer/inner proximal tube and outer/inner distal tube that lengthens or rotates various portions of the extremity.