Example embodiments relate to surgical systems having end-effector assembly, first and second arm assemblies, and elbow joint assembly. End-effector assembly includes instrument assembly and wrist assembly. Instrument assembly includes a first instrument. First arm assembly includes a body, first and second instrument drive assemblies, wrist drive assembly, and first arm drive assembly. First instrument drive assembly is configurable to move first instrument relative to first axis. Wrist drive assembly is configurable to move instrument assembly relative second axis. First arm drive assembly is configurable to rotate end-effector assembly relative to third axis. Elbow joint assembly includes elbow pitch joint portion configurable to be driven to move first arm assembly relative to fourth axis. Elbow joint assembly also includes elbow sway joint portion configurable to be driven to move first arm assembly relative to fifth axis.

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; a funnel segment extending between and coupling the outer ring and the tubular body, wherein the funnel segment provides a diametric reduction between the relatively large diameter of the outer ring and the relatively smaller diameter of the tubular body, which is sized to fit within a natural orifice with minimal distention of the orifice; and an inflatable member disposed around the distal end of the tubular body, the inflatable member sized and configured to fit snugly around the tubular body in the deflated condition and to expand against the wall of the natural orifice in the inflated state to thereby stabilize and retain the retractor within the orifice.

Improved methods and devices for performing an endoscopic surgery are provided. Systems are taught for operatively treating gastrointestinal disorders endoscopically in a stable, yet dynamic operative environment, and in a minimally-invasive manner. Such systems include, for example, an endoscopic surgical suite. The surgical suite can have a reversibly-expandable retractor that expands to provide a stable, operative environment within a subject. The expansion can be asymmetric around a stabilizer subsystem to maximize space for a tool and an endoscope to each be maneuvered independently to visualize a target tissue and treat the target tissue from outside the patient in a minimally invasive manner.

A ligation device for treating hemorrhoids includes a locking mechanism. The ligation device includes an inner tubular member having a first end, a second end, and a protrusion on an outer surface. The first end includes a first opening and the second end includes a second opening. Further, the ligation device includes an outer tubular member having an inner configuration corresponding to that of the inner tubular member. The outer tubular member including a notch such that a reception of the protrusion of the inner tubular member by a first portion of the notch of the outer tubular member allows vertical movement of the outer tubular member and a reception of the protrusion of the inner tubular member by a second portion of the notch of the outer tubular member prevents vertical movement of the outer tubular member towards the first end of the inner tubular member.

Exemplary embodiments of devices and method for affecting at least one anatomical tissue can be provided. A configuration can be provided that includes a structure which is expandable (i) having and/or (ii) forming at least one opening or a working space through which the anatomical tissue(s) is placed in the structure. For example, the structure, prior to being expanding, can have at least one partially rigid portion. In addition, or as an alternative, upon a partial or complete expansion thereof, the structure can be controllable to have a plurality of shapes. Further, the structure can be controllable to provide the working space with multiple shapes and/or multiple sizes.

A medical device to protect a body opening, the medical device including a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end a proximal ring attached to the proximal end of the sleeve, and a guard assembly located a distal end of the sleeve.

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.

A surgical instrument includes a hollow member having a sidewall provided with a window and a closure member movably connected to the hollow member for alternately covering and uncovering the window. The hollow member has a first clamping surface along an edge of the window, while the closure member has a second clamping surface opposing the first clamping surface and disposable substantially adjacent thereto in a clamping or closure configuration of the instrument. The instrument additionally comprises a tissue occlusion component mounted to at least one of the hollow member and the closure member for acting on tissues gripped between the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface, to couple the tissues to each other.

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.

Trocar components and methods of use are described, wherein the trocar components are configured to provide access to intraperitoneal space via the rectouterine pouch to surgical tools, which optionally include one or more surgical robot members. The surgical tools are optionally 5 mm or more in diameter. In some embodiments, a cannula part has a lumen sized to provide to a plurality of the surgical tools simultaneous transvaginal access to the intraperitoneal space via the rectouterine pouch. In some embodiments, an incision sized to receive a distal aperture of the cannula is created, optionally using one or two dilators. The dilators are sized to create (optionally starting from a puncture by a needle 2 mm in diameter or less) an oblong aperture. In some embodiments, the oblong aperture is at least twice as wide across a long diameter as across a short diameter.