A method of ultrasonic sealing includes activating an ultrasonic blade temperature sensing, measuring a first resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system that includes a transducer coupled to the blade via a waveguide, making a first comparison between the measured first resonant frequency and a first predetermined resonant frequency, and adjusting a power level applied to the transducer based on the first comparison. The first predetermined frequency may correspond to an optimal tissue coagulation temperature. The method may further include measuring a second resonant frequency of the system, making a second comparison between the measured second frequency and a second predetermined frequency, and adjusting the power level based on the second comparison. The second predetermined frequency may correspond a melting point temperature of a clamp arm pad. An ultrasonic instrument and a generator may implement the method.

A catheter assembly including, in some embodiments, a sonic connector at a proximal end of a core wire, a damping mechanism around a proximal end portion of the core wire, and a heat sink connected to the damping mechanism. The sonic connector is configured to couple to an ultrasound-producing mechanism and transmit vibrational energy to the proximal end of the core wire, which core wire includes a distal end portion configured to modify intravascular lesions. The damping mechanism includes a gasket system around the proximal end portion of the core wire in a damping-mechanism bore of the catheter assembly. The damping mechanism is configured to damp the vibrational energy. A system including, in some embodiments, the catheter assembly and the ultrasound-producing mechanism is also disclosed.

A loading unit includes a shell assembly, a lock collar, and a release collar. The shell assembly has a coupling ring that defines a lock slot and a proximal opening configured to receive a distal end portion of a surgical instrument. The lock collar is disposed about the coupling ring and has a radially extending lock that is configured to be received within the lock slot. The lock collar is transitionable between a locked configuration in which the lock is positioned within the lock slot and an unlocked configuration in which the lock is lifted from within the lock slot. The release collar is disposed about the coupling ring proximal of the lock collar and is transitionable between an unactuated position and an actuated position. The release collar transitioning the lock collar to the unlocked configuration as the release collar is translated from the unactutated position towards the actuated position.

A surgical retractor for retracting body tissue in a therapeutic procedure includes a blade having a body portion and a plurality of elongate elements extending from the body portion. The plurality of elongate elements is separated a distance from one another along a length of the body portion and form one or more gaps therebetween. The plurality of elongate elements is connected by one or more cross connectors transverse to the plurality of elongate elements. The retractor blade is configured to permit movement of a lung being retracted.

An endoscopic reposable surgical clip applier is provided and includes a handle assembly and an endoscopic assembly. The endoscopic assembly is selectively connectable to and in mechanical communication with the handle assembly and includes a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes a pair of jaws pivotably and fixedly supported in, and extending from a distal portion of the shaft assembly, a spindle assembly supported within the endoscopic assembly, and a lockout mechanism fixedly supported on the pair of jaws. A distal end of the spindle is operatively engaged with the pair of jaws to effectuate an opening and a closing of the pair of jaws upon an axial translation of the spindle. The lockout mechanism is in selective engagement with the spindle and includes a first position that enables distal advancement of the spindle and a second position that inhibits distal advancement of the spindle.

A cannula assembly for use in robotic surgery is disclosed that includes a robotic cannula having a housing with an open end and a tubular portion extending distally from the housing, the tubular portion being dimensioned to accommodate passage of a surgical instrument having a 12 mm diameter, an adapter assembly configured for engagement within the open end of the cannula housing and including a tubular body with a passage supporting a primary seal dimensioned to accommodate passage of a surgical instrument having a 12 mm diameter, and an insert tube dimensioned to extend through the passage of the body portion of the adapter assembly and the tubular portion of the robotic cannula, the insert tube including a head portion with a passage supporting a secondary seal dimensioned to accommodate a surgical instrument having an 8 mm diameter.

A teleoperable medical system comprises a manipulator arm and a cannula mount coupled to the manipulator arm. The manipulator arm comprises an interface configured to operably couple with a medical instrument. The cannula mount is configured to removably mount a cannula to the manipulator arm in a position to permit removable insertion of the medical instrument through the cannula. The cannula mount comprises a receptacle configured to receive an attachment portion of the cannula in a mounted state of the cannula, and a reader positioned to be in magnetic field sensing proximity to the attachment portion of the cannula in the mounted state of the cannula. The teleoperable medical system comprises a controller configured to receive output signals from the reader and determine identification information about the cannula based on the output signals.

Embodiments include devices and methods configured to fractionally resect skin and/or fat. Fractional resection is applied as a stand-alone procedure in anatomical areas that are off-limits to conventional plastic surgery due to the poor tradeoff between the visibility of the incisional scar and amount of enhancement obtained. Fractional resection is also applied as an adjunct to established plastic surgery procedures such as liposuction, and is employed to significantly reduce the length of incisions required for a particular application. The shortening of incisions has application in both the aesthetic and reconstructive realms of plastic surgery.

A system for stabilizing a cervical spine segment utilizing uncinate joint stabilization, includes a stabilizing bridge for bridging across intervertebral disc space of the cervical spine segment to mechanically couple between a pair of uncinate joint stabilizers positioned in a respective pair of uncinate joints of the cervical spine segment. A method for stabilizing a cervical spine segment utilizing uncinate joint stabilization includes (a) positioning a pair of uncinate joint stabilizers in respective uncinate joints of the cervical spine segment to stabilize the uncinate joints and thereby stabilize the cervical spine segment (b) and implanting, in intervertebral disc space of the cervical spine segment, a stabilizing bridge that mechanically couples between the uncinate joint stabilizers across intervertebral disc space of the cervical spine segment.

Disclosed herein are sealing devices configured for improving sealing functionality with an engaged extension member of an apparatus. More specifically, disclosed herein are trocar sealing devices configured for improving insufflation gas containment in relation to trocars (and/or other related type of devices) that are used for enabling a surgical instrument such, for example, a laparoscope, to gain access to an abdominal cavity (or other body cavity). By providing for such improved insufflation gas containment, sealing devices as disclosed herein are particularly advantageous, desirable and useful in view of long-standing reasons for limiting insufflation gas leakage and in view of newly recognized reasons stemming from outbreak of COVID-19 disease for limiting insufflation gas leakage.