A staple cartridge comprising staples with different unformed heights is disclosed.

The invention involves a system and method for quickly retracting a tool from a surgical site. The system is generally constructed and arranged for attachment to a robotic arm for manipulation of the tool to perform an in-vivo surgery. The tool is constructed to retract from the surgical site upon a predetermined condition. The system and the robot can be reset when the condition has cleared so that the surgery can continue.

A sleeve for enforcing the end of a hollow organ so that it can be connected with a further end of a hollow organ, the sleeve comprising a cylindrical shape and being configured to be pushed over the end of the hollow organ and for turning-over the end of the hollow organ projecting from the sleeve around an end of the sleeve, wherein the sleeve has an adjustable diameter.

A medical securing device for securing an object with a securing member into a tissue comprises an elongated sheath comprising proximal and distal ends, and a securing member introduction device having proximal and distal ends, said distal end being configured to extend from the sheath. The medical securing device comprises also a guiding trail. At least one point of the securing member introduction device is configured to travel along said first guiding trail and thereby control a defined movement of the distal end of said securing member introduction device when extending from the sheath and so to introduce the securing member to the object and to secure said object to the tissue with the securing member.

A device for suturing tissue includes a handle including a housing and a suturing needle for advancing a suture through the tissue. The device also includes a first needle gripper that is configured to both grasp and release the suturing needle. A second needle gripper is also configured to both grasp and release the suturing needle. An actuator is coupled to the housing and is operatively coupled to: (a) a first linkage that pivots the second gripping gripper between a fully extended position and a retracted position relative to the housing; and (b) a second linkage that is operatively coupled to the first and second needle grippers and configured to alter a state of each of the first and second needle grippers. The second linkage can include a one-way clutch.

A device that, when implanted in the heart, closes the wound and complies with wall motion (i.e., expands and contracts with the myocardium).

A surgical instrument for stapling the tissue of a patient is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a shaft and an end effector. The end effector comprises a staple cartridge body including staple cavities defined therein, staples removably positioned in the staple cavities, an anvil configured to deform the staples, and a knife configured to cut tissue positioned intermediate the staple cartridge body and the anvil. The surgical instrument further comprises a staple drive system configured to eject the staples from the staple cavities and a knife drive system configured to move the knife relative to the staple cartridge body independently of the staple drive system.

A device for dilating an ostium of a paranasal sinus of a human or animal subject may include: a handle; an elongate shaft having a proximal end coupled with the handle and extending to a distal end; a guidewire disposed through at least a portion of the shaft lumen; a dilator having a non-expanded configuration and an expanded configuration; and a slide member coupled with at least one of the guidewire or the dilator through the longitudinal opening of the shaft for advancing the guidewire and/or the dilator relative to the shaft.

A number of surgical procedures, particularly orthopaedic procedures, involve manual percussion, typically mallet-applied. As discussed in detail herein, such procedures can be problematic as they not only require a second set of hands but are often associated with incomplete and/or uncontrolled axial movement and/or injury to the surgeon's hands. Described herein are specialized hand-held devices, as well as systems, kits, and methods associated therewith, that avoid such problems by joining or replacing the external mallet with an internal hammer that can automate the delivery of controlled repetitive strikes, more particularly repeated strikes to a proximal end of a drill, driver and/or insertion device, so as to mete out pre-determined incremental movement to a distal end component, such as a sharpened socket-forming tip, an interference-plug type suture anchor, or a dilating device for modifying the cross-section of a tunnel formed in a bone. The present invention has particular utility in connection with ligament, tendon and joint reconstruction procedures, such as shoulder, ankle, and knee repair. The present invention is also applicable to those surgical procedures that require the production of and access to off-axis bone sockets.

A system for performing a medical procedure includes an articulating probe including inner and outer sleeves, and a surgical tool including a functional element positioned at a distal end of a tool shaft, the tool shaft having an articulation region. The articulating probe and the surgical tool are independently controllable.