Articulation joints for use in connection with a surgical instrument that has a portion that must be passed through a trocar or similar structure and then articulated relative to another portion of the instrument received within the trocar. Various embodiments of the articulation joint include at least one flexible driven member to articulate the surgical implement relative to the handle assembly of the instrument.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a medical implant introducer (100) and methods of its use. The introducer (100) may include a handle (120), an implant-holding cavity disposed distally from the handle (120), a fluid supply conduit (122) fluidly coupled to an interior portion of the implant-holding cavity, and a distal nozzle (110) having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a middle portion in between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the middle portion having a tapered profile such that the proximal portion is larger than the distal portion, and a distal opening (112), wherein an implant in the implant-holding cavity may be expelled from the introducer (100) through the distal opening (112).

A device for retarding birth including an upper ring for surrounding a cervix, an anchoring component for anchoring the device, and an elastic component for attaching the upper ring to the anchoring component, wherein the elastic component pushes the upper ring and the anchoring component apart. A device for retarding birth including a sleeve for surrounding a cervix along a greater portion of a length of the cervix, a support strip on the sleeve directed along an axis of the sleeve, and a ring at least partially around the sleeve, in which when a top of the sleeve is pushed to expand radially, the support strip pivots on the ring, such that an end of the support strip near the top of the sleeve moves radially outward, and an end of the support strip near the bottom of the sleeve moves radially inward. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

A swivel knuckle assembly for interconnecting a motor and a supply line. The knuckle assembly may include a bearing member to reduce a coefficient of friction. A locking mechanism is disclosed to connect members of the knuckle assembly.

A medical apparatus is described for providing visualization of a surgical site. The medical apparatus includes an electronic display disposed within a display housing, the electronic display configured to produce a two-dimensional image. The medical apparatus includes a display optical system disposed within the display housing, the display optical system comprising a plurality of lens elements disposed along an optical path. The display optical system is configured to receive the two-dimensional image from the electronic display, produce a beam with a cross-section that remains substantially constant along the optical path, and produce a collimated beam exiting the opening in the display housing. The medical apparatus can also include an auxiliary video camera configured to provide an oblique view of a patient on the electronic display without requiring a surgeon to adjust their viewing angle through oculars viewing the electronic display.

An improved flexible endoscopic instrument to precisely and efficiently obtains samples of flat polyps and multiple polyps from a patient by debriding one or more polyps and retrieving the debrided polyps without having to alternate between using a separate cutting tool and a separate sample retrieving tool and may be used with an endoscope. In one aspect, the cutting tool is coupled to a flexible torque coil or torque rope that is configured to transfer rotational energy from a powered actuator through the length of the endoscope onto the cutting tool.

Articulation joints for use in connection with a surgical instrument that has a portion that must be passed through a trocar or similar structure and then articulated relative to another portion of the instrument received within the trocar. Various embodiments of the articulation joint include at least one flexible driven member to articulate the surgical implement relative to the handle assembly of the instrument.

A console is for an ophthalmic surgical system for operating a handpiece driven by a work fluid. The work fluid is supplied to a respective work chamber depending on the switching states of work valves. The valves are switched between a switched-on state and a switched-off state by a respective drive unit by respective electrical switching signals being applied to the drive units. Each valve switches from the switched-off switching state into the switched-on switching state during a switch-on time delay and switches from the switched-on state to the switched-off state during a switch-off time delay. The switching signals at least intermittently adopt the switch-on electric potential concurrently during a difference time period if the switch-on delay is longer than the switch-off delay, with a length of time of the difference period arising on the difference between the switch-on delay and the switch-off delay of the valves.

Devices and methods for delivering and deploying cardiac anchors, such as for an atrioventricular heart valve regurgitation reduction implant. An active puncturing tool integrated into an anchor deployment system more accurately insures the location of anchor deployment. One lead of an EKG system connects to a rear end of a puncturing needle which has a conductive tip. Operating the EKG system along with one or both of fluoroscopy and echocardiography systems enables accurate placement of the needle tip. Once located, one or more anchors are deployed from or around the needle. One grappling-hook style anchor has sutures in tension that hold embedded tines from withdrawing from the tissue.

Disclosed are nozzles and nozzle assemblies of liquid jet-forming surgical instruments, surgical instruments employing such nozzles and/or nozzle assemblies, and methods of fabricating the nozzle assemblies in forming surgical instruments. Also, disclosed are liquid jet-forming surgical instruments including both liquid jet-forming nozzles and optional evacuation lumens, which when provided can be configured to receive the liquid jet and evacuate the liquid forming the liquid jet. Certain embodiments of such surgical instruments include inventive nozzle alignment component(s) to facilitate alignment of the nozzles and evacuation lumen upon assembly. In certain embodiments, surgical instruments are provided that include a nozzle that is shaped to form a liquid jet, which has surfaces that are optically smooth. In certain embodiments, the nozzle has a configuration enabling the nozzle to form a liquid jet that has the ability to remain collimated over longer distances than is typically achievable with conventional liquid jet surgical instrument nozzles having the same ratio of nozzle length to minimum inner diameter of the jet opening. In certain embodiments, nozzle assemblies comprising an operative assembly of at least two subcomponents, which together provide a nozzle are provided. In certain embodiments, the at least two sub-components may comprise a nozzle-providing component, such as a nozzle ring, and a holder that is configured to retain and position the nozzle-providing component in the nozzle assembly. In certain embodiments, the nozzle-providing component can comprise a liquid flow passage having a diameter that continuously decreases along at least a portion of its length.