A jaw member for use with a surgical instrument includes a support base, a jaw liner, and a jaw overmold. The support base has a proximal portion configured to be pivotably coupled to a surgical instrument, and a distal portion. The support base defines a channel that extends longitudinally between the proximal and distal portions and an aperture disposed in communication with the channel. The jaw liner includes an elongate body configured for receipt in the channel of the support base, and a projection extending from the elongate body and configured for receipt in the aperture of the support base. The jaw overmold overlaps at least a portion of the support base and the jaw liner to fix the jaw liner to the support base.

A single-use handle is configured to attach to a working shaft that can support a sounder for measuring the medullary canal of a proximal radius, and a planarizer that is configured to planarize a proximal edge of the proximal radius after the proximal radius has been resected. The handle can further include a plurality of sizing cavities that are configured to receive the resected bone so as to determine the size of the resected bone. The handle can further include an ejector that is configured to decouple the planarizer from the working shaft.

The invention discloses an improved wedging cage within the sacroiliac (SI) joint and fixation screw(s). The wedging cage is adapted to be positioned between the sacrum and the lilac bone (e.g., the sacroiliac joint), and the wedging cage is effective to receive one or more fixation or axial screws to fasten the wedging cage and secure the wedging cage to the adjacent pelvic bones to provide a combination effect of fusion and/or fixation. Accordingly, the improved fixation screw assemblies promote flexibility and adaptability due to the adjustable head being movable to a locked and unlocked position relative to the screw body when implanted onto a substrate.

Surgical visualization systems and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for providing visualization during surgical procedures. Systems and methods herein can be used in a wide range of surgical procedures, including spinal surgeries such as minimally-invasive fusion or discectomy procedures. Systems and methods herein can include various features for enhancing end user experience, improving clinical outcomes, or reducing the invasiveness of a surgery. Exemplary features can include access port integration, hands-free operation, active and/or passive lens cleaning, adjustable camera depth, and many others.

Disclosed herein are ultrasound transducers that are selectively insulated to thereby enable the transducers to be exposed to an electrically conductive fluid without causing a short circuit between electrodes of the transducers. Such a transducer includes a piezoelectric transducer body having a first surface and a second surface that are spaced apart from one another and do not intersect with one another. The ultrasound transducer also includes a first electrode disposed on the first surface, a second electrode disposed on the second surface, and an electrical insulator covering only one of first and second electrodes and configured to inhibit electrical conduction between the first electrode and the second electrode when the ultrasound transducer is placed within an electrically conductive fluid. Also disclosed are apparatuses and systems that include such a transducer. Related methods are also disclosed herein.

A tool has a handle and an elongate shaft that extends distally from the handle. A distal portion of the shaft is inserted into a subject during a surgical procedure. An optical fiber delivers laser energy to a tip at the distal portion of the shaft. The tip includes a mechanical cutting mechanism including a moving part that absorbs the laser energy, thermally conducts the absorbed energy to tissue that is disposed between the moving part and another part, and moves with respect to the other part in order to cut tissue that is disposed between the parts using a mechanical force that is lower than a mechanical force that would be required to cut the tissue in the absence of the laser energy. Other embodiments are also described.

A suture having a contoured surface may include a plurality of first ends having a first diameter and a plurality of second ends having a second diameter. The first and second ends may be braided together, wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter to form the contoured surface. The first ends and the second ends may braided into a flat braid. In some embodiments, the first ends may comprise a material having a greater coefficient of friction than the second end. A method of securing first and second suture segments is also provided.

A medical device configured to perform an endovascular therapy can include an elongate manipulation member and an intervention member. The elongate manipulation member can include a distal end portion. The intervention member can include a proximal end portion and a mesh. The proximal end portion can be coupled with the distal end portion of the elongate manipulation member. The mesh can have a plurality of cells in a tubular configuration and being compressible to a collapsed configuration for delivery to an endovascular treatment site through a catheter and being self-expandable from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. The mesh can include an anodic metal and a cathodic metal. The anodic metal and the cathodic metal can each form a fraction of a total surface area of the mesh.

The fusion device for fusing a synovial joint of a human or animal patient, in particular a human facet joint, finger joint or toe joint, includes two pin-shaped anchorage portions and arranged therebetween a stabilization portion. The anchorage portions include a thermoplastic material which is liquefiable by mechanical vibration. The stabilization portion preferably has a surface which is equipped for enhancing osseointegration. The anchorage portions have a greater thickness and a greater depth than the stabilization portion. Then the fusion device is pushed between the articular surfaces and mechanical vibration, in particular ultrasonic vibration, is applied to the proximal face of the fusion device. Thereby the liquefiable material is liquefied where in contact with the bone tissue and penetrates into the bone tissue, where after re-solidification it constitutes a positive fit connection between the fusion device and the bone tissue.

A surgical instrument includes a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency. An ultrasonic end effector extends along a longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. The ultrasonic end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade and a clamping mechanism. A controller receives a feedback signal from the ultrasonic end effector and the feedback signal is measured by the controller. A lumen is adapted to couple to a pump. The controller is configured to control fluid flow through the lumen based on the feedback signal, and the lumen is located within the ultrasonic end effector.