A pressure sensing balloon retractor for use in brain surgery to avoid mechanical injury to brain tissues. The balloon retractor includes an inflatable balloon that can be inserted in-between brain tissues to increase accessibility during surgery. A pressure transducer connected to a microcontroller senses the pressure of the retractor, and this retractor pressure is compared to the patient’s mean arterial pressure derived from a blood pressure monitor in order to determine whether the pressure exceeds the threshold for brain injury. A load cell can be used to calibrate the microcontroller to remove the effect of elastic pressure on the pressure transducer’s measurements.

A tissue displacing and fastening device is provided for manipulating and fastening tissue together. The device includes a tissue displacing elements, which displaces tissue. A fold is formed from the displaced tissue and the tissue is fastened together to secure the fold.

Apparatus and devices for percutaneously extending an existing spinal construct ipsilaterally with an additional spinal construct in a patient are disclosed. The additional spinal construct comprises a rod connector that includes an elongate additional rod integrally attached thereto. The additional rod is placed through an access port in a first orientation generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the access port and rotated to a different second orientation generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the access port. During such rotation the additional rod is moved subcutaneously beneath the skin of the patient from the existing spinal rod to an additional bone engaging implant. In another arrangement, the extension of an existing spinal construct in a minimally invasive procedure comprises a rod connector having an offset support for receiving an additional spinal rod that may be placed laterally interiorly or exteriorly of the existing spinal construct.

Certain embodiments provide a cannula system with a retention mechanism comprising a cannula, a hub coupled to the cannula, wherein a distal end of the cannula is configured to be inserted into a body part up to the hub, and a retention mechanism configured to create resistance for retaining the cannula inside the body part in response to force exerted on the cannula for pulling the cannula out of the body part. The retention mechanism may include retention elements coupled to a bottom surface of the hub, and by rotating the hub in a first direction, the one or more retention elements that are parallel to a surface of the body part are configured to penetrate the body part. In other embodiments, the retention mechanism may include halfpipe elements that pivot on fulcrum points to hold or release the hub and cannula from the body part.

The invention involves a retraction distraction blade system suitable for use with retractor and distractor tools for the implantation of intervertebral implants into the spine area of an animal, particularly humans. The retractor distractor blade includes structures for attaching the blade to a retractor or distractor tool to provide visual access to a surgical site. The blade is provided with a threaded member connected to a flexible lasso for securement around a portion of a pedicle screw or bone screw. Once the lasso is secured to the pedicle screw, the retractor is prevented from moving out of the surgical site. Operation of the distractor or retractor tool can then be utilized to provide distraction to the spinal vertebrae for implant insertion or spinal alignment. Once the procedure is sufficiently complete, the lasso can be removed from the pedicle screws.

A valve component 1 of the invention comprises a main valve 2 which is located on a centre line and at least one auxiliary valve 3 which is located radially outwardly of the main valve 2. The main valve may be used for sealing engagement with a cannula. In some cases the cannula may be used for introduction of a number of robotically controlled surgical instruments generally, including a camera. The auxiliary valves 3 may be utilised to introduce another instrument through the valve component. The valve component is mounted in a manner which ensures that the valve component 1 is rotatable about a centre line through the axis of the valve component 1. This ensures that the valve component 1 can be rotated relative to a cannula inserted through the main valve 2 and consequently that the auxiliary valves 3 are rotatable relative to the cannula allowing the auxiliary valves 3 to be positioned to facilitate optimum access and manipulation for an auxiliary instrument(s) inserted through the auxiliary valve(s) 2.

A retractor/protector suitable for use in a surgical incision or a natural orifice comprises a longitudinal axis defining an instrument access channel extending from a proximal end to a distal end; a flexible outer ring; an inner ring; a flexible sheath extending between the outer ring and the inner ring; and at least one rigid segment adapted to attach to the flexible outer ring to thereby increase the rigidity of the outer ring. Embodiments of the retractor/protector are described that have interlocking and non-interlocking rigid segments. Embodiments are also described that have bases that insert into or under the flexible outer ring in addition to or in lieu of rigid segments to increase rigidity and/or provide support for a detachable cap.

Systems and methods for preventing the seeding of cancerous cells during morcellation of a tissue specimen inside a patient's body and removal of the tissue specimen from inside the patient through a minimally-invasive body opening to outside the patient are provided. One system includes a cut-resistant tissue guard removably insertable into a containment bag. The tissue specimen is isolated and contained within the containment bag and the guard is configured to protect the containment bag and surrounding tissue from incidental contact with sharp instrumentation used during morcellation and extraction of the tissue specimen. The guard is adjustable for easy insertion and removal and configured to securely anchor to the body opening. Protection-focused and containment-based systems for tissue removal are provided that enable minimally invasive procedures to be performed safely and efficiently.

A system for harvesting a tendon graft is disclosed, including a retractor, a guide and a harvesting tool. The retractor is collapsible and upon release, becomes self-supporting to hold open an anatomic space developed in a patient above the tendon. A guide assembles with the retractor to orient a guide shaft along the retractor and thereby the anatomic space. The harvesting tool includes a working end with a blade edge for cutting into the tendon. The harvesting tool defines a contoured surface for engaging and translating along the guide shaft while assembled to the retractor. The guide shaft and contoured surface limit the trajectory and translation extent of the harvesting tool along and into the tendon.

A complete removal and reinsertion of instruments is avoided when the instruments are initially not correctly positioned during a minimally invasive operation on a bone, in particular a vertebra of the spine. This aim is achieved by an instrument set for spinal operations, including a guide rod, which has a cavity extending along the axis of the guide rod, and a guide tube, which can be received in the cavity of the guide rod, wherein the guide rod has a distal lip, which is arranged eccentrically to the cavity and/or to a center axis of the guide rod.