An end effector including an elongate shaft with a lumen has an adapter at one end for coupling with a handle assembly of a surgical instrument. A support member has opposed openings defining a passage. The support member is positionable within the lumen. A trocar assembly has a sleeve and a trocar member. The trocar assembly is insertable into the passage. The sleeve includes an orifice extending through a wall of the sleeve. A pin is disposed in the elongate shaft and is slidable in a direction that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft. The pin is insertable into the orifice for retaining the trocar assembly longitudinally stationary relative to the elongate shaft that defines an inserted position of the pin. The support member includes a proximal ramp that is engageable with a head of the pin to maintain the pin in the orifice of the sleeve.

An end effector including an elongate shaft with a lumen has an adapter at one end for coupling with a handle assembly of a surgical instrument. A support member has opposed openings defining a passage. The support member is positionable within the lumen. A trocar assembly has a sleeve and a trocar member. The trocar assembly is insertable into the passage. The sleeve includes an orifice extending through a wall of the sleeve. A pin is disposed in the elongate shaft and is slidable in a direction that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft. The pin is insertable into the orifice for retaining the trocar assembly longitudinally stationary relative to the elongate shaft that defines an inserted position of the pin. The support member includes a proximal ramp that is engageable with a head of the pin to maintain the pin in the orifice of the sleeve.

Medical devices are disclosed. For example, a medical device includes an elongated member. The medical device includes a hole forming surface along a portion of the elongated member. The medical device includes an open cell element in physical communication with the elongated member. The open cell element is configured to house at least a first portion of a biocompatible substance.

Snoring and sleep apnea are conditions associated with a narrowing of the airway. A device (10) and a method for piercing a soft tissue channel in the pharynx and an implant for insertion into this soft tissue channel are disclosed, with which these symptoms can be treated. The device according to the invention comprises a handle (12) and a blade (11) with a tip (16), which are connected to each other via an interface (13). In this process, a channel is pierced through the device (10), the shape of which is designed in connection with the shape of the implant in such a way that the narrowing of the airways is optimally treated.

A posterior spinal fusion system may include a plurality of cannulas that mate with cages polyaxially coupled to pedicle screws. The cannulas maintain access to the pedicle screws to facilitate percutaneous insertion of a fusion rod into engagement with the cages. Each cannula has a pair of blades that may be held together by an abutment member that at least partially encircles the blades. Each abutment member abuts the skin to define a variable subcutaneous length of the corresponding cannula. Each abutment members is also lockably removable from the corresponding blades to enable the blades to pivot with respect to the connecting element to a position in which they can be withdrawn from the connecting element. The blades of each cannula are spaced apart to provide first and second slots of each cannula, through which the fusion rod can be percutaneously inserted.

A device for treating orthopaedic trauma includes a device body having an exterior surface and a cannulation formed therein that extends from one longitudinal end of the device body to an opposite longitudinal end of the device body and at least one porous ingrowth material region associated with the exterior surface of the device body and fluidly coupled to the cannulation. The at least one porous ingrowth material region is configured to deliver a therapeutic agent from the cannulation to a region outside the device body.

Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, including methods and apparatus for dilating ostia, passageways and other anatomical structures, endoscopic methods and apparatus for endoscopic visualization of structures within the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, navigation devices for use in conjunction with image guidance or navigation system and hand held devices having pistol type grips and other handpieces.

A device that uses an anatomic landmark or fiduciary point to establish a point of origin for device orientation in space is provided. The device controls the direction and depth of delivery of a needle, wire, trocar or cannula utilized for diagnostic or therapeutic intervention. The device guides the percutaneous delivery of a needle, wire, trocar or cannula to a target spatial location on or within tissue.

Devices and methods for the treatment of chronic total occlusions are provided. One disclosed embodiment comprises a method of facilitating treatment via a vascular wall defining a vascular lumen containing an occlusion therein. The method includes inserting an intramural crossing device into the vascular lumen, positioning at least the distal tip of the crossing device in the vascular wall, advancing an orienting device over the crossing device such that an orienting element of the orienting device resides in the vascular wall, inserting a reentry device, and re-entering the true vascular lumen.

An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle that includes an elongated body and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator disposed on and slideable along the elongated body of the needle and a medical article. The medical article is disposed on and slideable along the dilator. A track extends in a proximal direction from the dilator. The needle hub slides along at least a portion of the track between a first position and a second position. The device further includes a locking mechanism operably disposed between the track and the needle hub so as to inhibit further axial movement of the needle in the proximal direction when the needle hub is in the second position.