A basket apparatus is described that assists in removing objects from within a patient. The apparatus includes a number of pull wires, each pull wire physically coupled to a different capstan that individually actuates one of the pull wires. The apparatus also includes an outer support shaft itself including a number of channels through which the pull wires traverse. The portions of the pull wires extending out of the outer support shaft form a basket of adjustable size, shape, and position. The pull wires are attached together at a tip located at a distal end of the basket apparatus. By controlling the actuation of the various pull wires, the basket's shape, position size can be manipulated to reposition the basket around an object located within a patient, independent of or in conjunction with motion of the remainder of the apparatus or an associated endoscope.

Flexible catheters adapted to be inserted into a body to deliver high-voltage, fast (e.g., microsecond, sub-microsecond, nanosecond, picosecond, etc.) electrical energy to target tissue may include a plurality of conductive layers, that may be coaxial. These catheters and method of using them to treat tissue are configured to reduce or avoid arcing.

A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly extending distally from and rotatably coupled to the body, an end effector extending distally from the shaft assembly, a fiber optic cable, and a rotary coupling assembly. The end effector may rotate with the shaft assembly relative to the body. The end effector includes a sensor assembly. The fiber optic cable extends proximally from the sensor assembly, along the shaft assembly, and into the body. The fiber optic cable includes a distal portion that rotates with the end effector, a proximal portion associated with the body, and a coiled portion interposed between the distal portion and the proximal portion. The rotary coupling assembly includes a handle-side body and a shaft-side body. The rotary coupling assembly can radially expand and contract the coiled portion of the fiber optic cable in response to relative rotation between the handle-side body and the shaft-side body.

Systems, devices, and methods for controlling cooperative surgical instruments are provided. Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for coordinated operation of surgical instruments accessing various surgical sites from different or shared surgical approaches to achieve a common or cooperative surgical purpose. For example, various methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can enable the coordinated treatment of tissue by disparate minimally invasive surgical systems that approach the tissue from varying anatomical spaces and must operate differently, but in concert with, one another to effect a desired surgical treatment.

Methods and devices are disclosed herein for therapeutically treating atrial tissue to lessen the effects of mechanical stress on atrial tissue, where reducing mechanical stress in the portion of atrial tissue reduces formation of at least one arrhythmia substrate. In one example, the devices and methods are suitable for minimally invasive surgery. More particularly, methods and devices described herein permit creating an ablation pattern on an organ while reducing excessive trauma to a patient.

Systems and methods for treating tissue are disclosed. The target tissue is ablated. A real-time image of the target tissue is generated during the ablation. The real-time blood perfusion level of the target tissue is determined from the real-time image and compared to an initial blood perfusion level of the target tissue. The comparison provides a metric for the progress of the ablation, and ablation is halted when the real-time blood perfusion drops below a threshold level relative to the initial blood perfusion level.

The various robotic medical devices include robotic devices that are disposed within a body cavity and positioned using a support component disposed through an orifice or opening in the body cavity. Additional embodiments relate to devices having arms coupled to a device body wherein the device has a minimal profile such that the device can be easily inserted through smaller incisions in comparison to other devices without such a small profile. Further embodiments relate to methods of operating the above devices.

A control console includes a first input control operable by an operator and outside of a field of view of the operator, a display within the field of view of the operator, and a first image capture device. The first image capture device acquires a first image of a physical environment surrounding the first input control and at least part of the first input control. The first image is output on the display. In some embodiments, a second image of a work site may also be displayed, so that the operator can locate and operate the first input control while continuously viewing the second image of the work site.

Balloon catheters with an elongate shaft defining a hollow body have an inflatable balloon at a distal end thereof. The balloon has a plurality of internal chambers that are inflatable to differing pressures. When inflated, the balloon has a generally hourglass shape having a neck between a distal end and a proximal end and a port at the neck that is in open communication the hollow body of the shaft and in open communication with an environment external to the balloon. The balloon catheter is inflated in a lumen of a patient to its hourglass shape with its proximal and distal ends in direct contact with normal endothelium juxtaposed to a target lesion with the neck of the balloon at the target lesion. A cutting tool is deployed through the port and an opening having a flap is cut into the target lesion and the plaque is removed thereof.

A medical punching/cauterizing device includes a handle having a body, a cap detachably coupled to a front portion of the body, a connection terminal coupled to the body and electrically connected to a power supply means, a conductor provided in the front portion of the body and having one end electrically connected to the connection terminal, and a guide wire provided on a front portion of the handle and having one end electrically connected to the conductor.