A system for altering an energizable instrument for performing a procedure on the subject. The instrument may be tracked during a procedure and a controller may alter operation thereof during the selected procedure. The energizable instrument may have energy provided to a working end to heat a working end to a selected temperature for various procedures such as cutting, coagulation, vaporization, or the like.

Various methods and apparatus for dynamic stabilization of bones, and especially of vertebra. Disclosed herein are bushings that permit axial movement of a rod, tether, or similar interconnection device relative to an anchoring head that is coupled to a bone. Some bushings further allow lateral relative movement or rotational relative movement, such additional relative movement being limited by the size and shape of the bushing, the size and shape of the interconnection device, the size and shape of the bushing container, the manner of attaching the anchoring head to the bone, or other considerations.

An endoscope includes a channel tube provided in a direction of a longitudinal axis of an insertion section, and a pipe sleeve provided in the operation section and including a tube insertion hole on a distal end side, the proximal end side of the channel tube being inserted in the tube insertion hole. An inner diameter at a first position on a proximal end side of the pipe sleeve is larger than an inner diameter at a second position in a hole part that communicates with a proximal end of the tube insertion hole, the inner diameter at the second position of the pipe sleeve is smaller than an inner diameter at a third position in the tube insertion hole, and the pipe sleeve includes an abutting surface at the proximal end of the tube insertion hole.

An offset guide that places a surgical tool through a bone of a surgical joint. The offset guide may hold the surgical joint in a reduced configuration at a first location along the bone; the first location preferred for engaging the bone. The offset guide may engage the bone with a hook that engages two opposing sides of the bone to center the surgical tool through the bone. The offset guide may guide placement of a surgical tool through the bone center at a second location along the bone, the second location offset from the first location. The second location may be a preferable location for receiving the surgical tool therethrough. The surgical tool may include both a drill and an implant insertion tool. The implant insertion tool may place an implant at the second location, while the offset guide holds the surgical joint.

A surgical instrument system comprising a handle, a shaft, and a disposable power module is disclosed. The handle comprises a motor, a control switch, and a motor-control processor which is in communication with the control switch. In various instances, the disposable power module comprises a disposable battery and a display unit configured to indicate at least one function of the surgical instrument system.

A tip protector, for a surgical instrument having a shaft and an instrument tip near a distal portion of the shaft, includes a tip housing for releasably receiving the instrument tip; a clamp system suitable for gripping a portion of the surgical instrument to position the tip protector; and a distal through opening at or near the distal end of the tip housing. The distal through opening has an opening size that is adjustable.

A handle of a device such as an endoscopic surgical appliance is provided with a grip for actuation of an effector mechanism positioned at a distal end. A grip force attenuator within the handle absorbs excessive force after the grip force required to fully actuate the effector mechanism has been reached. The handle includes a first spring which deflects in response to hand grip force up to a predetermined level for actuation of the effector mechanism and a second spring which deflects in response to hand grip force which exceeds the predetermined level without applying such excess force to the first spring.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

An arthroscopic cutting probe includes an outer sleeve having a longitudinal bore and an outer cutting window at its distal end. An inner sleeve is rotationally disposed in a bore of the outer sleeve, and the inner sleeve has a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal passageway, and an inner cutting window at its distal. An active electrode sleeve is disposed on an outer surface of the inner sleeve in a position opposed to the inner cutting window. Rotation of the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve causes the inner cutting window to rotate past the outer cutting window to resect tissue received through the cutting windows as they pass each other. Radiofrequency current can be applied to the active electrode to enhance tissue cutting then the cutting windows are being rotated or to able or cauterize tissue when the cutting windows are held stationary with the active electrode disposed through the outer cutting window.

A method, a non-transitory computer readable medium, and an apparatus for operating the robotic control system comprising a master apparatus (64) in communication with an input device (58, 60) having a handle (102) and a slave system (54, 74) having a tool (66, 67) having an end effector (73) whose position and orientation is determined in response to a current position and current orientation of the handle. The method involves producing a desired end effector position and orientation in response to a current position and orientation of the handle. The method involves causing the input device to provide haptic feedback that impedes translational movement of the handle, while permitting rotational movement of the handle and preventing movement of the end effector, when a rotational alignment difference between the handle and the end effector meets a disablement criterion. The method further involves re-enabling translational movement of the handle when the rotational alignment difference meets an enablement criterion.