A force limiting apparatus for a surgical instrument to prevent too much force being applied to the jaws of the instrument. The instrument has a body with a drive shaft coupled to a pair of jaws, a bearing tube secured to the drive shaft, and a pair of tracks carrying a pivot pin that is biased into one end of the track. A lever is coupled to the pivot pin and abuts the bearing tube to move the bearing tube and close the jaws when squeezed by a user. If the lever is over actuated, the pivot pin will slide along the track against the bias of the spring assembly with the lever pivoting about the bearing tube rather than the pivot pin. As a result, the additional movement of lever does not result in any addition force being transmitted to the drive shaft via the bearing tube.

A method of operating a surgical device having a surgical tool includes allowing manual movement of the surgical tool along at least one direction, controlling the surgical device to align the surgical tool with a target using a control object having a planned geometric relationship with an anatomic feature, tracking movement of the anatomic feature during a surgical procedure, moving the control object to compensate for the movement of the anatomic feature during the surgical procedure, and controlling the surgical device to realign the surgical tool with the target using the moved control object.

A system includes a surgical tool, a robot holding the surgical tool, and non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the robot to perform operations including automatically moving the surgical tool to a virtual geometry correlated with an anatomical structure and forcing, following arrival of the surgical tool at the virtual geometry, the surgical tool to stay at the virtual geometry while allowing manual repositioning of the surgical tool along the virtual geometry.

A surgical instrument for use during a surgical procedure includes an instrument body, an ultrasonic transducer assembly extending along a longitudinal axis, a power cord, and a transducer slip joint. The ultrasonic transducer assembly is rotatably mounted within the instrument body about the longitudinal axis and defines a first outer profile. The power cord projects from the instrument body to provide electrical power to the ultrasonic transducer assembly for operating an acoustic waveguide. The transducer slip joint is positioned between the power cord and the ultrasonic transducer assembly and electrically and mechanically connects the power cord to the ultrasonic transducer assembly. The ultrasonic transducer assembly selectively rotates relative to the power cord for inhibiting the power cord from winding upon rotation of the ultrasonic transducer assembly. The transducer slip joint also defines a second outer profile that fits within the first outer profile of the ultrasonic transducer assembly.

Various implementations include a polyaxial surgical screw and a device for implanting the screw. The screw comprises: an internally hollow tulip displaying a first open end for accessing inside the tulip, a second end opposite to the first end, and a side wall extending between the first and the second end; and a threaded shank displaying a first end defining the tip of the screw and a second end opposite to the first one displaying a ball joint joined to the second end of the tulip to orient said shank with respect to the tulip itself. The tulip also comprises at least one elongated rod projecting from the side wall and extending from the first end in a direction opposite to the second end.

A cervical cup includes a body having a flange and a vacuum port so that application of a vacuum to the port will secure the cervical cup to a cervix disposed inside of the body of the cup. Example of the disclosed methodology to treat preterm birth includes inserting of a cervix into a cervical cup and applying a vacuum to a vacuum port of the cervical cup so as to secure the cervical cup to the cervix.

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.

A retainer system for use with staple cartridges configured for use with a surgical stapling device is disclosed. The retainer comprises a retainer body that is configured to be attached to the staple cartridge by retention features. The system includes a tool that moves the retention features between a first state wherein the retention features prevent the retainer from being attached to the staple cartridge to a second state where the retainer may be coupled to the staple cartridge by the retention features.

A deactivator element for use with a staple cartridge is disclosed. The deactivator element is configured to be removably supported on the staple cartridge in a deactivator position. When the deactivator element is supported on a staple cartridge in the deactivator portion and the staple cartridge is seated in a surgical stapling device, a cam surface on the deactivator element defeats a lockout in the surgical stapling device.

A computer-assisted surgery system for performing a surgical procedure on a patient's anatomy includes a robotic device, a guide coupled to the robotic device, and a computer in communication with the robotic device. The computer is configured to command the robotic device to selectively operate in one of a first mode in which the guide is manually moved by a user or a second mode in which the robotic device autonomously moves the guide. In the first mode, the robotic device is controlled by the computer to constrain motion of the guide to a predefined plane while allowing the guide to be manually moved along the pre-defined plane.