A powered surgical stapling assembly comprising a motor, an end effector, a sensor, a display, and a control circuit is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw. The end effector is configured to clamp tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw. The sensor is configured to measure a parameter of the tissue clamped within the end effector. The control circuit is configured to monitor the parameter sensed by the sensor and identify when the monitored parameter stabilizes within a stabilization range. The monitored parameter is considered stable when a rate at which the monitored parameter changes falls below a predetermine threshold rate of change. The control circuit is further configured to display to a user when the parameter stabilizes.

Systems and methods for facilitating assessment of a nature of contact between an electrode assembly of an ablation catheter and viable body tissue are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method comprises obtaining a first detected voltage between a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are positioned along an electrode assembly of the ablation catheter, and wherein the first electrode is distal to the second electrode, obtaining a second detected voltage between the second electrode and a third electrode, the third electrode positioned proximal to the second electrode.

In an illustrative embodiment, an adjustable cradle assembly for adjusting a head position of a patient relative to a patient platform includes a base portion with a pair of vertical support members and a cradle portion. The vertical support members may each include at least one position aperture for setting a vertical height of the cradle portion relative to the base portion. The cradle portion may include a channel for receiving a head fixation ring. The cradle portion may include at least one set of adjustment connection points for aligning with position apertures of each vertical support member. The cradle may be pivotably connected to the vertical support members such that a pitch angle of a head position of a patient secured in the head fixation apparatus may be adjusted. A set of adjustment mechanisms may releasably secure the cradle to the base at a selected lateral and/or pitch position.

Robotic surgical systems and methods for controlling movement of a tool relative to a tool path. An input is received from a force/torque sensor in response to user forces/torques manually applied to the tool by a user. A component of force is calculated tangential to the path based on the input. An effective feed rate is calculated to advance the tool along the path based on the tangential component. Virtual constraints are defined on movement of the tool along the path with respect to three degrees of freedom and based on the effective feed rate to promote movement of the tool along the path. Dynamics of the tool are virtually simulated based on the virtual constraints and the input from the force/torque sensor. The manipulator is commanded to advance the tool along the path based on the virtual simulation.

A surgical drill bit for bone drilling and for determining a characteristic of a drilling medium from a characteristic of fluid flow. The surgical drill bit includes a shank portion for coupling to a drill chuck. The shank portion defines a proximal opening. The surgical drill bit also includes a drilling portion for drilling through bone. A distal cutting region (62) of the drilling portion includes a rake surface (66), a clearance surface (68), and a flank surface (70). The flank surface (70) defines a distal opening (72) and is configured to abut the bone such that the distal opening is occluded by the bone while the rake surface is cutting into the bone. The shank and drilling portions collectively define an inner channel in fluid communication with the proximal and distal openings. The distal opening is occluded by the bone during drilling to establish fluid pressure within the inner channel.

Advances in endoscope inspection systems to provide for evidence of the cleanliness of critical portions of the instrument's interior. Utilizing borescope sensing technology, the precise location of the borescope within the endoscope can be repeatedly established is in order to establish the healthy condition of the endoscope. Light intensity of cleaning paraphernalia may be adjusted to prevent endoscope damage.

A system includes a catheter and a processor. The catheter includes an expandable distal-end assembly (EDEA) having: (i) a transmitter, which is coupled to the EDEA and is configured to transmit a first signal, and (ii) one or more receivers, which are coupled to an elastic component of the EDEA, and are configured to produce one or more respective second signals in response to receiving the first signal. The processor is configured to estimate, based on the one or more respective second signals, a force applied to the elastic component.

In some embodiments a PEG feeding device includes a tube sized to bridge a channel between a stomach and an outer abdominal surface; an internal bolster, and an external bolster. Optionally the bolsters are connected to the tube. The internal bolster may be sized to resist movement out of the stomach through the stoma. The external bolster may be sized to resist movement into the stoma from the outer abdominal surface. The external bolster may include an underside which extends from the tube in a radial direction between the external bolster and the outer abdominal surface. The underside of the outer bolster may contact the outer abdominal surface at a distance from an external opening of the stoma. Optionally the distance between the internal bolster and the external bolster is adjustable. Optionally an angle between one or both of the bolsters and the tube is adjustable.

A method for tracking an interventional medical device in a patient includes interleaving, by an imaging probe external to the patient, a pulse sequence of imaging beams and tracking beams to obtain an interleaved pulse sequence. The method also includes transmitting, from the imaging probe to the interventional medical device in the patient, the interleaved pulse sequence. The method further includes determining, based on a response to the tracking beams received from a sensor on the interventional medical device, a location of the sensor in the patient.

A surgical instrument comprising a staple firing drive and an articulation drive is disclosed. The articulation drive is selectively engageable with said firing drive such that the articulation drive is driveable by the staple firing drive. The surgical instrument further comprises a sensor system configured to assess whether the articulation drive is engaged with the staple firing drive.