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 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.

A method of repairing a fractured humerus may include implanting a prosthetic humeral stem into a humeral canal of the fractured humerus. First and second tuberosities of the fractured humerus may be robotically machined to include first and second implant-facing surfaces that are substantially negatives of first and second surface portions of the proximal end of the prosthetic humeral stem. The first and second tuberosities may be machined so that the first and second tuberosities have first and second interlocking surfaces shaped to interlock with each other. During implantation, the first and second implant-facing surfaces are in contact with the first and second surface portions of the proximal end of the prosthetic humeral stem, and the first interlocking surface interlocks with the second interlocking surface.

Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for surgical robotic arm admittance control. In one aspect, there is provided a system including a robotic arm and a processor. The processor may be configured to determine a force at a reference point on the robotic arm based on an output of a torque sensor and receive an indication of a direction of movement of the reference point. The processor may also determine that a component of the force is in the same direction as the direction of movement of the reference point, generate at least one parameter indicative of a target resistance to movement of the robotic arm, and control the motor, based on the at least one parameter, to move the robotic arm in accordance with the target resistance.

The present disclosure relates generally to systems, devices, and methods for supporting, stabilizing, and/or positioning a medical device, such as a transcatheter medical device. The stabilizer allows for control of degrees of freedom from no movement to free movement to selective movements, to substantially translation only movement and/or to substantially rotational only movement of the medical device. The patent describes pure mechanical embodiment as well as smart embodiments that can synergistically sense, actuate and/or transmit data between the stabilizer, medical device and control or display system to operate and/or deploy the device/therapy.

A surgical retractor includes a part defining a longitudinal axis. A first radiolucent blade is connected with the part. A second radiolucent blade is connected with the part. The blades are independently translatable relative to the part. At least one of the blades includes spaced apart arms that are connected via a member. The member and the arms are relatively disposed in a configuration to guide at least one surgical instrument in a selected orientation relative to a surgical site. Surgical systems, instruments, constructs, implants and methods are disclosed.

A surgical retractor includes a part defining a longitudinal axis. A first radiolucent blade is connected with the part. A second radiolucent blade is connected with the part. The blades are independently translatable relative to the part. At least one of the blades includes spaced apart arms that are connected via a member. The member and the arms are relatively disposed in a configuration to guide at least one surgical instrument in a selected orientation relative to a surgical site. Surgical systems, instruments, constructs, implants and methods are disclosed.

Methods and system for characterizing ligament properties using elastography are disclosed. An ultrasound system capable of performing shear wave elasticity imaging and/or supersonic shear imaging may retrieve one or more images from a proposed surgical site. The one or more images may be provided to a surgical planning system that identifies one or more properties of ligaments proximate to the surgical site. Musculoskeletal simulations may be performed using the identified properties to preoperatively identify a surgical plan. Preoperative identification of a surgical plan may enable a surgeon to select from more fine-tuning options for a joint replacement than conventional systems.

Methods and system for characterizing ligament properties using elastography are disclosed. An ultrasound system capable of performing shear wave elasticity imaging and/or supersonic shear imaging may retrieve one or more images from a proposed surgical site. The one or more images may be provided to a surgical planning system that identifies one or more properties of ligaments proximate to the surgical site. Musculoskeletal simulations may be performed using the identified properties to preoperatively identify a surgical plan. Preoperative identification of a surgical plan may enable a surgeon to select from more fine-tuning options for a joint replacement than conventional systems.

A surgical robot includes: a surgical instrument; a manipulator that supports a surgical instrument without holding a trocar and includes an instrument interface to which the surgical instrument is attached, an arm including rotational joints, and a prismatic joint; and a controller. The controller may store a center of motion of the surgical instrument and control motion of the manipulator such that with the shaft inserted through the trocar and the tool located in a body cavity of the patient, a relationship T1≥L is established in a case of L≤T0, wherein: L represents an intra-body cavity length of the surgical instrument; T0 represents a maximum possible linear movement amount of the prismatic joint from an origin position along the axial direction; and T1 represents a first linear movement amount of the prismatic joint from the origin position to a current position along the axial direction.