Access assemblies include an instrument valve housing and a valve assembly disposed within the cavity of the instrument valve housing. The valve assembly includes a guard assembly, a seal assembly disposed adjacent to the guard assembly, and a centering mechanism for maintaining the seal assembly and guard assembly centered within a cavity of the instrument valve. The guard assembly includes a support ring and a plurality of guard sections disposed distally of the support ring. The seal assembly includes a proximal seal member, an intermediate seal assembly, and a distal seal member, the intermediate seal assembly including a plurality of seal sections in a stacked configuration

A surgical instrument including one or both of a shield on a distal end portion of a shaft and a counterweight in a handle for enhanced functionality, efficiency and/or efficacy. The shield covers portions of a linkage that extend beyond outer dimensions of the shaft during operation of the instrument. The counterweight is proximal to a hand grip and configured to locate a center of gravity of the instrument within the hand grip. The instrument may be configured as a video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) and/or minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) device.

A system comprises a mouth piece to receive exhaled air; a breath chamber to receive exhaled air; a valve to direct exhaled air along a desired flow path, direct purge gas along a desired flow path, control the rate of flow of purge gas, control the rate of flow of exhaled air, block the flow of purge gas, and/or block the flow of exhaled air; a source of purge gas; a CO2 cartridge to remove CO2; a water cartridge to remove water; a breath cartridge to capture VOCs from exhaled air; a temperature control system to control the temperature of CO2 cartridge, a water cartridge, and/or a breath cartridge; a cryostat to contain and limit heat flow to a cryogenic liquid; a flow meter designed to measure the flow of exhaled air and/or purge gas; and a pressure transducer to measure a pressure, a flow rate, and/or a flow volume.

A reload assembly includes a shell housing, a knife carrier, and at least one engagement member. The shell housing includes an inner housing portion and an outer housing portion that is spaced from the inner housing portion to define an annular cavity. A catch is supported within the annular cavity. The knife carrier defines a longitudinal axis and supports a knife. The knife carrier also supports a resilient locking member that is positioned to engage the catch when the knife carrier is in its retracted position after the reload assembly has been fired to retain the knife carrier in the retracted position.

A method of operating a biopsy device includes providing a hollow needle with a distal end portion; providing a sample-receiving device movable in the hollow needle between an extended position and a retracted position; providing a liquid supply unit for supplying a flushing liquid; operatively disconnecting the liquid supply unit from a cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is in the extended position; moving the sample-receiving device in the hollow needle from the extended position to the retracted position, the sample-receiving device carrying a tissue sample; operatively connecting the liquid supply unit to the cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is in the retracted position; and supplying the flushing liquid to the cavity of the sample-receiving device to eject the tissue sample from the cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is in the retracted position.

Connection systems and methods establish safe, routine, functional connections between sterile single patient-use (SPU) medical devices and multiple patient-use (MPU) medical devices. For example, a connection system can include a male connector associated with an SPU medical device and a female connector associated with an MTV medical device. The male connector can include a flexible member therearound but proximal of a plug of the male connector. The female connector can include a rigid member around an opening of a receptacle of the female connector. The flexible member can conform to the rigid member with a procedural barrier therebetween when the plug of the male connector is inserted into the receptacle of the female connector. Upon insertion of the plug of the male connector into the receptacle of the female connector, one or more functional connections can be established across the procedural barrier between the SPU and MPU medical devices.

A method of performing a carpal tunnel release procedure on a hand may involve advancing a shaft of a soft tissue cutting device into the hand, positioning a distal end of the shaft at or near a carpal tunnel, sensing a first pressure in the hand, using a pressure sensor of the soft tissue cutting device, moving a blade along the shaft to cut a transverse carpal ligament, and sensing a second pressure in the hand, using the pressure sensor.

A medical instrument includes a tool extender used to retain and move a tool relative to a flexible elongate device. The tool extender includes a slider that allows a user to move the tool relative to a flexible elongate device with one hand using a portion of the slider that is configured to be engaged and manipulated by the user's hand or fingers. A portion of the slider is attached to the tool shaft such that moving the slider moves the tool relative to the tool extender and to the flexible elongate device

A biopsy device includes a sample-receiving device with a cavity configured to receive at least one tissue sample. The sample-receiving device is movable between a first position and a second position. A liquid supply unit is configured to supply a flushing liquid. The liquid supply unit is operatively connected to the cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is in the second position, and the liquid supply unit is disconnected from the cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is not in the second position.

An electrosurgical generator including housing and an internal circuitry to generate a high-frequency voltage and to output the generated high-frequency voltage to an electrosurgical instrument, further including at least one output socket for connection of a plug of the electrosurgical instrument. The output socket is configured as self-contained unit including: a casing configured for mounting at a front plate of the housing; a plug socket mounted at a frontal face of the casing for plugging of the electrosurgical instrument; a conductor board inserted into the casing and being configured to provide internal connections of the output socket; and a connector provided at the conductor board for a connection to the internal circuitry. Thereby the output socket is modularly exchangeable. Being self-contained, the output socket can be easily exchanged against another output socket of different functionality, allowing for easy re-configuration.