An arthroscopic or other surgical cutter has features which facilitate fabrication by ceramic molding. The arthroscopic cutter includes a cutter body having a longitudinal axis and a window, an interior channel, and a plurality of cutting edges extending radially outwardly from an outer surface thereof. The features include non-helical, longitudinally aligned cutting edges, controlled thicknesses of the cutting edges, controlled heights of the cutting edges, controlled areas of the windows, controlled diameters of the internal channels, controlled rake angles of the cutting edges, and other parameters.

A method comprises the steps of: imaging a patient anatomy; selecting an implant strategy for at least one bone fastener having a first member; registering the imaging of the patient anatomy with imaging of at least a portion of a robot; engaging the first member with tissue of the patient anatomy via robotic guidance according to the implant strategy; and subsequently, manipulating the patient anatomy. Systems, spinal constructs, implants and surgical instruments are disclosed.

An electrode assembly for an electrosurgical instrument includes a housing configured to operably receive a distal end of an electrosurgical instrument shaft, the housing encapsulating an insulative core sandwiched between a pair of return electrodes. The insulative core includes a slot defined about a periphery thereof configured to partially receive an active electrode. The active electrode and the pair of return electrodes are adapted to connect to opposite polarities of an electrosurgical generator. A tensioning mechanism is configured to tension the active electrode about the insulative core during assembly.

The present invention provides a cardiac ablation system including a spline assembly and a catheter wire. The spline assembly is provided with a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of first conductive layers encapsulated therein. A total number of the plurality of first conductive layers is corresponding to a total number of the plurality of electrodes. Each of the plurality of first conductive layers is electrically connected to each of the plurality of electrodes. The spline assembly is configured to transform into various configurations along a radial direction. A distal end of the catheter wire is connected to a proximal end of the spline assembly. The catheter wire includes a plurality of second conductive layers encapsulated therein. A total number of the plurality of second conductive layers is corresponding to the total number of the plurality of first conductive layers.

An ultrasonic surgical blade includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface. The distal end is movable relative to a longitudinal axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end. At least a portion of the outer surface of the body comprises a lubricious coating adhered thereto. The lubricious coating has a coefficient of friction that is less than the coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the body.

A method of removing tissue in a body lumen includes advancing a tissue-removing catheter over a guidewire in the body lumen to position a distal end of the catheter adjacent the tissue and a proximal end portion of the catheter outside of the body lumen. The catheter includes an elongate body, a tissue removing element mounted on a distal end portion of the elongate body, and an inner liner disposed within the elongate body. The inner liner defines a guidewire lumen in which the guidewire is disposed during the advancement of the catheter. The method further includes rotating the elongate body and tissue-removing element of the catheter to remove the tissue. Detecting wear of the inner liner caused by the elongate body contacting the inner liner during use.

The present application provides an endoscopic device having at least one shaft, which has at least one portion deflectable in at least one plane, and having at least one deflection mechanism, which is configured to deflect the deflectable portion and includes, arranged in series, at least one first connection member and at least one second connection member interacting for a deflection with the first connection member. The first connection member is formed at least partially from a first material, and the second connection member is formed at least partially from a second material, of which the elasticity differs from that of the first material.

An electrosurgical device including the disclosure describes an electrosurgical device including an elongated body having a tubular section extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defining an evacuation channel configured to evacuate tissue from the distal end to the proximal end, a curette at the distal end of the tubular section, wherein the curette defines a perimeter cutting edge that forms a distal opening to the evacuation channel, a plasma cutting electrode defined by the perimeter cutting edge of the curette, where the plasma cutting electrode is configured to operate in a monopolar configuration to deliver radio frequency (RF) plasma energy to adjacent tissue to cut a volume of the target tissue, and a dielectric coating on at least a portion of the curette, the dielectric coating electrically insulating the curette from target tissue and the volume of cut target tissue, wherein the dielectric coating comprises a ceramic material.

Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments allow for the one-handed operation. To that end, embodiments in which relative axial movement between the inner tensioning device and outer driver device is optionally physically constrained, for example by means of cooperating and/or compressive elements disposed in the respective hub and handle portions, are described herein.

A medical device for cutting bone and soft tissue includes a shaft having a rotating component with a distal working end. A cutting member is carried on the working end of the rotating component and a motor rotates the rotating component. The cutting member has a ceramic body with cutting edges, and the ceramic body is formed of a ceramic composite including alumina and zirconia, wherein the alumina has a grain size ranging between 0.5-1.5 microns and the zirconia has a grain size ranging between 0.1-1.0 micron. The alumina grain shape and zirconia grain shape are non-elongated.