Described here are devices, systems, and methods for moving and/or supporting an internal organ or other tissue, such as during minimally-invasive surgery. Generally, a system for moving and/or supporting tissue may comprise a magnetic control component and a retractor having at least one magnetic portion. The retractor may have a first low-profile configuration for passing through an incision into a surgical site within a patient and a second expansive configuration for engaging tissue. The magnetic control component may be placed over the surgical site external to the patient and generate a magnetic field to manipulate the retractor and engaged tissue.

A trans-xiphoid procedure for gaining entry to the chest cavity of a patient, sometimes also referred to herein as a “TRAX” procedure. The procedure may be used for, among other things, mobilization of the mammary arteries and performing coronary artery bypass surgery in which the mammary artery of the patient or other conduit is joined to a coronary artery of the patient, such as the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery.

Pneumatic Structure and Associated Production Method

The structure (10) comprises an elastically deformable body (12) defining at least one network of internal cavities (14), each internal cavity (14) having a closed contour in at least one section of the internal cavity (14),

Each internal cavity (14) is able to be pressurized so as to make the elastically deformable body (12) pass from a rest configuration to at least one pressurized configuration,

In each pressurized configuration, the elastically deformable body (12) has a macroscopic metric that is distinct from its macroscopic metric in the rest position,

In each pressurized configuration, the radius of curvature of an outer surface of the elastically deformable body (12), considered regarding each internal cavity (14) adjacent to the outer surface, is greater than twice the size of the internal cavity (14) adjacent to the outer surface.

In order to provide a device with variable rigidity and a surgical gripping device that make it possible to increase the range of change in rigidity by means of a simple structure, this device with variable rigidity is configured so as to comprise two flexible sheets (12, 14) that include: a base material (20) formed using a sheet-like elastic material and having a plurality of recesses (20B) and a plurality of protrusions (20A) formed on one surface thereof; a low rigidity section (22) that is formed using an elastic material with a lower modulus of elasticity than the base material (20) and that is arranged in the recesses (20B) and joined to the recesses (20B) so that one surface of said low rigidity section (22) becomes flat; and a friction material (24) provided to the one surface. In addition, the two flexible sheets (12, 14) are covered by a bag-like cover with the two pieces of friction material (24) facing each other and are configured so as to have a ventilation port (18) whereby it is possible to suction the air within the flexible sheets (12, 14) and the cover (16) from the exterior of the cover (16).

A system includes a connector with a central lumen. A multi-lumen chamber is removably connected to and in fluid communication with a proximal end of the central lumen. The multi-lumen chamber includes a first lumen aligned and adjacent a second lumen. The first lumen includes a first fluid in a proximal portion of the first lumen and a hydrophilic polymer in a distal portion of the first lumen, a first plunger rod within the first lumen to control flow of the first fluid into the distal portion to mix with the hydrophilic polymer in a first state to form a first mixture, and a first port. The second lumen includes a second fluid, a second plunger rod within the second lumen to distally move the second fluid and the first mixture in a second state, and a second port.

The invention relates to an abdominal retractor system using human body parts as support points by means of extension levers, and maintains approach to the surgical region by pressing abdominal wall downwards.

Systems and methods and for identifying a mechanical axis of a bone may include identifying an orientation of an intercondylar feature on the bone, projecting a plane based on the orientation of the intercondylar feature, and identifying the orientation of the mechanical axis of the bone based on the plane. The plane may contain at least a portion of the intercondylar feature and the mechanical axis of the bone therein.

A shape-formable apparatus comprising locking sheets. The apparatus can have a first state in which the apparatus is formable, and a second state in which the apparatus has the desired shape and is substantially less formable than in the first state. The apparatus can further include an envelope defining a chamber, a port positioned to fluidly couple the chamber with ambience, and at least two locking sheets positioned in the chamber in an at least partially overlapping configuration. Each locking sheet comprises a major surface, and at least a portion of each locking sheet can be patterned to include solid regions and open regions, the solid regions being movable with respect to one another within the major surface.

Method of using a shape-formable apparatus. A shape-formable apparatus can include an envelope defining a chamber, a port positioned to fluidly couple the chamber with ambience, and at least two locking sheets positioned in the chamber in an at least partially overlapping configuration. Each locking sheet can include a major surface, and at least a portion of each locking sheet can be patterned to include solid regions and open regions, the solid regions being movable with respect to one another within the major surface. The method can include providing the shape-formable apparatus in a first state; forming the apparatus into a desired shape; and reducing the pressure in the chamber to change the apparatus from the first state to a second state in which the apparatus is substantially less formable than in the first state.

The invention comprises an apparatus for covering an exposed end of a severed sternum, comprising a strip operative to cover the exposed end and pliable portions which are able to be manually deformed over sides of the exposed end so as to retain the strip against the exposed end to stop or at least reduce flow of blood from the exposed end.