In one embodiment, an assembly includes a retractor (30, 730, 930) and at least one cylindrical rod (102, 402, 502, 702, 802, 902) attached to the retractor. The rod has a fixed length portion (108, 406, 508, 708, 808, 908) and a spring portion (104, 404, 504, 718, 832, 905). The spring portion of the rod has a longitudinal dimension that changes as a function of loading on the rod. When the rod is in contact with a solid surface such as a bone, it maintains contact with such surface even while changing shape due to loading on the rod. When the assembly includes multiple rods attached to the retractor, both spring-based rods and other types of rods may be used in combination.

In one embodiment, an assembly includes a retractor and at least one cylindrical rod attached to the retractor. The rod has a fixed length portion and a spring portion. The spring portion of the rod has a longitudinal dimension that changes as a function of loading on the rod. When the rod is in contact with a solid surface such as a bone, it maintains contact with such surface even while changing shape due to loading on the rod. When the assembly includes multiple rods attached to the retractor, both spring-based rods and other types of rods may be used in combination.

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.

A tissue retractor device includes a first retractor, a second retractor and a band extending between the first retractor and the second retractor. The first and second retractors are configured to grasp edges of an incision while the band is configured to form an anatomy space and wrap around a patient's body part, while. At least one of the first retractor and the second retractor includes a first arcuate portion, a first connection portion and a first cam portion positioned between the first arcuate portion and the first connection portion. The first cam portion includes a cam surface for contacting the skin of a patient outside of an incision. The length of the band extending between the first retractor and the second retractor is adjustable.

Circular stapling instruments and anvil assemblies. The anvil assemblies may have collapsible anvil support members that may be inserted through an opening in a patient and then expanded to be attached to an anvil plate assembly that has a staple-forming surface thereon. The anvil support member is attachable to the anvil plate assembly in such a way that when the anvil assembly is coupled to the stapling head of a circular stapler, the staple-forming surface is in substantial registry with the staples supported in the stapling head. A variety of different anvil support members and anvil plate assemblies are disclosed.

Device for inspecting a cavity of a patient comprising a retractor body, extending along a longitudinal axis between a distal end and a proximal end, and a handle applied or fixed to the proximal end of the retractor body.

The retractor body has a distal portion having a substantially tubular shape and a proximal portion extending from the distal portion in a diverging fashion, wherein the distal portion defines a retraction zone of an internal cavity of a patient and internally delimits an internal volume accessible from a rear access opening made on the proximal portion, wherein said distal portion of the retractor body has at least one front and/or lateral opening to allow access to the mucosa or tissue of the patient from said internal volume.

The device further comprises at least one support seat arranged on the retractor body and configured to receive in support a front surface of a laser head and wherein said support housing is defined by a stop wall in the form of a spherical dome having a central opening, said stop wall being configured to accommodate with spherical mobility said front surface of the laser head.

An umbilical catheterization device that allows a physician to prepare an umbilical cord and apply appropriate retraction to widen vessels to introduce a catheter. The device comprises a base and a plurality of arms. The arms may include retraction devices or may be compatible with independent retraction devices, including but not limited to sutures. The retraction devices are attached to the umbilical cord, and used to provide retraction.

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an access valve that may be retrieved after implantation. The access valve may include a frame having a lumen, a self-expandable member extending through the lumen, and an elastic membrane extending through the lumen and a second end of the frame to releasably seal the lumen. The access valve may releasably attach to a wall of a patient and releasably seal an opening through the wall. The access valve may be attached to the wall by placing the frame adjacent the wall, extending the self-expandable member through the opening in the wall, and expanding the self-expandable member such that the self-expandable member applies a first force against the wall and a second force opposite the first force against the frame to sandwich the wall between the self-expandable member and the frame.

An apparatus for opening or closing a tissue opening in a biological subject, the apparatus including at least two flexible arms coupled to a tissue surface in use, each arm being curved outwardly in a mid-portion to accommodate a tissue opening therebetween and a biasing mechanism that selectively biases opposing ends of each arm to thereby at least one of bias mid-portions of the arms apart to assist in at least partially opening the tissue opening; and bias mid-portions of the arms towards each other to assist in at least partially closing the tissue opening.

The surgical tool (1) is including a main unit (2) including a case (21) and a hollow shaft (22) provided on the case (21), a holder assembly (3) that holds a living tissue (T) in the body cavity, a connector (4) that connects the main unit (2) inserted through the shaft (22) to the holder assembly (3), an operating unit (5) that is provided on the main unit (2) to allow the connector (4) to enter or leave the shaft (22) and a tension adjustor (6) capable of adjusting the tension of the connector (4).