A system may comprise a first catheter having a first steerable segment and a second catheter disposed within the first catheter. The second catheter may have a second steerable segment. The system may also comprise an imaging element supported at a distal end of the second catheter, a coil reference sensor supported at a distal portion of the second catheter, and a processor in electrical communication with the coil reference sensor. The processor may be configured to determine a position of a distal portion of the first catheter with reference to the coil reference sensor.

In some embodiments, a microsurgical instrument includes a trocar having a rigid, hollow shaft formed with a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the shaft. The distal end of the shaft may be shaped for tissue penetration. The instrument may further include a composite microcannula slidably engaged with the trocar in the lumen. The microcannula includes a light guide and a flexible hollow tube having an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the lumen in the trocar. Other embodiments include placing the microcannula in the lumen of the trocar, illuminating the end of the trocar by illuminating the end of the microcannula, advancing the trocar from a selected entry point on an eye into a selected structure in the eye, and extending the illuminated end of the microcannula from the trocar into the selected structure.

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 surgical port is disclosed. The surgical port has a cannular channel. The surgical port also has one or more suture slots in communication with the cannular channel. The surgical port further has a pair of cam grips for each of the one or more suture slots, each pair of cam grips comprising opposing gripping arms configured to allow suture to be pulled through the opposing gripping arms in a direction away from the cannular channel and to resist suture movement in a direction towards the cannular channel.

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.

The present disclosure relates to a device for meniscal repair for use in areas of a human body where tissue can either be surgically reattached to bone or surgically repaired when a tear forms in the tissue. The device may take one of three forms; in a first form, the device comprises a handle and a deployment member permitting the deployment of anchors or sutures to the tissue requiring repair; subsequently the device may take a second form comprising the handle, still in place, and a cutter member for manipulating and cutting anchors and sutures to assist in repair of the tissue; in its third form, the device comprises the handle, still in place, and a fluid injection member for applying a fluid to aid in improving biological conditions for the tissue to heal.

Systems and methods for sonicating a body within an organ of a patient include supplying ultrasound energy to the body in order to produce a liquified material, which can then be aspirated from the body via a catheter. Image guidance is used during aspiration of the liquified material.

A steerable instrument for endoscopic and/or invasive type of applications includes an elongated tubular body and at least one actuation means at a proximal side of the steerable instrument and at least one bendable zone at a distal side of the steerable instrument, the at least one actuation means being arranged to control bending of the at least one bendable zone by means of longitudinal elements. The instrument further includes first, second and third cylindrical elements; at least one tangential spacer; and at least one lip shaped portion formed on at least one of the first cylindrical element or the third cylindrical element.

A valve component 1 of the invention comprises a main valve 2 which is located on a centre line and at least one auxiliary valve 3 which is located radially outwardly of the main valve 2. The main valve may be used for sealing engagement with a cannula. In some cases the cannula may be used for introduction of a number of robotically controlled surgical instruments generally, including a camera. The auxiliary valves 3 may be utilised to introduce another instrument through the valve component. The valve component is mounted in a manner which ensures that the valve component 1 is rotatable about a centre line through the axis of the valve component 1. This ensures that the valve component 1 can be rotated relative to a cannula inserted through the main valve 2 and consequently that the auxiliary valves 3 are rotatable relative to the cannula allowing the auxiliary valves 3 to be positioned to facilitate optimum access and manipulation for an auxiliary instrument(s) inserted through the auxiliary valve(s) 2.

A surgical apparatus includes an instrument portal including a first proximal end, a first distal end, and a first elongated member, the first elongated member defining a first bore having a first dimension, wherein the first bore extends from the first distal end to the first proximal end, wherein the maximum clearance of the instrument portal is the first dimension and a drill guide reducer configured to be inserted into the instrument portal, the drill guide reducer including an elongated cylindrical member defining an enclosed body surrounding an opening, the enclosed body having an outside dimension that is smaller than the first dimension, such that the drill guide reducer is sized to fit within the instrument portal and defining an inner dimension configured to receive a drill guide, wherein the inner dimension of the drill guide reducer is smaller than the first dimension of the instrument portal.