A cannula for providing a pathway for surgical instruments in a minimally invasive procedure including a flexible body portion having a lumen extending from the proximal region to the distal region, a proximal opening, a distal opening and a flange extending radially outwardly from the distal region and being flexible for insertion through an incision in a body of a patient. A rigid body portion extends proximally of the flexible body portion which is more flexible than the rigid body portion. A first seal is positioned within the rigid body portion and spaced proximally of a region of the flexible body portion distal of the rigid body portion, the seal preventing egress of fluids from the body of the patient.

An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle that includes an elongated body and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator disposed on and slideable along the elongated body of the needle and a medical article. The medical article is disposed on and slideable along the dilator. A track extends in a proximal direction from the dilator. The needle hub slides along at least a portion of the track between a first position and a second position. The device further includes a locking mechanism operably disposed between the track and the needle hub so as to inhibit further axial movement of the needle in the proximal direction when the needle hub is in the second position.

In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for performing surgical procedures is disclosed including a flexible entry guide tube, and a first steering device. The flexible entry guide tube has one or more lumens extending along its length from a proximal end to substantially at or near a distal end. At least one of the one or more lumens is an instrument lumen with open ends to receive a flexible shaft of a surgical tool to perform surgery near the distal end of the flexible entry guide tube. The first steering device is insertable into the instrument lumen to shape the flexible entry guide tube as it is inserted through an opening in a body and along a path towards a surgical site. The apparatus may further include a flexible locking device to couple to the flexible entry guide tube and selectively rigidize the flexible entry guide tube to hold its shape. The flexible entry guide tube may be steered by remote control with one or more actuators.

An introducer for a tracheostomy tube is formed of several articulated sections (24) that can be changed from a relatively flexible state to a more rigid state by tightening a tension member extending along the introducer using an actuator at its machine end. In its flexible state the introducer can be inserted into and removed from the tube. The introducer is put in its more rigid state for use in inserting the tube into a tracheostomy. Alternatively or additionally the introducer could have several gripping rings on its outside towards its patient end and two elongate members that can be slid relative to one another to enlarge the patient end so that the gripping rings engage and grip the inside of the tube, thereby enabling the introducer to pull the tube through the tracheostomy from its patient end.

A medical instrument includes a handle, a trocar in communication with the handle, and a cannula in communication with the trocar and the handle. The cannula is engaged (locked) with the handle when linearly displaced proximally towards the handle and, the cannula is disengaged (unlocked) from the handle when linearly displaced distally away from the handle. The cannula is linearly reciprocated, between the locked position and the unlocked position, along a linear travel path defined parallel to a longitudinal axis of the trocar such that the cannula is prohibited and permitted to articulate about the longitudinal axis of the trocar, and relative to the handle, respectively. Advantageously, the cannula is locked and unlocked from the trocar by without requiring an external force exerted generally transverse to trocar and/or cannula—thereby permitting a user to lock/unlock the cannula, relative to the trocar, with one hand.

This endoscopic surgical device includes: an endoscope; a treatment tool; and a mantle tube. The inside of the mantle tube is partitioned by a partition wall member provided with an endoscope guide groove and a treatment-tool guide groove, to form an endoscope insertion passage and a treatment-tool insertion passage. An endoscope fixation tool and a treatment-tool fixation tool are respectively disposed inside the endoscope guide groove and the treatment-tool guide groove. The endoscope fixation tool advances and retracts in conjunction with the endoscope insertion part inserted through the endoscope insertion passage. The treatment-tool fixation tool moves in conjunction with the treatment-tool insertion part inserted through the treatment-tool insertion passage. When a coupling ring externally fitted to the partition wall member interlocks the endoscope fixation tool with the treatment-tool fixation tool, the endoscope insertion part also moves in conjunction with the advancement and retraction of the treatment-tool insertion part.

A medical device that includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft defining a lumen extending from the proximal end of the shaft to an opening on a side of the shaft. The medical device includes a grasping tool proximate to the distal end of the shaft and configured to fix the distal end relative to a target site. The medical device further includes a lock at the proximal end of the shaft and configured to fix the proximal end to an ancillary device.

Certain embodiments provide an adjustable length infusion cannula having a cannula including a first proximal end and a first distal end, and a hub having a second proximal end, a second distal end, and a central aperture that extends between the second proximal end and the second distal end. The central aperture is configured to accept the first distal end of the cannula and allow the cannula upward movement and downward movement through the hub. The adjustable length infusion cannula also includes a locking mechanism configured to lock the cannula within the hub such that the first distal end extends a first distance past the second distal end of the hub.

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.

An inserter apparatus (e.g., a continuous analyte monitoring inserter apparatus) includes an outer member; an inner member; a transmitter carrier configured to support a transmitter and biosensor assembly during insertion of a biosensor, the transmitter carrier including a bias member; and a pivot member configured to pivot at times relative to the transmitter carrier and support an insertion device during biosensor insertion. The outer member is configured to press the bias member against the pivot member during insertion of the biosensor. During a first stroke portion of the insertion apparatus, the pivot member is prevented from pivoting. In a second stroke portion, pivoting is allowed, and the bias member causes, pivoting of the pivot member and retraction of the insertion device. Other systems and methods embodiments are provided.