A method is described for performing a percutaneous operation on a patient to remove an object from a cavity within the patient. The method includes advancing a first alignment sensor into the cavity through a patient lumen. The first alignment sensor provides its position and orientation in free space in real time. The alignment sensor is manipulated until it is located in proximity to the object. A percutaneous opening is made in the patient with a surgical tool, where the surgical tool includes a second alignment sensor that provides the position and orientation of the surgical tool in free space in real time. The surgical tool is directed towards the object using data provided by both the first and the second alignment sensors.

This disclosure relates generally to medical devices, systems, and methods for activation of a photoactive agent during a medical procedure. In an aspect, a catheter system for activation of a photoactive agent may comprise a catheter comprising an elongate shaft comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a first lumen extending along the elongate shaft. A first flexible circuit may be disposed about the distal portion of the elongate shaft. A plurality of first light-emitting diodes (LEDs) may be disposed along the first flexible circuit. A second flexible circuit may be disposed about the distal portion of the elongate shaft. A plurality of second LEDs may be disposed along the second flexible circuit. A control unit may be coupled to the proximal end of the elongate shaft. The communications cable may be disposed within the catheter and may electrically couple the first LEDs with the control unit.

The present disclosure provides an endoscopic surgery apparatus that includes an insertion tube having a passage formed inside, and that is to be inserted into a patient's urethra; a laser part that is installed such that it can reciprocate in the passage, and that separates a prostate adenoma from a patient's prostatic capsular surface; a hemostasis part that is installed such that it is spaced apart from the laser part and can reciprocate in the passage, and stops bleeding of a bleeding blood vessel of the patient's prostatic capsular surface; a camera part that is located in the passage and that photographs inside of the patient's prostate; and a transfer part that selectively transfers the laser part and the hemostasis part.

An endoscope device includes: a light source capable of switching an optical spectrum of illumination light; an imaging device configured to acquire an image by receiving reflection light of the illumination light; an image processor configured to determine whether or not visibility deterioration has occurred within a visual field of the image acquisition section due to a fragment of a calculus crushed by being irradiated with a laser beam from a laser pulse generator; and a controller configured to control the light source based on a determination result obtained by the image processor. The controller causes the light source to emit white light as the illumination light in response to the image processor determining that the visibility deterioration has not occurred, and switches the illumination light emitted from the light source to light in a blue region in response to the image processor determining that the visibility deterioration has occurred.

A sheath assembly for use with an endoscope and an endoscope that includes the sheath assembly. The sheath assembly can include an elongate tubular sheath configured to thread onto a shaft of the endoscope. The sheath can include a pliable segment at a distal end of the sheath, and a tensile filament extends along a circumference of the pliable segment. The tensile filament can form a cinching loop at a distal end of the pliable segment. The sheath can be displaceable along the endoscope between a retracted position and an extended position. The pliable segment can extend distally beyond a distal end of the endoscope to form a chamber, and proximal displacement of the tensile filament tightens the cinching loop to convert the chamber from an open configuration to a closed configuration.

A basket apparatus is described that assists in removing objects from within a patient. The apparatus includes a number of pull wires, each pull wire physically coupled to a different capstan that individually actuates one of the pull wires. The apparatus also includes an outer support shaft itself including a number of channels through which the pull wires traverse. The portions of the pull wires extending out of the outer support shaft form a basket of adjustable size, shape, and position. The pull wires are attached together at a tip located at a distal end of the basket apparatus. By controlling the actuation of the various pull wires, the basket's shape, position size can be manipulated to reposition the basket around an object located within a patient, independent of or in conjunction with motion of the remainder of the apparatus or an associated endoscope.

Systems, devices, and methods for controlling cooperative surgical instruments are provided. Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for coordinated operation of surgical instruments accessing various surgical sites from different or shared surgical approaches to achieve a common or cooperative surgical purpose. For example, various methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can enable the coordinated treatment of tissue by disparate minimally invasive surgical systems that approach the tissue from varying anatomical spaces and must operate differently, but in concert with, one another to effect a desired surgical treatment.

A method for capturing an object in a cavity in a patient is described. The method includes advancing a ureteroscope into the cavity containing the object. A basket is advanced through a working channel of the ureteroscope. The basket is opened within the cavity and is positioned so as to enclose the object. Then, two actions are performed simultaneously. The basket is collapsed while simultaneously the basket tool is advanced forward so that the object remains within the basket, ideally near the center of the basket, as the basket closes around the object. Once the object is captured, the basket is retracted to remove the object out of the cavity. Further, this process may be automated by having the method carried out by robotic arms acting in tandem, with one or more robotic arms advancing the basket tool or ureteroscope, and another robotic arm collapsing the basket.

Plasma delivery tips of medical-grade plasma generating devices are configured to exclude potential contaminants while operating within body cavities. In some embodiments, delivery tips are provided with an antechamber, which is optionally filled by pressure of ionizing gas to prevent contamination. Some embodiments are provided with one or more interior and/or exterior valves configured to prevent proximal ingress of contamination to the longitudinal position of the discharge electrode, or at all into the gas delivery lumen. In some embodiments, an expandable distal section of the plasma delivery tip acts as a valve which seals when closed, and when open expands to generate an inflated antechamber into which plasma is delivered.

The present invention relates to comprehensive systems, devices and methods for delivering energy to tissue for a wide variety of applications, including medical procedures (e.g., tissue ablation, resection, cautery, vascular thrombosis, treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and dysrhythmias, electrosurgery, tissue harvest, etc.). In certain embodiments, systems, devices, and methods are provided for treating a tissue region (e.g., a tumor) through application of energy.