Modern surgery is developing towards a minimally invasive approach. To minimize the trauma the number of ports is either limited as in single incision laparoscopic procedures or ports are introduced through natural orifices as in natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). To provide surgeons with appropriate instrumentation novel technologies are employed involving magnets. This article summarizes the theoretical background, technology and currently developed magnetic instrumentation for NOTES, laparoscopic surgery and endoscopy. Moreover, current limitations and future goals are addressed to outline the prospects for use of magnetic instrumentation in the surgery of tomorrow.

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This article presents a mechatronic solution for rehabilitation devices supporting active and passive exercises in persons with motor dysfunctions of the upper limbs in the area of the elbow and shoulder joints. A planar positioner integrated with original software and a control system, served as the basis for creating the present solution. Bellman's programming method was applied to optimize the motion trajectory of the planar positioner along with the upper limb undergoing rehabilitation. The design of the planar coordinate positioner and the components of the system for supporting a therapy conducted by a rehabilitation specialist are presented.

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The article presents the analysis of methods for selecting dimensions of bone wedge for high tibial osteotomy. The existing methods are described along with the procedure. In the following paragraphs, deficiencies in the selection of bone wedge dimensions and global trends in this field have been demonstrated. Based on the numerical analysis, the problem appearing in the wrong choice of bone wedge dimensions was illustrated.