Abstract: Endoprosthesis assemblies and methods for using the same. In at least one embodiment, the endoprosthesis assembly comprises an endoprosthesis comprising an impermeable inner wall defining an endoprosthesis lumen sized and shaped to permit fluid to flow therethrough, a distal balloon positioned at or near a distal end of the endoprosthesis and capable of inflation to anchor the distal end of the endoprosthesis within a luminal organ, and a proximal balloon positioned at or near a proximal end of the endoprosthesis and capable of inflation to anchor the proximal end of the endoprosthesis within the luminal organ, wherein when the endoprosthesis assembly is positioned within the luminal organ at or near an aneurysm sac, inflation of the distal balloon and the proximal balloon effectively isolates the aneurysm sac and prevents fluid within the aneurysm sac from flowing past the distal balloon and the proximal balloon.

Abstract: A medical implant delivery system is described. The system can be used to deliver a variety of implants including stents and/or stent grafts. The delivery system retains the implant during delivery and detaches the implant at a target location.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a shaft assembly proximally extending from the end effector, and at least one translatable rack gear assembly coupled with the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes at least one elongate member connected to a select one or both of the end effector and the shaft assembly. The at least one translatable rack gear assembly includes a rack gear, an anchor longitudinally adjustable relative to the rack gear, and an insert received within the anchor. The anchor is coupled with the at least one elongate member such that adjustment of the anchor relative to the rack gear longitudinally moves the insert and the at least one elongate member for adjusting tension of the at least one elongate member.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for facilitating stretching of a biological tissue by forming a plurality of micro-slits in the tissue. Each micro-slit can be less than about 2 mm or less than about 1.5 mm long, or even less than about 1 mm, such that small gaps that can heal quickly can be formed when the tissue is stretched. The micro-slits can be formed using a plurality of cutting arrangements or an ablative laser. The micro-slits can be formed in various patterns, including staggered rows, circular or spiral patterns, or random patterns.

Abstract: Methods and devices for transvascular prosthetic chordae tendinae implantation are disclosed. A catheter is advanced into the left atrium. From an atrium side, the catheter can be anchored to a superior surface of a mitral valve leaflet and a leaflet anchor can be advanced into the mitral valve leaflet to secure the mitral valve leaflet to a leaflet suture. A ventricular anchor is anchored to the wall of the ventricle to secure the ventricular wall to a ventricle suture. The leaflet suture and the ventricle suture may be tensioned and connected by a suture lock to form an artificial chordae.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed including a transducer, an ultrasonic blade, a protective sheath, and a non-vibrating clamp arm assembly. The ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer. The ultrasonic blade comprises a body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is movable along the longitudinal axis by vibrations produced by the transducer. The protective sheath comprises a proximal end and a distal end and disposed adjacent to the body. The protective sheath further comprises a pad positioned toward the distal end of the protective sheath and located between the body and the distal end of the protective sheath. The non-vibrating clamp arm assembly has a proximal end and a distal end and pivotally positioned adjacent to the body. The clamp arm assembly is pivotally moveable from an open position to a closed position.

Abstract: Methods and devices for transvascular prosthetic chordae tendinea implantation are disclosed. A catheter is advanced into the left atrium. From an atrium side, a leaflet connector carried by a distal end of the catheter can be anchored to a superior surface of a mitral valve leaflet. A needle is axially advanceable through the leaflet connector and through the leaflet. A leaflet anchor having a leaflet suture can be advanced out of the needle to secure the mitral valve leaflet to the leaflet suture. A ventricular anchor is anchored to the wall of the ventricle to secure the ventricular wall to a ventricle suture. The leaflet suture and the ventricle suture may be tensioned and connected by a suture lock to form an artificial chordae.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of deflecting an end effector include an acoustic waveguide with a proximal waveguide body portion defining a longitudinal axis, a distal waveguide body portion having an ultrasonic blade distally projecting therefrom, and an articulation body portion extending between the proximal and distal waveguide body portions. The articulation body portion of the acoustic waveguide is configured to flex a first direction to thereby deflect the ultrasonic blade relative to the longitudinal axis and through a first plane. In addition, the articulation body portion of the acoustic waveguide is further configured to flex a second direction to thereby deflect the ultrasonic blade relative to the longitudinal axis and through a second plane. The second direction is different than the first direction such that the second plane is different than the first plane for multiplanar deflection of the ultrasonic blade relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Valve repair systems and clips for attachment to one or more leaflets of a heart valve. The clip can include an elongated member configured to be positioned between two leaflets of the heart valve. The elongated member can have a first portion and a second portion that extends from the first portion. A width of the second portion can be greater than the width of the first portion. A pair of arms can be coupled to the first portion and extend toward the second portion. The pair of arms can extend radially away from the elongated member as the pair of arms extend away from the first portion toward the second portion when the arms are in an open position. And the pair of arms can be moveable from the open position to a closed position to pinch each leaflet between one of the arms and the elongated member.

Abstract: A system for endoluminal delivery of a medical device, wherein the medical device includes a bifurcated stent graft having a trunk, a first leg and a second leg shorter than the first leg. The system includes a sheath having a tubular wall having a cylindrical inner surface defining a lumen for receiving the stent graft therein to constrain the stent graft toward a delivery configuration suitable for endoluminal delivery, and a generally cylindrical core member extending through the lumen. The core member has a first annular surface for engaging an end of the first leg. The core has a second annular surface for engaging an end of the second leg while at least the end of the second leg remains constrained by the sheath.

Abstract: Methods and devices for transvascular prosthetic chordae tendinea implantation are disclosed. A catheter is advanced into the left atrium, through the mitral valve, and into the left ventricle. A ventricular anchor is deployed from the catheter and into a wall of the left ventricle, leaving a ventricular suture attached to the ventricular anchor and extending proximally through the catheter. A leaflet anchor is deployed to secure a mitral valve leaflet to a leaflet suture, with the leaflet suture extending proximally through the catheter. The leaflet suture is secured to the ventricular suture to limit a range of travel of the leaflet in the direction of the left atrium. Also disclosed is an assembled in situ mitral valve leaflet restraint, having a neo papillary muscle and a neo chordae tendinea.

Abstract: A hemostatic device can perform hemostasis by compressing a puncture site on a hand of a patient, and can prevent a movable range of fingers from being narrowed or can prevent misalignment at a wearing position, when the hemostatic device is worn on the hand. The hemostatic device has a covering portion to cover a site where bleeding is to be stopped on a hand of a patient, and a pressing portion that compresses the site where bleeding is to be stopped, in a state where the covering portion covers the site where bleeding is to be stopped. The covering portion includes a securing portion that surrounds at least a portion of the hand while covering the pressing portion, and a restriction portion that restricts a movement of the securing portion in an axial direction. The restriction portion is disposed between adjacent fingers and of the hand.

Abstract: Methods and devices for transvascular prosthetic chordae tendineae implantation are disclosed. A catheter is advanced into the left atrium. From an atrium side, a leaflet anchor having a leaflet suture is secured to the mitral valve leaflet. A ventricular anchor is anchored to the wall of the ventricle to secure the ventricular wall to a ventricle suture. The leaflet suture and the ventricle suture may be tensioned and connected by a suture lock to form an artificial chordae. The suture lock has a body with a suture path extending therethrough. A wall in the housing is movable to reduce the cross section of the suture path. A drive mechanism advances the movable wall to clamp sutures extending through the suture path, in response to rotation of a coupling on the housing.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument is disclosed including an ultrasonic blade, an ultrasonic transducer operably coupled to the ultrasonic blade, and a control circuit. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the ultrasonic blade based on a drive signal. The control circuit is configured to provide the drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer, monitor a vibration frequency of the drive signal, and modify the drive signal based on a change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument including a blade that treats tissue and a fluid control system to cool the blade by pumping cooling fluid through the blade. The blade defines a blade lumen in fluid contact with an inflow and return conduit of the fluid control system. The inflow conduit defines an open distal end positioned within the blade lumen adjacent the distal end of the blade lumen and the return conduit defines an open distal end positioned within the blade lumen adjacent the proximal end of the blade lumen. The fluid control system may further include a fluid reservoir holding the cooling fluid and an inflow pump. The inflow pump is configured to deliver the fluid from the fluid reservoir, through the inflow conduit and the blade lumen, and into return conduit.

Abstract: Devices and methods may allow for the removal of material from a remote location in the vasculature. In an example of such a remote location, the device may be used in the vasculature of a lower extremity in combination with an external cuff. The external cuff may create a dam preventing material from flowing throughout the body. With the external cuff in place, the device of the present disclosure may be utilized to suction the material from the vasculature while rotating the catheter to assist in the removal of the material.

Abstract: A soluble needle (100) for hair transplantation, wherein the soluble needle (100) comprises a fixing plate (30) and a plurality of micro-needles (20) made of water-soluble polymers arranged on the fixing plate (30), wherein each of said micro-needle (20) comprises a needle wall (21) to penetrate scalps and a needle cavity (22) confined by the needle wall (21) and configured for accommodating a hair follicle. A method of manufacturing a soluble needle (100) for hair transplantation, wherein the method includes: dissolving water-soluble polymers in water to prepare a molding solution (S101); delivering the molding solution into a mold (S102); letting the molding solution settle in the mold to shape (S103); and separating and removing the mold to produce the soluble needle (S104). The soluble needle (100) effectively shortens the time of surgery, reduces the pain of the patients, and increases the viability rate of transplanted hair follicles.

Abstract: A balloon guiding sheath may include an elongated sheath comprising a proximal end, a distal end, an inner tube, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, an access port, a distal port, and a working lumen extending through an interior portion of the elongated sheath between the access port and the distal port. The balloon guiding sheath may also include an inflatable balloon located on an outer surface of the elongated sheath adjacent the distal end. The balloon guiding sheath may include a plurality of inflation holes extending through a side wall of the elongated sheath. The elongated sheath may be sized and configured to enable direct insertion into a patient's vasculature through an arteriotomy in at least one of a femoral artery and vertebral artery to position the inflatable balloon at a target site.

Abstract: A removal device and a removal system are configured to effectively remove an object in a body lumen while suppressing damage to another device. The removal device includes an elongated shaft part, and a cutting part fixed to a distal portion of the shaft part. The proximal portion of the cutting part includes a ring-shaped cutting blade, and a surface of the cutting part on which the cutting blade is positioned is inclined relative to center axis of the shaft part at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees.

Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical device characterized by comprising: a manipulable handle (2) manipulated by a user inside a body cavity, a treatment part (3) that holds a specific swappable surgical instrument that is inserted into the body cavity and manipulated using the manipulable part, and a linking part (4), provided between the manipulable handle and the treatment part, for disposing the surgical instrument held by the treatment part in a desired orientation at a desired position within the body cavity.