Abstract: A sea creature cleaning robot for an intake tunnel for a nuclear power plant includes a frame, cutter assemblies, and walking wheel assemblies; the frame is used for mounting and fixing cutter mounting seats and crawler wheels; the walking wheel assemblies mounted on the frame enable the entire device to normally walk in a tunnel; the cutter assemblies control the height of cutters by means of hydraulic cylinders to make the cutters contact the inner wall of the tunnel, and the hydraulic cylinders drive the saw-toothed cutters to move back and forth to remove sea creatures attached to the inner wall of the tunnel; the cutter assemblies are uniformly distributed on the frame, so as to ensure full coverage of the cleaning range of the cross section of the tunnel. The robot can clean sea creatures in tunnels in place of manual work to significantly improve the cleaning efficiency.

Abstract: Described herein are shock wave devices and methods for the treatment of vascular plaques. One variation of a shock wave device may include a pair of elongated, flexible concentric tubes comprising an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube and the outer tube may be connected together at one end, and at least a portion of the volume between the inner tube and the outer tube may be filled with a conductive fluid via the other end. At least two electrodes may be positioned between the inner tube and the outer tube, the at least two electrodes being electrically connectable to a voltage source and configured to generate shock waves in the conductive fluid in response to voltage pulses.

Abstract: Devices and methods for preventing reperfusion injuries when an occlusion balloon is deflated. A catheter having an infusion lumen exiting the catheter distal of a stent balloon and/or occlusion balloon allows a therapeutic agent to be introduced to a target location to establish desired temperatures and pressures prior to deflation of the balloon such that negative effects of reperfusion are minimized.

Abstract: A method of securing tissue is provided. The method includes obtaining a section of tubing, sizing the section of tubing to a desired length, securing the section of tubing to a connector member, securing the connector member to an end effector of a surgical instrument, guiding the end effector to a target location using the section of tubing, and performing a surgical procedure with the end effector.

Abstract: Intravascular devices and systems useful for blocking the opening of an aneurysm or a vessel branch are disclosed. In some aspects, the disclosure provides arrangements that align a covering material of a stent graft with an opening in the vessel wall before, during, and/or after expansion of the stent graft within the vasculature of a patient. In some instances, systems and devices include a sheath with a side aperture arranged to align a portion of the sheath and/or a portion of a stent graft contained within the sheath with the mouth of an aneurysm. Similarly, the present disclosure also provides embodiments in which the stent graft comprises an aligning member arranged to align the stent graft and/or a sheath with the mouth of an aneurysm. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An instrument includes a hand piece, a pair of jaws, and an actuator. The jaws extend from the hand piece. Each jaw includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The actuator is in communication with both the hand piece and the pair of jaws. Movement of the actuator causes the jaws to move from an open configuration to a closed configuration. During the move from the open configuration to the closed configuration, the jaws undergo a translational movement followed by a first non-translational movement.

Abstract: An instrument for applying clips in surgery particularly suited for microsurgery with instrument chassis and cover joined to form housing supporting handle and clip handling components, the handle for squeeze and release action to develop linear reciprocation motion of fixed excursion, the clip handling components for feeding a stack of clips one-by-one into instrument clip crimping jaws for application at a surgical site, an anti-backup mechanism constraining handle action to full pull and release strokes, and an instrument lock-out mechanism to prevent instrument operation after last clip in stack is used. Clip handling components of magazine carrier, magazine, clip stack, clip pusher, pusher spring, and pusher spring shaft are inserted into instrument in upwardly open channel and secured by pusher spring cover.

Abstract: Surgical instruments having a rotary drive that can selectively actuate multiple end effector functions are described herein. In at least one embodiment, a surgical instrument includes an outer shaft, an end effector coupled to the outer shaft, a rotatable drive shaft coaxially disposed within an inner lumen of the outer shaft, and a plurality of selectively engageable clutches configured to transfer torque from the rotatable drive shaft to the end effector. Each of the clutches is configured to convert the rotation of the drive shaft into one of a plurality of movements of the end effector relative to the outer shaft.

Abstract: A medical elongated body is disclosed, which is able to make a nick in a stenosed site and is capable of preferably widening the stenosed site in which the nick is made. A balloon catheter is disclosed, which includes a shaft, a dilation member that is fixed to the shaft on a distal side, and an elastic member that is disposed on an inner surface of the dilation member. The dilation member includes a projection portion, which is a part of the dilation member protruding in a radial direction due to the elastic member disposed at a position where the inner surfaces of the dilation member face each other. A material of the elastic member is configured to be a material, which is further stretched than a material of the dilation member in a circumferential direction when the dilation member dilates.

Abstract: A foot exfoliator may include an exfoliator base and a heel notch. The exfoliator base may include a front portion and a rear portion opposite the front portion. The heel notch may include a notch opening and a notch base, the notch opening disposed proximal to the front portion of the exfoliator base, the notch base sloping upwards from the front portion toward the rear portion, at least a portion of the notch base facing a front of the foot exfoliator.

Abstract: Endoscopic reposable surgical clip appliers including a reusable handle assembly and at least one reusable shaft assembly.

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves includes a tube formed with at least two longitudinal slits that form at least two struts (4). Each of the struts includes two or more pairs of notches (3) formed on opposite sides of the strut. The struts have a contracted orientation in which the struts are not expanded outwards from the tube and an outwardly expanded orientation in which the struts are expanded outwards from the tube and have sufficient strength and rigidity to impact and fracture a calcification in a heart valve.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating obesity are provided. More particularly, intragastric devices and methods of fabricating, deploying, inflating, monitoring, and retrieving the same are provided. More particularly, apparatuses and methods for enabling volume-occupying intragastric devices to pass through the digestive system are provided.

Abstract: An expandable introducer sheath provided with a steering mechanism is disclosed. The introducer sheath is configured for providing a prosthesis delivery system percutaneous access to a patient's vasculature. The introducer sheath includes a sheath component defining a central lumen and having a longitudinally-extending, radially-expandable portion. The sheath component also includes a steering wire slidably disposed within a wall thereof that longitudinally extends along the radially-expandable portion. When the steering wire is in a slackened configuration, the steering wire permits a width of the radially-expandable portion to increase. When the steering wire is in a taut configuration, the steering wire permits a distal portion of the sheath component to be manipulated or bent in order to align a distal port of the introducer sheath, for instance, with an ostium of a branch vessel.

Abstract: A surgical suture and method of suturing is described. The surgical suture includes a pair of matched fastening elements connected by a length of suture. The fastening elements have interlocking components, allowing a surgeon to adjust the tightness of the suture. Fastening element holding devices are also provided to guide the use the surgical suture. The method includes placing the fastening elements in the holding devices, threading one or both of the fastening elements through the body of the patient, and securing the surgical suture, and removing the holding devices.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a proximal portion forming a socket attached to an ultrasonic vibration generating device and a distal portion. The instrument extends from the proximal portion to the distal portion along a main longitudinal axis and also includes a fluid channel. The distal portion includes a cutting portion, a fluid port and one or two radial bumps extending radially outwardly. The radial projections have a longitudinal position corresponding substantially to the longitudinal position of the cutting portion, whereby the radial bump provides a mark and/or a tactile location point beneath the skin for the surgeon for use in rhinoplasty or jaw surgery.

Abstract: An ultrasonic phacoemulsification needle with improved safety and manufacturability, comprising: a metal connection body and a plastic needle in a splitting structure. The plastic needle is connected at the distal end of the metal connection body, and the metal connection body is connected to the distal end of an ultrasonic hand piece. The ultrasonic phacoemulsification needle employing a design of splitting the connection body and the needle alleviates the difficulties for manufacturing otherwise caused by the conventional phaco tip designs. It reduces the surgical costs from patients. In addition, the ultrasonic phacoemulsification needle using a plastic body reduces the likeliness of punctuating the capsule bag, which otherwise easily occurs in the metal needle case due to the extremely sharp rigid tip at the end of the needle, thus the risks of surgery are reduced and safety is improved.

Abstract: A medical device handle may include a handle housing including a cavity disposed within the handle housing. The medical device handle may include a carriage assembly disposed within the cavity and operatively connected to the tubular member and the medical implant, the carriage assembly being longitudinally movable between a distal position and a proximal position by rotation of a control knob with respect to the handle housing, the control knob being disposed around a proximal end of the handle housing. The carriage assembly may include a carriage member, a first sliding member, a second sliding member, and a locking element configured to releasably fix the first sliding member and the second sliding member relative to the carriage member. The locking element may be rotatable relative to the handle housing.

Abstract: A delivery device for percutaneously delivering a stented prosthetic heart valve includes a capsule assembly, a handle, and an outer stability shaft. The capsule assembly includes a capsule and a proximal shaft coupled to the capsule. The capsule includes an expanded configuration wherein the capsule has a first outer diameter, and a collapsed configuration wherein the capsule has a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter. The outer stability shaft defines a lumen and is coupled to the handle and configured to receive the proximal shaft within the lumen of the outer stability shaft. The outer stability shaft has an inner diameter, wherein the first outer diameter of the capsule is greater than the inner diameter of the outer stability shaft and the second outer diameter of the capsule is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer stability shaft.

Abstract: In one form, a surgical needle has a curved needle body having a first end and a second end and defines an interior region between the first and second ends. The interior region contains a center of curvature of the needle body. The first and second ends each terminate in a point. The needle body has an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, and defines an internal surface facing the interior region and an external surface facing away from the interior region. A recess is thrilled within the external surface of the needle body. In another form, the needle is provided in a sterilized package together with one or more elongate filaments each having a proximal end coupled to the needle body within the recess. A container holds the surgical needle and the filament.