Abstract: Single filter and multi-filter endolumenal methods and systems for filtering fluids within the body. In some embodiments a blood filtering system captures and removes particulates dislodged or generated during a surgical procedure and circulating in a patient's vasculature. In some embodiments a filter system protects the cerebral vasculature during a cardiac valve repair or replacement procedure.

Abstract: A tissue-resecting end effector includes an outer shaft having a hub housing, an inner shaft including a sun gear, and a drive assembly disposed within the hub housing. The drive assembly includes a first and second drivers disposed about the inner shaft distally and proximally of the sun gear, respectively. The drive assembly further includes a plurality of planetary gears radially disposed about and in meshed engagement with the sun gear between the drivers, and a locking clip proximal of the planetary gears and the sun gear, rotationally keyed to the second driver, and engaged with the first driver via at least one snap-fit engagement. The locking clip retains the drivers and the planetary gears in operable engagement with one another and the sun gear such that a rotational input provided to the second driver drives rotation of the inner shaft.

Abstract: A robotic device for performing intracranial procedures, comprising a baseplate for mounting on the subject's skull and a rotatable base element rotating on the baseplate. The rotatable base element has a central opening through which a cannulated needle can protrude such that it can rotate around an axis perpendicular to the baseplate. This cannulated needle is robotically controlled to provide motion into and out of the subject's skull. A flexible needle is disposed coaxially within the cannulated needle, and it is controlled to move into and out of a non-axial aperture in the distal part of the cannulated needle. Coordinated control of the insertion motion of the cannulated and flexible needles, and rotation of the combined cannulated/flexible needle assembly enables access to be obtained to a volume of a region of the brain having lateral dimensions substantially larger than the width of the cannulated needle.

Abstract: A method includes indwelling a filter inside a body lumen in a living body so that the filter is indwelled at a position downstream from a stenosed site in the body lumen, moving a collection device in a downstream direction within the living body from upstream of the stenosed site to the stenosed site while the filter remains indwelled at the position downstream from the stenosed site, engaging the filter with the collection device while the filter is indwelled at the position downstream from the stenosed site so that the filter is connected to the collection device, and removing the collection device and the filter from the living body by moving both the filter and the collection device in an upstream direction while the filter and the collection device are engaged with one another.

Abstract: A clipping system includes an adapter configured to be mounted over an insertion device and a clip including first and second jaws movable between an insertion configuration and an initial deployed configuration. A first extending member is releasably coupled to the clip and movably connected to the adapter to permit a movement of the clip relative to the adapter from the insertion configuration to the initial deployed configuration. The first extending member is configured to permit withdrawal of the adapter away from the clip to place the system in a review configuration to enhance a visual observation of the clip. The first extending member is operable to retract the clip over the adapter so that the clip is forced open, freeing the clip from tissue on which it has been clipped. The first extending member is configured to release the clip therefrom in a final deployed configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods of repairing tissue are disclosed. Systems and methods may repair an opening through a hip capsule. Systems and methods preferably repair the tissue while minimally encroaching on the tissue immediately behind the repair, such as the hip joint tissues. Some systems may repair the tissue with a suture passer having a needle that slides in axial alignment with the passer and includes a first recess for passing the suture in a first axial direction and a second recess for passing the suture in an opposing axial direction. Some systems may pass a portion of a repair construct in a retrograde direction, placing the repair construct in a preferred arrangement accommodating for the stresses on the tissue.

Abstract: Embodiments related to surgical anchors are described. In some embodiments, a surgical anchor may include a selectively removable blocker which may prevent one or more barbs of the surgical anchor from engaging with adjacent tissue until the selectively removable blocker is removed.

Abstract: Tissue ligation systems and methods are provides to mechanically strangulate abnormal or undesirable tissue. Tissue ligation systems include a multi-lumen catheter having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of a standard endoscope channel such that the catheter can be inserted into the endoscope. Tissue ligation systems also include a ligation apparatus with an expandable hood disposed at the distal end of the catheter. A suture extends through a lumen of the catheter and has a distal loop portion that can strangulate tissue.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising: an outer conduit; a shape memory polymer (SMP) foam; a metal backbone including: (a)(i) a first portion that extends from the SMP foam proximal end to the SMP foam distal end and which is generally covered by the SMP foam, and (a)(ii) a distal portion that extends distally from the SMP foam distal end and which is not covered by the SMP foam; wherein: (b)(i) SMP foam and the metal backbone are both included within the outer conduit adjacent to the outer conduit distal end; (b)(ii) the metal backbone distal portion transitions from a secondary shape that is uncoiled to a primary shape that is coiled; and (b)(iii) the metal backbone distal portion is in the metal backbone distal portion secondary shape and is located between the SMP foam distal end and the distal end of the outer conduit.

Abstract: An animal identification system includes: a tray defining a set of tag receptacles; a set of tags, each tag defining a tag base and a barb and located in a tag receptacle in the tray; a set of backing plates, each backing plate defining a receiver and located in a tag receptacle in the tray with the receiver coaxial with a barb of a corresponding tag occupying the tag receptacle; and an applicator configured to insert into a tag receptacle in the tray, to retrieve a tag and a backing plate from the tag receptacle while maintaining a receiver of the backing plate coaxial with a barb of the tag, and to pierce an appendage of an animal and assemble the backing plate onto the barb of the tag in a continuous actuation motion.

Abstract: The invention provides a tissue cutting device comprising a handle, a first blade, and a second blade. The second blade is coupled to the handle. The second blade is rotatable relative to the first blade such that the second blade is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position. The second blade is in a same plane as the first blade when the second blade is in the first position. The second blade is rotated into a different plane from the first blade when the second blade is rotated from the first position toward the second position.

Abstract: Disclosed are implant and method for gradually restricting vascular blood flow in a host blood vessel. The implant N comprising an elongated body and at least one holding member. Implant body comprising a flow restricting portion enclosing a variable minimal internal diameter. Holding member is configured for restraining implant body to maintain the variable minimal internal diameter in a first minimal internal diameter, and to physically yield voluntarily after a first predetermined average duration of being continuously subjected to internal human body conditions, thereby releasing and allowing the implant body to elastically deform voluntarily such that the variable minimal internal diameter changes to a second minimal internal diameter, smaller than the first minimal internal diameter.

Abstract: A valve prosthesis and a system for delivering a valve prosthesis are described herein. The system can include a support frame, a valve anchor comprising an anchoring leg and a plurality of U-shaped members, and a connection member coupled to the support frame and slidably coupled to the anchoring leg.

Abstract: A device for reducing pressure within a lumen includes a reservoir structured for holding a fluid therein, an injection port in fluid communication with the reservoir, a compliant body structured to expand and contract upon changes in pressure, and a conduit extending between and fluidly coupling the reservoir and the compliant body. The fluid may be a compressible or a noncompressible fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detachable pacifier, comprising a limiting device and a pressing device which can be disassembled and assembled with each other, wherein a nipple is arranged below the limiting device and a dustproof cover is arranged outside the pacifier. The limiting device comprises a limiting plate and an annular support portion, an upper edge of the annular support portion is provided with annular clamping portions at intervals; the pressing device comprises a lower end cover, an upper end cover and a pull ring which can be disassembled and assembled with each other. The parts of the detachable pacifier can be disassembled, mounted and cleaned at any time. Further, the clamping blocks at the notch of the annular support portion and a limiting block which is matching the clamping block is provided in the lower end cover, to prevent the detachable pacifier from being disassembled by infants.

Abstract: A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube includes an elongated guide member residing at least partially with the medical tube. In a resting state, clearance members positioned along the guide member are in a low-profile configuration and allow a substantially unobstructed flow through a lumen of the medical tube. In use, the clearance members are in an enlarged-profile configuration to break up and clear obstructions from within the lumen of the medical tube.

Abstract: Multi-dose preservative-free ocular fluid delivery devices are provided. The fluid delivery device includes a fluid dispensing system and a fluid package for storing a liquid therein and supplying said liquid to the dispensing system. The dispensing system comprises an elongated chamber which includes a check valve which defines a frontal closure to the chamber. The valve is normally closed and hermetically seals the chamber. The dispenser includes a vibration motor that induces oscillations to the chamber and to the fluid within. The oscillations of the chamber impart momentum to the fluid stored in the chamber which in turn imparts force that cyclically opens the valve to dispense streams or liquid droplets. Fluid is dispensed only when the motor oscillates while otherwise the valve is hermetically closed.

Abstract: Suture passers and methods of use. Described herein are suture passers preloaded with suture, including cartridges that couple to a suture passer to form a loaded suture passer that are configured to prevent a length of suture (e.g., already-passed suture) from re-entering the channel of the suture passer jaw and getting recaptured and/or entangled by the tissue penetrator. In particular, described herein are preloaded and automatically re-loading suture passers that are adapted to include a gate, guide or shield on one of the jaws of the suture passer, and methods of operating such suture passers for surgical use including repairing tissue.

Abstract: Various exemplary methods and devices for auto return of articulated end effectors are provided. In general, a surgical device can include an end effector configured to articulate. The device can include an actuator configured to be actuated to move the end effector from an articulated position to an unarticulated position. In at least some embodiments, the actuator can also be configured to be actuated to move the end effector from the unarticulated position to the articulated position. In at least some embodiments, the device can include the actuator and include another actuator configured to rotate the end effector about a longitudinal axis of an elongate shaft having the end effector at a distal end thereof. In at least some embodiments, the device can include the actuator and include another actuator configured to articulate the end effector from the unarticulated position to the articulated position.

Abstract: A clamp for a medical procedure includes a first clamp member, a second clamp member, a hinge, a biasing member, a shaft, and an actuator. The hinge couples the first ends of the first and second clamp members such that the first clamp member is pivotable relative to the second clamp member. The biasing member couples the second ends of the first and second clamp members and is configured to apply a clamping force. The distal end of the shaft and the biasing member are fixedly coupled with at least one of the first clamp member or the second clamp member for a duration of the medical procedure. The actuator is operatively coupled with the biasing member such that the actuator selectively tensions the biasing member to provide the clamping force.