Abstract: An elastic percutaneous elastic introducer sheath is disclosed which can locally expand and reduce to accommodate a transcatheter medical device. The elastic introducer sheath includes a non-circumferentially continuous elastic frame, a liner, and a jacket.

Abstract: The invention relates to a prosthesis (1) for the repair of an inguinal hernia comprising: a textile (2) of elongate shape, a resilient frame (3) connected to said textile, characterized in that said frame comprises a convex cranial segment (3c), a caudal segment (3d), a lateral corner segment (3b) joining together the convex cranial segment and the caudal segment, and a folding segment (5) joining a medial end of said convex cranial segment to a point located on the caudal segment while leaving the region of the medial end of the textile free of any frame, said frame being able to adopt an unstressed configuration, in which said textile is deployed, and a stressed configuration, in which said convex cranial segment, said caudal segment and said folding segment are substantially collected together and aligned on one folding direction, said textile forming thereby at least one fold along said folding direction.

Abstract: A method is disclosed, including joining a balloon to a resilient inner body of a balloon assist device, the balloon comprising an axial length shorter than an axial length of the inner body; expanding a slit in the resilient inner body of the balloon assist device; inserting a catheter through the slit; and releasing the slit to contract the balloon assist device around the catheter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thrombectomy stent system, comprising a thrombectomy stent, wherein the thrombectomy stent is roll-shaped, and the cross section of the thrombectomy stent is of an open-ring structure. Disclosed is a thrombectomy device, comprising the thrombectomy stent, wherein the thrombectomy stent is provided with a developing element that can accurately display the expansion state of the thrombectomy stent during thrombectomy and the specific position of the thrombectomy stent so as to determine the situation of the thrombectomy stent being fused with a blood vessel. Disclosed is a thrombectomy device system, comprising the thrombectomy stent and a push rod, wherein a proximal end of the thrombectomy stent is connected to the push rod, and the proximal end of the thrombectomy stent or the push rod is connected to a catching member; and the catching member is configured to receive the thrombectomy stent. The catching member can effectively catch a thrombus that is detached during the thrombectomy.

Abstract: Inflatable medical devices and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. The devices can be medical invasive balloons, such as those used for transcutaneous heart valve implantation, such as balloons used for transcatheter aortic-valve implantation. The balloons can have high strength, fiber-reinforced walls.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a microsurgical instrument includes a trocar having a rigid, hollow shaft formed with a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the shaft. The distal end of the shaft may be shaped for tissue penetration. The instrument may further include a composite microcannula slidably engaged with the trocar in the lumen. The microcannula includes a light guide and a flexible hollow tube having an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the lumen in the trocar. Other embodiments include placing the microcannula in the lumen of the trocar, illuminating the end of the trocar by illuminating the end of the microcannula, advancing the trocar from a selected entry point on an eye into a selected structure in the eye, and extending the illuminated end of the microcannula from the trocar into the selected structure.

Abstract: Drug delivery articles, resident articles, and retrieval systems e.g., for gram-level dosing, are generally provided. In some embodiments, the articles are configured for transesophageal administration, transesophageal retrieval, and/or gastric retention to/in a subject. In certain embodiments, the article includes dimensions configured for transesophageal administration with a gastric resident system. In some cases, the article may be configured to control drug release e.g., with zero-order drug kinetics with no potential for burst release for weeks to months. In some embodiments, the articles described herein comprise biocompatible materials and/or are safe for gastric retention. In certain embodiments, the article includes dimensions configured for transesophageal retrieval. In some cases, the articles described herein may comprise relatively large doses of drug (e.g., greater than or equal to 1 gram).

Abstract: A suture anchor system including an anchor, a plug and an inserter. The anchor inserter includes a tubular outer shaft having a cannulation dimensioned to receive an inner shaft. The distal end of the outer shaft cannulation is threaded for engagement with the plug. The anchor includes a longitudinal cannulation formed within the anchor body, including a smooth-sided portion and a threaded portion. An eyelet, dimensioned to receive a suture therein, extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the anchor and intersects the distal portion of the cannulation. The plug is a generally elongated, tubular threaded rod comprising a cannulation adapted to receive a distal end of the inner inserter shaft.

Abstract: An intravascular delivery device is disclosed comprising a delivery wire having a proximal and a distal end and an interior lumen extending there between and wherein said distal end comprises a connection interface adapted to matingly interlock with a proximal end portion of a medical implantable device, wherein said delivery device comprises a locking unit arranged to secure said connection interface in a locking position in which said medical implant is pivotably locked before a controlled release.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and end effector coupled to the distal end of the shaft. An electrical transmission conduit extends along the shaft from the proximal end to the distal end and is configured to deliver electrical energy to energize the end effector. A connector assembly electrically couples the electrical transmission conduit to the end effector, and the end effector is pivotably coupled to the connector assembly. In another aspect, a surgical instrument includes a pin, an electrically conductive connector including a contact portion and an attachment, the contact portion surrounding the pin. An electrical conduit is electrically coupled to the attachment of the connector. An electrically conductive jaw including an aperture is pivotable around the contact portion, and the contact portion electrically contacts the jaw at the aperture of the jaw.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a microsurgical instrument includes a trocar having a rigid, hollow shaft formed with a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the shaft. The distal end of the shaft may be shaped for tissue penetration. The instrument may further include a composite microcannula slidably engaged with the trocar in the lumen. The microcannula includes a light guide and a flexible hollow tube having an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the lumen in the trocar. Other embodiments include placing the microcannula in the lumen of the trocar, illuminating the end of the trocar by illuminating the end of the microcannula, advancing the trocar from a selected entry point on an eye into a selected structure in the eye, and extending the illuminated end of the microcannula from the trocar into the selected structure.

Abstract: A robotic surgery system includes: (1) a positioning stage and (2) at least one manipulator arm mounted to the positioning stage, wherein the manipulator arm includes a track and a tool carriage moveably mounted to the track, and the tool carriage includes a base and a pair of light emitting devices mounted to the base.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for a steerable medical device, configured to be used in conjunction with guide tools and devices in medical procedures, including endoscopes, cameras, cutting tools and catheters.

Abstract: A device and method for cutting or ablating tissue in a human or veterinary patient includes an elongate probe having a distal end, a tissue cutting or ablating apparatus located adjacent within the distal end, and a tissue protector extending from the distal end. The protector generally has a first side and a second side and the tissue cutting or ablating apparatus is located adjacent to the first side thereof. The distal end is structured to be advanceable into tissue or otherwise placed and positioned within the patient's body such that tissue adjacent to the first side of the protector is cut away or ablated by the tissue cutting or ablation apparatus while tissue that is adjacent to the second side of the protector is not substantially damaged by the tissue cutting or ablating apparatus.

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves includes a stabilizer and an impactor movable towards each other. The impactor includes one or more impactor arms, each of which extends distally from a proximal cap. The impactor further includes one or more lever arms each of which is distally coupled to a lever cap and proximally coupled to a corresponding one of the one or more impactor arms. The lever cap slides on a shaft which extends towards the proximal cap. Proximal movement of the lever cap towards the proximal cap causes the one or more lever arms to deform and to push against the one or more impactor arms and to cause the one or more impactor arms to deform.

Abstract: An infusion filter design combines a fluid infusion device and a blood filtration device that filter blood during a thrombolysis procedure while allowing for complete filter removal on procedure completion. In one embodiment, a wire comprises a proximal, non-infusible length that extends partially outside of the patient and within the vein. The wire further comprises an infusible length distally from the non-infusible length that is extends within the vein so as to be placed at the section of the vein requiring medication. The wire also comprises a distal filter component at a distal end of the wire that is employed to filter the blood in the event that during the period that clot is dissolved it migrates toward the central circulation.

Abstract: A surgical instrument assembly includes a surgical instrument having an instrument body, an elongate member with a distal end configured to be inserted into an anatomical passageway of a patient, a sensor operable to generate a signal corresponding to a location of the elongate member, and a first electrical connector electrically coupled with the sensor. The assembly further includes a cable assembly having a cable that communicates with a processor, and a coupling that releasably couples with the instrument body. The coupling includes a coupling body having first and second lateral sides that extend parallel to one another and are configured to extend parallel to a side of the instrument body when the coupling is coupled with the instrument body. The coupling includes a second electrical connector that electrically couples with the first electrical connector to transmit the signal from the sensor proximally through the cable and toward the processor.

Abstract: A positioning wand for assisting in positioning at least one of a first magnetic implant and a second magnetic implant configured for forming an anastomosis between two adjacent walls of a digestive tract of a patient is provided. The positioning wand can include an elongated member sized and configured to be inserted into an abdominal cavity of the patient, and a distal tip provided at a distal end of the elongated member. The distal tip can include a guide magnet configured to magnetically couple with the at least one of the first and second magnetic implants through a wall of the digestive tract to position the at least one of the first and second magnetic implants to a desired site of the anastomosis. The distal tip can be configured to be moveable in response to a contact pressure upon contact with the wall of the digestive tract.

Abstract: A medical system may include an insertion device having a handle, a shaft coupled to the handle of the insertion device, and a port positioned on the handle of the insertion device. The port may be in fluid communication with a working channel of the shaft. The port may be a female luer port. The medical system may further include a medical device having a control member terminating in an end effector, a handle having a plurality of circumferential slots along the length of the handle, and a plunger moveable along a longitudinal axis of the handle of the medical device between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the end effector may be positioned within the shaft, and in the second position, the end effector may be positioned distally of the shaft.

Abstract: A method of using an apparatus to protect the tissues, muscles and nerves of the female pelvic floor from trauma during vaginal childbirth, the apparatus having a softly expansible intravaginal component and a support component with a handle attached to the intravaginal component, the method including deploying the intravaginal device into a vaginal canal and under a fetal head in the vaginal canal during vaginal childbirth, attaching the handle device to the central body, and delivering fluid through the handle device into the intravaginal device and inflating the intravaginal device with the fluid to deploy the wings on the intravaginal device from the stored configuration into the deployed configuration to provide support and stabilization to at least one from among a perineal, perianal, and anal region and preventing or mitigating the subsequent development of abnormal fistulous communications between the vagina and either the urinary bladder or the rectum or both.