Abstract: A delivery system for delivering an implantable stented device to a lumen of a patient, the delivery system including an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, a driver mechanism positioned at the proximal end of the elongated body, an elongated threaded rod located axially distal to the driver mechanism, and a sheath including an elongated tubular portion having a hollow interior portion with a first diameter that is sized for compression and retention of the implantable stented device in a compressed configuration for delivery to a body lumen.

Abstract: Provided is a stent of a novel structure with which deflection of a line-shaped body during expansion is prevented and a substantially uniform expansion is achieved over an entire length thereof, and with which, after implantation, stent fracture and damage of body tissue can be prevented by the stent exhibiting a superior pliability and conformability to a shape of a somatic lumen. A stent having a cylindrical peripheral wall formed with a line-shaped body that extends in a helical form in a circumferential direction while reciprocating in an axial direction at a given amplitude. In the stent, connecting parts are formed to link portions of the line-shaped body that are adjacent in the axial direction, and a friable part is provided to rupture itself by being implanted in the somatic lumen and release a link made by the connecting parts.

Abstract: A method for dilating a stenotic region in an airway of a patient may include advancing a balloon catheter through the airway of the patient to position an inflatable balloon of the catheter within at least a portion of the stenotic region, maintaining a position of the catheter relative to the patient, and inflating the balloon of the catheter to dilate the stenotic region of the airway. A system for dilating a stenotic region in an airway of a patient may include a catheter shaft having an overall length of less than 70 cm, an inflatable balloon disposed along a distal portion of the catheter shaft, and a stylet.

Abstract: A nasal dilator comprises a laminate of vertical layers each consisting of one or more members or components. The laminated layers form a unitary, or single body, truss featuring horizontal regions adapted to engage outer wall tissues of first and second nasal passages and to traverse the bridge of a nose therebetween. When in use the dilator acts to stabilize and/or expand the nasal outer wall tissues and prevent said tissues from drawing inward during breathing. The dilator includes means to direct its resilient properties comprising one or more interior or exterior material separations, or discontinuity of shape of material, formed in at least one region of the truss and extending through at least one layer of the dilator. Said material separation or discontinuity of shape may comprise an opening, relief cut, slit or notch, and which may be configured to separate or vertically protrude, in part, from the truss when the dilator is in use on the nose of a wearer.

Abstract: A tipless balloon catheter includes an elongate tubular body defining an inflation lumen and having proximal and distal ends. A balloon has a proximal neck mounted on the distal end of the elongate tubular body and a distal neck including a distal tip having a distal opening therethrough. The distal opening is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen and an interior of the balloon. A stiffening member extends between the distal end of the elongate tubular body and the distal neck of the balloon. The tipless balloon catheter has a wire guide path defined by the elongate tubular body, the interior of the balloon, and the distal opening.

Abstract: A nasal dilator is constructed as a single body truss having a resilient member structure comprising a plurality of overlaid, island-placed, or overlapping resilient members. Methods of mass producing dilator devices, individual resilient members, and overlapped, overlaid, and island-placed resilient member structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a surgical instrument. A surgical instrument can operate in an initial operating state and a secondary operating state. The secondary operating state can be one of a warned operating state or a modified operating state. After receiving feedback from the surgical instrument, an operator of the surgical instrument can decide whether to proceed to the warned operating state or the modified operating state.

Abstract: A luminal prosthesis comprises a plurality of radially expandable prosthetic stent segments arranged axially. Two or more of the prosthetic stent segments are separable upon expansion from the remaining prosthetic stent segments and a coupling structure connects at least some of the adjacent prosthetic stent segments to each other. The coupling structure permits a first group of the adjacent prosthetic stent segments to separate from a second group of the prosthetic stent segments upon differential radial expansion of the first group relative to the second group and the coupling structure maintains or forms an attachment between the adjacent prosthetic stent segments in the first group which have been expanded together. A delivery system and methods for deploying the multiple coupled prosthetic stent segments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An atherectomy system for removing a stenotic lesion from within a vessel of a patient is disclosed. The system comprising an atherectomy device for reducing the lesion and a separate elongate drainage catheter for evacuating from the treated vessel embolic particles released into the vessel from the stenotic lesion during its reduction by the atherectomy device during an atherectomy procedure. The atherectomy device and the separate elongate drainage catheter are each configured for introduction into the patient's vasculature though separate openings in at least one peripheral artery of the patient.

Abstract: A catheter device having a shaft that extends from a proximal end to a distal end to carry on its distal end a self-expanding implant for intraluminal advance on a guidewire and delivery of the implant to an implant site by proximal withdrawal of a sheath that lies radially outside the implant in the catheter, the catheter including a first shaft element to pull the sheath proximally and a second shaft element to push the implant distally to prevent the implant moving proximally with the sheath when the sheath is pulled proximally, wherein the second shaft element comprises a pusher-guider tube having a wall thickness with a plurality of discrete slits, the slits extending through the wall thickness of the pusher-guider tube.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a prosthetic valve (e.g., prosthetic heart valve) and a valve delivery apparatus for delivery of the prosthetic valve to a native valve site via the human vasculature. The delivery apparatus is particularly suited for advancing a prosthetic heart valve through the aorta (i.e., in a retrograde approach) for replacing a diseased native aortic valve. The delivery apparatus in particular embodiments is configured to deploy a prosthetic valve from a delivery sheath in a precise and controlled manner at the target location within the body.

Abstract: A medical instrument comprising: (a) a first joint comprising a first member and a second member, the first member configured to be repositionable with respect to the second member in a first degree of freedom; (b) a second joint operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint comprising a third member and a fourth member, the third member configured to be repositionable with respect to the fourth member in a second degree of freedom; (c) a pair of repositionable jaws operatively coupled to the first joint and the second joint; (d) an occlusion clip detachably mounted to the pair of repositionable jaws; and, (e) a controller operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint, and the pair of repositionable jaws, the controller including a first control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the first member and the second member, and a second control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the third member and the fourth member, and a third control configured to dir

Abstract: A surgical device includes a first member, deformable to move a pair of opposing projections toward one another. The projections are received in a pair of opposing openings in a second member, so the first member can pivot relative to the second member about an axis defined by the projections. In another aspect, a surgical instrument includes a first pinless joint pivotably coupling a first jaw to a second jaw, a second pinless joint coupling a distal end of an actuating member to the first jaw, and a third pinless joint coupling a handle to a proximal end of the actuating member. The third pinless joint translates movement of the handle into axial movement of the actuating member, and the second pinless joint translates axial movement of the actuating member into pivotable movement of the first jaw relative to the second jaw about the first pinless joint.

Abstract: Adjunct materials and methods of using adjunct material to reinforce a staple line are provided. In general, an adjunct material can be used to maintain a seal in tissue and can prevent stapled tissue from tearing. In some embodiments, a surgical stapler can include a jaw having an adjunct material associated with the jaw. The adjunct material can be attached to tissue via staples deployed by the stapler. In some embodiments, an adjunct material can be a woven material having a single layer or multiple layers, and each layer can have different mechanical properties. In other embodiments, an adjunct material can have a single layer or multiple layers of nonwoven material, such as suture compressed into a three dimensional structure.

Abstract: A kind of safety lancing device has a front cap and lancet holder with feature: the front cap and lancet holder are connected in insert-plug type, and the front cap is equipped with connecting block at connection end and the lancet holder is equipped with slot at connection end. And the slot includes slideable slot and deadlock slot. The slideable slot is located in front of deadlock slot. The latch is set at the flexible arm end of ejection pin and the latch is equipped with bayonet at the front end and equipped with latch hook at rear end; the width of slideable slot and deadlock slot is larger than that of latch; the slideable slot is equipped with a blocking shoulder at rear end and the deadlock slot is equipped with latching shoulder at front end.

Abstract: Disclosed is an expandable transluminal sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, low cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion of at least a part of the distal end of the sheath to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is configured for use in the vascular system and has utility in the performance of procedures in the left atrium. The access route is through the inferior vena cava to the right atrium, where a trans-septal puncture, followed by advancement of the catheter is completed. The distal end of the sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration during advancement to the right atrium and through the atrial septum into the left atrium. The distal end of the sheath is subsequently expanded using a radial dilatation device.

Abstract: An intracorporeal space filling device and a delivery system and method for using the device is disclosed. The space filling device is preferably configured for percutaneous delivery from a peripheral conduit of a patient. The space filling device has an elongated tubular or interconnected bead structure which may have a transmutable material disposed within it. The transmutable material can be altered from a non-rigid state to a rigid state by the application of various types of energy or by other suitable means. The space filling device can be positioned by a delivery system and detached from the delivery system after desired positioning is achieved.

Abstract: A device is provided to assist in closing an incision through body tissue that comprises a tubular body sized for introduction through the incision and carrying a plurality of stabilizer elements at the distal end thereof. The stabilizer elements are configured to be deployed within the body cavity to engage the lowermost tissue layer. In one method, the device is pulled with the stabilizer elements deployed to retract the body tissue away from adjacent body structure. In another method, a plurality of needle tips carrying sutures are guided through the body tissue to a retention device at the ends of the stabilizer elements. With the needle tips captured in the retention devices, the device is withdrawn from the incision so that the sutures form ligatures that can be tied off to close the incision.

Abstract: A one-piece handle assembly and a method of assembling the one-piece handle assembly. The one-piece handle assembly includes an outer tube connected to a fixed jaw and an inner tube connected to a moveable jaw. The inner tube is installed within the outer tube. The surgical instrument assembly further includes a handle body overmolded onto the outer tube and a handle grip connected to the handle body. The handle grip controls movement of the moveable jaw along an axis about defined through the outer tube. The one-piece handle assembly further includes a knife plunger for controlling activation of a knife rod assembly. The one-piece handle assembly is void of any welds, adhesives, or fasteners to complete the final assembly of the one-piece handle assembly.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a stent is provided for use in blood vessels with blockage near or in a bifurcation. The stent includes a side aperture. The stent is inserted into one of the daughter branches of the bifurcation and positioned with the use of markers. The stent is then expanded so as to support the wall of the blood vessel while allowing the blood to continue to flow to both daughter branches.