Abstract: An obstruction removal device is described having a variable external profile shape comprising one or more smaller profile regions and one or more larger profile regions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed in various methods, devices and systems relating to rotational atherectomy. More specifically, an oscillating driver is connected to a drive shaft, or torque transfer tube, with abrasive element mounted thereon. The result provides a rotational working diameter for the rotating abrasive element that is larger than its resting diameter. Generally, the preferred abrasive element is concentric in profile and/or with center of mass collinear with the drive shaft's rotational axis. However, eccentric abrasive elements, both in terms of offsetting center of mass and/or geometric eccentricity may also be employed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for removing a gallbladder is provided. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly, and a capture portion operably mounted on a distal end of the elongated body portion. The capture portion defines a tissue receiving opening when in an open configuration and is configured for receipt through an incision when in the capture portion is in a closed configuration. The capture portion includes at least one sharpened member for cutting tissue received within the tissue receiving opening as the capture portion moves from the open configuration to the closed configuration. Also provided is a method of removing a gallbladder using a surgical instrument.

Abstract: A deployment mechanism of a tissue-removing catheter includes a socket member received in a catheter body that is capable of moving longitudinally therein, and a ball member extending distally from the distal end portion of the cutting element and operatively connected to the socket member. The ball member is constrained axially relative to the socket member and is capable of pivoting relative to the socket member for allowing pivoting of the cutting element relative to the socket when the cutting element is moved from a retracted position to a cutting position.

Abstract: Elastic band ligation device for treating hemorrhoidal tissue, including an inner tube for retaining an elastic band, a plunger in the inner tube for drawing hemorrhoidal tissue into the inner tube, and an outer tube pusher sleeve disposed over the inner tube. A thumb pusher on the sleeve allows the operator to push the sleeve towards the front of the inner tube to deploy the elastic band from the front end of the inner tube onto hemorrhoidal tissue drawn into the inner tube. The sleeve has a locking mechanism including a tab for locking the sleeve to the inner tube to prevent relative movement of the sleeve and inner tube until the sleeve is unlocked by the user, thereby preventing premature deployment of an elastic band.

Abstract: An implant manipulator may have a distal end that retains an implant, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion between the ends. The intermediate portion may have a cross-sectional shape that extends along a nonlinear pathway. The intermediate portion may have a selectively bendable portion in which the cross-sectional shape varies to facilitate bending when desired. The implant manipulator may be a needle for a suture passer, with a suture capture feature at the distal end. The suture capture feature may have first and second members that flex apart to permit entry of the suture into a suture capture hole wherein the suture is retained until released. A suture passer may receive the needle in a bore shaped to change the cross-sectional shape to facilitate or restrict bending of the needle, as needed.

Abstract: Described herein are shock wave devices and methods for the treatment of calcified heart valves. One variation of a shock wave device includes three balloons that are each sized and shaped to fit within a concave portion of a valve cusp when inflated with a liquid and a shock wave source within each of the three balloons. Each balloon is separately and/or independently inflatable, and each shock wave source is separately and/or independently controllable. Methods of treating calcified heart valves using a shock wave device can include advancing a shock wave device having one or more balloons and a shock wave source in each of the balloons to contact a heart valve, inflating the one or more balloons with a liquid such that the balloon is seated within a concave portion of a valve cusp, and activating the shock wave source.

Abstract: A medical article resembling a soother has a teat portion for insertion into a baby's mouth and a mouth shield portion adapted to fit over the baby's face around the mouth and serving in use to limit the extent of insertion of the teat portion into the baby's mouth. The teat portion is of sufficient length and extends from the mouth shield at an angle towards the hard palate in the roof of the mouth when the shield is so fitted whereby a distal end portion of the teat portion is adapted in use to bear against the hard palate in the roof of the mouth. The teat portion is formed without voids with a relatively soft surface layer and a relatively harder inner core.

Abstract: A surgical suturing device comprises an arced needle track, an arced needle positioned in the needle track, and a length of suture connected to the needle. A reciprocating needle driver is operative to engage and move the needle in the needle track. A rotary input rotates about an axis. A link has a proximal end connected to the rotary input and a distal end connected to the needle driver. Rotation of the rotary input in a first angular direction translates the needle driver in a second angular direction opposite of the first angular direction.

Abstract: A suture anchor and method is disclosed in which a pair of anchor elements connected by a flexible cord are passed through a piece of soft tissue and embedded deeply into a bone. The cord holds the soft tissue securely to the bone and the anchors are embedded into more dense bone away from the location where the soft tissue contacts the bone.

Abstract: Teething device for an infant, with a substantially arc-shaped and elastically deformable teething element having two free end areas spaced apart from each other in an unloaded rest position, wherein the teething element forms a free gap between the end areas in the rest position and is substantially circular, and the arc-shaped teething element substantially simulates the shape of the jaw in such a way that, when it is inserted into the mouth and is substantially congruent with the jaw, the end areas are arranged in the area of the molars in the rest position of the teething element, wherein the free gap has an opening angle of between 15° and 35°, measured from the internal apex of the opening, and the arc-shaped teething element is elastically deformable in such a way that the two end areas can be arranged at least partially overlapping each other in a securing position.

Abstract: A method of preventing paravalvular leakage includes concurrent delivery of a heart valve prosthesis and an annular sealing component. During delivery, the sealing component is moved from a first position to a second position of the heart valve prosthesis which is longitudinally spaced apart from the first position of the heart valve prosthesis. The sealing component is secured around the heart valve prosthesis at the second position by a contoured outer surface of the heart valve prosthesis. The sealing component may be a flexible ring or may be a cylindrical flexible sleeve having a plurality of ribs longitudinally extending over the cylindrical sleeve. The ribs operate to deploy the sealing component such that at least a portion of the cylindrical sleeve buckles outwardly away from the outer surface of the heart valve prosthesis.

Abstract: A method of at least partially removing the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc comprising the nucleus and an annulus surrounding the nucleus is described. The method comprises the steps of: insonating the nucleus with ultrasound thereby to cause at least partial fragmentation of the nucleus; and extracting at least part of the fragmented nucleus. A system for performing the method is also described.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gripping device (10), e.g. a surgical retrieval device. The device includes an inversible tubular member (28), which is composed of interengaged stitches of resiliently flexible filamentary material and which is progressively transformable between an everted condition and an inverted condition. The device includes also actuation means (12,20) carrying the inversible tubular member and operable for effecting progressive inversion and eversion of the inversible tubular member. Through progressive inversion of the inversible tubular member, an object can be gripped thereby.

Abstract: A cutting device for repairing a heart valve may include a delivery catheter, a cutting unit including an elongate shaft and a plurality of cutting wires, and a plurality of centralizing wires configured to center the cutting unit within a treatment site. A method of repairing a heart valve may include withdrawing a cutting unit through a treatment site while maintaining a plurality centralizing wires in an expanded centering configuration.

Abstract: An ultrasonic actuated unit includes an intermediary portion continuous with an ultrasonic transmitting portion or connected to the ultrasonic transmitting portion at a node position of a longitudinal vibration, and a noncontact vibrating portion extending in directions parallel to a longitudinal axis without contacting the ultrasonic transmitting portion, an imprecise vibration being transmitted to the noncontact vibrating portion from the ultrasonic transmitting portion via the intermediary portion. The ultrasonic actuated unit includes a vibration absorbing portion absorbing the imprecise vibration transmitted to the noncontact vibrating portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally pertain to devices and methods for use in conjunction with implanting a baroreflex therapy system which includes an implantable pulse generator and associated circuitry contained within a hermetically sealed housing, an elongate flexible electrical lead connectable to the housing, and a monopolar electrode structure coupled with the electrical lead. More specifically, the devices and methods of the present invention allow for a mapping procedure to be conducted as part of the implant procedure prior to fully implanting the baroreflex therapy system.

Abstract: An explantation device for explanting implanted leads, having a distal end pointing in the direction of the explantation site and a proximal end pointing in the direction of the surgeon. The explantation tool comprising a locking sheath comprising a hose-like or tubular body having a lumen along a longitudinal axis and at least one clamping device at or in the vicinity of the distal end; and a cutting sheath for removing adhering tissue, having a proximal and a distal end and comprising a hose-like or tubular body having a lumen along a longitudinal axis and a detaching unit at or in the vicinity of the distal end; wherein the cutting sheath comprises at least one receptacle for the clamping device of the locking sheath.

Abstract: A surgical clip includes a pair of opposed arms joined at one end by an integrally formed flexible hinge and a hinge lock. A male locking pin near the free end of one arm is configured to penetrate tissue when the male locking pin is urged towards a mating female aperture near the end of the opposite arm. The clamping side of an arm may include a protruding feature, such as a wedge shape elongated ridge, while the clamping side of the opposite arm includes a corresponding trough or aperture that receives the protruding feature. Clamping surfaces may include non-slip protrusions, such as ribs, ridges, cones or pins. An applicator holding feature, such as a boss, near the hinge prevents the clip from yawing and becoming askew during application.

Abstract: Implantable therapeutic devices and methods for endovascular placement of devices at a target site, such an opening at a neck of an aneurysm, are disclosed. Selected embodiments of the present technology have closures (102) that at least partially occlude the neck of an aneurysm to stabilize embolic or coagulative treatment of the aneurysm. In one embodiment, for example, an aneurysm closure device comprises a closure structure (102) and a supplemental stabilizer (103). The closure structure can have a curved portion configured to extend along a first vessel, such as a side branch of a bifurcated vessel that extends along a lateral axis (T). The supplemental stabilizer extends from the closure structure along a longitudinal axis (L) transverse to the lateral axis of the first vessel. The supplemental stabilizer is configured to exert an outward force against a second vessel, such as a parent vessel, that extends transversely to the first vessel.