Abstract: The invention relates to a snare device for catching an object, in particular for catching objects or foreign bodies in a human or animal body, said snare device comprising a hollow element, in particular a catheter, and a snare made of a flexible elastic shape-memory material, wherein the snare is movable relative to the hollow element and can be pulled into the hollow element and pushed out of it, and wherein the snare has an impressed original shape to which said snare return, when pushed out from the hollow element, as a result of the material stresses caused when it was pulled in, wherein the original shape of the snare has a twisted area, as a result of which a first loop and a second loop are formed, wherein the first loop is arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow element, and the second loop is at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hollow element, and which is characterized in that the snare thus deformed is introduced into the hollow element and is a

Abstract: The present invention provides a tissue expander (10) comprising a self-inflating core (12) having a non-inflated state and an inflated state and a coating (14) surrounding said core (12), wherein said core (12) comprises two or more segments (16) of dried compacted material of height H joined to each other by conformable linking portions (18) of height h where H is greater than h. the conformable linking portions (18) allow for the expander (10) to be conformed to a desired profile either before or after insertion under the skin of a patient.

Abstract: A device for occluding a vasculature of a patient including a micrograft having an absorbent polymeric structure with a lumen of transporting blood. The micrograft has a series of peaks and valleys formed by crimping. The occluding device is sufficiently small and flexible to be tracked on a guidewire and/or pushed through a microcatheter to a site within the vasculature of the patient. Delivery systems for delivering the micrografts are also disclosed.

Abstract: A clip used to repair the tissue of a heart valve leaflet may include a shaft having a barb and a plurality of legs connected to the shaft. The plurality of legs may extend away from the barb in a first condition, and may extend towards the barb in a use condition. The clips may be delivered to the heart valve leaflet and applied to the same in a minimally invasive procedure using a transcatheter device. The device may be used to apply a single clip to the leaflet tissue or multiple clips.

Abstract: A method for repairing a soft tissue includes passing an asymmetric suture having a first region proximal to a first end of the suture, an asymmetric second region, and a third region proximal to a second end of the suture through a first suture anchor located at a first location on a bone beneath the soft tissue, passing the suture from the first suture anchor to a top surface of the soft tissue such that the first region of the suture forms a medial row, extending the suture along the top surface of the soft tissue such that the asymmetric second region of the suture forms a lateral row that lays across the top surface of the soft tissue, passing the suture through a second suture anchor located at a second location on the bone beneath the soft tissue, and tensioning the suture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical device (100) designed to be inserted into a stump of a hollow organ (40) of a person or animal in order to prepare a circular anastomosis, wherein the device (100) is designed without a stapling unit for producing a surgical stapled scam, wherein the device (100) has an instrument shaft (120) having a handle section (121, 300) and, at the end of time instrument shaft (120) away from the handle section (121, 300), a head section (130) that is or can be coupled to the instrument shaft (120) by means of a detachable coupling (113), wherein the handle section (121, 300) is designed for a user to hold the device (100), wherein the head section (130) has at least one first molded body (109) and a counter-pressure plate (111) of a surgical circular stapling device (160) connected to the first molded body (109), wherein the surgical device has fu least one first molded body (109) and one second molded body (108) between the handle section and the counter-pressure plate, the second

Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope; a proximal balloon secured to the sleeve; an inflation/deflation tube carried by the sleeve and in fluid communication with the interior of the proximal balloon; a push tube slidably mounted to the sleeve; and a distal balloon secured to the distal end of the push tube, the interior of the distal balloon being in fluid communication with the push tube, wherein the distal balloon is capable of assuming a deflated condition and an inflated condition, and further wherein when the distal balloon is in its deflated condition, an axial opening extends therethrough, the axial opening being sized to receive the endoscope therein, and when the distal balloon is in its inflated condition, the axial opening is closed down.

Abstract: Embodiments of an expandable sheath can be used in conjunction with a catheter assembly to introduce a prosthetic device, such as a heart valve, into a patient. Such embodiments can minimize trauma to the vessel by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the introducer sheath to accommodate the delivery apparatus, followed by a return to the original diameter once the prosthetic device passes through. Some embodiments can include a sheath with inner and outer layers, where a folded portion of the inner layer extends through a slit in the outer layer and a portion of the outer layer overlaps the folded portion of the inner layer. Some embodiments include an elastic outer cover positioned outside the outer layer. Embodiments of the present expandable sheath can avoid the need for multiple insertions for the dilation of the vessel, thus offering advantages over prior art introducer sheaths.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a rod-shaped grasp portion at a base end thereof, a functional portion used in medical practice at a front end thereof, and a shape-memory portion including a rod-shaped shape-memory alloy provided between the grasp portion and the functional portion. The grasp portion includes a holding portion having a space in which one end of the shape-memory portion is inserted from the longitudinal direction. The instrument has a gap between an outer surface of the shape-memory portion and an inner surface of the holding portion, and in bending the shape-memory portion, the shape-memory portion is capable of deforming within the range of the gap. Then, by bending, the outer surface of the shape-memory portion comes into contact with an inner edge portion of an opening of the holding portion, and thereby restricts deformation of the shape-memory portion beyond the predetermined range.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a pair of jaw members moveable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position. A drive bar is translatable between a distal and a proximal position for moving the jaw members between the spaced-apart and approximated positions. A lever is moveable between an initial position and an actuated position for translating the drive bar between the distal and proximal positions. A sleeve disposed about the drive bar includes an annular track having a substantially radial segment(s) and a substantially longitudinal segment(s). A collar interdisposed between the sleeve and the drive bar includes a stop member(s) extending radially outwardly therefrom. The stop member(s) is engaged within the track and is translatable from a first position, wherein the stop member is positioned within the longitudinal segment, to a second position, wherein the stop member is engaged within the radial segment, to lock the lever in the actuated position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to surgical clamping devices and applicators for use therewith. Embodiments of the surgical clamping device comprise a body and a pair of clamping members extending from the body. An electronic controller housed within the body is coupled to control movement of at least one of the clamping members to control a pressure exerted by the clamping members on a blood vessel clamped therebetween. At least one blood flow sensor is mounted to at least one of the clamping members to detect blood flow in the blood vessel. The clamping members are locked in place when blood flow has been occluded or constricted to the desired extent.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for closing an opening through a surface of a tissue site are described. The system includes a sealing member adapted to cover the opening to form a sealed space and a negative-pressure source adapted to be fluidly coupled to the sealed space to provide negative pressure to the sealed space. The system also includes a contracting layer adapted to be positioned adjacent the opening and formed from a material having a firmness factor and a plurality of holes extending through the contracting layer to form a void space. The holes have a perforation shape factor and a strut angle causing the plurality of holes to collapse in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opening. The contracting layer generates a closing force substantially parallel to the surface of the tissue site to close the opening in response to application of the negative pressure.

Abstract: An occlusion system includes a delivery catheter having an elongate body defining a delivery lumen, and an occlusion device including a bundle of elongate occlusion wires configured for simultaneous delivery through the delivery lumen. At least a portion of each of the occlusion wires includes a shape memory material and has a preformed shape. The occlusion system includes a delivery configuration in which each of the occlusion wires is positioned within the delivery lumen, urged against the preformed shape, and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the delivery lumen, and a post-deployment configuration in which each of the occlusion wires is released from the delivery lumen and conforms to the preformed shape. According to the preformed shape, each of the occlusion wires has a longitudinal segment remaining parallel to the longitudinal axis and a curved end providing an outward radial force with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Provided is a micro-robot which is integratedly or detachably coupled to one end of a catheter or a guidewire for performing a medical operation using the catheter. Steering and drilling are independently performed by using a catheter thinner in thickness than a related art catheter. The a micro-robot is smoothly inserted into a lesion part and removes a risk of injury and infection in an opening operation through precise steering.

Abstract: Provided is a fragmentation tip, an intraocular surgery device, a method for suppressing an occurrence of cavitation, and a cataract surgery method, which can suppress the occurrence of cavitation. The fragmentation tip, which is attached to an intraocular surgery device configured to apply ultrasonic vibration, includes: a cylindrical support portion configured to be mounted on the intraocular surgery device; and a cylindrical tip body provided at a distal end of the support portion to be in communication with an internal space of the support portion, wherein the tip body has a cross sectional shape having a length in a first direction that is larger than a length in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, and vibration is applied to the support portion so that the tip body rotates back and forth about an axis of the tip body that passes through its center in the first and second directions.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of a distal end of a surgical instrument. In general, the methods and devices can allow for controlling movement of surgical tools, and in particular for causing mimicked motion between an external control unit and a surgical tool positioned within a patient's body. In one embodiment, a surgical system is provided having a master assembly including an input tool and a slave assembly including a surgical instrument. The master assembly and the slave assembly can be configured to be electronically coupled together such that movement of the master assembly can be electronically communicated to the slave assembly to cause mimicked movement of the slave assembly.

Abstract: Tissue compression devices including a multi-chamber bladder that is retained within the tissue compression device, with the multi-chamber bladder being positioned in a bladder orifice in a base of a compression device body. The multi-chamber bladder includes at least one upper chamber located above the base and at least one lower chamber located below the base. The lower chamber is located between the base and a selected location on a patient when the compression device is positioned over selected tissue such as, e.g., a radial artery, as described herein.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods of treatment are described herein. More particularly, medical devices and methods for providing access to a bodily passage during dilation are described herein. An exemplary medical device comprises an elongate member and a balloon. The elongate member is moveable between a first, non-expanded configuration and a second, expanded configuration.

Abstract: A combination double-barreled and debranching stent graft and methods for its use, where the stent graft comprises, a main body stent graft defining a single lumen with distal and proximal ends, a first bifurcation in the main body defining first and second lumens, the main body stent graft defines a tubular wall that is contiguous with the first and second lumens such that any fluid entering the main body stent graft must exit by entering one of the first or second lumens, (c) a second bifurcation within the first lumen defining a first leg and a second leg, (d) a third bifurcation within the first leg defining a third leg and a fourth leg, and (e) a fourth bifurcation within the second leg between about 10 mm and about 20 mm distal from the second bifurcation defining a fifth leg and a sixth leg.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system is configured with rigid, curved cannulas that extend through the same opening into a patient's body. Surgical instruments with passively flexible shafts extend through the curved cannulas. The cannulas are oriented to direct the instruments towards a surgical site. A teleoperation control system that moves the curved cannulas and their associated instruments in a manner that allows a surgeon to experience intuitive control is disclosed. The flexible shaft instruments are controlled as if extending along a virtual straight line insertion and withdrawal axis. Various port features that support the curved cannulas within the single opening are disclosed. Cannula support fixtures that support the cannulas during insertion into the single opening and mounting to robotic manipulators are disclosed.