Abstract: A fistula treatment system comprises a guide such as a guide coil 1101 which is adapted to extend partially around a tissue tract and an implant element 1102. The implant element 1102 is activated to draw tissue surrounding the tract inwardly.

Abstract: Devices for removing implanted objects from body vessels are provided. A device includes a sheath assembly having a cutting tip. The cutting tip includes a cutting surface that is adapted to cut tissue coupled to an implanted object as the cutting tip rotates. The sheath assembly further includes an outer shield carried outside of the cutting tip. The outer shield includes a distal opening, and the outer shield is translatable relative to the cutting tip from a first position to a second position and vice versa. In the first position the cutting surface of the cutting tip is disposed within the outer shield, and in the second position the cutting tip extends through the distal opening and the cutting surface is at least partially disposed outside of the outer shield.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument that includes an ultrasonic transducer, a handle assembly supporting the ultrasonic transducer, a clamp arm assembly, and a mechanical lockout assembly. The handle assembly includes a housing and an ultrasonic blade acoustically coupled with the ultrasonic transducer. The clamp arm assembly includes a clamp arm. The mechanical lockout assembly is configured to switch between at least an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration. In the locked configuration, the handle assembly and the clamp arm assembly are not completely coupled together and the operator is physically prevented from activating the instrument using an operator input feature. In the unlocked configuration, the clamp arm assembly and the shaft assembly are completely coupled together and the operator is able to activate the instrument using the operator input feature.

Abstract: A clip applier may be configured to apply a surgical clip to tissue. The clip applier may include a first jaw member, a second jaw member, and a stabilizing member, each configured to engage the surgical clip. The stabilizing member may be configured to move longitudinally with respect to the clip applier from a first position at least partially between the first and second jaw members to a second position at least partially between the first and second jaw members. The longitudinal movement of the stabilizing member may be constrained to longitudinal movement between the first and second positions. The stabilizing member may include first and second sidewalls on a distal portion, where the first and second sidewalls are configured to stabilize the surgical clip in a lateral direction. The clip applier may include a hinge pin received in a longitudinal channel of the stabilizing member.

Abstract: A device for use in preventing stroke is provided. The device may include an expandable member that expands from a non-expanded configuration to an expanded configuration. The expandable member is located at a neck of a patient. An associated method is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods for the removal of objects from the body. The device may be a urethral catheter configured to aspirate kidney stones from the urinary tract through one or more aspiration ports at the distal face or along a lateral side of the catheter. The catheter may include one or more irrigation ports at the distal face or along the lateral side of the catheter for dislodging kidney stones. The device may be steerable. The spatial arrangement of the one or more irrigation ports with respect to the one or more aspiration ports may vary. The device may include an irrigation tube and/or a shield member configured to spatially confine the kidney stones adjacent the catheter. Various temporal patterns of aspiration and irrigation are disclosed for optimizing removal of kidney stones.

Abstract: A device for use in preventing stroke is provided. The device may include an expandable member that expands from a non-expanded configuration to an expanded configuration. The expandable member is located at a neck of a patient. An associated method is provided.

Abstract: A surgical instrument holder includes a carriage and a drive coupler. The carriage is configured for movable engagement to a surgical robotic arm. The drive coupler includes an outer member and a first gear rotatably disposed therein. The outer member extends from the carriage and defines a lateral slot configured for lateral receipt of a surgical instrument. The first gear defines a lateral slot and is rotatable within the outer member to a first position, in which the lateral slot of the first gear is in alignment with the lateral slot of the outer member such that a surgical instrument is receivable within the drive coupler through the lateral slots of the outer member and the first gear.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fixation system and method. The system and method may fix a selected member to a subject during a procedure. The selected member may include a tracking device or registration member.

Abstract: An instrument for removing debris from an eye during the treatment of an ocular disorder has a swab and a rigid member. The swab includes a tip portion sized to provide access to the debris on an eyelid of the eye. The rigid member has a distal end portion affixed to the swab and a proximal end portion with a cross-sectional member profile. The cross-sectional member profile is non-circular and has a first groove. The first groove extends longitudinally along the proximal end portion for cooperating with a chuck such that rotation of the proximal end portion within the chuck is inhibited.

Abstract: An injector for ejecting an intraocular lens into an eye, comprises a longitudinal injector body, in which an injector piston rod can be guided in an axially displaceable manner, an injector nozzle at a front end of the injector body, in the direction of which the injector piston rod can be displaced, a displacement mechanism for pushing the injector piston rod forwards, and an actuating element for the manual actuation of the displacement mechanism. The displacement mechanism includes a transmission mechanism, by means of which the actuating element and the injector piston rod can be placed in an articulated driving connection, and an operating region for the actuation of the actuating element is formed at a longitudinal side of the injector body.

Abstract: An anchor-storage device comprises (i) a housing, shaped to define a channel having an anchor-storage zone and an opening configured to provide access for an anchor driver to the anchor-storage zone; and (ii) a retaining member. A tissue anchor is stored in the anchor-storage zone and is slidable through the channel. The retaining member (a) has a retaining state in which the retaining member is configured to retain the tissue anchor in the anchor-storage zone, and (b) is configured, by moving in response to a proximally-directed force applied to the tissue anchor, to allow the tissue anchor to leave the anchor-storage zone in response to the proximally-directed force. The proximally-directed force is greater than a pre-determined threshold force. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The invention features methods and devices for controlling bleeding from blood vessels that may be damaged as a result of trauma or impact with an object, such as a bullet or shrapnel. The device may be wearable by a user and include one or more components, such as wound sealant and multiple inflatable balloons/bladders. The device may be integrated into a garment, e.g., a vest, jacket, trousers, or full body suit. Once triggered (automatically or manually), the device may be used to deliver wound sealant to a wound site and/or pressure to the wound site by selective inflation of one or more balloons over exsanguinating blood vessels that may be damaged, thereby stopping or minimizing the bleeding. Alternatively, or in addition, the device may be used to stabilize a wounded wearer for, e.g., transportation purposes, or to provide buoyancy. Devices of the invention may also be used as a blood pressure monitor, as a massaging device, and as a breast pump.

Abstract: A male form is configured as an attachment element for an injector for implanting an intraocular lens in an eye. The male form includes an elongate carrier part and a front part that is arranged at one end of the elongate carrier part. The front part has a front side and is made of an elastically deformable material, the deformable material being compressible at least in the direction of a longitudinal axis (A) of the male form. The front side includes a first peripheral side, an opposite second peripheral side, and at least one elongate indentation, which is formed in the front part and which is open at the front side. The indentation extends between the two peripheral sides and opens out at the peripheral sides. An injector for implanting an intraocular lens having the male form is also disclosed.

Abstract: Some aspects of the present invention are directed to unique products and methods for treating fistulae and other passageways and openings in the body. In some preferred forms, an inventive construct will include an elongate graft body that incorporates a plurality of sheet or sheet-like segments. The plurality of sheet or sheet-like segments, in some arrangements, will be stacked in a generally longitudinal direction along the length of the plug body, and optionally, the segments will be received over one or more elongate elements. Elongate elements of this sort can take a variety of forms including a suture, wire, filament, or other relatively thin-bodied elongate member, although in some forms, an elongate element will be or include a somewhat heftier structure such as a biodegradable or non-biodegradable three-dimensional body.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a delivery apparatus handle, such as for a mechanical heart valve frame can comprise an actuation knob with a toggle mechanism that can toggle the actuation knob from a first state in which the actuation knob is operable to cause the linear or rotational movement of multiple elements or sets of elements, such as tubes that are attached to, e.g., a mechanical heart valve frame to cause expansion or collapsing of the frame, to a second state in which only a single element or set of elements is moved, allowing for additional operations, such as, e.g., locking the frame and/or releasing it from the delivery apparatus.

Abstract: Described here are devices, systems, and methods for accessing the pericardial space through the pericardium. The access devices may include a plurality of elongate members having lumens that may be advanced together through the body to the pericardium. The elongate members may have different lengths and may be slideably positioned one within the lumen of another. At least one of the elongate members may comprise a distal tip configured to pierce tissue. In some instances, the access devices may also comprise a locking member to constrain the position of one elongate member relative to another.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for retrieving a blood clot are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an expandable wire frame for deployment using a push wire within a microcatheter. When deployed in the vicinity of a blood clot, the wire frame is configured to expand and trap the blood clot allowing the blood clot to be removed. The expandable wire frame is connected to the push wire at distal and proximal ends. One or more expansion stops define a minimum distance between the distal and proximal ends of the expandable wire frame and a point of maximum extension of the expandable wire frame. This may help the user to control the configuration of the apparatus as it is being used within the vascular system.

Abstract: A packaging for an implant to hold the implant in a first condition. The packaging including a first packaging tube and a container, wherein the implant is movable from the container into the first tube and maintained within the first tube in a second condition, the implant having a first transverse dimension in the first condition and a second transverse dimension in the second condition, the second transverse dimension being less than the first transverse dimension.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly for use with a surgical instrument including a cartridge, a longitudinal channel, a first row of slots, and a second row of slots. The cartridge has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The longitudinal channel extends between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The first row of slots is disposed on a first side of the longitudinal channel. At least one slot in the first row of slots is empty. The second row of slots is disposed on a second side of the longitudinal channel. At least one slot in the second row of slots has a staple disposed therein.