Abstract: Surgical methods and related medical devices for treating glaucoma are disclosed. The method comprises trabecular bypass surgery, which involves bypassing diseased trabecular meshwork with the use of a stent implant. The stent implant is inserted into an opening created in the trabecular meshwork by a piercing member that is slidably advanceable through the lumen of the stent implant for supporting the implant insertion. The stent implant is positioned through the trabecular meshwork so that an inlet end of the stent implant is exposed to the anterior chamber of the eye and an outlet end is positioned into fluid collection channels at about an exterior surface of the trabecular meshwork or up to the level of aqueous veins.

Abstract: An interventional catheter is adapted for treating a blood vessel. In an embodiment, the catheter includes an elongate shaft sized for insertion in a blood vessel and a stent positioned on a distal region of the elongate shaft. An expandable dilation member is coupled to a distal region of the elongate shaft. The expandable dilation member is adapted to expand outward. A stent containment member is positioned over the elongate shaft and the stent to contain the stent in a collapsed state.

Abstract: A balloon catheter includes a flexible elongated shaft and a balloon fixed to the distal portion of the shaft. The balloon expands and contracts. The balloon includes an effective expansion portion and at least one projection portion on the effective expansion portion. The effective expansion portion possesses a cylindrical shape when the balloon is expanded, and the projection portion extends for a predetermined length along the axial direction of the balloon. The projection portion has first and second parts so that the inner surface of the first part of the balloon faces the inner surface of the second part of the balloon. The first and second parts project radially outwardly away from immediately adjacent parts of the balloon. The inner surface of the first part of the balloon is at least partially welded to the inner surface of the second part of the balloon.

Abstract: An extractor for removing an implanted lead from a patient. The extractor includes a lumen dimensioned to receive the lead therein, a cutter at the distal portion for cutting tissue adjacent the lead, a distal clamping structure and a proximal clamping structure The proximal clamping structure and lead are relatively movable to extract the lead.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the use of medical devices for the treatment of vascular conditions. In particular, the present disclosure provides devices and methods for using laser-induced pressure waves to disrupt vascular blockages. The present disclosure not only provides devices and methods for using laser-induced pressure waves to disrupt vascular blockages, but the present disclosure also provides devices and method for assisting the guidewire in penetrating an occlusion, devices and method for using a sealable valve in the tip of the balloon catheter to reduce the overall size and diameter of the balloon catheter, thereby allowing the balloon catheter to penetrate smaller size blood vessels and devices and method that use stationary light absorbing material in lieu of and/or in combination of using liquid medium that flows into a balloon for a balloon catheter.

Abstract: A medical device may include a device handle having a diverter block non-movably disposed within an interior cavity of the handle, the diverter block including at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough and a distal mounting portion. A delivery sheath may be coupled to the device handle. A catheter assembly may extend distally from the device handle within the delivery sheath. The catheter assembly may include a multi-lumen polymeric shaft coupled to the diverter block, and a metallic hypotube section disposed about and fixedly attached to a proximal end of the shaft. The hypotube section may releasably lock the shaft to the diverter block in fluid communication with the at least one lumen of the diverter block. The delivery sheath may be axially translatable relative to the device handle and the catheter assembly may be fixed in position relative to the device handle.

Abstract: A stent delivery system is configured to include an outer tube and an inner tube, with a space between the inner and outer tubes. In the space between the outer tube and the inner tube, a cylindrical mesh reinforcing spacer is provided at a position that is on the base end side of a stent. The reinforcing spacer is provided to be freely movable in the axial direction and radial direction. Even when the outer tube and the inner tube, which have been advanced into the lumen of a living body, are bent, the reinforcing spacer moves in the axial and radial directions and elastically deforms, thereby maintaining a substantially uniform internal circumference for the outer tube along the axial direction.

Abstract: A needleless transseptal device assembly, and associated methods, for accessing the left atrium of a human heart includes a tubular body sized to navigate vasculature, and a dilator having a proximal end and a distal end. The dilator is substantially housed and axially movable within the tubular body. The assembly further includes a guidewire that is substantially housed and axially movable within the dilator. The guidewire includes a flexible proximal section and a flexible distal section, and the flexible distal section has a distal end with rotatable, septal tissue cutting elements. The distal end may be configured with a blunt shape. Further, the tubular body and the dilator may be arranged in a steerable configuration. A torquing member may also be coupled to the proximal section of the guidewire to assist in the rotational movement of the septal tissue cutting elements.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods from delivering prosthetic devices, such as prosthetic heart valves, through the body and into the heart for implantation therein. The prosthetic devices delivered with the delivery systems disclosed herein are, for example, radially expandable from a radially compressed state mounted on the delivery system to a radially expanded state for implantation using an inflatable balloon of the delivery system. Exemplary delivery routes through the body and into the heart include transfemoral routes, transapical routes, and transaortic routes, among others.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The acoustic waveguide is coupled with the transducer. The articulation section includes a collar that is located distal to a nodal portion of the waveguide and is operable to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section. The articulation drive assembly comprises at least one translating articulation driver coupled with the collar. The ultrasonic blade is operable to deliver ultrasonic vibrations to tissue even when the articulation section is in an articulated state.

Abstract: A medical robotic system that includes a robotically controlled surgical instrument. The system includes a constraint controller that constrains the movement of the instrument based on a predetermined parameter. The parameter may be a surgical space, wherein the instrument cannot be moved into, or alternatively cannot be moved out of, the space. The surgically constrained spaced may be defined through a telestrator screen that allows a surgeon to point and click the boundaries of the space.

Abstract: An implantable structure, method for making the structure and method for using the structure, where the structure includes a combination of non-absorbable and absorbable components, and the implantable structure has a randomly uniform array of materials. The resulting implantable structure provides improved tissue ingrowth and flexibility after implantation and after absorption of the absorbable materials.

Abstract: An aerosolization apparatus comprises a body having an inlet, an endpiece having an outlet, the endpiece being connectable to the body to define a chamber, wherein the chamber is sized to receive a capsule containing a pharmaceutical formulation in a manner which allows the capsule to move within the chamber. The apparatus further includes a connection mechanism to provide selective connection of the endpiece to the body, wherein a rotational force between the endpiece and the body is needed to connect or disconnect the endpiece from the body, the rotational force being applied about an axis passing through the chamber. When a user inhales, air enters into the chamber through the inlet so that the pharmaceutical formulation is aerosolized within the chamber and the aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation is delivered to the user through the outlet. The connection mechanism prevents inadvertent disconnection of the endpiece from the body.

Abstract: A device for gathering tissue of a heart valve leaflet may include an outer tube extending in an elongation direction and having an open distal end, a capture tool movable in the outer tube between a contained position and a use position, and a tissue securing component disposed at a distal end of the outer tube and adapted to be applied to captured tissue of the heart valve leaflet to hold the captured tissue in a gathered configuration. The outer tube may have an inner surface and a lumen extending therethrough. The capture tool may be operable to capture tissue of the heart valve leaflet and to draw the captured tissue into the outer tube in the gathered configuration. The tissue securing component may be a suture having a looped portion. At least part of the looped portion may extend through a lumen of at least one support tube.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering and deploying stents with proximal and distal apices includes a guidewire catheter, a nose cone assembly, a proximal capture portion and a stent graft with proximal and distal stents. The nose cone assembly is at the distal end of the guidewire catheter and includes a nose cone and a distal capture portion. The proximal capture portion is proximal to the distal capture portion of the nose cone assembly. The proximal stent is releasably secured to the distal capture portion and the distal stent is releasably secured to the proximal capture portion. The stent graft can be deployed by releasing the proximal stent and the distal stent from proximal and distal capture portions of the delivery system.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient includes providing an implantable vessel filter including a plurality of legs and center-post, inserting the filter into a delivery assembly, and deploying the filter at a desired location in a patient's body. One or more of the legs may have a hook at a distal end thereof and the center-post includes a grooved distal section to receive the hooks. The filter legs transition from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration during deployment.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a handle assembly having a closure trigger, a closure actuator coupled to the closure trigger at a first pivot, and a closure spring. The closure actuator moves proximally on a longitudinal axis in response to actuation of the closure trigger. The closure spring applies a force vector to the closure spring tangential to the longitudinal axis. A shaft assembly is coupled to the handle assembly. An end effector is coupled to a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector comprises a jaw assembly comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member is pivotally moveable with respect to the second jaw member. At least one of the first and second jaw members are operatively coupled to the closure actuator.

Abstract: A tubular structure comprising multiple overlapping layers surrounding a lumen has flexibility and structural integrity by allowing portions of the layers to slip relative to each other. One embodiment includes a support layer having a wired coil, braid or weave support element underlies at least one overlying layer. The support layer is fixed to the overlying layer at a bonding point and the remaining portion of the support layer is not fixed to the overlying layer, i.e. “free portion”. The support layer is permitted to slip at the free portion of the support layer, relative to the overlying layer. Further flexibility may be provided by a coil element of the support layer having substantial gaps between the loops of the coil to impart high flexibility of the tubular structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of medical device(s) configured for use by a debilitated or single handed user including flexible strap sections, a semi-rigid strap section configured to be formed into at least a partially enclosing semi-rigid shape by the user, and a ratcheting strap retraction unit or buckle coupled to one end of the first flexible strap section and an oversized buckle on an opposing end of the first strap section. A semi-rigid strap section is configured to insert into and be drawn into the oversized buckle and formed into an enclosing shape, maneuvered by the user over an injured appendage past a point of injury, then folded back over the oversized buckle; next the user operates the ratcheting strap retraction unit or buckle to constrict the strap sections to apply enclosing pressure to the injured appendage. Embodiments can further comprise an injector medical case module and a medical condition monitoring system.

Abstract: A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.