Abstract: An intragastric obesity treatment implant promotes a feeling of satiety in the patient by contacting the insides of the stomach wall, reducing the space in the stomach, or otherwise reducing the amount of food consumed. One intragastric obesity treatment implant two inflatable balloons coupled via a flow restrictor through which fluid may flow in response to peristaltic motions of a patient's stomach. Additionally, one implant comprises a pumping chamber coupled to a reservoir, where the pumping chamber moves stomach fluids into the reservoir in response to peristaltic motions of the patient's stomach.

Abstract: A system for retrieving an implantable medical device includes a delivery sheath that houses an inflatable balloon catheter and a retrieval device. The retrieval device includes a first support rod and a second support rod and a helix extending between distal ends of the first support rod and the second support rod. The inflatable balloon catheter is translatable into a position between the implantable medical device and a wall of a patient blood vessel. The balloon is inflated to force the device away from the wall. The helical member of the retrieval device is expanded radially be translating the second support rod distally. The helical member is moved over the balloon catheter and the medical device, where rotation of the first support rod will cause the helical member to radially compress to trap the balloon catheter and medical device therein for subsequent retrieval from the body.

Abstract: A surgical assembly includes a tensioner having a first end and a second end. A tension member extends from the first end of the tensioner. A mounting member is connected to the second end of the tensioner. An arm extends from the first end of the tensioner and includes a series of relatively moveable links that define an axial bore configured for disposal of the tension member. Each link defines a first mating surface and a second mating surface disposed in a configuration such that tensioning of the tension member interlocks the first mating surface with the second mating surface of an adjacent link in the series to selectively fix the links in a selected orientation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lancet, which has a lancet tip at a front end and which on an upper face comprises a contact surface for placing a test element thereon and at least one channel for receiving a sample, wherein an upwardly open section of the channel runs in the contact surface. According to the invention, the channel has another upwardly open channel section which runs on the upper face of the lancet in or adjacent to a surface area that is lower than the contact surface, wherein the contact surface is arranged between the lancet tip and the lower surface area. The invention further relates to a system comprising such a lancet and a test element, and to a method for transferring a liquid sample from a channel of a lancet which is designed as a groove or slot to a test element.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to a handle assembly for a left atrial appendage occlusion device delivery system and methods of use therefor. The handle assembly includes a leadscrew mechanism for smooth, low backlash control of a delivery catheter for the left atrial appendage occlusion device and manipulation segments which allow one hand operation of the handle assembly.

Abstract: Local surgical cockpits comprising local surgical consoles that can communicate with any desired remote surgical module (surgical robot), for example via a shared Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) or other unified open source communication protocol or other suitable communication system. The systems and methods, etc., herein can also comprise a modular approach wherein multiple surgical consoles can network supporting collaborative surgery regardless of the physical location of the surgeons relative to each other and/or relative to the surgical site. Thus, for example, an operator operating a local surgical cockpit can teleoperate using a remote surgical module on a patient in the same room as the surgeon, or surgeons located in multiple safe locations can telemanipulate remote multiple surgical robots on a patient in or close to a war zone.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for performing minimally invasive surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical device is provided that include an elongate shaft having a distal portion configured to be movable between a first configuration in which the distal portion of the shaft is substantially straight or linear and a second configuration in which the distal portion of the shaft is articulated at a compound angle. The shaft's distal portion can include two articulation joints to facilitate formation of the compound angle.

Abstract: Devices and methods for obtaining a plurality of skin tissue particles for use in skin grafting.

Abstract: The present invention regards a guiding tool for neurosurgery. The guiding tool comprises subunits and a holder. The subunits are arranged in the holder so that holes for guiding a probe are created in the interface between said subunits, which allows easy release of the probe. The invention further regards a system for guiding neurosurgery probes.

Abstract: Transoral obesity treatment devices and related methods for operation thereof are described which occupy space within a stomach and/or stimulate the stomach wall. The transoral obesity treatment devices and related methods are intended to assist a patient in maintaining a healthy body weight. Features of the devices include insertion transorally and without invasive surgery, without associated patient risks of invasive surgery, and without substantial patient discomfort. The life span of these devices may be material-dependent upon long-term survivability within an acidic stomach, but is intended to last one year or longer. The devices have the capacity to vary in size and are desirably self-actuating in that they change shape and/or volume using internal motors or actuators. The changing character of the devices helps prevent the person's stomach from compensating for the implant, such as sometimes happens with static intragastric devices.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly includes a pusher assembly and a vaso-occlusive device detachably coupled to the pusher assembly by an attachment member is frictionally secured within a lumen of the pusher assembly. A heat generating member is disposed in the pusher assembly lumen, along with a pressure generating material, such that, when heat is generated by the heat generative device, the pressure generating material increases a pressure in the pusher assembly lumen, thereby dislodging the attachment member from the pusher assembly and detaching the vaso-occlusive device from the pusher assembly.

Abstract: A recanalization catheter for facilitating re-entry into a lumen of a blood vessel from a subintimal space. The recanalization catheter includes first and second mechanically actuatable wings positioned at a distal region of the elongate shaft of the catheter that are actuatable between a retracted position and an expanded position. In the retracted position the mechanically actuatable wings are positioned in first and second elongate channels defined in the elongate shaft, and in the expanded position the mechanically actuatable wings extend outward from the first and second elongate channels. The actuatable wings extend in an arcuate path away from the elongate shaft in the expanded position to be positionable in a circumferential orientation within a subintimal space formed in a vessel wall to automatically orient a lateral port of the elongate shaft toward the true lumen.

Abstract: A tattooing apparatus including a needle having at least one tip. The needle is configured to move between a first position in which the tip is located above the surface of a skin, and a second position in which the tip is located at a penetration depth underneath the skin surface. The needle is further configured to deposit an ink between the skin surface and the penetration depth. The tattooing apparatus further includes a needle drive mechanism configured to move the needle between the first position and the second position. The tattooing apparatus includes a sensor configured to output a feedback signal corresponding to a skin thickness characteristic. The tattooing apparatus further includes a controller configured to receive the feedback signal, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the penetration depth based on the skin thickness characteristic.

Abstract: In a cardiac double stent having an outer netting over an inner scaffolding, a limiting ridge for defining advancement of the outer netting over the inner scaffolding, and locking clips integrated in the outer netting for engaging the scaffolding at the insertion limit, assures definite placement and avoids shifting or movement from retracting of the delivery device. The delivery device further includes restricting ridges limiting advancement of the inner netting to overlie the inner scaffolding a substantially equal portion on the proximate and distal ends of a guide wire such that balloon catheter expands first at the overlying portion outside the inner scaffolding to sealably contact the lumen wall on each side of the scaffolding to prevent contamination.

Abstract: A delivery device can provide sequential delivery of a plurality of intraluminal devices or tacks held in a compressed state on the delivery device. Delivery platforms on the delivery device can hold a tack in a compressed position and have a unique shape, such as a non-constant outer diameter, an hourglass shape, a tapered proximal half, ridges, dimples, etc. This unique shape can be positioned between annular pusher bands that may also be radiopaque markers. In some embodiments, the unique shape is provided by a sleeve of flexible material with the unique shape surrounding a harder inner shaft. Further, the annular pusher bands can be made of wire or sections of material to increase flexibility while remaining radiopacity. A tack deployment method can include alignment of radiopaque markers on the outer sheath and the tack to be deployed prior to deployment.

Abstract: An instrument for deploying an implantable medical device into a body lumen is disclosed. The instrument comprises a base member having a base handle and a deployment extension, a first tubular member having a first tubular body and a first handle, and a second tubular member having a second tubular body and a second handle. The first tubular member fits over the deployment extension and is longitudinally slidable over the deployment extension, and the second tubular member fits over the first tubular member and is longitudinally slidable over the first tubular member. The distal ends of the deployment extension, the first tubular body, and the second tubular body are adapted to hold and deploy the implantable medical device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for medical interventional procedures, including approaches to valve implant. In one aspect, the methods and systems involve a modular approach to treatment.

Abstract: An ambidextrous locking clamp system for providing a user the ability to use the right or left hand to engage and disengage a ratcheting means on the clamp. The locking clamp has hingedly connected first and second elongated members each with a finger engaging member, a working head, and a latching member featuring a flexible arm and ratcheting teeth. One of the latching members has its ratcheting teeth facing toward the working heads, and the other latching member has its ratcheting teeth facing away from the working heads. The ratcheting teeth are engaged by moving the finger engaging members toward each other thereby flexing the flexible arms. The ratcheting teeth are disengaged by sliding them in a motion perpendicular to a ratcheting teeth engaging motion thereby flexing of the first and second members away from each other with an opposing force applied to the finger engaging members.

Abstract: Systems and methods for medical interventional procedures, including approaches to valve implant. In one aspect, the methods and systems involve a modular approach to treatment.

Abstract: This device includes a hollow support delimiting, in the vicinity of a distal end, a transverse retention opening. It further includes an endoprosthesis which can be deployed between a state retracted against the support and an expanded state. The device further includes a filamentary connection forming a clamping ring surrounding the endoprosthesis and forming a loop engaged in the support through the retention opening. A retention rod mounted to be movable in the support, and the retention rod has a hook for retaining the loop. The displacement of the retention rod from a release position to a retention position brings about the tightening of the clamping ring.