Abstract: The invention provides articulating mechanisms, and flexible members and flexible segments that can form such articulating mechanisms. The mechanisms are useful, for example, for remote steering, guidance and/or manipulation of various instruments and tools at a targeted location. The mechanisms, members or segments include links connected by flexible hinges. The proximal and distal ends of the mechanisms are connected by at least one set of cables in such a fashion that a proximal active flexible segment forms a discrete pair with a distal active flexible segment. Movement of active flexible segments at the proximal end of the mechanism results in a corresponding, relative movement of segments at the distal end of the mechanism. This configuration allows each flexible segment pair to move independently of one another and also permits the articulating mechanism to undergo complex movements and adopt complex configurations.

Abstract: An injector for inserting an intraocular lens into an eye, comprising a main body (10) and a plunger (50). A guide element (30) is connected to the distal end of the plunger to laterally guide the plunger during movement along a longitudinal axis (L). The distal end of the guide element has a structure for fastening a plunger needle to the guide element. A radial guide pin (40) is in aligned radial bores of the guide element and plunger and extends into a longitudinal slot (17) of the main body to prevent twisting and to secure the guide element to the plunger. A retaining element (24) interacts with a running surface on the perimeter of the plunger, the running surface having a variable radial distance from the longitudinal axis so as to cause an axial resistance force which depends on the axial position of the plunger.

Abstract: A stent graft for deployment into the aorta of a patient has a tubular body with a proximal portion of a selected diameter; preferably a reduced diameter portion, distal of the proximal portion, having a diameter less than the selected diameter; a tapered portion, extending between the proximal portion and the reduced diameter portion; and optionally a distal portion, distal of the reduced diameter portion. At least three, preferably four or five, low profile side arms are provided, preferably in the reduced diameter portion and/or the tapered portion, for connection of an arm extension to an aortic branch vessel. All but one of the side arms are to be connected at the physician's choice, depending on the anatomy of the patient. One side arm is to provide temporary perfusion to external of the stent graft after deployment of the stent graft into the aorta, and is subsequently blocked.

Abstract: A suturing device includes a handle, an elongated body, at least one suture snag, at least one pair of needles, and at least one suture pair. The suture snag is moveable between a deployed position in which two distal arm portions thereof radially extend away from the elongated body and a retracted position in which the two distal arm portions are disposed within the elongated body. The suture pair is slidingly disposed through the needle pair. The suturing device deploys the suture snag within a vessel adjacent to an arteriotomy, extends the needle pair through a vessel wall around the arteriotomy and through the deployed suture snag, extends the suture pair beyond the distal ends of the needle pair, and then utilizes the suture snag to capture the extended suture pair by retracting the suture snag to pull first or distal ends of the sutures back into the suturing device.

Abstract: The devices and methods generally relate to treatment of occluded body lumens. In particular, the present devices and method relate to removal of the occluding material from the blood vessels as well as other body lumens.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for providing a guiding device having a dilatable, drilling tip. The tip is formed by wound helical members such that resistance to rotation in an unwinding direction dilates the tip. The helical members are configured so that the dilatable tip increases in stiffness when the helical members are tensioned by a resistance to rotation in the winding direction. In some embodiments, application of relative force between coaxial inner and outer tubular members is used to control the dilation, stiffness and drilling of the guiding member.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument including two coaxially arranged tubular members. The first tubular member has a cutting tip and is co-axially disposed within the second tubular member, which in turn has a cutting window to expose the cutting tip to tissue and bone through the cutting window. Movement of the tubular members with respect to each other debrides soft tissue and thin bone presented to the cutting window. The second (outer) tubular member has one or more features which contribute to reduced clogging of the cutting tip as a whole.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector assembly having jaw members movable between spaced-apart, first approximated, and second approximated positions. A knife is selectively movable relative to the end effector assembly between a retracted position, a first extended position, and a second extended position. A trigger is selectively actuatable between a un-actuated position, a first actuated position, and a second actuated position for moving the knife between its respective positions. A control member prevents movement of the trigger when the jaw members are disposed in the spaced-apart position, permits movement of the trigger to the first actuated position but prevents movement beyond the first actuated position when the jaw members are disposed in the first approximated position, and permits movement of the trigger to the second actuated position but prevents movement beyond the second actuated position when the jaw members are disposed in the second approximated position.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal suture anchor set device includes a pusher slidably received in a needle. A suture clamp assembly includes an anchor attached to one end of a length of the suture, which is slidably received in a sequence of passages defined by a suture clamp in a high profile sliding configuration. The anchor is received in the distal end of the needle with the suture extending outside of the needle. The clamp includes a series of disks movable to a low profile clamped configuration at which different segments of the suture are clamped between faces of adjacent disks. The series of disks define a sequence of suture passages that are segments of a tortuous pathway through the clamp traversed by the suture.

Abstract: The invention provides an articulating mechanism useful, for example, for remote manipulation of various surgical instruments and diagnostic tools within, or to, regions of the body. Movement of segments at the proximal end of the mechanism results in a corresponding, relative movement of segments at the distal end of the mechanism. The proximal and distal segments are connected by a set of cables in such a fashion that each proximal segment forms a discrete pair with a distal segment. This configuration allows each segment pair to move independently of one another and also permits the articulating mechanism to undergo complex movements and adopt complex configurations. The articulating mechanisms may also be combined in such a way to remotely mimic finger movements for manipulation of an object or body tissue.

Abstract: The invention relates to a resorbable multifilament comprising a number of individual resorbable filaments of a first type having a first degradation time and a number of individual resorbable filaments of a second type having a second degradation time, wherein the filaments of the first type and the filaments of the second type are arranged in close relationship to form a composite multifilament having a length and a specific composite cross-section comprising cross-sections of the individual filaments of the first type and second type, wherein the cross-sections of the individual filaments of the first and second type are located at determined relative positions, wherein the relative positions amongst the individual cross-sections of the filaments of the first and second types are invariant over the length of the composite multifilament.

Abstract: A surgical device includes a first jaw and a second jaw disposed in opposed correspondence with the first jaw. The second jaw is mechanically coupled to the first jaw at a proximal end opposite a distal end. A cutting element is disposed within the second jaw, and a first driver is configured to move the cutting element proximally from the distal end toward the proximal end of the second jaw to cut a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws.

Abstract: An obturator assembly for use in dissection of tissue includes an obturator housing, an obturator member mounted to the obturator housing and an obturator sleeve coaxially mounted about the obturator member and adapted for reciprocal longitudinal movement between a retracted position and an extended position. The obturator member includes an obturator rod and a penetrating end. The penetrating end defines a substantially planar dissecting segment and a central rod segment extending from the planar dissecting element. The planar segment of the penetrating end defines atraumatic outer edges which may be arcuate in character. In one embodiment, the distal entry surface of the central rod segment and the atraumatic edges of the planar dissecting segment are at least partially exposed from the nose shield when in the extended position of the obturator sleeve. The obturator sleeve may include a generally tapered nose shield for at least partially accommodating the penetrating end.

Abstract: A clip unit for ligating a biological body includes: a clip body having a pair of arm parts; and a fastening ring arranged in an outside of the clip body, and configured to fasten the arm parts, in which: the fastening ring includes a flap part configured to expand diametrically outward from the fastening ring, and a flap retaining unit configured to retaining an expansion extent of the flap part at a given extent.

Abstract: A bariatric device for use in inducing weight loss, comprising a cardiac element, a pyloric element, and a connecting element between the two other elements, wherein the connecting element provides structure between the cardiac and pyloric elements, keeping them largely in place and at least intermittently touching and applying pressure to the stomach's cardiac, adjacent fundic and pyloric regions, respectively, which produces a satiety signal to the user, giving the recipient a feeling of fullness and reducing his or her hunger feelings. Alternatively, the cardiac and pyloric elements may be symmetrical, so that the device can orient itself either way in the stomach and still achieve the weight loss function.

Abstract: A sheath for use with a scalpel cutting device including a sheath body configured to cover a scalpel blade at a distal end of a scalpel cutting device. The sheath advantageously includes a slot formed therein that extends from a first end at an edge of the sheath body to a second end adjacent the scalpel blade so that the slot intersects the blade and the blade is exposed only within the second end of the slot. The slot is configured such that an angle between a guiding side wall of the slot and the scalpel blade at the point of intersection is greater than 105° and less than 180°. In another embodiment, the ratio of the length of the shortest side wall to slot width is at least 2.

Abstract: A lancing device includes a housing (10, 12) for receiving in use a replaceable lancet (34) introduced into said housing, a drive (58, 59) actuable to drive the lancet momentarily to project its tip from the housing, and a nose portion (14) having an aperture through which said lancet projects when fired. The nose portion is threadedly engaged (78, 81) with the forward end (10) of the housing to allow the penetration depth of said lancet tip to be pre-set, and is resiliently deformable between a position in which it is locked against rotation and a position in which it is free to rotate.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a method and apparatus to treat obesity and controlling weight gain. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention relates to a covered cage device that is implanted within a human's stomach to occupy volume and cause a reduced desire for eating. The covered cage device is made from a wire-mesh, such a Nitinol, and can be adjustable and collapsible. In another embodiment, the covered cage device has edges that provide stimulation to the stomach to induce a feeling of fullness.

Abstract: A surgical device is described. The surgical device may comprise a rotatable cutter configured to cut tissue for insertion of a cannula, and a first driver configured to be driven by a motor arrangement and to rotate the cutter. The surgical device may further include, for example, the cannula, at least one of the rotatable cutter and the first driver being disposed in a bore of the cannula. In one embodiment, the rotatable cutter may include an auger having a cutting thread. In another embodiment, the rotatable cutter may include a disk-shaped blade.

Abstract: An atherectomy device is disclosed, which is rotationally driven by an electric motor. In some designs, the device includes features unavailable on gas turbine-driven systems, such as the storing in memory of low/medium/high preset rotation speeds for particular models of handle, calculations of the amount of saline left in the IV and associated warnings when it gets sufficiently low, and automatic adjustment of the IV pump rate to a predetermined or calculated level when the rotational speed of the motor is changed. The electric motor has far more rotational inertia than a comparable gas turbine, so the system includes a control mechanism that helps prevent damage from excessive torque being applied to the distal end of the drive shaft. When an obstruction at the distal end is detected, by a drop in the motor rotational speed, the motor is released and is allowed to spin freely as a flywheel.