Abstract: In some aspects, the present disclosure is directed to vaso-occlusive devices which include a device portion and one or more expandable components which include a shape memory material and which expand laterally outward from the device portion upon being subjected to an activating stimulus. Other aspects of the disclosure pertain to systems containing such devices and methods of forming vascular occlusions using such devices.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a grounding member and an actuator. The grounding member includes a first grounding feature and a bending channel. The first grounding feature is configured to engage a dilation instrument. The bending channel is configured to receive a malleable member of the dilation instrument. The actuator is pivotably coupled with the grounding member. The actuator has a bearing surface. The bearing surface is configured to cooperate with the bending channel to thereby bend the malleable member of the dilation instrument as the actuator is pivoted relative to the grounding member.

Abstract: A computer assisted surgery apparatus includes a surgical instrument having an intervention member to cut tissue of a body part of a patient; a control unit arranged to control position and orientation of the intervention member in relation to the body part with regard to a predefined osteotomic line on the body part; and a tracking device arranged to track a position and orientation of the body part. The surgical instrument includes an optical monitoring system mounted in relation to the intervention member, wherein the optical monitoring system is arranged to continuously detect positions of marks applied to the body part, and the control unit is arranged to adjust position and/or orientation of the intervention member when a predefined deviation of the positions of the marks is detected. The surgery apparatus allows for application of cuts in the body part at comparably complex cutting geometries and at comparably high precision.

Abstract: To reduce the risk of damaging organs in a body while delivering a thread during surgery, an instrument for delivering a surgical thread has a grip, an outer cylinder fixed the grip, a hollow needle extending inside the outer cylinder and being configured to be moved relative to the outer cylinder in an axial direction and a loop configured to be housed in the outer cylinder. An end of the outer cylinder is bent in a state where force is not applied. The hollow needle is exposed from the outer cylinder when puncturing skin or etc., and the hollow needle is housed in the outer cylinder when it travels near organs which should not be damaged.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a body, an actuation assembly, a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a mechanical lockout. The body is configured to receive an ultrasonic transducer. The actuation assembly includes an activation lever that is configured to move from a first activation position toward the longitudinal axis to a second activation position. The activation lever is oriented obliquely relative the longitudinal axis in the second activation position. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide. The activation lever is operable to trigger ultrasonic activation of the ultrasonic blade by moving to the second activation position. The mechanical lockout is operable to selectively restrict movement of the first activation lever to the second activation position.

Abstract: Described here are devices, systems, and methods for providing remote traction to tissue. Generally, the systems may include a grasper and a delivery device configured to releasably couple to the grasper. The grasper may have a first jaw and a second jaw and a main body having a barrel portion. The barrel portion may have a lumen extending therethrough, and a portion of the delivery device may be advanced through the lumen to rotate one or both of the jaws. The delivery devices may include a handle, a shaft, and a distal engagement portion. The delivery devices may further include an actuation rod which may be advanced through a barrel portion of a grasper to actuate the grasper. In some instances, the delivery device may further include a locking sheath, wherein the locking sheath is configured to temporarily couple to a grasper.

Abstract: A fastener delivery tool configured to deliver a fastener into tissue of a patient including a shaft, a handle assembly connected to a proximal end of the shaft, one or more prongs connected to a distal end of the shaft, and a fastener push rod received at least partially within the shaft, wherein the fastener push rod is connected to the handle assembly, wherein the fastener push rod is moveable relative to the shaft, and wherein the fastener push rod includes one or more detents configured to be received within a passageway of a fastener and secure the fastener to the fastener push rod with friction.

Abstract: A dermatome having a head, a neck, and a handle. The head of the dermatome may include a main housing at least partially defining a cavity and a removable member that may be configured to removably engage the main housing. The main housing may include one or more features configured to guide the removable member into alignment with the main housing and/or one or more features configured to engage the removable member. The removable member of the dermatome may be made from a different material than the main housing. The neck may include a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion is made from a different material than the second portion. The dermatome may be configured to connect to one or more of a fluid power source, a battery power source, and a wall power source.

Abstract: A treatment method and medical device are disclosed for cutting a substance inside a body lumen. The medical device includes a drive shaft that is rotatable; a strut that is rotatably connected to a distal side of the drive shaft, that extends along a rotation axis, and whose central portion is expandable radially outward; and a support portion that is rotatably connected to the distal side of the drive shaft, that is formed in a mesh shape and a tubular shape while including multiple gaps, at least a portion of which is positioned on a radially inner side of the strut, and that is expandable radially outward by a central portion in a direction extending along the rotation axis being bent.

Abstract: A connector for coupling a distal sheath to an inner shaft of a medical delivery device includes a wedge defining a lumen for accepting the inner shaft of the medical delivery device and a cylindrical ring sized to mate with the wedge. The wedge may be welded or otherwise fixed to the inner shaft. The wedge and the ring are configured to be pressed together and lock a portion of the distal sheath therebetween.

Abstract: A treatment medical and medical device are disclosed for cutting a substance inside a body lumen. The medical device includes a drive shaft that is rotatable; a strut that is rotatably connected to a distal side of the drive shaft, that extends along a rotation axis, and whose central portion is expandable radially outward; and a support portion that is rotatably connected to the distal side of the drive shaft, that is formed in a mesh shape and a tubular shape while including multiple gaps, at least a portion of which is positioned on a radially inner side of the strut, and that is expandable radially outward by a central portion in a direction extending along the rotation axis being bent.

Abstract: Devices and methods for assisting cardiac function. In an exemplary embodiment of a device for assisting heart function of the present disclosure, the device includes a first plate and an opposing second plate, each plate having an inner surface, a cardiac processor coupled to at least one of the first plate and the second plate, a bladder having an inner chamber and disposed between the inner surfaces, and a first catheter having a proximal end in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder and a distal end having a first pericardial balloon coupled thereto, wherein a gas and/or a liquid within the inner chamber of the bladder can be injected into the first pericardial balloon upon compression of the first plate relative to the second plate, and wherein the gas and/or the liquid can be removed from the first pericardial balloon upon retraction of the first plate relative to the second plate.

Abstract: An occlusion device for treating an aneurysm can have an inner embolic device with a proximal section and a distal section. The distal section has a first stiffness and the proximal section has a second stiffness. Further, the device has an expandable mesh capable of a collapsed position and an expanded position. The mesh can be disposed over, and attached to, a portion of the proximal section of the inner embolic device. The first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness and the inner embolic device has a preselected shape which assists in transforming the expandable mesh from the collapsed position to the expanded position.

Abstract: A thrombus treatment device includes a support wire, a body frame portion that is disposed about an axis defined by the support wire, one or more tethers that each have a first end and a second end, and a filter element extending from the body frame portion. Each of the one or more tethers is attached at its first end to the body frame portion, and at its second end to a collar that couples the second end of each of the multiple tethers to the support wire. When the collar is positioned substantially within a region interior of the body frame portion, a rotational actuation of the support wire causes a swiveling motion of the one or more tethers.

Abstract: A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repairing the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a paddle and a gripping member. The paddle is movable between an open position and a closed position. The gripping member has a weakened portion and a barbed portion. The barbed portion is configured to secure the gripping member to valve tissue of the native valve of the patient. A gripper control mechanism is configured to move the gripping member between an open position and a closed position. The gripper control mechanism comprises a suture removably attached to the gripping member at a first connection point and a pushing member configured to engage the gripping member at a second connection point. The weakened portion is between the first and second connection points.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tool having a wrist mechanism that provides pitch and yaw rotation in such a way that the tool has no singularity in roll, pitch, and yaw. A positively positionable multi-disk wrist mechanism includes a plurality of disks or vertebrae stacked in series. Each vertebra is configured to rotate in pitch or in yaw with respect to each neighboring vertebra. Actuation cables are used to manipulate and control movement of the vertebrae. In specific embodiments, some of the cables are distal cables that extend from a proximal vertebra through one or more intermediate vertebrae to a distal vertebra, while the remaining cables are medial cables that extend from the proximal vertebra to one or more of the intermediate vertebrae. The cables are actuated by a pivoted plate cable actuator mechanism.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, an elongated body portion, a head portion and an elongated channel. The elongated body portion extends distally from the handle assembly. The head portion is disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated body portion and includes an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. The elongated channel includes a proximal opening and a distal opening. The proximal opening is disposed distally of a proximalmost end of the handle assembly and proximally of the shell assembly. The distal opening is disposed on the shell assembly.

Abstract: A nasal breathing assist device includes one or two open-ended tubular elements each extending along a central tube axis between a relatively large first end and a relatively small second end, and at least one non-resilient tab extends from the first end toward the second end of the tubular element. In embodiments with two tubular elements, a coupler element extends between the first ends of the tubular elements. Each tubular element may further include a liner-shaped filter having a liner portion extending along a central axis between a relatively large end and a relatively small end, and a filter medium spanning at least one of the relatively large end and the relatively small end. The filter is adapted to snap-fit in the tubular element. The tubular element may further include at least one stiffening element affixed to the tubular element.

Abstract: Attachment of sutures to bone is achieved by forming a recess in the bone having a cylindrical channel surrounding a bone core and then inserting a hollow anchor body into the recess and over the bone core. Suture material is attached using openings in the anchor body and the suture material may be pinched between the inside and outside surfaces of the anchor body and the bone material.

Abstract: An implantable tissue filler including a particulate material suspended in a carrier, the particulate material having more than about 70% by weight magnesium and about 2-20% by weight lithium, wherein the particulate material is substantially free of rare earth metals.