Abstract: A tool has a working member, a plurality of expansion members, and a handle that is rotatable relative to the working member. The handle has a longitudinally extending chamber in which a portion of the working member having cam surfaces is disposed. The handle also has a plurality of slots in which the plurality of expansion members are disposed. When a torque is applied to the tool, the cam surfaces of the working member cooperate with the plurality of expansion members to cause at least a portion of each of the plurality of expansion members to be moved outwardly from the slots to thereby cause the handle to change from having a first cross-sectional shape to a second cross-sectional shape. At least one spring is interposed between each of the plurality of expansion members and the handle for causing the handle to revert back to the first cross-sectional shape upon a removal of the torque as applied to the tool.

Abstract: Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by use of a distal element comprising an expandable mesh. a treatment device includes an elongated member having a proximal portion and a distal portion configured to be positioned within a blood vessel at a treatment site at or near a thrombus. A distal element comprising an expandable mesh is coupled to the distal portion of the elongated member via a connection assembly. In an expanded state, at least a portion of the mesh is configured to be in apposition with the blood vessel wall at the treatment site to anchor or stabilize the elongated member with respect to the blood vessel. The distal element can be electrically coupled to an extracorporeal current generator.

Abstract: Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by use of a distal element comprising an expandable mesh. a treatment device includes an elongated member having a proximal portion and a distal portion configured to be positioned within a blood vessel at a treatment site at or near a thrombus. A distal element comprising an expandable mesh is coupled to the distal portion of the elongated member via a connection assembly. In an expanded state, at least a portion of the mesh is configured to be in apposition with the blood vessel wall at the treatment site to anchor or stabilize the elongated member with respect to the blood vessel. The distal element can be electrically coupled to an extracorporeal current generator.

Abstract: Deep machine learning methods and apparatus, some of which are related to determining a grasp outcome prediction for a candidate grasp pose of an end effector of a robot. Some implementations are directed to training and utilization of both a geometry network and a grasp outcome prediction network. The trained geometry network can be utilized to generate, based on two-dimensional or two-and-a-half-dimensional image(s), geometry output(s) that are: geometry-aware, and that represent (e.g., high-dimensionally) three-dimensional features captured by the image(s). In some implementations, the geometry output(s) include at least an encoding that is generated based on a trained encoding neural network trained to generate encodings that represent three-dimensional features (e.g., shape). The trained grasp outcome prediction network can be utilized to generate, based on applying the geometry output(s) and additional data as input(s) to the network, a grasp outcome prediction for a candidate grasp pose.

Abstract: A metal static gasket and method of construction thereof is provided. The gasket includes at least one metal layer. The at least one metal layer has opposite sides with at least one through opening extending through the opposite sides configured to register with an opening to be sealed and at least one raised annular seal bead extending at least in part about the at least one through opening. At least one protrusion extends outwardly from at least one of the sides, wherein the at least one protrusion prevents complete flattening of the at least one seal bead. The at least one protrusion has a plurality of discrete layers of metal deposited on one another via an additive manufacture process, wherein the protrusion is formed having a hollow region extending therein.

Abstract: Disclosed prosthetic valves can comprise a sewing ring configured to secure the valve to an implantation site. Some disclosed valves comprise a resiliently collapsible frame having a neutral configuration and a collapsed deployment configuration. Some disclosed frames can self-expand to the neutral configuration when released from the collapsed deployment configuration. Collapsing a disclosed valve can provide convenient access to the sewing ring, such as for securing the valve to the implantation site, as well as for the insertion of the valve through relatively small surgical incisions.

Abstract: A method of treating a biological tissue that enables dry storage of said tissue is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises contacting the biological tissue with a non-aqueous treatment solution comprising a polyhydric alcohol and a C1-C3 alcohol and removing a portion of the treatment solution from the solution-treated biological tissue. Also disclosed is biological tissue prepared using the above process and prosthetic devices made with such tissue.

Abstract: Disclosed prosthetic valves can comprise a sewing ring configured to secure the valve to an implantation site. Some disclosed valves comprise a resiliently collapsible frame having a neutral configuration and a collapsed deployment configuration. Some disclosed frames can self-expand to the neutral configuration when released from the collapsed deployment configuration. Collapsing a disclosed valve can provide convenient access to the sewing ring, such as for securing the valve to the implantation site, as well as for the insertion of the valve through relatively small surgical incisions.

Abstract: A medical device, configured to perform an endovascular therapy, e.g., thrombectomy, can comprise an elongate manipulation member having a first connection member proximate a distal end of the elongate manipulation member, and an intervention member having a second connection member proximate a proximal end of the intervention member. The second connection member can be connected to the first connection member such that the first connection member can rotate relative to the second connection member.

Abstract: Deep machine learning methods and apparatus, some of which are related to determining a grasp outcome prediction for a candidate grasp pose of an end effector of a robot. Some implementations are directed to training and utilization of both a geometry network and a grasp outcome prediction network. The trained geometry network can be utilized to generate, based on two-dimensional or two-and-a-half-dimensional image(s), geometry output(s) that are: geometry-aware, and that represent (e.g., high-dimensionally) three-dimensional features captured by the image(s). In some implementations, the geometry output(s) include at least an encoding that is generated based on a trained encoding neural network trained to generate encodings that represent three-dimensional features (e.g., shape). The trained grasp outcome prediction network can be utilized to generate, based on applying the geometry output(s) and additional data as input(s) to the network, a grasp outcome prediction for a candidate grasp pose.

Abstract: A medical device configured to perform an endovascular therapy can include an elongate manipulation member and an intervention member. The elongate manipulation member can include a distal end portion. The intervention member can include a proximal end portion and a mesh. The proximal end portion can be coupled with the distal end portion of the elongate manipulation member. The mesh can have a plurality of cells in a tubular configuration and being compressible to a collapsed configuration for delivery to an endovascular treatment site through a catheter and being self-expandable from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. The mesh can include an anodic metal and a cathodic metal. The anodic metal and the cathodic metal can each form a fraction of a total surface area of the mesh.

Abstract: A bioprosthetic tissue having a reduced propensity to calcify in vivo, the bioprosthetic tissue. The bioprosthetic tissue comprises an aldehyde cross-linked and stressed bioprosthetic tissue comprising exposed calcium, phosphate or immunogenic binding sites that have been reacted with a calcification mitigant. The bioprosthetic tissue has a reduced propensity to calcify in vivo as compared to aldehyde cross-linked bioprosthetic tissue that has not been stressed and reacted with the calcification mitigant.

Abstract: A tool has a working member, a plurality of expansion members, and a handle that is rotatable relative to the working member. The handle has a longitudinally extending chamber in which a portion of the working member having cam surfaces is disposed. The handle also has a plurality of slots in which the plurality of expansion members are disposed. When a torque is applied to the tool, the cam surfaces of the working member cooperate with the plurality of expansion members to cause at least a portion of each of the plurality of expansion members to be moved axially and outwardly from the slots to thereby cause the handle to change from having a first cross-sectional shape to a second cross-sectional shape. At least one spring is interposed between each of the plurality of expansion members and the handle for causing the handle to revert back to the first cross-sectional shape upon a removal of the torque as applied to the tool.

Abstract: A medical device, configured to perform an endovascular therapy, e.g., thrombectomy, can comprise an elongate manipulation member having a first connection member proximate a distal end of the elongate manipulation member, and an intervention member having a second connection member proximate a proximal end of the intervention member. The second connection member can be connected to the first connection member such that the first connection member can rotate relative to the second connection member.

Abstract: Stents can become twisted during deployment within tortuous vessels such that proper expansion against the vessel wall is inhibited. Stents can be twisted prior to deployment in a direction opposite the direction of twisting during deployment to facilitate full expansion of the stent against the vessel wall along the stent's entire length.

Abstract: A medical device configured to perform an endovascular therapy can include an elongate manipulation member and an intervention member. The elongate manipulation member can include a distal end portion. The intervention member can include a proximal end portion and a mesh. The proximal end portion can be coupled with the distal end portion of the elongate manipulation member. The mesh can have a plurality of cells in a tubular configuration and being compressible to a collapsed configuration for delivery to an endovascular treatment site through a catheter and being self-expandable from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. The mesh can include an anodic metal and a cathodic metal. The anodic metal and the cathodic metal can each form a fraction of a total surface area of the mesh.

Abstract: A treatment for bioprosthetic tissue used in implants or for assembled bioprosthetic heart valves to reduce in vivo calcification is disclosed. The method includes preconditioning, pre-stressing, or pre-damaging fixed bioprosthetic tissue in a manner that mimics the damage associated with post-implant use, while, and/or subsequently applying a calcification mitigant such as a capping agent or a linking agent to the damaged tissue. The capping agent suppresses the formation of binding sites in the tissue that are exposed or generated by the damage process (service stress) and otherwise would, upon implant, attract calcium, phosphate, immunogenic factors, or other precursors to calcification. The linking agent will act as an elastic reinforcement or shock-absorbing spring element in the tissue structure at the site of damage from the pre-stressing.

Abstract: A method of treating a biological tissue that enables dry storage of said tissue is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises contacting the biological tissue with a non-aqueous treatment solution comprising a polyhydric alcohol and a C1-C3 alcohol and removing a portion of the treatment solution from the solution-treated biological tissue. Also disclosed is biological tissue prepared using the above process and prosthetic devices made with such tissue.

Abstract: Devices and methods for deploying self-cinching surgical clips. A device can access at least two layers of tissue or material from only one side of the tissue or material and puncture through the two layers of tissue or material. The various configurations of clips disclosed herein can be made of a superelastic material such as Nitinol, and have a constrained and a relaxed state, and no sharp edges or tips so as to reduce tissue irritation following deployment. The clip can be disposed within the housing of the delivery device and held in a constrained state until deployment wherein the clip assumes its relaxed state, where the ends of the clip can be brought into close approximation, thereby securing the layers of tissue or material together.

Abstract: Methods of integrity checking digitally displayed data in a display system having a display comprising a pixel array and a display system having a CPU configured to output data, a display screen comprising a pixel array with viewable and non-viewable areas, a GPU configured to receive the outputted data from the CPU and graphically render the information on the viewable area of the display screen, and a GIM engine configured to determine the integrity of drawn graphical information.