Abstract: An implantable externally driven fluid delivery system for localized delivery of medical agents and drugs, such as antibiotics, may be provided herein. The fluid delivery system includes a housing that incorporates a filling septum connected to a flexible internal reservoir. The reservoir is connected to a miniature diaphragm pump with coupled magnetic components. The entire fluid delivery system is implantable into a body cavity or surgically formed location that provides for local medical agent delivery. The reservoir is filled via percutaneous injection through the skin into the septum. Fluid delivery is achieved through proximity of the external controller that generates an oscillating or reversing magnetic field suitable to actuate the pump's diaphragm resulting in controlled fluid flow. Once local drug delivery treatment is complete, the controller can be discarded.

Abstract: A medical device delivery system can be used to advance a medical device to a target area within a patient's vasculature. The system can comprise a catheter, a support sheath, and a core member coupled to a medical device. The core member can be used to longitudinally advanced or retracting medical device within a lumen of the support sheath. The support sheath can be advanced within the catheter until a distal end of the support sheath contacts or abuts a reduced diameter section of the catheter lumen. Thereafter, the core member can be advanced into the catheter lumen toward the target area.

Abstract: An insertion handle for medical implants includes a handle with an elongate shaft extending therefrom and connection means for the implant disposed at the end of the shaft opposite the handle. The connection means includes a pivotable attachment for the implant that is controlled remotely from the handle. Both angle of the implant with respect to the handle and shaft as well as the attachment may be separately controlled and adjusted. Remote angular adjustment facilitates insertion of implants in to small surgical sites because the orientation of the implant may be repeatedly, remotely adjusted as the implant is inserted. Connectors may also be provided at the engagement surface between the handle and implant in order to provide communication with the implant or surgical site. The connectors also may serve as torque bearing members to avoid the need for separate torque bearing means such as keyways and the like.

Abstract: Capping and cleansing devices for capping and cleansing needlefree connectors, particularly luer access devices such as needlefree vascular access connectors, and methods for using such devices, are described. The devices of the invention include interconnected inner and outer housings that a user can transition between a locked or engaged position to allow them to rotate in unison and a unlocked or disengaged position that allows the outer housing to rotate independently of the inner housing about the device's central axis, and a compressible cleansing matrix secured in the device (preferably in a well in the outer housing).

Abstract: A spinal implant which is configured to be deployed between adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant has at least one extendable support element with a retracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant and an extended configuration so as to expand the implant and effectively distract the disc space, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. The implant has a minimal dimension in its unexpanded state that is smaller than the dimensions of the neuroforamen through which it typically passes to be deployed within the intervertebral space. The implant is provided with a locking system having a plurality of linked locking elements that work in unison to lock the implant in an extended configuration. Bone engaging anchors also may be provided to ensure secure positioning.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices and methods for processing tissue, such as autologous tissue. Implementations of a Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) system are described that can isolate and wash harvested cells contained within various tissues, such as isolate and wash stem cells from fat tissue. The SVF system can minimize the handling and transferring of tissue and fluids, including minimizing the number of human interventions and manipulations required throughout processing. The SVF system can ensure sterility of processed tissue and harvested cells, as well as significantly reduce cost and time associated with the processing.

Abstract: A spinal implant which is configured to be deployed between adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant has at least one extendable support element with a retracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant and an extended configuration so as to expand the implant and effectively distract the disc space, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. The implant has a minimal dimension in its unexpanded state that is smaller than the dimensions of the neuroforamen through which it typically passes to be deployed within the intervertebral space. The implant is provided with a locking system having a plurality of linked locking elements that work in unison to lock the implant in an extended configuration. Bone engaging anchors also may be provided to ensure secure positioning.

Abstract: A joint balancing insert with sensors and an actuated mechanism is disclosed. The joint balancing insert is used to balance a joint during arthroplasty surgery, as the sensors provide force, position and angular data relating to the movement of the joint, while the actuated mechanism allows for highly accurate and dynamic adjustments of the joint based on the data from the sensors. Various configurations of actuated mechanisms and sensors may be implemented in the insert to provide for manual or real time control of the insert, and customized interfaces are provided for visualized feedback of adjustments. Sensor data may also be collected and compared with expected or preferred data sets to provide adjustment recommendations and achieve better outcomes based on historical data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a valve assembly comprising a male luer end portion and a female luer end portion and a passage for the transfer of fluids extending between the male and female luer end portions, valve means movable between a first position, in which the passage is closed, and a second position, in which the passage is open, biasing means for biasing the valve means toward the first position, and actuating means extending into the male luer end portion and coupled to the valve means to actuate the valve means when a female luer end portion of a medical accessory is engaged with the male luer end portion.

Abstract: A steering assembly for an intravascular catheter system includes first and second pull wires, a steering knob, and first and second movers. The intravascular catheter system includes a handle assembly having a longitudinal axis and a balloon catheter having a catheter shaft with a distal end. The first and second pull wires extend between the handle assembly and the distal end of the catheter shaft. The first mover includes a knob engager that engages an internal thread of the steering knob so that rotation of the steering knob about the longitudinal axis moves the first mover in a first direction. The second mover is coupled to the first mover so that the second mover moves in a second direction. Movement of the first and second movers moves the first and second pull wires to articulate a portion of the balloon catheter near the distal end of the catheter shaft.

Abstract: Described herein include embodiments of devices, systems and methods for measuring drill depth, such as drill depths in bone material. For example, embodiments of drill depth measuring systems and associated methods are described. Some drill depth measuring systems can utilize at least resistance, capacitance, optical and/or acoustic sensing features for assisting the drill depth measuring system with determining drill depths and types of tissue being drilled into. Various other related features, devices and methods are also described.

Abstract: A joint balancing insert with sensors and an actuated mechanism is disclosed. The joint balancing insert is used to balance a joint during arthroplasty surgery, as the sensors provide force, position and angular data relating to the movement of the joint, while the actuated mechanism allows for highly accurate and dynamic adjustments of the joint based on the data from the sensors. Various configurations of actuated mechanisms and sensors may be implemented in the insert to provide for manual or real time control of the insert, and customized interfaces are provided for visualized feedback of adjustments. Sensor data may also be collected and compared with expected or preferred data sets to provide adjustment recommendations and achieve better outcomes based on historical data.

Abstract: An insertion handle for medical implants includes a handle with an elongate shaft extending therefrom and connection means for the implant disposed at the end of the shaft opposite the handle. The connection means includes a pivotable attachment for the implant that is controlled remotely from the handle. Both angle of the implant with respect to the handle and shaft as well as the attachment may be separately controlled and adjusted. Remote angular adjustment facilitates insertion of implants in to small surgical sites because the orientation of the implant may be repeatedly, remotely adjusted as the implant is inserted. Connectors may also be provided at the engagement surface between the handle and implant in order to provide communication with the implant or surgical site. The connectors also may serve as torque bearing members to avoid the need for separate torque bearing means such as keyways and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a valve assembly comprising a male luer end portion and a female luer end portion and a passage for the transfer of fluids extending between the male and female luer end portions, valve means movable between a first position, in which the passage is closed, and a second position, in which the passage is open, biasing means for biasing the valve means toward the first position, and actuating means extending into the male luer end portion and coupled to the valve means to actuate the valve means when a female luer end portion of a medical accessory is engaged with the male luer end portion.

Abstract: A method for recovering blood from a blood-laden surgical sponge for autologous reinfusion, the method comprising the steps of: conveying negative pressure to a housing with the blood-laden surgical sponge; applying a predetermined force to draw the blood from the surgical sponge; and collecting the recovered blood.

Abstract: The present invention includes a braided suture article adapted to be inserted through or into a tissue so as be able to exert a force on that tissue, the braided suture material adapted to be moved from an extended configuration to a collapsed configuration forming at least two loops extending substantially perpendicular to its threaded length and having a relatively rigid terminal end length that extends substantially perpendicular to the threaded length. The present invention further includes a suture placement device adapted to insert a length of suture material into or through a tissue to a space beyond a rear surface of said tissue so as to maintain said length of suture material, and a method of placing an expanding suture knot into a tissue.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a valve assembly comprising a male luer end portion and a female luer end portion and a passage for the transfer of fluids extending between the male and female luer end portions, valve means movable between a first position, in which the passage is closed, and a second position, in which the passage is open, biasing means for biasing the valve means toward the first position, and actuating means extending into the male luer end portion and coupled to the valve means to actuate the valve means when a female luer end portion of a medical accessory is engaged with the male luer end portion.

Abstract: An insertion handle for medical implants includes a handle with an elongate shaft extending therefrom and connection means for the implant disposed at the end of the shaft opposite the handle. The connection means includes a pivotable attachment for the implant that is controlled remotely from the handle. Both angle of the implant with respect to the handle and shaft as well as the attachment may be separately controlled and adjusted. Remote angular adjustment facilitates insertion of implants in to small surgical sites because the orientation of the implant may be repeatedly, remotely adjusted as the implant is inserted. Connectors may also be provided at the engagement surface between the handle and implant in order to provide communication with the implant or surgical site. The connectors also may serve as torque bearing members to avoid the need for separate torque bearing means such as keyways and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a valve assembly comprising a male luer end portion and a female luer end portion and a passage for the transfer of fluids extending between the male and female luer end portions, valve means movable between a first position, in which the passage is closed, and a second position, in which the passage is open, biasing means for biasing the valve means toward the first position, and actuating means extending into the male luer end portion and coupled to the valve means to actuate the valve means when a female luer end portion of a medical accessory is engaged with the male luer end portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a valve assembly comprising a male luer end portion and a female luer end portion and a passage for the transfer of fluids extending between the male and female luer end portions, valve means movable between a first position, in which the passage is closed, and a second position, in which the passage is open, biasing means for biasing the valve means toward the first position, and actuating means extending into the male luer end portion and coupled to the valve means to actuate the valve means when a female luer end portion of a medical accessory is engaged with the male luer end portion.