Abstract: The present disclosure relates to surgical seal, or valve, of the type adapted to releasably receive a surgical object. The seal disclosed herein defines an aperture that is configured to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal with the surgical object upon its insertion, and includes at least one cable member connected to the seal that facilitates maintenance of the substantially fluid-tight seal during subsequent lateral manipulation of the surgical object.

Abstract: A particle-removing medical device includes an outer, hollow tube having a tube distal end and a porous braided structure having a distal part and a proximal part. Structure, housed within the tube and having a distal end positioned distally of the tube distal end, is used to move the braided structure from a contracted condition to an expanded condition by moving the distal ends of the tube and the structure towards one another. The braided structure is constructed to inhibit particles from moving completely through the braided structure when in the expanded condition.

Abstract: A medical device includes a radially expandable and contractible tubular element, having proximal and distal ends, sized to pass through the nostril and into the user's upper airway when in the radially contracted condition. The support element may create an air passageway therethrough when in a radially expanded condition. The tubular element may comprise a porous filter section for filtering air passing through the air passageway. The tubular element may comprise a body material and an agent releasable from the body material for delivery to tissue of the user when the tubular element is radially expanded.

Abstract: A biopsy localization device made according to the invention includes an intracorporeal delivery cannula and at least one marker disposed within an inner lumen of the delivery cannula. The marker includes an expandable fibrous body with at least one radiographically detectable marker element. The expandable fibrous body may also be bioabsorbable. Methods of use of the device are also described.

Abstract: A dilating and support apparatus with disease inhibitors and methods for use is disclosed that is particularly useful for repairing and/or serving as a conduit for body passageways that require reinforcement, dilatation, disease prevention or the like. Such apparatuses are utilized to deliver a therapy, that therapy being from a family of devices, drugs, or any of a variety of other elements to a specific location within the body. The instant disclosure provides a system of combining a novel radial deployment and/or drug delivery therapy with existing balloon dilatation therapy into one device. This combination will yield a significant decrease in cost to the healthcare system as well as providing a therapy to the patient with increased safety and efficacy. Further, the instant invention provides a novel and improved platform for synthetic/tissue interface between the device and the body.

Abstract: A particle-removing medical device includes an outer, hollow tube having a tube distal a porous braided structure having a distal part and a proximal part. Structure, housed he tube and having a distal end positioned distally of the tube distal end, is used to move the structure from a contracted condition to an expanded condition by moving the distal ends of and the structure towards one another. The braided structure is constructed to inhibit from moving completely through the braided structure when in the expanded condition.

Abstract: Biopsy localization devices and methods made according to the invention include a bioresorbable body, such as a gelatin, polylactic acid, and/or polyglycolic acid. The bioresorbable body preferably carries a radiopaque marker. The bioresorbable body preferably swells to fill the biopsied open region. The bioresorbable body and radiopaque marker permit the biopsy site to be relocated by various techniques, including mammography and ultrasound.

Abstract: Methods for localizing a biopsy site are disclosed. The method includes taking a tissue sample from a biopsy site and positioning a detectable, bioabsorbable element at the biopsy site at the time that the tissue sample was taken. The tissue sample is then tested. The biopsy site is then relocated by finding the bioabsorbable element. The bioabsorbable element may be made of collagen, gelatin, cellulose, polylactic acid, and/or polyglycolic acid. The detectable bioabsorbable element may be relocated using ultrasound or mammography. The bioabsorbable element may also swell upon contact with body fluid.

Abstract: A method for separating a soft tissue section from a body. An elongate shaft, which has a lumen that carries a tubular braid, is inserted into tissue adjacent a target tissue section. The tubular braid has a radially compressed state and a radially expanded state. The tubular braid is advanced from the shaft. As the tubular braid advances beyond the distal end of the shaft, it expands to a radially expanded state.

Abstract: An occluder, for use in a body passageway, includes a catheter and a blood flow blocking/tissue capturing element comprising structural members which define openings therebetween. The blocking/capturing element is positioned near the distal end of the catheter. The blocking/capturing element has a radially compressed insertion state and a radially expanded blocking state. The occluder also includes an actuator associated with said catheter to move said blood flow blocking element from said compressed state to said expanded state. The blood flow blocking element may have a generally funnel surface extending out from said distal end of said catheter when the blood flow blocking element is in said radially expanded blocking state. A proximal surface may be provided on the capture element, the proximal surface extending out from the distal end of the elongate tubular member wherein the tissue is captured along the proximal surface.

Abstract: A medical device comprises a catheter having proximal and distal catheter ends and a lumen. The medical device may comprise an expandable and contractible, annular-space-blocking element, carried by the catheter at or near the distal catheter end, having, when in an expanded state, a funnel-shaped surface for receipt of material. The medical device may also comprise first and second expandable and contractible elements. The first element may be a vessel-occluding element positioned distal of the distal catheter end. The second element may be an annular-space-blocking element positioned between the first element and the proximal catheter end. At least one of the elements may comprise spaced apart structural members and a membrane associated therewith. One of the elements, when in an expanded state, may have a funnel-shaped surface and a longitudinally-extending opening for receipt of material.

Abstract: A device for the removal of a blockage in a passageway such as a dialysis graft or in a body passageway includes a catheter for reception and aspiration of the blockage and an occlusion engaging element distal of the distal end of the catheter which occlusion engaging element is supported on a wire that extends through the catheter. At the distal end of the catheter, there is a device such as a multi-wing malecot expansion device that is expanded after the catheter is placed in position so as to block the occlusion from passing around the outside of the catheter. The support wire can be a movable core guide wire which has a braided device on its distal end. When the core is as distal as possible of the distal end of the shell, the braid is in a collapsed minimum diameter state for insertion through the catheter and through the occlusion. Proximal movement of the core causes the braid to expand to the wall of the graft.

Abstract: A tissue separator assembly includes a proximal end assembly, typically a handle, and a catheter assembly, including a shaft and a tissue separator movable between a retracted state and an outwardly extending, operational state. An energy source may be selectively coupled to the tissue separator element. The tissue separator element may be moved to the operational state and then automatically rotated to separate a tissue section from the surrounding tissue. A tissue holding element may be used to help secure a separated tissue section to the catheter assembly. A tubular braided element may be used to surround the tissue separator element and any separated tissue section.

Abstract: A device for the removal of a blockage in a passageway such as a dialysis graft or in a body passageway includes a catheter for reception and aspiration of the blockage and an occlusion engaging element distal of the distal end of the catheter which occlusion engaging element is supported on a wire that extends through the catheter. At the distal end of the catheter, there is a device such as a multi-wing malecot expansion device that is expanded after the catheter is placed in position so as to block the occlusion from passing around the outside of the catheter. The support wire can be a movable core guide wire which has a braided device on its distal end. When the core is as distal as possible of the distal end of the shell, the braid is in a collapsed minimum diameter state for insertion through the catheter and through the occlusion. Proximal movement of the core causes the braid to expand to the wall of the graft.

Abstract: A device for the removal of a blockage in a passageway such as a dialysis graft or in a body passageway includes a catheter for reception and aspiration of the blockage and an occlusion engaging element distal of the distal end of the catheter which occlusion engaging element is supported on a wire that extends through the catheter. At the distal end of the catheter, there is a device such as a multi-wing malecot expansion device that is expanded after the catheter is placed in position so as to block the occlusion from passing around the outside of the catheter. The support wire can be a movable core guide wire which has a braided device on its distal end. When the core is as distal as possible of the distal end of the shell, the braid is in a collapsed minim diameter state for insertion through the catheter and through the occlusion. Proximal movement of the core causes the braid to expand to the wall of the graft.