Abstract: The present invention provides an aortic embolic filter mounted on a catheter. A pair of spaced apart hubs are provided, one hub being a catheter hub mounted on the catheter, the other hub being a tip hub spaced distally of the catheter hub. A filter basket is attached to the hubs and positioned distally of the catheter hub. The basket includes multiple supports that each span the two hubs. A filter material/sheet is supported by the supports, the filter material having concave and convex surfaces, first and second edge portions, and an opening that spans most of the distance between the hubs and in between the filter material edge portions. One of the supports is movable relative to the catheter hub. An operator, controller or handle enables the movable support to change length between the hubs to put more or less of a curvature of the filter basket.

Abstract: A cannula assembly includes an outer tube having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lumen. The outer tube defines a longitudinal axis. An inner tube is disposed within the lumen of the outer tube. A cap is connected to the proximal portion of the outer tube. The cap has a recessed portion that defines an interior wall. The recessed portion extends proximally from the lumen of the outer tube. A stopper is configured to be slidably received in the recessed portion of the cap. The stopper has a through hole located on the longitudinal axis and configured to receive the inner tube. An inner seal is interposed between the stopper and the inner tube. An outer seal is interposed between the stopper and the interior wall of the cap.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for use in a bodily lumen. The apparatus comprises a guidewire and a catheter. The guidewire has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The catheter has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The catheter includes a lumen for receiving the guidewire. The catheter is configured to be translated along the guidewire. The catheter is configured to be biased towards a translated position along the guidewire by a magnetic attraction between the guidewire and the catheter.

Abstract: Surgical devices for use with robotic surgical systems and their methods of use are described. In some embodiments, the surgical device may include an actuator that interfaces with an end effector of an arm of a robotic surgical system. An output from the end effector may actuate the actuator to perform an operation of the surgical device. In some embodiments, the surgical device may include a retainer that retains at least a portion of the surgical device on a distal portion of the arm of the robotic surgical system during actuation. In other embodiments, the surgical device may include a portion that is engaged by a second robotic surgical arm to hold at least a portion of the surgical device stationary relative to the robotic surgical arm engaged with the actuator of the surgical device.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to drainage bag systems (e.g., catheterization and urine drainage bag systems) including at least one indicator element that may indicate that one or more patient care protocols were performed. For example, the drainage bag system includes a drainage bag including at least one indicator element (e.g., calendar, checklist, combinations thereof, etc.) configured to provide information indicating that the one or more patient care protocols were performed, such as verifying compliance with the one or more patient care protocols.

Abstract: A catheter for scoring or slicing a lesion. The catheter has a first receiver at a distal end of an expandable portion of the catheter shaft. A first carrier at least partially within the first receiver is moveable axially along the catheter shaft to deploy a first cutter along the expandable portion for cutting or scoring the lesion. In an alternative embodiment, the first carrier may be a wire having a loop, and thus forming a first length including the first cutter and a second length including a second cutter. Actuation of the wire thus causes simultaneous, reciprocal movement of the first and second cutters. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A blood filter extraction system for extracting a blood filter from within a blood vessel. The system includes an extraction wire, or plurality of such wires, positioned within an elongated tubular member. A plurality of extraction wires coupled to the distal end of the extraction member each include a hook for engaging filter members. Alternatively, the extraction wires may be one or more wires configured in a helical shape which engage filter members when the extraction member is rotated. The system may also include an elongated tubular member with the distal end having a conical shape. To extract a filter, the extraction wires are then pushed out of the tubular member and into the filter members. The extraction member is then withdrawn or rotated so the wires engage and draw in the filter members, after which the catheter is pushed over the conical portion of the tubular member.

Abstract: An insertion device for inserting a catheter into a patient's body is disclosed. The insertion device combines needle insertion, guidewire advancement, catheter insertion, and needle shielding in a single device. In one embodiment, the insertion device comprises a housing including a hollow needle distally extending from the housing. At least a portion of the catheter is pre-disposed over the needle such that the catheter is disposed substantially external to the housing. A guidewire is included, as well as an advancement assembly that is configured to selectively advance the distal end of the guidewire out a distal opening of the needle in preparation for distal advancement of the catheter. The advancement assembly is further configured to enable distal catheter advancement before shielding the needle after use. The insertion device is configured to be grasped and used by a single hand of a user during advancement of the guidewire and the catheter.

Abstract: A balloon for medical treatments such as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), delivery of a vascular stents or stent grafts, employs reinforcement materials that are patterned so as to promote consistent folding of the balloon. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for biocidal treatment using a balloon, including balloons with fiber fabric reinforcements.

Abstract: A catheter insertion device for inserting a catheter into a body of a patient is disclosed. The catheter insertion device includes a retractable needle for establishing access to a subcutaneous vessel of the patient and a manually extensible guidewire for guiding the initially attached catheter into the vessel. In one embodiment, the catheter insertion device comprises a housing, a hollow needle retractably extending from the housing, a catheter initially disposed on a portion of the needle, a guidewire including a portion initially disposed within the needle, a guidewire advancement feature configured to selectively advance a distal end of the guidewire distally past a distal end of the needle, and a needle retention component configured to selectively enable retraction of the needle into the housing. The needle retention component is configured to be actuated by the guidewire advancement feature. In one embodiment, one-handed operation of the device is possible.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a catheter body with a catheter-body lumen and an embolic protection device. The catheter body is sized for endoluminal advancement of a distal end portion of the catheter assembly from a puncture site at a human dorsalis pedis artery toward one or more larger arteries. The embolic protection device is configured with a collapsed state and a deployed state. The embolic protection device assumes the collapsed state while stowed in the catheter-body lumen at the distal end portion of the catheter assembly. The embolic protection device assumes the deployed state while outside the catheter-body lumen. The deployed state of the embolic protection device is configured with an opening away from the catheter body for capturing emboli dislodged from an arterial lesion while at a distal end of the arterial lesion.

Abstract: A hernia repair device is provided which may include a soft tissue repair prosthesis and an expandable device configured to be removably connected with the soft tissue repair prosthesis. Attachment components may be used to removably connect the soft tissue repair prosthesis with the expandable device. The hernia repair device may be manipulated into a reduced configuration for insertion into the body. When expanded, the expandable device may be configured to position the soft tissue repair prosthesis adjacent a hernia defect. The expandable device and/or the attachment components may be shaped and/or configured to minimize the maximum dimension of the hernia repair device in its reduced configuration.

Abstract: A connector interface configured to enable component interconnection with a location sensor of a catheter placement system is disclosed. The catheter placement system is configured to assist a clinician in positioning a catheter in a desired location within a body of a patient. In one embodiment, the location sensor assembly comprises a location sensor body for temporary placement on a portion of the patient body, and a connector interface. The connector interface is configured to removably attach to the location sensor and provide a plurality of electrically conductive pathways between the location sensor and additional components of the catheter placement system to enable the additional components to operably connect with the location sensor. The connector interface further includes a first connector configured to operably connect with a second connector of one of the additional components of the catheter placement system through a drape interposed between the first and second connectors.

Abstract: A stent delivery device includes a sheath covering a compressed stent and a housing. The housing includes a mover reel coupled to an actuator that rotates the mover reel in a winding direction when actuated. A sheath pull wire is coupled to the mover reel and the sheath. Rotation of the mover reel in the winding direction winds the sheath pull wire on the mover reel and moves the sheath in a proximal direction. A pre-mover is provided separate from the actuator, the pre-mover including an arm having a proximal end engaged with the mover reel to prevent rotation in the locked position. The pre-mover includes a pre-mover actuator coupled to the arm and having a portion projecting outside of the housing, wherein movement of the pre-mover actuator disengages the arm from the mover reel and rotates the mover reel a predetermined amount in the winding direction.

Abstract: A stylet for use in guiding a distal tip of a catheter to a predetermined location within the body of a patient. In one embodiment the stylet is configured for use within a lumen of the catheter and comprises a core wire, an ECG sensor, and a magnetic assembly. The ECG sensor senses an ECG signal of a patient when the stylet is disposed within the lumen of the catheter and the catheter is disposed within the body of the patient. The magnetic assembly includes at least one element capable of producing a magnetic or electromagnetic field for detection by a sensor external to the patient. In another embodiment, the stylet includes a pre-shaped distal segment that is deflected with respect to a more proximal portion of the stylet, which in turn causes a distal segment of the catheter to be deflected when the stylet is received within the lumen.

Abstract: One preferred embodiment includes a stent delivery system including a retractable sheath and an outer stability sheath. The stability sheath freely rotates relative to the retractable sheath, relieving compression forces caused by twisting of stability sheath in when in a tortuous conformation.

Abstract: Surgical fasteners for use with articulating surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical fastener may include a head, a shaft extending distally from the head, and a through bore extending through the shaft from a proximal surface of the head to a distal end of the shaft. A fastener carrier of a surgical instrument may be slidably received in the through bore, and the through bore may be sized and shaped to have two or fewer contact points with the fastener carrier when the fastener carrier is in a fully articulated configuration. In another embodiment, a fastener may include a head, a shaft extending distally from the head and including a distal tip, a sloped surface sloping toward the distal tip, and a through bore passing through the head, shaft, and sloped surface. The sloped surface may terminate at two shoulders located on opposing sides of the through bore.

Abstract: A securement device holds a medical article having flexible portions in position upon the body of a patient and inhibits movement of the medical article. The medical article may be insertable into the securement device from above, from below, or along a longitudinal axis of the device. The securement device may have abutment surfaces which interact with the flexible portions of the medical article to further inhibit rotation of the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assisting the placement of a catheter within a vessel of a patient via an ultrasound imaging system are disclosed. The systems and methods described herein relate to an automatic size comparison tool to enable a clinician to determine, prior to insertion of the catheter, whether a particularly sized catheter will fit within a designated vessel of the patient without violating a user-defined rule setting a maximum percentage of the vessel that may be occupied by the catheter. This in turn ensures that the catheter is properly sized for the vessel in which it is placed, according to user-defined preferences. Though described herein as implemented in connection with an ultrasound imaging system, in other embodiments the system and methods described herein can be included with other devices as well.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a cutting cannula mechanism having a cutting cannula and an inner stylet mechanism having an inner stylet coaxial with the cutting cannula. A cocking mechanism is configured to cock the cutting cannula mechanism and the inner stylet mechanism by retracting each of the cutting cannula and the inner stylet in a proximal direction to a cocked position. A trigger device is configured to fire at least one of the inner stylet mechanism and the cutting cannula mechanism to advance a respective at least one of the inner stylet and the cutting cannula from the cocked position in a distal direction. A selector assembly includes a selector switch having an exterior tab accessible by a user. The selector assembly is configured to select between at least two user selectable operating modes and at least two user selectable firing distances.