Abstract: A prosthesis for repairing a hernia defect includes a patch body, a hoisting frame releasably attachable to the patch body, and a tether attached to the hoisting frame with a free end extendable through the thickness of the patch body and accessible from the side of the patch body opposite to where the hoisting frame is releasably attached. The patch body and/or the hoisting frame includes a self-expanding support member. The hoisting frame includes a frame body with an outer frame component and a force translation component for directing pulling forces on the tether across the frame body. The outer frame component has a loop configuration to generally follow the patch periphery with overlapping end portions or a gap between free ends thereof. The force translation component is separable into multiple segments to facilitate withdrawal of the hoisting frame through an opening when released from the patch.

Abstract: A sheath introducer for a catheter includes a sheath having a lumen, a hub positioned on a proximal end of the sheath, and a housing positioned on the hub. The hub can include a splittable penetration member having a port in fluid communication with the sheath lumen. The housing can include a valve having a closed upper surface and a channel surrounding the splittable penetration member. Movement of the housing with respect to the hub can expose the port of the splittable penetration member for insertion of the catheter.

Abstract: A stent including a plurality of curved sections and a connector. The curved sections surround a longitudinal axis to define a tube portion and are distributed along the longitudinal axis to form a helix. The connector includes a bioresorbable material and is positioned between two adjacent curved sections. The stent has a spring constant that changes to a different spring constant after exposure to biological material.

Abstract: An embolic filter is disclosed and can include a head. A plurality of bent legs can extend from the head. Each bent leg can be configured to engage an inner wall of a vein and prevent the embolic filter from migrating in a cranial direction. A plurality of straight legs can also extend from the head. Each straight leg can be configured to prevent the embolic filter from migrating in a caudal direction.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a non-deforming surgical fastener are discussed. In one embodiment, the fastener includes two legs and a backspan extending between the two legs. The fastener also includes a backspan thickness that is adapted to reduce the pressure and/or increase the holding strength applied to underlying materials. The non-deforming fastener is constructed and arranged to retain substantially the same shape before, during and after deployment into the target implantation site.

Abstract: An insertion tool for inserting a catheter into a patient's body is disclosed. In one embodiment, the insertion tool comprises a housing in which at least a portion of the catheter is initially disposed, a hollow needle distally extending from the housing with the catheter pre-disposed over the needle, and a guidewire pre-disposed within the needle. A guidewire advancement assembly with a first finger pad is included for selectively advancing the guidewire distally past a distal end of the needle in preparation for distal advancement of the catheter. A catheter advancement assembly with a second finger pad is also included for selectively advancing the catheter into the patient. The finger pads are positioned such that a user can begin to advance the second finger pad after advancing the first finger pad without substantially re-positioning the thumb or finger of the user so as to successively advance the guidewire and catheter.

Abstract: A blood clot filter includes a number of locator members and anchor members, each of the members tipped with a retainer encompassed within bio-resorbable cover material. Upon delivery into a blood vessel, the locator and anchor members position the filter near the vessel centerline. After a period of time, the bio-resorbable cover material resorbs, allowing the retainer on the members to penetrate and attach to the vessel wall. A method of implanting the filter includes delivering the filter into a blood vessel and allowing the bio-resorbable cover material to resorb so retainers on the members can engage the vessel walls.

Abstract: A surgical fastener is provided for various surgical fastening applications, including attaching an implantable prosthesis, such as a soft tissue repair fabric, to tissue and/or muscle. The surgical fastener may include a coil body and a head attached to the coil body. The head may include at least one external thread adapted to engage with a corresponding internal thread of a delivery device. The head may include a through hole adapted to receive a rod therethrough for guiding and/or driving the surgical fastener from the delivery device. The through hole may have a non-circular configuration that complements at least a portion of the shape of a non-circular rod. The coil body may also define a channel with a non-circular configuration. The non-circular through hole and/or channel may be engaged and rotated by the non-circular rod to rotate the surgical fastener for delivery and insertion of the fastener into the prosthesis and/or tissue.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a biopsy sample extraction needle having a sample extraction end, a recovery end, and a transport channel linking the extraction and recovery ends. In a first configuration, a valve has a first position wherein the valve directly connects a pump to an ambient vent and the pump can reduce the pressure in at least the sample extraction end. In a second configuration, the valve has a second position wherein the valve directly connects the pump to a fluid reservoir and the pump can draw fluid from the fluid reservoir. In a third configuration, the valve has a third position wherein the valve directly connects the pump to the extraction end and the pump can supply fluid to the extraction end to flush fluid along the transport channel from the extraction end to the recovery end to transport a sample along the transport channel.

Abstract: A transluminal delivery system and a method of assembling. The system includes a cylindrical, inner-catheter component and a retractable sheath surrounding the component and defining a space between the component and the sheath to receive a self-expanding luminal prosthesis between the component and the sheath. The inner-catheter component may include at least one sleeve having fibers, at least one connected sleeve portion connected to the inner catheter, and at least one unconnected sleeve portion slidably engaging the inner catheter such that when the sheath retracts, the unconnected portion expands and sleeve fibers engage the prosthesis's luminal surface, wherein the engagement opposes proximal stent movement.

Abstract: A device includes a stent scaffold structure supporting a patch on an interior surface thereof. The device may be used to produce a neovalve in a percutaneous minimally invasive manner. Exemplary methods include implanting the device, permitting a growth layer to form over at least a portion of the patch, and separating the patch from the stent scaffold thereby forming a slit or gap in the vessel wall to act as a valve similar to the surgical neovalve.

Abstract: A filter formed from a sheet is described herein. In one aspect of the invention, a filter is formed from a sheet of material and, following removal of portions of the sheet, the filter is folded into a shape for insertion into a blood vessel. In another aspect of the invention, features for a filter are formed from a sheet of material and incorporated into the filter.

Abstract: A blood filter delivery system for delivering a filter into a vein from either a femoral or jugular access. The preferred system includes an introducer and a push-rod with a spline member disposed along the push-rod and a pusher member disposed on a distal end. The spline member has a main body, first and second boss portions spaced apart along the longitudinal axis to provide a gap for retaining anchor members of the filter during delivery via the introducer. In an alternative embodiment, a preferred filter includes first and second filter structures diverging in opposite directions. A link is connected to portions of each of the first and second filter structures so that each filter structure can be independently collapsed into a generally cylindrical shape.

Abstract: A surgical fastener is provided for various surgical fastening applications, including attaching an implantable prosthesis, such as a soft tissue repair fabric, to tissue and/or muscle. The surgical fastener may include a coil body and a separate head that is attached to the coil body. The head may include two or more radial wings extending in an outward radial direction from the head body. Each wing may include an external thread to engage with a corresponding internal thread of a delivery device. Each wing may be spaced from an adjacent wing by an opening therebetween to receive a drive member for driving the surgical fastener. The coil body may be attached to the center of the head. A proximal-most coil of the coil body may be spaced from a distal face of the head to form a gap therebetween.

Abstract: A surgical fastener deployment system may include a plurality of coil fasteners having a head and coil body. In one embodiment, the head may be larger in diameter than the coil body. The fasteners may also be mounted on a guide rod or mandrel that passes through a through-hole of the head and the coil body. The shaft may also include a guiding element that contacts and stabilizes the coil body as the fastener is deployed from a distal end of the shaft. When the head approaches and contacts the guiding element, the guiding element may deflect to permit the head to pass.

Abstract: An ultrasonic device having a tri-axial configuration including an ultrasound transmission member, a dilator, and a sheath is disclosed. The ultrasound device may be used in a procedure to treat an occluded blood vessel. The ultrasound transmission member can transmit ultrasonic energy from an ultrasonic transmission member into the subintimal space of a blood vessel. The sheath may articulate to aid in the process of re-entering the central lumen of the blood vessel.

Abstract: A system including a console and a catheter assembly. The console may include an ultrasound-producing mechanism configured to convert an electric current into a vibrational energy. The console also may include a driving-parameter modifier configured to modify driving parameters to selectively provide one or more output modes for the vibrational energy. The catheter assembly may include a sheath including a sheath lumen and a core wire at least partially disposed within the sheath lumen. The core wire may include a proximal portion and a distal portion of the core wire, wherein the proximal portion of the core wire is coupled to the ultrasound-producing mechanism. A working length of the distal portion of the core wire beyond the sheath may be configured for longitudinal, transverse, or longitudinal and transverse displacement in accordance with the one or more output modes for the vibrational energy to effect different intravascular lesion-modification procedures.

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 device for winding a filament around a structure disposed concentrically around a distal end of a balloon catheter includes a rotatable holder for retaining a distal end of the balloon catheter, a translatable winding carriage for helically winding the tensioned filament around the balloon catheter distal end, a heater for applying a predetermined amount of heat to a section of the balloon catheter having the filament wound therearound, and a controller for controlling at least the rate of rotation of the holder, the tensioning force applied to the filament, the amount of heat applied by the heater, and the rate of travel of the translatable winding carriage along the longitudinal dimension of the balloon catheter. By use of the device, the balloon is heat set and a predetermined checkering pattern of surface indentations are provided in the structure exterior surface in a single pass.

Abstract: Implantable prostheses for repairing soft tissue defects near an anatomical tube and methods for their manufacture are described. Exemplary prostheses may be implanted at a soft tissue repair site, for example, in treating an inguinal hernia. An implantable prosthesis may include a patch made up of two co-knit fabric layers, and a passageway for receiving an anatomical cord extending through the fabric layers. The passageway is configured through the first fabric layer so as to minimize the prospects of the cord-like structure contacting the portion of the second fabric layer defining the passageway therethrough. The passageway through the first fabric layer may include a barrier.