Abstract: A filter having a first set of members and a second set of members defining a trap sized to fit into a blood vessel. Each of the first and second members are configured to resiliently extend from the trap. At least one of the first set of members includes a first surface for engaging the vessel wall such that the at least one of the first set of members resists downstream movement within the vessel. At least one of the second set of members includes a second surface for engaging the vessel wall such that the at least one second member resists upstream movement within the vessel.

Abstract: A self-gripping hernia prosthesis including a layer of repair fabric and a plurality of tissue grips protruding from a surface of the repair fabric. The grip may be fabricated independent of the repair fabric and subsequently attached to the layer of fabric. A backing layer may be employed to secure each grip to the repair fabric. Each base may include a base that is located between the repair fabric and the backing layer. Alternatively, the base may be attached directly to the backing layer. The tissue grips may be configured to minimize entanglement with the repair fabric.

Abstract: A repair prosthetic for repairing a hernia is disclosed. In some embodiments, the repair prosthetic includes a patch body, a frame that assists in spreading the patch body from a reduced configuration to an expanded configuration, and a plurality of tethers attached to the patch body at locations between the frame and a periphery of the patch body. In various embodiments, the tethers can be tensioned to mitigate curling or creasing in the patch body to flatten the patch to facilitate attachment to tissue.

Abstract: A marker delivery device is configured for deploying a tissue marker. The marker delivery device includes a handle having a chamber, and a cannula. According to one aspect, the cannula has a flexible portion formed by a slot arrangement having of a plurality of spaced-apart substantially parallel peripheral slots extending through the side wall of the cannula to the lumen. A marker introducer rod is movably disposed in the lumen of the cannula for deploying the mark, and has a flexible region that corresponds to the flexible portion of the cannula. According to another aspect, a retraction mechanism is mounted to the handle and is configured to facilitate a complete retraction of both the cannula and the marker introducer rod into the chamber of the housing of the handle upon an actuation of the retraction mechanism.

Abstract: A split-tip catheter for placement within the vasculature of a patient and for use in hemodialysis or other suitable procedures. In one embodiment, the split-tip catheter includes a catheter body defining a first lumen and a second lumen, and a split distal region extending from a distal end of the catheter body. The split distal region includes an arterial segment defined by an outer wall enclosing an arterial segment lumen, the arterial segment lumen in fluid communication with the catheter body first lumen, and a venous segment defined by an outer wall enclosing a venous segment lumen, the venous segment lumen in fluid communication with the catheter body second lumen, the venous segment outer wall extending from the catheter body distal end to a distal nose portion. The distal nose portion may taper distally from a first outer perimeter to a second outer perimeter smaller than the first outer perimeter.

Abstract: Catheter apparatuses, systems, and methods for introducing a catheter into a patient's body. In one embodiment, a catheter apparatus includes a catheter body having a first lumen capable of fluid communication via a first distal opening and a second lumen capable of fluid communication via a second distal opening, a first intra-catheter stiffener element for disposition through the first lumen such that a distal end thereof is distal in relation to the first distal opening, and a second intra-catheter stiffener element configured for disposition through the second lumen such that a distal end thereof is distal in relation to the second distal opening, one of the first intra-catheter stiffener element distal end and the second intra-catheter stiffener element distal end capable of receiving and accommodating the other of the first intra-catheter stiffener element distal end and the second intra-catheter stiffener element distal end.

Abstract: An implantable prosthesis for repairing or augmenting anatomical defects, including an inguinal hernia. The prosthesis may include a repair fabric having a body portion and a pocket on one side of the body portion to facilitate deployment and/or placement of the prosthesis at the defect site. For some applications, such as a reversible prosthesis, a second pocket may be provided on the opposite side of the body portion. Each pocket may be configured to receive a sufficient length of one or more fingers of an individual for deploying and/or positioning the prosthesis. A support member may be provided to help deploy the repair fabric at the surgical site and/or help inhibit folding or buckling of the repair fabric.

Abstract: Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft assembly including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft assembly. The driveshaft may include an internal channel and at least one guide surface shaped and arranged to maintain an orientation of at least one fastener in the channel of the driveshaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft assembly for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft assembly towards a distal fastener deployment position.

Abstract: A pre-curved catheter tube of a catheter assembly or other elongate medical device and methods for forming such a device using a heating procedure is disclosed. Pre-curving of the catheter tube is desirable to impart to the catheter assembly a desired positional configuration when the catheter assembly is inserted into a patient. The heating procedure may include heat sterilization procedures commonly used to sterilize medical devices prior to use. In one embodiment, therefore, a catheter assembly is disclosed, comprising an elongate catheter tube defining at least one lumen, and a tube constraint. The tube constraint is included with the catheter assembly and is configured to temporarily constrain the catheter tube in a curved configuration during a heating procedure of the catheter assembly so as to permanently form the catheter tube in the curved configuration after the heating procedure is complete and the catheter tube is released from the tube constraint.

Abstract: A stabilized catheter tube for insertion into a body of a patient. The catheter tube includes a distal portion that remains stable during fluid infusion into the patient, thus reducing or eliminating whipping of the catheter distal tip. In one embodiment, the catheter tube defines at least one lumen and is formed from a tube material that defines a proximal portion and a distal portion of the catheter tube. The catheter tube is configured such that the arithmetic product of an elastic modulus and an area moment of inertia for the distal portion of the catheter tube is greater relative the arithmetic product of an elastic modulus and an area moment of inertia for the proximal portion of the tube. In one embodiment, the catheter tube is operably attached to an implantable access port and includes an enlarged distal portion relative a proximal portion of the catheter tube.

Abstract: An integrated catheter placement system and method for placing a catheter in a patient body. The system may include a system console having a display, a tip location sensor operably connected to the system console and placed onto a body of a patient. The tip location sensor may be designed to sense a magnetic field of a first medical device. The system may also include an ECG tip confirmation component operably connected to the system console via the tip location sensor, and an ultrasound probe operably connected to the system console, the ultrasound probe including one or more magnetic sensors designed to sense a magnetic field of a second medical device different from the first medical device. The system may further include a processor associated with the console designed to utilize data relating to the magnetic field of the second medical device to determine a position and/or orientation thereof.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient includes providing an implantable vessel filter including a plurality of legs and center-post, inserting the filter into a delivery assembly, and deploying the filter at a desired location in a patient's body. One or more of the legs may have a hook at a distal end thereof and the center-post includes a grooved distal section to receive the hooks. The filter legs transition from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration during deployment.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and its method of use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The elongated shaft assembly may include an articulable portion with an articulation direction. The elongated shaft assembly may also include a tubular member with a flexible portion with a preferential bending direction and a direction of bending resistance. The tubular member may permit articulation of the elongated shaft assembly when the preferential bending direction is aligned with the articulation direction.

Abstract: A catheter insertion device for inserting a catheter into a body of a patient 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 includes 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: An medical device guide system includes a probe configured for imaging portions of a patient's body, a first guide connector extending from a first surface of the probe, the first guide connector including a first mounting surface, and a guide removably mountable to the first guide connector. The guide may include a first cavity shaped to receive the first mounting surface and a first channel disposed on a top surface of the guide opposite the first cavity, the first channel angled at a first angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the probe and configured to guide a medical device to a targeted depth in the patient's body.

Abstract: A stent is described, which includes a plurality of stenting rings, each stenting ring including a plurality of struts and points of inflection, each point of inflection connecting adjacent struts, the points of inflection of adjacent stenting rings facing each other along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stent in a radially expanded stenting disposition while the stent is in an unbent configuration. Adjacent stenting rings are connected by connectors extending from a point of inflection on one stenting ring to a facing point of inflection on another stenting ring, the connectors being linear along an entire length thereof and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent, each of the connectors having a length shorter than a length of each of the struts.

Abstract: A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle or other medical component into the body of a patient is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system comprises an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body portion target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors are included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system includes a processor that uses data relating to the detectable characteristic sensed by the sensors to determine a position and/or orientation of the needle in three spatial dimensions. The system includes a display for depicting the position and/or orientation of the needle together with the image of the target.

Abstract: The present invention is an implantable adhesive mesh prosthesis for reinforcing and/or repairing a defect in tissue that is easy to roll into a small diameter cylinder or other low-profile shape for passing through a trocar, incision, or other surgical instrument. More specifically, the adhesive may be applied to the mesh material in a pattern that leaves a significant portion of the surface area of the mesh material free of adhesive. In one embodiment, the adhesive is applied only near the outer perimeter of the mesh product. In another embodiment, the adhesive is applied in spots over all or a portion the surface of the mesh product. In yet another embodiment, the adhesive is applied in parallel lines on the surface of the mesh product and the mesh may be rolled up around an axis parallel to the lines of adhesive.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein includes materials, devices, systems, and methods for utilizing a stent (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700), reducing movement of a stent within an ureter, securing the stent within the ureter, aiding in insertion or retrieval of a stent from the ureter, preventing irritation of the trigone, or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, a stent is disclosed including at least one retaining structure (228, 328, 428, 528, 628, 728) positioned at least proximate a bladder configured to irritate a trigone less than a curled retaining structure.

Abstract: An embolus filter introducer system has a symmetric introducer sheath with a filter inside. The introducer sheath can be attached at either end to a deployment actuator. The deployment actuator can thereby be used to push the filter out of the introducer sheath. Since the sheath can be oriented in a selectable direction, so can the filter, allowing the sheath to be introduced via a jugular or femoral approach to the vena cava.