Abstract: A method of engaging tissue is provided. The method includes: providing a forceps including a housing, a first jaw and a second jaw slidably and pivotably connected to a distal portion of the housing, and a driver; advancing the forceps in a closed configuration through a body lumen until the forceps are near a target tissue site; moving the driver in a distal direction relative to the housing to move the first and second jaws to an open configuration; positioning the first and second jaws adjacent to the target tissue site; and securing a tissue sample within the first and second jaws by moving the driver in a proximal direction relative to the housing to rotate the first and second jaws relative to the housing from the open configuration towards the closed configuration, which also moves the first and second jaws longitudinally in a proximal direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for covering at least one area of the body of a patient during a medical procedure, wherein the device has a flat, thin, sterile drape and a marking grid connected to the drape, which has markings for determining a position in CT and/or MRI scans, wherein the marking grid is attached to the drape via a detachable connection so that it can be removed from the drape during the course of the medical procedure without the need to remove the drape from the patient.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to medical devices and methods of assembling medical devices, such as MRI-compatible interventional wireguides. An example of a wireguide includes a series of individual segments, a plurality of connectors, and a plurality of spacers. Each segment in the series of individual segments has a first end and a second end. Each connector of the plurality of connectors joins adjacent segments in the series of individual segments to one another such that a first end of a first segment and a second end of a second segment in the series of individual segments are attached to a connector of the plurality of connectors. A spacer of the plurality of spacers is disposed between each pair of adjacent segments in the series of individual segments. Each of the segments in the series of individual segments is electrically insulated from an adjacent segment in the series of individual segments.

Abstract: A scope system, includes an elongate tube having a lumen extending therethrough, the elongate tube including a distal portion; and an accessory channel shaft including a tubular structure with an accessory lumen extending therethrough, wherein the accessory channel shaft is movably disposed at least partially within the lumen of the elongate tube; and a steerable sheath extending at least partially through the accessory lumen, wherein the steerable sheath includes a steerable distal end that is moveable in at least one direction out of an axial direction relative to a distal section of the accessory channel shaft, and an in-line control actuator located at a proximal end of the scope system, wherein operation of the control actuator causes deflection of the steerable distal end relative to the distal section of the accessory channel shaft.

Abstract: A stent comprises a framework that includes a sequence of cells that each occupy a discrete segment of the stent length, and each of the cells includes a plurality of struts with ends connected at respective vertices. In some forms the framework includes T-bars that connect adjacent cells, where the T-bars have a column that has a minimum width perpendicular to the long axis that is wider than a maximum width of each of the struts, and the column defines at least one slot. In other forms, the framework exhibits geometries that facilitate a high packing density for the framework when the stent is in a compressed tube or loading configuration.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system may include a medical delivery device and an electrosurgical device to perform an electrosurgical procedure. The electrosurgical device may have a monopolar configuration. An outer surface of the medical delivery device may include a conductive portion that is part of a return path for a bipolar configuration. Current may be supplied through an active member of the electrosurgical device to perform the procedure. After passing through tissue, the current may be drawn to the electrode portion of the medical delivery device to complete the circuit.

Abstract: A constraint arrangement for a stent-graft loaded onto a delivery device. The stent-graft has a graft body defining an elongate lumen and a positionable region. At least one apposition release wire releasably secures the graft body to the guide wire cannula along a length of the guide wire cannula. A suture is sewn circumferentially through and around the graft body, such that a plurality of internal suture portions are formed. A constraint loop is formed from a first of the internal suture portions. A plurality of reducing loops are formed from others of the internal suture portions. At least one apposition release wire passes through the constraint loop and each of the plurality of reducing loops, and upon retraction of the apposition release wire releases the constraint loop and each of the reducing loops and, thereby allowing the stent-graft to expand and to release from the guide wire cannula.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide a medical device for implantation in a patient comprising a stent and a valve. The stent comprises a proximal region comprising a cylindrical shape having a first outer diameter in an expanded state, and a distal region comprising a cylindrical shape having a second outer diameter in the expanded state. The second outer diameter is greater than the first outer diameter. A proximal region of the valve is at least partially positioned within the proximal region of the stent, and the distal region of the valve is at least partially positioned within one of tapered and distal regions of the stent. When implanted, the proximal region of the stent and the proximal region of the valve are aligned with a native valve, and the distal region of the valve is distally spaced-apart from the native valve.

Abstract: Described are drainage catheter hub devices which seal the hub from leakage when connected to a catheter. The catheter hub includes a hub body having an aperture with a sealing element mounted therein and a fluid passageway that communicates with the aperture. The fluid passageway and sealing element are configured to receive a tension member. A lever arm attached to the hub body is operable to secure the position of the tension member in the sealing element in a locked position or allow movement of the tension member through the sealing element in an unlocked position. The lever arm is configured to engage and compress the sealing element to block fluid flow through the sealing element and the aperture when the lever arm is in any position. The hub body may include a centering tab to align the tension member along a longitudinal axis of the hub body.

Abstract: A closure mechanism for closing a tubular portion of a graft that includes a closure element having aperture or looped ends. The closure element is provided around the circumference of a tubular length of graft material and is attached thereto. The closure element is biased into an annular profile by threading a release element through the ends holding them together. In its annular profile, the closure element thus holds the lumen of the tubular length of graft material in an open configuration. Withdrawal of the release element causes the closure element to take on a flat/linear profile, pulling the lumen closed as it does so. The closure mechanism can be used in a vascular implant such as a graft, stent graft, including tubular, bifurcated, and branched stent grafts, an occlusion device, or the like.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis includes a main tubular body having an external surface and defining a main lumen and at least one curved side tube having an internal portion disposed within the main lumen and an external portion extending along a curvilinear path on the external surface of the main tubular body. A portion of an expandable stent attached to the external surface of the main tubular body is disposed radially outward of and attached to the external portion of the curved side tube.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide systems and methods suitable for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site. In one example, the system comprises a container for holding the therapeutic agent, and a pressure source having pressurized fluid, wherein the pressure source is in selective fluid communication with at least a portion of the container. A catheter is placed in fluid communication with the container, and has a lumen sized for delivery of the therapeutic agent to a target site. A housing is configured to securely retain the container. The system further comprises a camera having a camera head coupled to the catheter, wherein the camera provides a visual image of the target site during delivery of the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: A medical scope device may have a handle located at a proximal end of the medical scope device. The medical device may have a first steerable device extending from the handle to a distal end of the medical scope device and a second steerable device extending from the handle to the distal end of the medical scope device. The medical device may have a first control assembly disposed at a first location on the handle and a second control assembly disposed at a second location on the handle, offset from the first control assembly. The first control assembly may control a movement of a distal end of the first steerable device, and the second control assembly may control a movement of a distal end of the second steerable device.

Abstract: Example access devices, treatment devices, and kits useful in performing treatment under magnetic resonance imaging and related methods are described. An example access device includes an elongate tubular member formed of an MRI compatible material and moveable between a first, unexpanded configuration and a second, expanded configuration. The elongate tubular member has a central lengthwise axis, a proximal end, a distal end, an axial length, and a main body that defines a circumferential wall, a lumen, a proximal opening, a distal opening, and a main body opening. The main body opening is arranged in a spiral relative to the lengthwise axis and extends circumferentially along the circumferential wall. The main body opening extends along the entire axial length of the elongate tubular member from the proximal end to the distal end.

Abstract: A medical device system includes a tubular medical device and a diameter reducing arrangement. The tubular medical device comprises a tubular graft body having proximal and distal ends. The diameter reducing arrangement is configured for constricting the medical device, and includes a strand section having first and second ends and being immovably secured to the medical device at the first end and at the second end. The second end is a first circumferential distance from the first end by way of a path along the strand section In a constricted configuration of the medical device a first portion of the strand section extends back on itself to form a first double-stranded tail leading to a first loop, the first tail extending circumferentially against the graft body, constricting the medical device by the strand section restricting the first circumferential distance between the first and second ends of the strand section.

Abstract: A medical device system includes a tubular medical device and a diameter reducing arrangement. The tubular medical device comprises a tubular graft body having a proximal end and a distal end. The diameter reducing arrangement is configured for constricting the medical device, and includes a strand section having first and second ends and being immovably secured to the medical device at the first end and at the second end. The second end is a first circumferential distance from the first end by way of a path along the strand section In a constricted configuration of the medical device a first portion of the strand section extends back on itself to form a first double-stranded tail leading to a first loop, the first tail extending circumferentially against the graft body, constricting the medical device by the strand section restricting the first circumferential distance between the first and second ends of the strand section.

Abstract: Valve devices, methods of making valve devices, and methods of treating various venous-related conditions, disorders and/or diseases are described. In one embodiment, a valve device includes an expandable support frame and a bioprosthetic valve attached to the support frame. The bioprosthetic valve comprises a leaflet and a contiguous wall portion harvested from a multi-leaflet xenogeneic valve. The contiguous wall portion includes the attachment region where the leaflets attaches to the vessel wall and, in some embodiments, includes the natural margins of attachment between the leaflet and vessel wall.

Abstract: A tri-point tissue-collection needle configured similarly to a fine-needle-aspiration needle is configured to excise intact tissue cores for collection. The distal tip is configured with three beveled points separated by cutting edges, where a single longer/more distal point is trailed by and circumferentially separated from a symmetrical pair of points, providing a bilaterally symmetrical needle cannula distal end. A stylet may be provided through a lumen of the needle during introduction into a patient body, where the distal end surface of the stylet may be configured to complement the tri-point needle end configuration.

Abstract: Storage devices, loading devices, delivery systems, kits, and associated methods for implantable medical devices are described. An example embodiment of a storage device includes a storage member, a first cap, and a second cap. The storage member has a first end, a second end, and a main body that defines a first opening, a second opening, a passageway, a separating wall, and a plurality of holes. The passageway has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends from the first end of the storage member to the separating wall and the second portion extends from the second end of the storage member to the separating wall. Each hole of the plurality of holes extends through the separating wall and provides access between the first portion and the second portion. Each of the first and second caps is releasably attached to the storage member.

Abstract: A pre-loaded stent graft delivery device and stent graft, the stent graft delivery device. The stent graft has at least one fenestration or side arm and the fenestration is preloaded with an indwelling guide wire. Indwelling access sheaths are provided within auxiliary lumens of a pusher catheter and dilators are preloaded into the access sheaths along with the indwelling guide wire. The auxiliary lumens have an oblong cross-section. A handle assembly at a distal end of the guide wire catheter. The handle includes a multiport manifold with access ports to the auxiliary lumens in the pusher catheter. Upon deployment of the stent graft, the indwelling guide wire can be used to facilitate catheterization of a side branch or target vessel through the fenestration or be used to stabilize the access sheath during catheterization, advancement of the access sheath into the target vessel and deployment of a stent therein.