Abstract: Novel, lubricious coatings for medical devices are disclosed. The coatings provide improved lubricity and durability, and are readily applied in coating processes. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such coatings. The catalyst provides for rapid curing, while inhibiting cross-linking at ambient temperatures, thereby improving the production pot life of the coatings.

Abstract: A method of making a surgical suture having a reformed tip includes providing an elongated fiber having a first end, a second end, a central axis extending between the first and second ends thereof, and an outer surface that defines a cross-sectional dimension of the elongated fiber, and compressing a center region of the elongated fiber that is located between the first and second ends thereof for reshaping the center region into a core mass and a deformed mass that extends laterally outside the cross-sectional dimension of said elongated fiber. The method includes separating the deformed mass of the center region from the core mass of the center region so that only the core mass remains for interconnecting the first and second ends of the elongated fiber, and after separating the deformed mass from the core mass, reshaping the core mass into a reformed mass having a reformed mass central axis that is offset from the central axis of the elongated fiber.

Abstract: A system for aligning a needle driver with a tip of a suture needle includes a suture needle package having a base, a needle driver alignment guide, and at least one connector for securing the suture needle. The needle driver alignment guide has first and second lateral guide walls that oppose one another for defining a needle driver guide channel. An end wall interconnects the first and second lateral guide walls for defining a distal end of the needle driver alignment guide. The at least one connector secures the suture needle over the base and controls the orientation of the suture needle so that a tip of the suture needle is located within the suture needle guide channel and is bounded by the end wall and the first and second lateral guide walls. A needle driver has a clamping assembly at a distal end that engages the end wall of the needle driver alignment guide for aligning the clamping assembly with the tip of the suture needle.

Abstract: A method of operating a surgical tool includes sending a command signal from a computer system to a motor to drive rotation of a drive shaft mounted within a drive housing of the surgical tool, monitoring one or more operational parameters of the motor with one or more monitoring devices in communication with the computer system, and measuring an unexpected change in the operational parameters of the motor with the monitoring devices. The unexpected change includes a measured operational parameter that is inconsistent with the command signal. The unexpected change is reported to the computer system as a bailout signal, and the surgical tool is disabled once the bailout signal is received at the computer system.

Abstract: A non-hazardous cleaning solution/process has been developed to remove oxide residues from the surface of blackened needles. Low concentrations of citric acid solution are mixed with blackened needles and treated in an ultrasonic tank for short period of time (<5 minutes). The oxide residues are substantially removed.

Abstract: A surgical stapler having an anvil including a plurality of staple forming pockets for forming staples. The staple forming pockets include first and second staple forming cups configured to receive first and second legs of a staple respectively. The first staple forming cup within each staple forming pocket has a different depth from the second staple forming cup within that staple forming pocket.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a tool driver, a drive housing mountable to the tool driver and including one or more component parts made of or including a magnetically responsive material, a first inductor coil included on the tool driver and configured to generate a magnetic field, and a second inductor coil included on the drive housing and configured to measure an intensity of the magnetic field and a field distortion caused by the one or more component parts. A change in the field distortion provides an indication of movement of the one or more component parts.

Abstract: A clip applier adapted for use with a surgical robot is disclosed. The clip applier comprises a shaft having clips stored therein and jaws adapted for receiving a clip from the shaft. The shaft is in mechanical communication with a robotic mounting portion. The robotic mounting portion contains a gear drive assembly for rotating the shaft, feeding clips into the jaws and forming clips in the jaws.

Abstract: Novel compositions and systems for closure of wounds are disclosed. The compositions provide devices of improved flexibility and elasticity and are readily applied to wound sites or over wound closure devices. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such compositions. The catalyst provides for rapid curing on topical surfaces such as skin and bonds to such surfaces in about 2-5 minutes.

Abstract: Novel compositions and systems for closure of wounds with antimicrobial effectiveness are disclosed. The compositions provide devices of improved flexibility and elasticity and are readily applied to wound sites or over wound closure devices. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such compositions. The catalyst provides for rapid curing on topical surfaces such as skin and bonds to such surfaces in about 2-5 minutes.

Abstract: Novel compositions and systems for closure of wounds are disclosed. The compositions provide devices of improved flexibility and elasticity and are readily applied to wound sites or over wound closure devices. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such compositions. The catalyst provides for rapid curing on topical surfaces such as skin and bonds to such surfaces in about 2-5 minutes.

Abstract: Novel compositions and systems for closure of wounds with antimicrobial effectiveness are disclosed. The compositions provide devices of improved flexibility and elasticity and are readily applied to wound sites or over wound closure devices. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such compositions. The catalyst provides for rapid curing on topical surfaces such as skin and bonds to such surfaces in about 2-5 minutes.

Abstract: Novel compositions and systems for closure of wounds are disclosed. The compositions provide devices of improved flexibility and elasticity and are readily applied to wound sites or over wound closure devices. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such compositions. The catalyst provides for rapid curing on topical surfaces such as skin and bonds to such surfaces in about 2-5 minutes.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for fluorescence imaging with a minimal area image sensor are disclosed. A system includes an emitter for emitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation and an image sensor comprising a pixel array for sensing reflected electromagnetic radiation, wherein the pixel array comprises active pixels and optical black pixels. The system includes a black clamp providing offset control for data generated by the pixel array and a controller comprising a processor in electrical communication with the image sensor and the emitter. The system is such that at least a portion of the pulses of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter comprises one or more of: electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength from about 770 nm to about 790 nm; or electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength from about 795 nm to about 815 nm.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems, devices and methods for trans-septally delivering carbon dioxide through a minimally invasive catheter to create a gaseous pocket or emphysema between the posterior wall of the left atrium and the esophagus during cardiac ablation of the left atrium. This pocket of gas expanded tissue serves to thermally insulate and separate the esophagus from the left atrium during ablation to prevent the formation of an atrial-esophageal fistula. The system comprises a control system to precisely deliver the gas to a desired location through a needle-based catheter assembly.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a switch of a device, which comprises using a biasing force-adjusting element, adjusting a magnitude of a biasing force imparted to a switching element of the switch by a biasing element disposed about the switching element, wherein the switching element is movably disposed within an interior cavity of a hollow body of the switch and the biasing force places the switching element in one of a first position and a second position. The first position corresponds to a first electrical state and the second position corresponds to a second electrical state.

Abstract: Provided are rapidly cross-linkable silicone foam compositions, kits, and methods for filling implanted medical devices in situ or in vivo, the implanted medical devices, including for example, body implants and tissue expanders, the compositions including a platinum divinyl disiloxane complex; a low viscosity vinyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane; a low viscosity hydride terminated polydimethylsiloxane; a silicone cross-linker; and a gas and/or gas-filled microcapsules, where the rapidly cross-linkable silicone foam composition has a viscosity of ?150 cPs for ?1 min. post-preparation and ?300 cPs?5 min. post-preparation, at ambient temperature.

Abstract: A method is used to reduce a volume of a stomach of a patient. The method includes inverting a portion of a stomach wall to thereby create an inverted portion. An expandable member is positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the inverted portion. The expandable member is expanded to thereby expand the inverted portion. The expanded expandable member has a first outer diameter. A base region of the inverted portion is cinched to thereby capture the expanded expandable member in the expanded inverted portion. The expanded expandable member has a first outer diameter. Expanding and cinching provide a cinch diameter to first outer diameter ratio from approximately 0.5:1 to approximately 0.9:1.