Abstract: In one representative embodiment, a gripping and pushing device for a medical instrument comprises an elongated main body defining a lumen. The elongated main body comprises one or more deflectable portions that can be pressed radially inwardly toward a shaft of the medical instrument extending through the lumen. One or more elastomeric gripping layers can be secured to the inner surface of a respective deflectable portion at axially spaced apart attachment locations. The one or more gripping layers are axially deformable relative to the one or more deflectable portions between the attachment locations when manual pressure is applied to the one or more deflectable portions to press the one or more gripping layers against the shaft and move the shaft longitudinally into a patient's body.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments of introducer devices provide hemostatic sealing and allow a delivery catheter to be inserted through the introducer seals without the use of a separate loader device that covers a medical device that is mounted on the catheter. Some disclosed introducers comprise a housing, a distal sheath extending distally from the housing and adapted to be inserted into a patient's vasculature, a distal hemostatic seal mounted within the housing and a proximal hemostatic seal mounted within the housing, and a slidable tube positioned within the housing that is movable longitudinally relative to the distal hemostatic seal between a proximal position and a distal position, wherein in the proximal position a distal end of the tube is positioned proximal to the distal hemostatic seal with the distal hemostatic seal closed, and wherein in the distal position the distal end of the tube extends through the distal hemostatic seal.

Abstract: There is disclosed a porous emboli deflector for preventing cerebral emboli while maintaining cerebral blood flow during an endovascular or open surgical procedure. The device prevents the entrance of emboli of a size able to cause stroke (such as greater than 100 microns) from entering either the right or left common carotid arteries, and/or the right or left vertebral arteries by deflecting emboli downstream of these vessels. The device can be placed prior to any manipulation of the heart or aorta allowing maximal protection of the brain during the index procedure. The deflector has a low profile within the aorta which allows sheaths, catheters, or wires used in the index procedure to pass. Also disclosed are methods for insertion and removal of the deflector.

Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward centrally-opening leaflet prosthetic valve devices having a leaflet frame and a mechanically coupled leaflet. The described leaflet frames have projections that are configured to couple with a leaflet attachment region of a leaflet. Some embodiments include a leaflet retention feature that engages the leaflet frame projections and operates to secure the leaflet to the leaflet frame. Methods of making and using such prosthetic valve devices are also described.

Abstract: A holder for a hybrid heart valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The hybrid heart valve includes a non-expandable, non-compressible prosthetic valve and a self-expandable anchoring stent, thereby enabling attachment to the annulus without sutures. A first suture connects the holder to the valve and constricts an inflow end of the anchoring stent. A second suture connects the holder to the valve and extends down three holder legs to loop through fabric on the valve. Both sutures may loop over a single cutting well on the holder so that severing the first and second sutures at the single cutting well simultaneously releases the tension in the first suture, permitting the inflow end of the anchoring stent to expand, and disconnects the valve holder from the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: Prosthetic valved conduits are provided that include a leaflet construct coupled between two portions of a conduit. Each leaflet has a free edge and a leaflet attachment edge. The leaflet attachment edge is disposed between a first conduit distal end and a second conduit proximal end that are coaxial therebetween defining a junction.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that include a prosthetic valve. The prosthetic valve may include a jacket configured to cover at least one of gaps, spaces, or interfaces in a frame or between one or more leaflets attached to the frame.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating obesity are provided. More particularly, intragastric devices and methods of fabricating, deploying, inflating, monitoring, and retrieving the same are provided.

Abstract: Substituted naphthyl p38? mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and the use of the substituted naphthyl p38? mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors and pharmaceutical compositions thereof for treating diseases are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a train-like pharmaceutical composition (configuration, or dosage form) comprising segments linearly arranged in series like cars of a train. When the pharmaceutical composition is administrated into a patient's body, some of the segments are “visible” to an instrument, but others are not. However, “invisible” segments can be estimated, deduced, calculated, or inferred from “visible” segments. The “invisible” segments can be used for neutralizing intratumoral lactic acidosis combined with glucose deprivation to control tumor, among other applications.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a leaflet capture device for improving the coaptation of heart valve leaflets is provided. The leaflet capture device can include a clip having a coupling member and a leaflet engagement portion. The coupling member has a lumen extending therethrough. The leaflet engagement portion is moveable toward and away from the coupling member. The leaflet capture device can be delivered by a support catheter, an inner shaft, and an actuating connector. Extending an end of the inner shaft away from the coupling member of the clip pulls the actuating connector to move the leaflet engagement portion away from the coupling member.

Abstract: A tissue anchor includes a driver head associated with a proximal portion of the tissue anchor, a pointed tip portion associated with a distal portion of the tissue anchor, a tissue-engagement portion disposed between the driver head and the pointed tip portion, and a cover configured to cover at least a portion of the tissue-engagement portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems used to deliver a prosthetic heart valve to a deficient valve. In one embodiment, for instance, a support structure and an expandable prosthetic valve are advanced through the aortic arch of a patient using a delivery system. The support structure is delivered to a position on or adjacent to the surface of the outflow side of the aortic valve (the support structure defining a support-structure interior). The expandable prosthetic valve is delivered into the aortic valve and into the support-structure interior. The expandable prosthetic heart valve is expanded while the expandable prosthetic heart valve is in the support-structure interior and while the support structure is at the position on or adjacent to the surface of the outflow side of the aortic valve, thereby causing one or more native leaflets of the aortic valve to be frictionally secured between the support structure and the expanded prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a prosthetic heart valve can comprise providing a piece of pericardial tissue comprising a fibrous parietal layer and a serous parietal layer. The method can further comprise reducing the thickness of the piece of pericardial tissue by removing a portion of the serous parietal layer, the fibrous parietal layer defining a first surface of the piece of pericardial tissue and the serous parietal layer defining a second surface of the piece of pericardial tissue. The method can further comprise positioning the pericardial tissue around an outer surface of a frame of the prosthetic heart valve and securing it thereto such that the first surface is facing away from the frame and the second surface is facing towards the frame.

Abstract: Prosthetic devices and frames for implantation at a cardiac valve annulus are provided that include an annular frame (having an inflow end and an outflow end) and a plurality of axial frame members that bridge two circumferentially extending rows of angled struts. The axial frame members can include a plurality of axially extending leaflet attachment members and a plurality of axial struts in a 1:1 ratio. Along each of the two rows, the frame can have at least three angled struts between adjacent axial frame members.

Abstract: A heart valve annulus repair device having a tissue engaging member and a plurality of anchors. The tissue engaging member includes a loop of wire. Each of the anchors has a pointy front end and a back end and a slot that runs in a front-to-back direction. The anchors are distributed about the loop of wire with the front ends of the plurality of anchors facing the heart valve annulus and with the loop of wire passing through the slots. The device further includes means for implanting the anchors into the heart valve annulus tissue so that the tissue engaging member becomes affixed to the heart valve annulus.

Abstract: A method of replacing a native heart valve utilizing a support structure comprising a first fastener, a second faster, a first leaflet brace, and a second leaflet brace. The first leaflet brace is configured to be advanced over a first guide wire to be adjacent to a portion of a first native leaflet. The second leaflet brace is configured to be advanced over a second guide wire to be adjacent to a portion of a second native leaflet. The first fastener and the second fastener are configured to be advanced over the first and second guide wires to respectively engage with first and second ends of the first leaflet brace and the second leaflet brace. A replacement heart valve is deployed within the native heart valve, thereby capturing the first and second leaflets between the support structure and the replacement heart valve.

Abstract: Devices and methods for crimping a prosthetic heart valve onto a delivery device are described. In some embodiments, valves are crimped over an inflatable balloon and between proximal and distal shoulders mounted on a shaft inside the balloon. Crimping methods can include multiple compression steps with the valve located in different axial positions relative to the crimping jaws at each different step. In some methods, the valve may extend partially outside of the crimping jaws during certain crimping steps, such that the crimping force is only applied to the part of the valve that is inside the jaws. Exemplary crimping devices can include two or more adjacent sets of jaws that close down to different inner diameters, such that different parts of a valve get compressed to different outer diameters at the same time during a single crimping step.

Abstract: A valved conduit including a bioprosthetic valve, such as a heart valve, and a tubular conduit sealed with a bioresorbable material. The bioprosthetic heart valve includes prosthetic tissue that has been treated such that the tissue may be stored dry for extended periods without degradation of functionality of the valve. The bioprosthetic heart valve may have separate bovine pericardial leaflets or a whole porcine valve. The sealed conduit includes a tubular matrix impregnated with a bioresorbable medium such as gelatin or collagen. The valved conduit is stored dry in packaging in which a desiccant pouch is supplied having a capacity for absorbing moisture within the packaging limited to avoid drying the bioprosthetic tissue out beyond a point where its ability to function in the bioprosthetic heart valve is compromised. The heart valve may be sewn within the sealed conduit or coupled thereto with a snap-fit connection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of crystalline Bortezomib of formula (I) and its pharmaceutical acceptable salts thereof. The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of highly pure crystalline Bortezomib (I).