Abstract: A device positionable in an opening in a flexible membrane or in the lumen of a vessel having a flexible sidewall. The device distends or biases opposite portions defining the opening or forming the vessel sidewall outwardly in the plane of the device. The outward biasing draws opposing portions of the opening or sidewall inwardly in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the device and into apposition or contact.

Abstract: A tool for implantation of a flexible substrate into soft tissue is disclosed. The tool has a shaft with a bore. A penetrator tip is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. A handle is positioned at the proximal end. A push rod extends through the bore and is attached at one end to the penetrator tip, and at the other end to a trigger mounted on the handle. The penetrator tip is biased toward the shaft by a spring and captures the substrate between itself and the shaft. The shaft is inserted into soft tissue, drawing the substrate with it. Pulling the trigger releases the substrate from the tool. The shaft is withdrawn, leaving the substrate within the tissue.

Abstract: A sling for controlling urinary incontinence is disclosed. The sling is formed from a tube having substantially lengthwise inextensible end portions and an elastically lengthwise extensible intermediate portion between the end portions. The intermediate portion has a U-shape which cradles the urethra. The end portions extend through the abdominal tissue to anchor the intermediate portion in position. The sling places the urethra under a transverse compressive load to hold it closed and prevent inadvertent urination. The tube is formed from interlaced filamentary members. Interlacing may be by warp knitting, weaving using a leno weave or braiding using a tri-axial braid structure. The end portions have a rough texture to facilitate anchoring in the tissue of the abdominal wall. The intermediate portion is smooth and soft to prevent tissue erosion.

Abstract: A snare for capturing and removing emboli from vascular vessels is disclosed. The snare is formed from a flexible, resilient sheet attached to an elongated flexible tube and rod assembly. The rod fits within a bore of the tube and the tube and rod are movable relatively to one another. The sheet forms a generally conical basket, one part of which is attached to the tube, the other part being attached to the rod. Relative motion between the tube and the rod causes the basket to deform between a contracted state, wherein it may pass through the vascular vessel, to an expanded state, wherein it may receive and capture an embolus for removal from the vessel.

Abstract: An access port for use in laparoscopic surgery is disclosed. The port includes a duct having a one-way valve and a tubular seal. The one-way valve has opposed surfaces that co-apt in response to internal pressure within the duct. The tubular seal has an inner layer with a low friction coefficient surrounded by an outer elastic layer that biases the inner layer into sealing engagement with a surgical tool inserted through the duct. The one-way valve seals the duct in the absence of a tool extending through the duct. The low friction coefficient of the inner layer facilitates insertion and removal of the tool through the duct. The port has a distal end insertable into a pressurized cavity, and a proximal end that extends from the cavity and provides access thereto.

Abstract: A coil for the treatment of vascular aneurysms is disclosed. The coil is formed from filamentary members interlaced to form a three-dimensional substrate. The substrate is deformable between a collapsed state wherein it fits within a catheter, and an expanded state, which it assumes once deployed from the catheter into the vascular aneurysm. The three-dimensional shapes of the substrate include flat sheets biased into a helix or a tubular forms biased into figure eight loops, helical loops or a sinusoid. Bioactive characteristics may be imparted to the coil through the use of coatings or materials that provoke a healing response in living tissue.

Abstract: A supported lattice is disclosed having a support substrate formed of a plurality of resilient filamentary members braided together to yield a coarse mesh having relatively large interstices and a cell cultivation lattice formed of a plurality of flexible filamentary members braided together and with the resilient filamentary members to form a fine mesh having small interstices. The cell cultivation lattice provides a bed adapted for growing cells in a two-dimensional array across the large interstices of the support substrate to form a continuous surface of living tissue useful to form a graft.

Abstract: A device for use within the lumen of a catheter to move an item positioned within the lumen relatively to the catheter is disclosed. The device is formed from an elongated member positionable within the lumen and reciprocably movable relatively to the catheter. A distal end of the member is engaged with the item, and a proximate end extends outwardly from the catheter. A gripping element is attached to the elongated member at the distal end. The gripping element has a free end that extends outwardly from the elongated member. The free end of the gripping element is engageable and disengageable with the item, the item being moved when the gripping element is engaged and the elongated member is moved relatively to the catheter.

Abstract: A stent graft is disclosed having a tubular graft formed from flexible filamentary members interwoven with a supporting monofilament defining radial corrugations around the graft. The ends of the graft are tapered from a smaller to a larger diameter and have stents attached thereto for engagement with a vascular vessel. The stents are attached to the graft by passing through two rows of slots cut in the graft and arranged in spaced relation to one another. The slots are positioned on a reverse fold of the graft to capture the stent. The stent graft may be modular and have limbs insertable into a base module. The base module has a main central space in communication with branch central spaces defined by a line of attachment between the branch central spaces. The terminus of the line of attachment forms a shoulder for retaining the limbs.

Abstract: A snare for capture and removal of arterial emboli is disclosed. The snare is formed from a basket of interlaced filamentary members or a skeleton of interconnected flexible members. The basket has an opening at one end. A tongue extends from the basket adjacent to the opening, the tongue being offset from the basket centerline. A tether is attached to the tongue. The basket is collapsible into a collapsed configuration for delivery within an artery via a catheter. The basket is resiliently biased to expand into an open configuration upon release from the catheter. The tongue has a leading edge that engages the embolus and separates it from the artery when the snare is drawn toward it using the tether.

Abstract: A device positionable in an opening in a flexible membrane or in the lumen of a vessel having a flexible sidewall. The device distends or biases opposite portions defining the opening or forming the vessel sidewall outwardly in the plane of the device. The outward biasing draws opposing portions of the opening or sidewall inwardly in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the device and into apposition or contact.

Abstract: A woven tube having a warp direction oriented lengthwise to the tube and a fill direction oriented circumferentially of the tube is disclosed. The tube is woven from a plurality of elastic warp yarns arranged parallel to the warp direction and a plurality of elastic fill yarns arranged parallel to the fill direction. The tube has one or more discrete regions of relatively greater flexibility formed in either the warp or fill directions at locations along the tube. The flexibility is oriented in the warp direction or the fill direction by weaving either the warp or fill yarns, respectively, under relatively less tension.

Abstract: A clip for repair of a heart valve is disclosed. The clip has a plurality of legs joined at one end to a common attachment, the opposite ends of the legs being free to move. The legs are resilient and flexible, allowing the free ends to be separated to receive the leaflets of a valve between them. The legs are resiliently biased so as to close upon the leaflets. Hooks positioned at the free ends engage the leaflets and attach the legs to them. Thus positioned, the clip restrains the motion of the leaflets relatively to one another to prevent valve prolapse. Legs formed of loops or having spiral shapes are feasible. The common attachment may comprise a threaded ferrule, a bent or looped wire segment as well as a cylindrical shell or a ring.

Abstract: A tool having a deployable cutting blade for making an undercut in a substrate is disclosed. The tool has a chamber positioned between its cutting tip and its tang. The cutting blade is movably mounted within the chamber. The blade is movable by sliding, pivoting or deflecting on a cantilever mounting and is movable between a retracted position within the chamber and an extended position projecting outwardly to engage and cut the substrate. Actuators for moving the blade include an eccentric cam mounted on a camshaft, a push rod and an inflatable balloon. Blades are also resiliently mounted and oriented so that their engagement with the substrate will cause them to retract into the chamber when the tool rotates in one direction and deploy into the extended position when the tool rotates in the opposite direction.