Abstract: A forceps includes jaws, a first shaft having a first slot, a second shaft extending along the first shaft and having a second slot, and a rod that extends along the second shaft. The rod has a third slot including a locking portion and a guide track portion. A pin extends through the first slot, the second slot, and the third slot to prevent deployment of the rod when the pin is in the locking portion and to permit deployment of the rod when the pin is in the guide track portion. A first actuator produces relative movement of the first and second shafts to move the jaws relative to each other and move the pin from the locking portion to the guide track portion of the third slot. A second actuator produces movement of the rod to deploy the rod when the pin is in the guide track portion.

Abstract: A suture needle container includes a receptacle having a proximal end with an opening and a closed distal end. A hollow mandrel is disposed inside the receptacle. The mandrel projects from the closed distal end toward the opening at the proximal end of the receptacle. The mandrel includes a tubular wall having a proximal end aligned with the proximal end of the receptacle and a distal end connected with the closed distal end of the receptacle. An elongated slot is formed in the tubular wall. A suture needle is disposed within the elongated slot. A suture is secured to the proximal end of the suture needle and wrapped around the hollow mandrel. A cover closes the opening at the proximal end of the receptacle for sealing the suture needle and the suture inside the receptacle for maintaining a sterile environment inside the receptacle.

Abstract: A device and method for delivering a synthetic mesh or graft for anatomical repair at a defect site. A plurality of flexible arms is connected to the synthetic mesh or graft. Grasping jaws are individually controlled at or near a proximal end of the device for connection of the graft and release of the graft at the surgical site. The flexible arms, with graft attached are positioned through a surgical incision to the defect site. An actuator positions the flexible arms to assume a radial array at the surgical site, unfolding and spreading the graft for attachment. The length of each flexible arm is individually adjustable to adapt to the size and shape of the graft selected for installation at the defect site to repair the defect.

Abstract: A stereotactic system for positioning a device relative to a spine includes a first frame with an attached first pedicle screw, a second frame with an attached second pedicle screw, and a platform for mounting the device. The lower parts of the frames are horizontally spaced apart, and attachable to the spine by the pedicle screws. The platform is attached to the upper parts of the frames and supported by the frames above the spine. The platform is slidably attached to the upper parts of the frames to adjust a longitudinal position of the platform relative to the frames. The platform is pivotally attached to the upper parts of the frame to adjust a horizontal distance between the lower parts of the frames, while maintaining a constant orientation of the platform.

Abstract: A valve prosthesis and a system for delivering a valve prosthesis are described herein. The system can include a core member and an engagement mechanism for releasably engaging a radially expandable valve anchor of the valve prosthesis along the core member. The engagement mechanism can include a pin assembly slidably coupled to the core member and a nose cone including a lock component slidably coupled along the core member to permit the valve anchor to disengage from the pin assembly.

Abstract: A navel retainer and related techniques are disclosed. The retainer may be configured to be deployed within a navel such that its body portion interfaces with tissue therein. In some embodiments, the retainer may include an adjustment mechanism configured to expand and collapse the size and, optionally, geometry of the body portion. In some embodiments, the retainer may be a resilient element, allowing it to be temporarily compressed and subsequently allowed to expand in size, in some cases also optionally changing its geometry. In either manner, the retainer may be adjusted in size and/or geometry to buttress the tissue of the navel, minimizing or otherwise reducing opportunity for navel contracture during a healing process. After a desired navel size and shape are achieved, a separate maintenance device optionally may be deployed within the navel. The retainer optionally may be configured to host or otherwise serve as a navel adornment.

Abstract: A surgical tool includes opposing jaws, handles and at least one pressure sensor. Another aspect of a surgical tool includes opposing jaws with each having an organ-contacting surface area of at least 50 mm2. A further aspect of a surgical tool includes an electronic controller connected to at least one pressure sensor and automatically adapted to calculate or determine an organ-hardness from a sensor when jaws are moved to an organ-compressing position. In yet another aspect of a surgical tool, a pressure sensor is mounted to a pancreas-compressing surface and a displacement transducer or sensor is mounted to and/or located within a handle coupled to the surface, and an electronic controller is mounted to and/or located within the handle for calculating a hardness of a pancreas and/or other organ.

Abstract: A nasal support device includes a device body. The device body defines a perimeter shape of the nasal support device and also can include a nasal support structure. The nasal support device also includes adhesive carried with the device body. The nasal support device further includes a peelable backing that covers the adhesive and includes at least one peelable backing piece that is divided into a first section and a second section by a pre-defined fold location. The pre-defined fold location is configured such that the first and second sections of the peelable backing piece remain coupled together at the pre-defined fold location after folding at the pre-defined fold location.

Abstract: An embolectomy device includes a pair of elongate spine members extending in a substantially parallel configuration along a longitudinal axis of the device, a first plurality of clot engaging structures having first ends attached to a first one of the spine members and second ends attached to other one of the spine members, and a second plurality of clot engaging structures having first and second ends attached to the respective first and second spine members offset 180° from the first plurality of attached clot engaging structures, such that, when the embolectomy device is unsheathed within in a blood vessel alongside a clot, one of the first and second plurality of the clot engaging structures contact and compress against a wall of the blood vessel to provide a biasing force to facilitate engagement of the other one of the first and second plurality of the clot engaging structures with the clot.

Abstract: Surgical devices and systems having rotating end effector assemblies for treating tissue are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical device can include a housing, an instrument shaft extending from the housing, and an effector assembly, in which the instrument shaft includes an outer sleeve, a waveguide, and a rotation assembly having an inner sleeve. Methods for using the same are also provided.

Abstract: An exemplary recapturable valve repair system for repairing a native valve of a patient during a non-open heart procedure has a delivery device, a valve repair device, and a tethering line. The delivery device has a catheter and a coupler. The valve repair device is configured to be delivered through the catheter and attach to a native valve of a patient. The valve repair device includes a coaption element, a proximal collar, and first and second paddles. The first and second paddles are connected to the coaption element. The coupler is releasably connected to the proximal collar. The tethering line connects the valve repair device to the delivery device for recapturing the valve repair device.

Abstract: The balloon includes a pouch formed of a sealed wall delimiting an internal space, and a valve for filling the internal space with a fluid, capable of being occluded after filling the internal space. The pouch delimits a fluid-draining orifice opening into the internal space. The balloon further includes an occluding ball that occludes the draining orifice. The occluding ball can be spherical or polyhedral, and be capable of releasing the draining orifice under the effect of a magnetic field, so as to enable the at least partial drainage of the fluid contained in the internal space. The occluding ball is movable along at least two distinct axes in relation to the pouch.

Abstract: A tissue resecting device includes a handpiece assembly and an end effector assembly. The handpiece assembly includes a motor and a cooling assembly. The cooling assembly includes a housing, a fan assembly, and a fin pack. The fan assembly includes a tubular member configured to be received in the elongate cover, and a plurality of blades rotatably supported on the tubular member and operatively coupled with a drive rotor of the motor for concomitant rotation therewith. The fin pack includes a tubular base and a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the tubular base. The tubular base is disposed within the elongate cover and about the tubular member of the fan assembly. Actuation of the motor rotates the plurality of blades of the fan assembly to thereby advance air through a space between the fin pack and the elongate cover of the housing to facilitate cooling of the motor.

Abstract: A device and method for delivering a synthetic mesh or graft for anatomical repair at a defect site. A plurality of flexible arms is connected to the synthetic mesh or graft. Grasping jaws are individually controlled at or near a proximal end of the device for connection of the graft and release of the graft at the surgical site. The flexible arms, with graft attached are positioned through a surgical incision to the defect site. An actuator positions the flexible arms to assume a radial array at the surgical site, unfolding and spreading the graft for attachment. The length of each flexible arm is individually adjustable to adapt to the size and shape of the graft selected for installation at the defect site to repair the defect.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a handle and a drive motor that is adapted to rotate a drive cable extending through the handle and operably coupled to an atherectomy burr. A control system is adapted to regulate operation of the drive motor, including providing the drive motor with a high frequency pulse width modulation (PWM) drive signal in order to operate the drive motor. The control system monitors a motor performance parameter such as motor speed or motor torque, and when the motor performance parameter approaches a limit of a performance range, the control system adds a low frequency PWM signal to the high frequency PWM drive signal, thereby causing the drive motor to produce a tactile signal that signals to the user that the motor performance parameter is approaching the limit of the performance range.

Abstract: A surgical instrument apparatus includes an elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end and a bore extending through the tubular body; an actuator link extending through and configured to move longitudinally within the bore, the actuator link including a first end connected to a first actuator at the proximal end of the tubular body and a second end terminating in a coupler, wherein the first end of the first actuator causes the actuator link to selectively move between an extended state and a retracted state.

Abstract: An improved disposable puncture depth adjustable safety lancet includes a shell, a lancet core, a spring, and a trigger. The shell has an adjusting ring at a front end thereof to adjust a puncture depth, the adjusting ring being sleeved and clearance-fit at an outside of the trigger head. The adjusting ring and the shell are rotationally connected in a peripheral direction and are fixedly connected in an axial direction, and a rotational locating structure is formed by the adjusting ring and the shell in the peripheral direction. The adjusting ring has an inner wall equipped with a rotating step face or rotating bevel, and rotating the adjusting ring locates the adjusting ring in different locating positions. The rotating step face or rotating bevel is configured to meet the collision face of the lancet core in different axial positions, thereby changing the puncture depth of needle tip.

Abstract: An end effector for a surgical clip applier includes a housing, and jaws that extend past a distal end of the housing and include opposed first and second jaw members each comprising an independent structure movable relative to the other. The first jaw member defines a first inner surface and the second jaw member defines a second inner surface opposite the first inner surface. An actuation mechanism is operatively coupled to the jaw members and operable to move the jaws between an open position and a closed position. The first and second inner surfaces remain substantially parallel to each other as the jaws move between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are expandable introducer sheaths and methods of making and using the same. The sheaths minimize trauma to a patient's vasculature by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the sheath to accommodate passage of a delivery system for an implant, then return to a non-expanded state after the passage of the device. The sheath includes a foldable inner member having a detached flap structure at its distal tip that facilitates expansion of the sheath lumen to increased diameters, and an elastomeric distal end that reduces push and retrieval forces therethrough. The sheath can include a hemostasis seal on its proximal end to prevent the leakage of blood out of the sheath and prevent ballooning of outer layer of the sheath.

Abstract: A suture anchor for deployment in a preformed bone hole to secure soft tissue to bone. The anchor includes a proximal part, a distal part, an inner tube part and a ring part. The ring part is configured to move independently relative to the proximal part, inner tube part and distal part and further comprises two pairs of opposing apertures defining two suture passageways between an outer surface of the inner tube part and inner surface of the ring part. Before or after being connected to soft tissue, a suture is directed through the two suture passageways. Tension on the tissue can be adjusted by maneuvering the suture in the ring part without interfering with advancement of the distal part into the bone. The anchor has a center bore extending longitudinally between a distal end and proximal end of the anchor and is configured to receive an insertion guide.