Abstract: A sensor is provided for sensing layer removal from a surface. A head has an abrasive portion for contacting the surface and a conducting portion inside the head. This device has a sensor design which provides self-generation of a sensor signal with no power supply to the device head. This simplifies the design of the sensor head, and means it can have a design which is easy to clean with no parts which are easily damaged. In one set of examples, the device is a skin treatment device.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising: a closure assembly including: (a) a movement unit configured to be connected to a movable member, the movement unit including: (i) one or more bars; (ii) one or more bar biasing members in communication with the movement unit and moving the one or more bars; (b) a latch unit configured to be connected to a ground member, the latch unit including: (i) one or more hook latches that selectively receive the one or more bars, and (ii) one or more latch biasing members in communication with the one or more hook latches to selectively move the one or more hook latches; wherein all or a portion of the latch unit is movable relative to the ground member and all or a portion of the movement unit is movable relative to the movable member, and the latch unit and the movement unit are movable relative to each other when the latch unit and the movement unit are in contact.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising: a closure assembly including: (a) a latch unit comprising: (A) a hook latch, having a home position, (B) a forward bias constraint, (C) a rearward bias constraint, and (D) a bias member extending between the forward bias constraint and the rearward bias constraint so that the bias member has a pre-load when the hook latch is in the home position; (b) a movement unit including a bar that is movable relative to the latch unit so that the bar is movable in a prescribed motion into contact with the latch unit to create a locked state; and wherein the bar moves into contact with the hook latch driving the hook latch in a first direction, away relative to the home position, and then the hook latch is moved by the bar in a second direction relative to the home position, and a loading of the bias member is increased from the pre-load when the hook latch is moved in either the first direction away from the home position or the second direction away from the home position.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that facilitates a connecting operation with a clip, prevents an unintended release of the clip, and suppresses a misoperation of the clip in a holding operation; a medical clip device including the connector; and a method for producing the medical clip device. A connector (20) for connecting a medical clip for holding a target site with a line member for moving the clip comprises: a through hole (21) whose depth direction is nonparallel to an axial direction; and a thin part that is formed at least at a part distal to the through hole and is thinner than a distal end of the through hole (21).

Abstract: End effectors with increased clip loading capacity include those configured to dispense arcuate surgical clips. Such end effectors may comprise: a housing; and first and second arcuate jaw members protruding distally from the housing. Each arcuate jaw member has a curved profile and is shaped to receive an arcuate surgical clip having a complementary curved profile therebetween. Surgical tools may comprise the end effectors operably coupled to the distal end of an elongate shaft.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to stents and methods of delivering and deploying the same. The stents include fasteners about their periphery and when the stent is radially compressed, the fasteners come into alignment such that a device may be placed through openings in the fasteners to hold the stent in the radially compressed configuration. When the device is removed from the openings, the stent may expand.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are described herein to provide improved steerability for delivering a prosthesis to a body location, for example, for delivering a replacement mitral valve to a native mitral valve location. The steerable delivery system can contain a steerable rail configured for multi-plane bending to direct a distal end of the delivery system.

Abstract: A tissue specimen retrieval device includes a housing, an outer shaft extending from the housing, an end effector assembly extending from the outer shaft, an actuator associated with the housing, and an articulation mechanism operably coupled between the actuator and the end effector assembly. The articulation mechanism includes an articulation block supporting the end effector assembly thereon and is rotatable between first and second orientations to articulate the end effector assembly. A spring biases the articulation block towards the second orientation. An actuation sleeve is slidable relative to the articulation block, in response to actuation of the actuator, from an engaged position, wherein the actuation sleeve is disposed about and retains the articulation block in the first orientation, to a disengaged position, wherein the actuation sleeve is spaced from the articulation block such that the articulation block rotates to the second orientation to articulate the end effector assembly.

Abstract: A balloon assist device is disclosed which includes an inner body and a balloon bonded to the inner body. The inner body extends along an axis from a proximal end to a distal end and the cross-section of the inner body partially encloses the axis. The balloon assist device also includes an inflation tube in sealed communication with the volume enclosed by the inner body and the sheath. The balloon assist device may also include a pusher for sliding the balloon assist device along the catheter. The pusher may extend parallel to the axis from the proximal end of the balloon assist device in a proximal direction. The inflation tube may also be used as a pusher. The inner body of the balloon assist device may be a split cylinder extending along the axis from the proximal end to the distal end.

Abstract: The present subject matter discloses a wire guided device, including a sheath, a working assembly, and a wire guide. The working assembly includes a working portion, configured to contact an intended tissue, and a connector, connecting the working portion and the sheath. The wire guide is disposed at and connected to the working assembly. The wire guide is configured to allow a guide wire to pass through, wherein the wire guide is disposed at a predetermined distance from a distal end of the working assembly. The wire guide and the guide wire do not interfere with an operation of the working portion.

Abstract: A device and method is provided to gain access to interior body regions. The system includes a safety needle, a stylet assembly, a blade assembly, an obturator assembly, a cannula assembly, a handle assembly, an actuator assembly, and a lock assembly. The safety needle accesses an interior body region. The actuator assembly, lock assembly, and handle assembly interact to expose the blade assembly, after which the blade assembly expands the pathway created by the safety needle. The obturator then further expands the pathway and delivers the cannula assembly to the desired location. The safety needle, obturator assembly, blade assembly, handle assembly, actuator assembly, and lock assembly are removed, leaving the cannula assembly in place for future procedures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a prosthesis for inguinal hernioplasty made up of a surgical mesh extending from a first end (6) to a second end (7) along a longitudinal direction (A) and comprising a first portion (1) that includes said first end (6), a second portion (2) that includes said second end (7) and a connecting portion (3) arranged between said first portion (1) and said second portion (2), wherein said first portion (1) has a substantially ring shape that is open or may be opened and is provided with a central hole (4), wherein said second portion (2) has a substantially elongated shape in said longitudinal direction (A), and wherein said connecting portion (3) has a width transverse to said longitudinal direction (A) smaller than the widths of said first portion (1) and said second portion (2) transverse to said longitudinal direction (A).

Abstract: A suturing device includes a needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a curved needle holder. The needle has first end, which is pointed, a second end, a curved distal section and a straighter proximal section, which is straight or has a radius of curvature greater than the curved distal section. The suture connects with the needle. The actuator includes a mechanism operable to move the needle with respect to the elongate body. The curved needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes an inner surface defining a curved needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening through which the needle exits the curved needle holder. The needle frictionally engages the inner surface when the needle is in a retracted position.

Abstract: A laparoscopic device includes an elongate shaft, an end effector coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft, a rounded housing coupled to a proximal end of the elongate shaft and having a center point positioned along the central axis of the elongate shaft, and first and second cables extending from the end effector to the rounded housing respectively along first and second sides of the elongate shaft. The laparoscopic device also includes a handle that is adjustable between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration. In the expanded configuration, the rounded housing can be rotated to further rotate a single shaft assembly with respect to the central axis of the elongate shaft, and the rounded housing can be pivoted to bend the end effector. In the compressed configuration, the rounded housing is fixed with respect to the handle.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier includes a drive housing, an elongate shaft that extends from the drive housing, and an end effector operatively coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft. The end effector includes jaws that comprise a one-piece body having opposed first and second jaw members. The first jaw member provides a first inner surface and the second jaw member provides a second inner surface opposite the first inner surface. The first and second inner surfaces remain parallel to each other as the first and second jaw members move from an open position to a closed position.

Abstract: A suturing system including apparatus and methods for disposing stitches in a substrate comprising a thread carrier which inserts a thread in the substrate at a first location and withdraws the thread from the substrate at a second location.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting an electrode structure into nerve in tissue of a living body includes a nerve fixing part which fixes the nerve such that at least part of the nerve is hung thereon, and an electrode structure ejector on which the electrode structure is mounted, and which moves the electrode structure in insertion direction to insert the electrode structure into the fixed part of the nerve, wherein the nerve fixing part and the electrode structure ejector are disposed on the same axis.