Abstract: A surgical system for small-pit closure in hollow organs is provided. The surgical system is provided with a surgical device for small-pit closure in hollow organs, with the surgical device including the following components: a suture-member cartridge in which a pair of parallel tubular members that accommodate respective suture members are feedably connected to the rear ends of a pair of arrow-shaped members that latch into tissue in a hollow organ; an auxiliary shooting unit having plungers respectively provided in a pair of cylinders open at both ends; a hollow-organ-insertable unit configured of a pair of flexible air tubes; and a gas shooter that sequentially discharges compressed air or high-pressure gas into the open-ended cylinders in response to operations of a trigger, for sequentially ejecting the arrow-shaped members and driving the same into tissue in the hollow organ on both sides of a small pit site.

Abstract: A needle access assembly and method for obtaining percutaneous needle access with little or no fluoroscopy. The method can include selecting a target for percutaneous access, directing a laser guide at a desired needle-insertion angle and in line with the selected target, aligning the needle access assembly with the laser, and inserting the needle into the target.

Abstract: An instrument for minimally invasive surgery suitable for use with a manipulator comprising a tube provided at its first end with a mouthpiece wherein control means for the mouthpiece pass through the tube, and wherein at a second end of the tube opposite to the first end comprising the mouthpiece control organs are provided that are coupled with the control means for the mouthpiece that are passing through the tube.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for delivering and deployment of an expandable stent with a protection sheath within a blood vessel is provided. The system comprises a fluid pressure device which is coupled with a retraction device for the protection sheath such that after retraction of the protection sheath the stent is automatically deployed by the fluid pressure device. The advantage of the invention is an easy and simple operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: System (100, 150, 200) for effecting ischemic necrosis in a foreskin of a penis, including a rigid ring (104, 158, 204), at least one elastic ring (106, 158, 206, 282, 284) and at least one circumferential groove (108), the rigid ring including an inner surface, the inner surface including an inner diameter, and an outer surface, the outer surface including an outer diameter, the elastic ring being configured to substantially fit around a surface of the rigid ring, the circumferential groove being located on a surface of at least one of the rigid ring and the elastic ring, wherein the inner diameter of the rigid ring is at least slightly larger than a diameter of a shaft of the penis, wherein a diameter of the elastic ring in a relaxed state is at least substantially equal to the diameter of the shaft of the penis, wherein the rigid ring is placed around a first surface of the foreskin, wherein the elastic ring is placed around a second surface of the foreskin, the foreskin being placed within the circumferen

Abstract: An articulation mechanism for a surgical instrument includes an articulation assembly, a plurality of cables, and a trigger. The cables are coupled to the articulation assembly at a proximal end thereof and extend distally therefrom. The cables are configured to engage an end effector assembly of the surgical instrument at a distal end thereof. The trigger is coupled to the articulation assembly and is selectively moveable from a shipping position to a use position. In the shipping position, the cables are substantially un-tensioned. In the use position, the cables are disposed in an initial tensioned position. In the use position, the trigger is moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the cables are selectively tensionable to articulate the end effector assembly. In the locked position, the tensions on the cables are maintained to lock the end effector assembly in position.

Abstract: A device comprising a single closed loop of elastic filament configurable between (i) a first configuration for movement along a blood vessel; and (ii) a second configuration for lodging within a blood vessel, the second configuration providing a single flow-restricting face sized and configured to cover the mouth of the aneurysm and obstruct blood flow to the aneurysm while permitting substantially normal blood flow through the blood vessel, with the degree of obstruction at the mouth of the aneurysm being such that the aneurysm thromboses when the face is positioned over the aneurysm, the flow-restricting face comprising a plurality of lengths of the closed loop of filament disposed in close proximity to one another in a switchback configuration, and at least one leg for holding the flow-restricting face adjacent the mouth of the aneurysm, the leg configured so as to maintain substantially normal blood flow through the blood vessel.

Abstract: A drainage stent delivery system including an elongate shaft of a medical device, a drainage catheter or stent, and an engagement member, such as a distensible member or a compressible member, for selectively coupling the stent to the elongate shaft. The engagement member is positioned between the inner surface of the stent and the outer surface of the elongate shaft and is elongatable from a first length to a second length by longitudinal movement generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the stent to release the stent. At the first length, the engagement member is engaged with the inner surface of the stent to secure the stent on the elongate shaft, and at the second length the engagement member is sufficiently disengaged from the inner surface of the stent to release the stent from the elongate shaft such that the elongate shaft may be withdrawn from the stent.

Abstract: A tissue fixation system including a delivery tube and an elongated fastener with a loop at a proximal end and a distal end. A proximal end of an elongated curved needle is attached to the delivery tube. A distal end of the needle is configured to penetrate tissue. The needle includes an open channel sized to receive the elongated fastener with the loop located near the proximal end of the elongated curved needle and the distal end of the elongated fastener located near the distal end of the elongated curved needle. A capture needle is slidably positioned in the delivery tube to slide through the loop in the proximal end of the elongated fastener. The capture needle is configured to grasp the distal end of the elongated fastener and pull the distal end of the elongated fastener through the loop to cinch the elongated fastener.

Abstract: Systems for controlling obesity utilize a number of space occupiers positioned in the stomach to reduce the effective volume of the stomach. Such arrangements provides sufficient stomach volume consumption to induce weight loss, but enable use of space occupiers that are proportioned to minimize the threat of obstruction even if they should migrate into the intestine. In general, numerous small volume space occupiers are placed in the stomach such that the total volume equals or exceeds the single volume of prior art single unit space occupiers. However, each individual space occupier is proportioned so that it will pass without obstruction if it moves into the intestine.

Abstract: A surgical method of treating tissue within the body of a patient may include: providing an endocutter having a staple holder and a plurality of staples, where a plurality, but less than all, of the staples are arranged in a firing position within the staple holder; engaging tissue of the patient with the staple holder; deploying the plurality of staples in firing position through a buttress and into tissue of the patient; disengaging the end effector from tissue of the patient; moving a plurality of staples into firing position; engaging tissue of the patient with the staple holder; advancing a segment of buttress relative to the staple holder; and repeating the deploying.

Abstract: In order to provide a surgical instrument which is particularly simple to manipulate and enables force to be transmitted particularly directly to at least two tool elements wherein the surgical instrument comprises said at least two tool elements which are movable relative to one another and are arranged at a distal end of a guide device of a surgical instrument, and also comprises a force transmission device for transferring an actuating force from a proximal end of the force transmission device to a distal end of the force transmission device for the purposes of moving at least one of the at least two tool elements relative to the guide device, it is proposed that the surgical instrument should comprise a coupling device for selectively coupling the force transmission device directly or indirectly to at least one of the at least two tool elements.

Abstract: A system for mechanically deploying intraluminal implants is disclosed. The system is used with an implant that is delivered and/or deployed via a pull wire and includes a handle having a funnel and receiving channel for receiving the pull wire, a slider having a thumb grip and a wedge, and a shuttle having a grabber for grasping the pull wire. The thumb grip is pulled proximally to retract the wedge to cause the grabber to grasp the wire and retract the shuttle but not the wire. An extension spring linked between the slider and the shuttle abruptly pulls the shuttle to retract the pull wire after the slider is fully retracted.

Abstract: A tourniquet cuff has a body configured for being wrapped around a limb. The body has an unpressurized state and a pressurized state. A securing portion on the body is releasably engageable to the body. The cuff also has an indicator that operates in response to movement of the securing portion for locating where the securing portion engages the body in order to apply a predetermined amount of force sufficient to secure the body to a limb without causing significant venous occlusion at the limb when the body is in the unpressurized stated.

Abstract: An interventional delivery system with a first catheter having at its distal end a side branch vessel segment; a second catheter attached around the first catheter and having at its distal end a main vessel segment; a side branch vessel device attached to side branch vessel segment of the first catheter; and main vessel device attached to the main vessel segment of the second catheter. The main vessel device and the side branch vessel device are able to be simultaneously delivered to a treatment site.

Abstract: A device includes an expandable implant and a hollow stent internally defining a central passage. The hollow stent defines a retention opening of the implant near the distal end thereof. The inventive device also includes a wire-type link for releasably fixing the implant to the stent, which has a traction section introduced into the opening and extending inside the central passage. For the wire-type link, the device includes an internal insulation channel arranged in the central passage and axially fixed with respect to the stent. The insulation channel receives only one wire-type link and defines a channel which is devoid of a link at least between the proximal end of the stent and the retention opening and is placed in the central channel.

Abstract: A tissue graft attachment device includes a platform member including a leading edge and a trailing edge connected to the leading edge by a pair of sides. The platform member defines a pair of slots extending along a longitudinal axis passing between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and an opening between the pair of slots and the leading edge. The device includes a first suture passing through the opening, a second suture passing through one of the slots, and an attachment member passing through the pair of slots to form a loop. A method for attaching a tissue graft includes providing the tissue graft attachment device, forming a bone tunnel, pulling on the first suture to pull the platform member through the bone tunnel, and pulling on the second suture to position the platform member on the bone tunnel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a forceps with two branches which can be pushed resiliently against each other, are connected to each other at one end by means of a connection section and have a resilient section distally adjoining the connection section, a grip section distally adjoining the resilient section and forceps legs distally adjoining the grip section. In order to afford the possibility of matching the spring force of the forceps to different operational aims, provision is made according to the invention for a support apparatus which is arranged on a branch in the region between the connection section and the grip section or in the proximal region of the grip section, which support apparatus extends transversely between the branches in the direction of the other branch and which is adjustable in terms its spacing from the other branch.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring suture to tissue, incorporating anchoring devices constructed substantially from suture. The anchoring devices are constructed as longitudinally extended, preformed knot configurations that upon deployment are reconfigured to form anchoring knots having an increased cross-section relative to the preformed knot configuration, for secure lodging in tissue. The anchoring devices are suitable for single and multi-anchor surgical procedures in soft tissue or bone, and multiple anchors can be delivered using a single delivery device.

Abstract: Aneurysms are treated by filling at least one double-walled filling structure with a filling medium within the aneurysm, such as filling structures having a membrane that allows water molecules to permeate across the membrane in response to a water potential differential across the membrane. The transport of fluid across the membrane allows the bag to expand or shrink to accommodate changes in the size or shape of the aneurysm, thereby maintaining a seal between the filling structure against the vessel wall and maintaining apposition of the filling structure against the inside surface of the aneurysm. Transport of water molecules into or out of the filling structure is controlled by adjusting for the osmolarity of the filling fluid medium. The filling structures may be delivered over balloon deployment mechanisms in order to shape occlude the aneurysm and open a tubular lumen for flow of blood through the filling structure.