Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in a tissue. The apparatus includes an anchor, a sealing plug, a suture, a compaction member assembly, a spool assembly, and a release member. The suture is positioned between the sealing plug and the anchor. The compaction member assembly is structured and arranged to apply an compressive force to compact the sealing plug toward the anchor. The spool assembly includes a plurality of post members, and the suture is wound about the post members to define a suture cam path. Unspooling the suture along the suture cam path provides driving of the compaction member assembly. The release member is operable to move the post members to release the suture member from the spool assembly.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument including a blade that treats tissue and a fluid control system to cool the blade by pumping cooling fluid through the blade. The blade defines a blade lumen in fluid contact with an inflow and return conduit of the fluid control system. The inflow conduit defines an open distal end positioned within the blade lumen adjacent the distal end of the blade lumen and the return conduit defines an open distal end positioned within the blade lumen adjacent the proximal end of the blade lumen. The fluid control system may further include a fluid reservoir holding the cooling fluid and an inflow pump. The inflow pump is configured to deliver the fluid from the fluid reservoir, through the inflow conduit and the blade lumen, and into return conduit.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for minimally invasive procedures in the heart. In one application, a catheter is advanced from the left atrium through the mitral valve and along the left ventricular outflow tract to orient and stabilize the catheter and enable a procedure such as a “bow tie” repair of the mitral valve. Right heart procedures are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug. The methods and apparatus provide for a compaction device or a tamping device that improves control of the amount of force exerted upon the sealing plug. Further, the compaction tube or tamping device can deform upon application of excessive compaction force, thereby reducing the possibility of damage to the sealing plug, anchor, or artery.

Abstract: The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to improved robotic surgical systems, including robotic surgical devices having improved arm components and/or biometric sensors, contact detection systems for robotic surgical devices, gross positioning systems and devices for use in robotic surgical systems, and improved external controllers and consoles.

Abstract: A circumcision guard apparatus that includes a flexible, durable disc having an aperture centrally disposed therein, said aperture congruent with an open channel disposed radially between said aperture and the circumference of the disc, wherein manual action applied across the open channel effects spearation of the disc at the aperture, whereby the disc is fittable to gird a patient's penis proximal the prepuce and glans, and thereby shield and protect proximal tissue from inadvertant contact with a surgeon's blade during the act of circumcision.

Abstract: A method of treating a lesion in a body lumen to enlarge a passageway in the lumen including providing a cutting member, connecting a tracking member to the cutting member to form an assembly, inserting the connected cutting member and tracking member through a first lumen of a catheter, withdrawing the catheter from the cutting member and tracking member, inserting the catheter over the tracking member and leaving the cutting member outside the catheter, and expanding a portion of the catheter to move the cutting member into cutting contact with the lesion. A device for treating a lesion in a body lumen including a cutting member having a coupler to connect a tracking member is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a delivery system for a prosthesis, said delivery system comprising a catheter shaft with a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, a space for a prosthesis with a distal end and a proximal end, the space being at the distal end of the catheter shaft, a sheath with a proximal end and a distal end, the sheath being disposed at the distal end of the catheter shaft so as to surround the space, a pusher element attached to the distal end of the catheter shaft and arranged at the proximal end of the space for abutting prosthesis, a pull element with a longitudinal axis, the pull element reaming the length of the catheter shaft and having a distal end attached to the proximal end of the sheath and a proximal end for pulling the pull element proximally, thereby retracting the sheath proximally relative to the prosthesis space, and at least one fixation element having a proximal end and a distal end and being disposed within a flexible portion of the length of the shaft that lies be

Abstract: A vitrectomy surgical system includes a vitrectomy probe having a cutting portion comprising an inner tube, an outer tube, and an aspiration port. The inner tube may be movable relative to the outer tube to cut vitreous fibers. The system also includes a controller associated with the vitrectomy probe and configured to control movement of the inner tube by generating control signals corresponding to a cutting scheme including a plurality of series of cuts with each cut being evenly spaced in time, the plurality of series of cuts separated by a recovery period.

Abstract: A biological tissue cutting and fluid aspiration system provides a plurality of surgical instruments operable independent of an external control console. In some embodiments, each surgical instrument may include all sensors and controls directly applicable to the surgical instrument, and may be used independently. In some embodiments, instruments communicate status information to each other, and adjust operating parameters based on the communications.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a method for providing surgical access across a wall of a tissue structure, comprising: installing a guiding member into the wall of the tissue structure to a desired guiding depth; using the installed guiding member as a positional guide, advancing a helical member into the wall of the tissue to a desired helical member depth, the helical member comprising a helical member distal end removably coupled to an anchor member which is coupled to a distal end of a suture member, such that advancing the helical member into the wall causes the anchor member to be advanced into the wall and to pull a distal portion of the suture member along with the anchor member into the wall to substantially encapsulate a number of helical loops of suture member that is greater than about 1 loop and less than about 3 loops; withdrawing the helical member from the wall of the tissue structure, leaving the anchor member in a deployed configuration decoupled from the helical member and coupled to at leas

Abstract: An aspiration probe tip for use in surgical procedures includes a body defining a first channel therein for aspirating material therethrough from a surgical region along a first vector. The body includes a straight portion connected to a first end and a curved portion connecting the straight portion to a second end. A fluid sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the body and defines a second channel between the fluid sleeve and the body for injecting a fluid into the surgical region along a second vector. An end of the fluid sleeve securely fits over the body to substantially seal the end of the fluid sleeve. The fluid sleeve further defines an aperture for injecting fluid along the second vector from the second channel into the surgical region. A combination of the aspiration of the material into the first channel from the surgical region along the first vector and injection of fluid into the surgical region from the second channel creates a cyclonic movement within the surgical region.

Abstract: The invention provides a highly aligned and closely packed hollow fiber assembly, wherein the assemblies of fibrous membrane has a width-to-fiber diameter ratio (W/d) larger than 10 and the orientation of the fibers is no larger than +/?10°. Also provided is an electrospinning process for the preparation of the fiber assembly of the invention and its applications.

Abstract: Delivery systems for polymeric tubular implants, kits that include such delivery systems, and methods of treating patients by implanting tubular implants using the delivery systems. The delivery systems include an inner shaft, an expandable member slidably disposed about the inner shaft and configured to receive the tubular implant, and a tubular outer shaft disposed about the inner shaft.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising an end effector is disclosed. The surgical device comprises a trigger actuatable to cause the end effector to be energized and a circuit in communication with the trigger. The circuit is configured to, when a first level of force is applied to the trigger, drive the end effector at a first level, when a second level of force is applied to the trigger, drive the end effector at a second level, and, delay by a first period of time between indicating a change in the force applied to the trigger from the first level of force to the second level of force and a change from driving the end effector at the first level to driving the end effector at the second level, wherein the first period of time is sufficient to give a user a warning about the change in the force.

Abstract: A variety of systems and methods are described which enable quantitative information to be extracted regarding automated procedures, including those performed at a high speed that may require a user input, without having to interrupt the procedure. In addition, these systems and methods serve to provide information on one or more parameters of the automated procedure, whereby they may be modified, if required, to improve the automated procedure or the results from such a procedure. The systems and methods provided are especially useful in automated hair transplantation procedures.

Abstract: Endoprosthesis assemblies and methods for using the same. In at least one embodiment, the endoprosthesis assembly comprises an endoprosthesis comprising an impermeable inner wall defining an endoprosthesis lumen sized and shaped to permit fluid to flow therethrough, a distal balloon positioned at or near a distal end of the endoprosthesis and capable of inflation to anchor the distal end of the endoprosthesis within a luminal organ, and a proximal balloon positioned at or near a proximal end of the endoprosthesis and capable of inflation to anchor the proximal end of the endoprosthesis within the luminal organ, wherein when the endoprosthesis assembly is positioned within the luminal organ at or near an aneurysm sac, inflation of the distal balloon and the proximal balloon effectively isolates the aneurysm sac and prevents fluid within the aneurysm sac from flowing past the distal balloon and the proximal balloon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical instrument comprising: a distal tool (5) securely fastened at a distal end of a rotation shaft (4) and rotatably mounted on and in the extension of a distal member (30) rotatably mounted at an end of an elongated arm (3), an comprising motorized means (20) for actuating the distal motion of the distal tool (5) and further comprising controlling means (21) for a user to control the motorized means (20); a handle (1) extending from the actuation unit (2) and comprising a lever (11) mechanically coupled to the distal tool (5) for actuation of said distal tool (5); characterized in that the handle (1) has a non-axially-symmetric shape and is mounted on and in the extension of the actuation unit (2) with coupling means (12,22) enabling rotation of the handle (1) relative to the actuation unit (2) around the longitudinal axis, and wherein the controlling means (21) are adapted to be operated by the user whatever the rotational position of the handle (1) relative to the actuat

Abstract: There is provided a surgical instrument that simplifies surgery for implantation surgery for treating anal incontinence in women. The disclosed surgical instrument is intended to be inserted through an incision in the vagina and is used for dissecting tissue as well as positioning the implant. The instrument comprises a main part of the instrument, an elongated member with a flexible tip and can change conformation from a straight conformation to a loop conformation that can reach around a portion of the rectum.

Abstract: A delivery device usable to deliver an inverting implant is provided that includes a positioning mechanism that automatically initiates the inversion process once a predetermined length of the implant has exited a delivery catheter. The positioning mechanism allows the implant to be safely and accurately deployed with reduced operator experience and in a greater variety of target locations.