Abstract: The teachings herein provide an instrument comprising a forceps. The forceps comprise a hand piece; a tubular member connected to the hand piece; and a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw element and a second jaw element. The first jaw element includes a gripping section and a flexing section. The flexing section includes an arcuate section. The second jaw element opposes the first jaw element and includes a gripping section. The tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into a closed position. The first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both include a stiffening spine so that the jaw assembly is substantially rigid in the closed position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, and a shaft assembly. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade, a rotating body, and a clamp arm movable between an open and a closed position. The shaft assembly extends along an axis and includes clamp arm clocking assembly and a clamp arm pivot assembly. The clamp arm clocking assembly can drive the rotating body and the clamp arm between a first clocked position and a second clocked position. The clamp arm pivot assembly includes an actuator body defining a track, where the actuator body can actuate to drive the clamp arm between the open position and the closed position while the actuator body is in a rotational position relative to the ultrasonic blade. The track houses a portion of the clamp arm in the first clocked position and the second clocked position while the actuator body is in the rotational position.

Abstract: Provided herein is an occlusion device for implantation into a body lumen or aneurysm comprising, a continuous compressible mesh structure comprising axial mesh carriages configured end to end, wherein each end of each carriage is a pinch point in the continuous mesh structure. Also provided herein is a kit comprising the occlusion device disclosed herein and a means for delivery thereof. Methods of manufacture and use of the occlusion device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a shaft assembly, and an axial location feature. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm that can move between an open and closed position. The shaft assembly includes a proximal shaft portion, an acoustic waveguide extending proximally from the ultrasonic blade, a distal shaft portion extending along a distal axis, and an articulation section interposed between the proximal shaft portion and the distal shaft portion. The articulation section can deflect the distal shaft portion and the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis between a non-deflected position and a deflected position. The axial location feature can inhibit the ultrasonic blade from shifting relative to the clamp arm along the distal axis as the end effector is driven between the non-deflected position and the deflected position.

Abstract: A self-expanding braided stent includes at least a distal radial expansion ring added to a distal end of the stent body to increase a radial expansion force of the self-expanding braided stent in deployment of the stent, and to facilitate advancement of the stent through a delivery sheath by a core advancement wire. A proximal radial expansion ring is optionally added to a proximal end of the stent body to allow the stent to be recaptured following partial deployment by retraction of the core advancement wire, prior to full deployment of a proximal portion of the stent body.

Abstract: A surgical method for placing an implantable medical device for constricting at least one of a patient's rectum, anal channel, anal sphincter or colon. The surgical method comprises creating an incision in a vaginal wall of a patient, inserting a surgical instrument through said incision. The instrument comprising an elongated main part, an elongated member having a proximal end fixed to a distal end of the elongated main part by means of a first adjustable joint having a pivotal axis, for adjusting a first angle between the main part of the instrument and the elongated member between 0 and 180 degrees, wherein the elongated main part and the elongated member lie in a first plane extending perpendicularly to the pivotal ax-is.

Abstract: Devices, systems and/or methods for repairing soft tissue adjacent a repair site. In one embodiment, a repair device includes a plate member and an anchor. The plate member having a periphery, the plate member configured to be positioned along an outer surface of the soft tissue. The anchor includes a base and six legs extending from the base, the six legs extending from the base being moveable to a curled configuration such that the six legs wrap around separate portions of the periphery of the plate member with the soft tissue therebetween. In this manner, the repair device may be anchored to the soft tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes medical devices comprising implantable expandable implants, such as stent-grafts. Such devices can comprise a constraining line. The constraining line can surround the proximal end of the expandable implant, and assist in positioning and deployment of the expandable implant within the body of the patient.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for managing suture filament during a tissue repair procedure. One exemplary embodiment of an anchor insertion tool includes a handle, an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle, and a ring disposed around the elongate shaft. The ring can be configured to slide along a length of the shaft, and can be configured to engage a filament extending from an anchor removably coupled to the shaft's distal end during a suture anchor insertion procedure. In some embodiments, the ring can include one or more slots for receiving a filament and maintaining a tension applied to the filament. The ring can also include features that prevent it from rotating with respect to the shaft, such as a boss formed on a ring's central opening that engages a slot formed in the shaft. Other devices, systems, and methods for suture anchor insertion are also provided.

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.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, a waveguide extending distally therefrom to an end effector, an ultrasonic transducer assembly supported by the handle assembly, and a drive signal antenna. The ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a transducer, a horn extending distally from the transducer, an electrode antenna disposed about and operably coupled to the transducer, and an outer casing enclosing the transducer, the electrode antenna, and a portion of the horn. Another portion of the horn extends distally from the outer casing to operably connect to the waveguide. The drive signal antenna is disposed externally of and adjacent to the ultrasonic transducer assembly and is configured to contactlessly transmit a drive signal through the outer casing to the electrode antenna to thereby energize the transducer such that ultrasonic energy is transmitted from the horn along the waveguide to the end effector for treating tissue therewith.

Abstract: An atherectomy catheter device includes an elongate body, a drive shaft extending proximally to distally within the elongate body, and a cutter attached to the drive shaft. The cutter includes a serrated annular cutting edge formed on a distal edge of the cutter and a recessed bowl extending radially inwards from the annular cutting edge to a center of the cutter. The recessed bowl has a first curvature. The cutter further includes a plurality of grinding segments extending inwardly from the distal edge within the bowl. Each of the plurality of segments has a second curvature that is different from the first curvature.

Abstract: A stent including a mesh made of strands. The mesh has at least one radiopaque strand and at least one non-radiopaque strand, and the at least one radiopaque strand and the at least one non-radiopaque strand each have different diameters. Each strand has an index of wire stiffness EI, where EI is the mathematical product of the Young's modulus (E) and the second moment of area (I). The EI of all strands in the mesh is no more than five times the EI of the strand having the smallest EI of any of the strands.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements that are layered in the thickness direction and that generate a longitudinal vibration in the thickness direction. The plurality of piezoelectric elements are arranged so that the thicknesses thereof are sequentially larger from the antinode side of the longitudinal vibration towards the node side of the longitudinal vibration.

Abstract: Devices and methods may allow for the removal of material from a remote location in the vasculature. In an example of such a remote location, the device may be used in the vasculature of a lower extremity in combination with an external cuff. The external cuff may create a dam preventing material from flowing throughout the body. With the external cuff in place, the device of the present disclosure may be utilized to suction the material from the vasculature while rotating the catheter to assist in the removal of the material.

Abstract: A retrievable puncture anchor includes a fixator with a cylindrical structure, a retrievable thread secured to one end of the fixator, and a push cable flexibly connected to a middle part of the fixator. Via the retrievable puncture anchor, tissues may be connected, fixed and matched with each other, or the tissues may be auxiliarily fixed, so that endoscopic surgery may be facilitated with simplified surgical process, and the puncture anchor may be retrieved after the surgery.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly and an articulation control assembly. The shaft assembly includes an articulation section. The distal end of the shaft assembly is configured to receive an end effector. The articulation section is configured to deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis. The articulation control assembly includes a first articulation control member, a second articulation control member, and a transmission assembly. The transmission assembly includes a high ratio drive and a low ratio drive. The high ratio drive is configured to drive the articulation section to deflect the end effector at a high rate of articulation in response to actuation of the first articulation control member. The low ratio drive is configured to drive the articulation section to deflect the end effector at a low rate of articulation in response to actuation of the second articulation control member.

Abstract: An automated hair restoration assembly includes a control unit and a cylinder that is gripped during a hair restoration surgical procedure. An actuator is positioned within the cylinder and a turret unit is rotatably coupled to the cylinder. A plurality of cartridges is provided and a selected one of the cartridges is loadable into the turret unit. Each of the cartridges contains a respective one of a plurality of incising blades, a plurality of hair grafts or an alternating sequence of a plurality of said incising blades. The actuator passes through the respective tube and engages one of the incising blades or one of the hair grafts. Thus, each the incising blades can make a respective incision and each of the hair grafts is inserted into the respective incision.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for improving the function of a defective heart valve, and particularly for reducing regurgitation through an atrioventricular heart valve—i.e., the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve. For a tricuspid repair, the device includes an anchor deployed in the tissue of the right ventricle, in an orifice opening to the right atrium, or anchored to the tricuspid valve. A flexible anchor rail connects to the anchor and a coaptation element on a catheter rides over the anchor rail. The catheter attaches to the proximal end of the coaptation element, and a locking mechanism fixes the position of the coaptation element relative to the anchor rail. Finally, there is a proximal anchoring feature to fix the proximal end of the coaptation catheter subcutaneously adjacent the subclavian vein. The coaptation element includes an inert covering and helps reduce regurgitation through contact with the valve leaflets.

Abstract: A catheter including a core wire, a sonic connector at a proximal terminus of the core wire, and a tip member at a distal terminus of the core wire. The core wire can be at least partially disposed within a lumen of an elongate body. The sonic connector can be configured to couple to an ultrasound-producing mechanism. The tip member can be welded to the core wire at one or more weld locations between the tip member and the core wire, and the tip member can flare from the core wire at one or more weld-free locations between the tip member and the core wire. The manner in which the tip member can flare from the core wire at the one or more weld-free locations is characteristic of ultrasonic activation of the tip member.