Abstract: A surgical access system includes an access device and a distal smoke evacuator. The access device includes a proximal rim configured for positioning on an external side of an opening in tissue, a distal rim configured for positioning on an internal side of an opening in tissue, and a body interconnecting the proximal and distal rims. The body is configured to extend through an opening in tissue and defines a passageway extending therethrough for insertion of a surgical instrument through the opening in tissue into an internal surgical site. The distal smoke evacuator is integrated into or coupled to the distal rim. The distal smoke evacuator includes a tube ring adapted to connect to a source of suction to evacuate smoke circumferentially about an internal side of an opening in tissue.

Abstract: Medical devices, assemblies and methods for guarding sharp tips of medical needles are disclosed herein. Some embodiments include an expandable device configured to be at least partially disposed within the needle lumen. The device may include an expandable distal portion that is designed to shift between a first configuration in which the expandable distal portion has an outer diameter that is the same as or less than the inner diameter of the needle lumen and a second configuration in which the expandable distal portion has an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the needle lumen. An elongated inner member may be used to shift the expandable distal portion from the first configuration to the second configuration.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a catheter comprising a flexible elongated member including a distal portion that includes a tubular body defining an inner lumen and a plurality of body apertures that extend through a sidewall of the tubular body into the inner lumen, and a plurality of primary electrodes positioned along the tubular body. The catheter assembly includes a wire defining at least one secondary electrode, the wire being configured to be slidably moved through the inner lumen of the tubular body, where the wire and the plurality of primary electrodes are configured to electrically couple to an energy source that delivers an electrical pulse to a fluid in contact with the plurality of primary electrodes and the at least one secondary electrode to cause the fluid to undergo cavitation to generate a pressure pulse wave within the fluid.

Abstract: A junctional tourniquet apparatus and related methods of use. An exemplary tourniquet has an inverted cone shape, wherein a narrower end has a mushroom shaped base that is pressed against a compression target and a broader end has a plurality of pass-through slots for straps. Another exemplary tourniquet has a broad plate component and a handle component. The handle component has a mushroom shaped base on a first end and a handle on a second end. The handle component passes through the center of the plate component with threads that allow the handle component to compress a target by twisting the handle.

Abstract: Vascular compression devices with an inflatable chamber are disclosed. The inflatable chamber of the vascular compression devices can be inflated and then deflated with a liquid with ultrasound properties similar to biological tissues. Ultrasound waves may be applied to the vascular compression device and may propagate through the vascular compression device and into the biological tissue of the patient to produce an ultrasound image to determine the patency of the vessel.

Abstract: A trocar assembly includes a housing, an elongated cannula extending from the housing to an insertion tip, and skirt. The skirt has a leading end portion and a trailing end portion. The leading end portion is secured to the insertion tip. The skirt has an outer surface supporting an antimicrobial material and an inner surface supporting a medical adhesive material.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, a clamp actuator, and a blade cooling system. The end effector has a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade coupled with an ultrasonic transducer. The clamp arm is configured to selectively move from a first actuator position toward a second actuator position thereby directing movement of the clamp arm from the open position toward the closed position, respectively. The cooling system is operable to deliver fluid coolant to the ultrasonic blade to thereby cool the ultrasonic blade while the clamp actuator remains in the first actuator position.

Abstract: A catheter according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a mesh member, a first hollow shaft, a front end tip, a guiding film, and a core wire. The mesh member has a tubular shape and is radially expandable and contractable. The guiding film is formed with a stretchable material and is disposed on the mesh member, the guiding film having a front end located between a base end of the front end tip and a front end of the first hollow shaft. A thickness of a base end of the guiding film is larger than a thickness of the front end of the guiding film.

Abstract: Catheter devices/systems and methods therefrom are described herein for treating acute kidney injury, especially in the reduction of contrast-induced acute kidney injury. The catheter devices, systems and associated methods may prevent contrast dyes from entering into the kidney and/or facilitate blood flow beyond the kidney by utilization of the catheter devices, systems and associated methods.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly and an end effector. The end effector extends extending distally from the shaft assembly and includes an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm, and a clamp pad. The clamp arm is movably secured relative to the ultrasonic blade and includes a mortise longitudinally extending therethrough. The clamp pad is connected to the clamp arm. The clamp arm includes a pad body and a tenon. The pad body extends in a longitudinal direction and is configured to compress a tissue toward the ultrasonic blade. The tenon is secured to the pad body and is received within the mortise. The tenon includes a rail, a support base, and a plurality of openings. The plurality of openings extends through at least one of the support base or the rail such that the tenon has a predetermined transverse spring rate longitudinally along the tenon.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to articulating medical instruments and corresponding systems and techniques. An articulating medical instrument can include an elongated shaft having two shaft sections and a bending section positioned therebetween. The instrument can include an articulation handle positioned at a proximal end of the shaft, and one or motors positioned within the articulation handle and configured to articulate the first bending section. The instrument can also include an insertion handle coupled to the shaft that enables translation of the shaft relative to the insertion handle.

Abstract: An arterial embolus retrieval system that includes an outer sheath configured as a tubular structure and that is able to move independent of a vessel wall. The arterial embolus retrieval system includes a retriever within the outer sheath, and configured to move independent of the outer sheath. The arterial embolus retrieval system also includes a handle configured to deploy the retriever, and a guidewire opposite of the handle and surrounded by the vessel wall. The outer sheath and the retriever can be configured to be guided to a location of an embolus using the guidewire. The guidewire can be configured to be retrieved once the outer sheath and the retriever are proximal to the embolus.

Abstract: A line pull assembly for a prosthetic delivery device includes a rail assembly defining a rail cavity, a longitudinal axis and a hand-gripable slider assembly. The slider is mounted to the rail assembly for sliding movement along it. The slider has a body slidably mounted to the rail assembly, the body having an inner body portion within the rail cavity. A line receiver for receiving a pullable line sits within the inner body portion. A release ring is mounted around the rail assembly and is operably connected to the inner body portion. The slider is locked against sliding movement until the release ring is moved the unlocked position. In the unlocked position, the inner body portion is slideably moveable by sliding movement of the release ring to transfer a pulling force through the line receiver.

Abstract: An instrument system includes an instrument, a drive system, and a controller operably connected to a first drive mechanism and a second drive mechanism of the drive system. The controller is configured to operate the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism drive a flexible tensioning member of the instrument to cause movement of an end effector of the instrument while maintaining a tension applied to the flexible tensioning member of the instrument in a tension range.

Abstract: A cutting balloon catheter including a balloon mounted on a distal portion of a catheter shaft. An expandable frame may be disposed over the balloon. The expandable frame may include a plurality of struts extending from a proximal end region to a distal end region. One or more cutting members may be secured to the expandable frame.

Abstract: A catheter according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a mesh member, a first hollow shaft, a front end tip, a guiding film, a second hollow shaft, and a core wire. The mesh member has a tubular shape and is radially expandable and contractable. The guiding film is disposed on the mesh member and has a front end located between a base end of the front end tip and a front end of the first hollow shaft. A thickness of the front end of the guiding film is larger than a thickness of a portion where a thickness of the guiding film is the smallest.

Abstract: Methods of assembling a medical device including pivotably connecting a coupling link to a first lever. The coupling link including a main body and a tab extending away from the main body. The first lever having a first pivot and a boss. The method further including nesting the first lever and the coupling link with a second lever such that a recess in the second lever is supported by the boss, and such that an inner surface of the second lever is supported by the coupling link to provide a portion of the medical device in a sub-assembled state.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm movably coupled with the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly extends between the body and the end effector and includes an acoustic waveguide, a rotational driver, and a driver wrench. The rotational driver is configured to be received within the rotational drive channel and rotate the shaft assembly relative to the body. The acoustic waveguide includes a notch and the driver wrench includes a key, wherein the first notch of the acoustic waveguide is configured to receive the key.

Abstract: An embolization scaffold device. The scaffold has a base having a central longitudinal axis extending therethrough and a plurality of expandable struts extending from the base. Each of the struts has a proximal portion extending from the base and substantially aligned with the central longitudinal axis, an intermediate arcuate portion radially extending away from the central longitudinal axis, and a distal portion curving back towards the central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a skin treatment device, including: a support main body; a rotating part mounted on one surface of the support main body to be rotatable about a rotating shaft; a plurality of elastic parts which have one ends fixed to the support main body and inserted into the rotating part and are disposed to correspond to a rotation direction of the rotating part, and a needle holder coupled to tip ends of the elastic parts. When the rotating part rotates, the plurality of elastic parts are bent in the rotation direction so that relative positions of tip ends of the elastic parts vary.