Abstract: A catheter for use in treating pleura diseases, such as pleural effusions and pneumothorax, includes a tip portion that is configured to irritate the pleura when the catheter is inserted in the pleural cavity, thereby initiating mechanical pleurodesis. The tip portion has a substantially rough configuration and may include one or more protrusions that contact the pleura when the catheter is in use, thereby irritating the layers. This irritation causes the creation of fibrous adhesions between the parietal and visceral layers that close off the pleural cavity and prevent further fluid and/or air accumulations that occur as a result of pleural diseases.

Abstract: Implant tools and techniques for implantation of a medical lead, catheter or other component are provided. The implant tools and techniques are particularly useful in implanting medical electrical leads in extravascular locations, including subcutaneous locations. An implant tool for implanting a medical lead may include a handle and a shaft adjacent the handle. The shaft has a proximal end, a distal end, and an open channel that extends from near the proximal end to the distal end, the open channel having a width that is greater than or equal to an outer diameter of the implantable medical lead.

Abstract: A medical device for grinding substance inside a body lumen includes a rotatable tubular drive shaft, a treatment member connected to the drive shaft, and a tubular member possessing an axially extending lumen that extends throughout the tubular member. The tubular member is mounted on the treatment member and surrounds a portion of the treatment member so that the treatment member is rotatable relative to the tubular member. The treatment member includes a shearing portion, and the tubular member includes a protrusion that projects toward the lumen of the tubular member. The protrusion is located axially in front of the shearing portion and interacts with the shearing portion during relative rotation between the treatment member and the tubular member to shear debris resulting from the grinding of the substance.

Abstract: A skin treatment apparatus, preferably an epilator, comprising at least one detector for detecting approximation and/or contact with the skin and a control unit to actuate the device depending on the signal received from the detector. The control unit has at least one regulator which increases the speed of the drive unit upon detection of an increased resistance and/or current consumption by a sensor and/or decreases the speed of the drive unit upon detection of an decreased resistance and/or current consumption by a sensor.

Abstract: An improved holder and storage system for a tissue-type prosthetic mitral heart valve that constricts the commissure posts of the valve and prevents suture looping. A rod axially movable relative to the holder tensions lengths of attachment sutures that extend between the commissure post tips to create a tent and flex the tips inward, thus helping to prevent looping of any of an array of pre-implanted sutures around the leading tips during delivery of the valve. The holder has a safety mechanism that prevents valve delivery before the rod is deployed. One embodiment automatically deploys the rod upon opening a storage jar. One embodiment permits a delivery handle to directly deploy the rod, while another uses a separate worm screw and coupling. A holder clip that attaches to a packaging sleeve may be formed of flexible members meshed together from which the heart valve and holder are easily pulled free to eliminate a step of decoupling the clip from the sleeve.

Abstract: An injectate delivery device for expanding tissue is provided. The injectate delivery device comprises: at least one fluid delivery tube comprising a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen therebetween; at least one fluid delivery element in fluid communication with the at least one fluid delivery tube lumen; a radially expanding element comprising the at least one fluid delivery element; a supply of vacuum constructed and arranged to cause tissue to tend toward the at least one fluid delivery element; and at least one control constructed and arranged to perform a function. The at least one control can be constructed and arranged to expand the radially expandable element and activate the supply of vacuum. Systems and method of injectate delivery are also provided.

Abstract: A catheter includes a wave guide for transmitting ultrasonic energy from a transducer, and which is also rotated to facilitate enhanced disruption of the concerned obstruction in a transverse direction. Embodiments of waveguide include distal anchors that help focus the energy transmitted to a treatment site, and may also include a deployable filter that may open distal of the obstruction to capture any dislodged debris. Selectively inflatable balloons may cordon off a treatment site, and the wave guide may comprise a tube that may serve the dual purposes of inflating the balloon(s), as well as to transmit ultrasonic energy to an obstruction. A portion of an ultrasonic catheter may include plural curved portions to space an exposed portion of the wave guide away from the catheter body to enhance the vibratory action provided.

Abstract: A navigable probe system and method of use is provided. The system may include a handle assembly having a locking mechanism enclosed and a stylus, a cannula, and a tracking device extending from the handle assembly. The stylus may include undercuts for receiving pins of the locking mechanism. A cam of the handle assembly may rotate such that in a first position, the pins of the locking mechanism may be engaged with the undercuts and in a second position, the pins of the locking mechanism may be disengaged from the undercuts releasing the stylus from the locking mechanism. The stylus may be slidably engaged with an inner diameter of the cannula. In some arrangements, the handle assembly may include a quick connect system that in a first position attaches the cannula to the handle assembly and in a second position releases the handle assembly and thus stylus from the cannula.

Abstract: A flat embolic braid having a first side comprising a first side surface, and a second side comprising a second side surface facing in an opposite direction than the first side surface, the braid having an elongated constrained configuration for being deployed through a delivery catheter, and a three-dimensional unconstrained configuration, wherein in the three-dimensional unconstrained configuration, the braid assumes a plurality of successive loops in which the braid is at least partially twisted between successive loops of the plurality, so that the first side surface faces externally of each loop, and the second side surface faces an interior of each loop, respectively, regardless of a change in direction and/or orientation of the braid.

Abstract: A method for improving leaflet prolapse and/or valve regurgitation associated with a heart valve involves introducing a chordae tendineae capturing device into a ventricle of a heart, the chordae tendineae capturing device comprising a central hub component and a plurality of spokes, extending the plurality of spokes outward from the central hub component, rotating the chordae tendineae capturing device in a first direction to bring at least one of the plurality of spokes into physical contact with one or more cords of chordae tendineae disposed in the ventricle, further rotating the chordae tendineae capturing device in the first direction to bring the one or more cords inward towards the central hub component, and closing the plurality of spokes at least partially over the one or more cords to secure the one or more cords.

Abstract: A hair pulling apparatus includes a frame having a longitudinal axis, a first leg extending from the frame, a movable leg spaced apart from the first leg, the movable leg extending from the frame and movable, linearly, relative to the frame, a control system comprising a processor to execute a plurality of pulling profile instructions stored in memory, a linear actuator operatively coupled to the control system and constructed to move linearly along the longitudinal axis relative to the frame, a gripper coupled to the linear actuator, and a load cell coupled to the linear actuator. When one or more of the plurality of pulling profile instructions stored in memory are executed by the processor, the control system causes the linear actuator to retract along the longitudinal axis, applying a pulling force to a strand of hair gripped by the gripper in order to measure the pulling force.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an artificial tendon-forming auxiliary instrument in which a valve cusp of a cardiac valve and a papillary muscle can be joined together with an artificial tendon through an easy procedure and the artificial tendon can be finished so as to have a desired length. According to an aspect of the present invention, an auxiliary instrument (100) is used for joining a valve cusp (210) of the cardiac valve and a papillary muscle (212) with an artificial tendon (200). A pair of end-portion support portions (20) and (21) respectively supporting the valve cusp (210) and the papillary muscle (212) is provided at both ends in a longitudinal direction. The auxiliary instrument (100) includes first and second tendon insertion ports through which the artificial tendon (200) is inserted, a tendon guide portion (30), and an instrument holding portion (40).

Abstract: A blood clot removal device for removing blood clots from the vascular system of a patient is implantable in the patient's body. The blood clot removal device comprises a blood flow passageway, a filter provided in the blood flow passageway for filtering blood clots, and a cleaning device for cleaning the filter. By means of such blood clot removal device and system, the risk of blood clots reaching sensitive areas of the patient's body, such as the brain, is reduced.

Abstract: A medical device, having a body that is tubular at least in some sections. The body can be transferred from a compressed state into an expanded state and has a circumferential wall having at least one first lattice structure and one second lattice structure. The first lattice structure and the second lattice structure form separate layers of the circumferential wall, which are arranged coaxially one inside the other and connected to each other at least at points in such a way that the first lattice structure and the second lattice structure can be moved relative to each other at least in some sections. A system having such a device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A left atrial appendage (LAA) closure device that includes an anchor portion having a first segment and a second segment that are connected in spaced-apart manner by a first connector, a sealing portion, and a second connector that connects the anchor portion and the second segment sealing portion. The first segment is adapted to be positioned outside the LAA and in the pericardial sac after deployment of the closure device, and the second segment is positioned between the first segment and the sealing portion inside the LAA.

Abstract: A method for producing an in vivo indwelling member having a secondary coil in which a secondary shape is given to a linear primary coil with a primary shape given to a linear material, includes: a first three-dimensional body formation step of forming a first three-dimensional body by aligning in a loop a plurality of segments, each of the segments being formed by winding the primary coil at least once, so that a part of the primary coil is spatially arranged; a second three-dimensional body formation step of forming a second three-dimensional body by aligning in a loop a plurality of segments, each of the segments being formed by winding the primary coil at least once, so that at least a part of the rest of the primary coil is spatially arranged after the formation of the first three-dimensional body; and an inside arrangement step of arranging one of the first and second three-dimensional bodies inside a loop part formed of the plurality of segments aligned in a loop of the other three-dimensional body.

Abstract: A fixing device for soft tissue includes: a driving device, screw tube and a drive rod. A catheter is connected with the screw tube by screw thread, and a plurality of absorbable screws or titanium screws are provided in the catheter. A screw thread structure is formed on a nailed beam of each of the absorbable screws, and a lead spring is provided on each of the absorbable screws. The plurality of absorbable screws or titanium screws are connected in series and provided in the catheter with a spiral groove in a head-to-nail sequence. When used, by pulling the trigger, the driving rod is rotated driven by the driving device, in such a manner that the absorbable screw or the titanium screw can be shot out of the catheter one by one. The fixing device of the present invention has characteristics of anti-adhesion, convenient and reliable operation.

Abstract: A constricting cord can be delivered to the vicinity of an annulus using an apparatus that includes a set of support arms, with a respective anchor launcher supported by each of the support arms. An inflatable first balloon is configured to push the support arms away from each other when the first balloon is inflated. An inflatable second balloon is mounted to a shaft and is configured for inflation when the second balloon is disposed distally beyond the first balloon. In some embodiments, the distal balloon is inflated while it is in a ventricle. In some embodiments, the distal balloon is inflated while it is in a pulmonary artery.

Abstract: A magnet assembly apparatus for obesity treatment and a use method of the same are disclosed. The magnet assembly apparatus for obesity treatment according to the present invention is a magnet assembly apparatus for obesity treatment which can be injected by an oral approach into the stomach of a patient. The magnet assembly apparatus comprises a first sphere having a first diameter and silicon-coated on the outside; and a second sphere having a second diameter bigger than the first diameter, which is a magnetic substance having a magnetic force of a predetermined value.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a robotic arm comprising a first segment having a first plurality of links and a first plurality of actuated joint modules providing the robotic arm with at least five degrees of freedom, and a second segment having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of the first segment, and comprising a second plurality of links and a second plurality of actuated joint modules providing the robotic arm with at least two degrees or freedom. The robotic surgical system further comprises an instrument driver coupled to the second segment and configured to hold a surgical instrument. The second arm segment is configured to move the surgical instrument within a generally spherical workspace, and the first arm segment is configured to move the location of the spherical workspace.