Abstract: The present embodiments provide stent-grafts. In one embodiment, a stent has proximal and distal ends, a plurality of strut segments disposed between the proximal and distal ends that enable expansion of the stent from a compressed state to a deployed state, and a series of distal apices disposed at the distal end of the stent. At least a portion of a first distal apex overlaps with graft material. First and second sutures are each coupled between a portion of the first distal apex and the graft material. The first and second sutures are positioned at different longitudinal zones that lack an axial overlap with one another.

Abstract: A high-performance tourniquet for use in rugged environments is disclosed. The tourniquet includes a strap which surrounds an extremity to apply pressure to the extremity. The strap is coupled with a latching mechanism which is operated via a handle to tighten the tourniquet. The ends of the tourniquet are configured to couple via a buckle system enabling a buckle frame to be passed over a buckle tongue. Alternatively, a quick-release stab-lock style fastener buckle may be used to couple the ends of the tourniquet. In either case the tourniquet is designed to enable a victim to personally don the tourniquet and apply the correct pressure. A handle protruding from the outer surface of the tourniquet may be rotated to tighten the tourniquet and apply pressure by moving the tourniquet ends relative to one another. The handle may be pulled outward to quickly undo the pressure.

Abstract: Medical devices, such as endoprostheses, and methods of making the devices are disclosed. The medical device can include a composite cover formed of a deposited metallic film. The cover may include one or more filaments, e.g., wires, which cooperate with the film to provide desirable mechanical properties. The wires may be integrated with the film by depositing the film over the wires.

Abstract: An endoscopic device for retrieving an object from within a human body is disclosed. The device includes a support assembly, a transmitting assembly, a wire, and a net element. The support assembly has a base and a tubular member. The transmitting assembly includes a handle and a motion transmitting link fixed to the handle and extending through at least a portion of the tubular member. The wire defines a loop portion and two leg portions. A proximal end of each leg portion is secured to the link by a first connection and the two leg portions are secured to each other by at least a second connection distal from the first connection. The net element has a distally protruding portion secured to the loop portion and a proximally protruding portion secured relative to the leg portions.

Abstract: A luminal drilling system includes a drilling device and a control unit. The drilling device includes an elongate member having a drive shaft with a drill tip. The control unit includes a motor connectable to the drive shaft and control circuitry which rotationally oscillates the drive shaft with the direction of rotation automatically reversing whenever the load on the motor and/or drive shaft exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: Improved bone anchors are disclosed for anchoring one or more sutures attached to soft tissue to a bone. The bone anchor has an anchor body that extends between a distal end and a proximal end. A bore is formed axially in the anchor body and opens at the proximal end. One or more pins are fixed within the bore of the anchor body. One or more sutures can be looped on the pins for anchoring soft tissue to bone. The anchor body has a socket within the bore for receiving a driver tool. The distal end of the anchor body forms a non-threaded extension, which stabilizes the bone anchor, and helps prevent lateral movement during use. In one embodiment, the anchor body has coarse threads for engaging soft bone tissue and fine threads for engaging hard bone tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method including an ophthalmic lens having an optic with an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and an optical axis. The ophthalmic lens further includes a first region having a first optical power and a second region having a second optical power. The ophthalmic lens further includes a third region having an optical power that progresses from the first optical power to the second optical power. The progression may be uniform or non-uniform. Each of the first, second and progression optical power may include a base power and an optical add power. Each of the first, second and progression regions may provide a first focus, a second focus and a plurality of third foci, respectively.

Abstract: A medical knife includes a blade plate and a blade portion formed at the distal end of the blade plate. Cutting edges extend from the distal end to the proximal end of the blade portion. Two blade surfaces in the width direction of a back-face portion of the blade portion are formed to gradually increase a distance between opposite side and cutting edge from one of the distal end and the proximal end to the other. The two blade surfaces in the width direction of a front-face portion of the blade portion are formed such that the distance between the opposite side and the cutting edge becomes equal in a zone corresponding to a distal end of the cutting edge and a zone corresponding to a proximal end of the cutting edge, over the entire cutting edge from the distal end to the proximal end of the cutting edge.

Abstract: A method for detaching an object from a patient includes providing a tool having a sheath, and a separating assembly operably coupled to a distal end of the sheath. The separating assembly includes a separator moveably coupled to a tip via a threadable connection. The separating assembly is placed near patient tissue that is attached to the object, the sheath is rotated to move the separator distal to the tip, and the separator is applied to the patient tissue that is attached to the object, so as to separate the tissue. A separating system includes a sheath, and a separator threadably coupled with a distal end of the sheath. The separator is adapted to switch between a first configuration where a separating mechanism is deployed, and a second configuration where the separating mechanism is undeployed.

Abstract: A catheter for removing tissue from a body lumen and for providing information relating to the body lumen. The catheter includes a tissue cutting element that rotates relative to the catheter body and is mounted to the drive shaft for imparting rotation to the tissue cutting element. An energy emitting element of the catheter rotates relative to the catheter body and is rotatable independently of the tissue cutting element.

Abstract: A medical manipulator includes a trigger lever operated by hands, a shaft that extends from a body in which the trigger lever is provided, and a tip operating unit that is provided at a tip of the shaft. The tip operating unit includes an end effector to which the operation of the trigger lever is mechanically transmitted and in which the operation is performed, and a detection mechanism that detects an operation state of the first input unit.

Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, includes a method of assembling a filamentary fixation device including obtaining a filamentary sleeve having a pathway therethrough, and a loading member and retriever member each positioned through at least a portion of the pathway, engaging a working suture with the retriever member, positioning at least a portion of the working suture in the pathway using the retriever member, and engaging the working suture with the loading member.

Abstract: A first endoluminal prosthesis coupled to an inner catheter and a dilator tip is delivered to the body vessel via a guidewire and a delivery sheath in a conventional manner. After deployment of the first endoluminal prosthesis at the target site, the dilator and catheter are retracted from the body, leaving the delivery sheath in place. A second endoluminal prosthesis is housed within a peel-away sheath without a catheter or dilator tip, and is mated to the delivery sheath outside the patient. The second prosthesis is advanced from the peel-away sheath into the delivery sheath without the use of a dilator tip or catheter. As the second prosthesis is advanced into the delivery sheath from the peel-away sheath, the peel-away sheath is peeled away. The second prosthesis is advanced through the delivery sheath and delivered into an overlapping engagement with the first prosthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft for a femoral neck prosthesis, which comprises an anchoring area (27, 29) which is arranged inside the femur in order to anchor the prosthesis into bone, a head area which is axially adjacent to the anchoring area (27, 29) on the proximal side, said head area comprising a device (13) which is connected to the prosthesis head (15), in addition to a distal end which is arranged opposite the head area in the axial direction of the anchoring area (27, 29). The invention is characterised in that the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the head area is at the most equal and, in particular, smaller than the maximum diameter of the anchoring area (27, 29), in such a manner that the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the shaft (11) is in the anchoring area (27, 29).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for capturing a guidewire being progressed along the lumen of a bodily duct and to direct it into a catheter. In one aspect a catheter-based eccentric cone capture structure is used to engage and direct a guidewire oppositely approaching the capture structure.

Abstract: A method for preparing a laminate coronary stent comprising: providing a stent framework; and depositing a plurality of layers on said stent framework to form said laminate coronary stent; wherein at least one of said layers comprises a bioabsorbable polymer.

Abstract: A prosthetic mitral valve with a compressible and expandable stent that, when expanded, is circumferentially oval, elliptical, or D-shaped, with a major axis and a minor axis ratio of from about 3:4 to about 4:5. Embodiments of the stent comprise three commissure posts disposed towards an outflow end and three curved cusp regions between adjacent commissure posts. Three flexible leaflets are attached to the commissure posts in a tri-foil configuration. Embodiments of the prosthetic mitral valve include an atrial ring disposed at the inflow end of the stent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel medical apparatus for treatment of obesity, diabetes, and/or other obesity-associated health problems. The apparatus is used to impede absorption of nutrients within the gastrointestinal tract, i.e., substantially isolating nutrients from a portion of the gastrointestinal tract. The apparatus can be implanted using minimally invasive techniques, such a transesophageal approach under visualization. More specifically, the apparatus is used to impede absorption of nutrients within the gastrointestinal tract, i.e., substantially isolating nutrients from a portion of the gastrointestinal tract. The apparatus may include a sleeve and at least one anchoring component attached to the sleeve with a releasable component. The sleeve may have different properties along its length or there may be multiple sleeves having different properties.

Abstract: An expandable, bistable open cell design incorporates the following features: a first relatively stiff portion (152) having first and second ends and a first relatively flexible portion (154) connected to the first and second ends of the first relatively stiff portion, the first relatively stiff portion and the first relatively flexible portion substantially surrounding a first open area (156) of the stent structure; a second relatively stiff portion (158) having first and second ends and a second relatively flexible portion (160) connected to the first and second ends of the first relatively stiff portion, the first relatively stiff portion and the first relatively flexible portion substantially surrounding a second open area (162) of the stent structure; and an opening (110) formed through the first relatively stiff portion and the second relatively flexible portion such that the opening connects the first and second open areas, thereby creating first and second intermediate ends (152a, 152b) of the first r

Abstract: An atherectomy catheter having an inner drive shaft which rotates a distal rotary tissue borer with a helical cutting surface which enables the catheter to cut through and cross a CTO. Additionally, the atherectomy catheter has a distal cutting element rotated by an outer drive shaft configured to cut material from the wall of a vessel at a treatment site as the catheter is pushed distally through the treatment site. The atherectomy catheter includes a collection chamber positioned proximally of the cutting element and rotary tissue borer. The atherectomy catheter directs material cut from the treatment site into the collection chamber, breaks down larger portions of material that may block or clog the collection chamber and transports the material collected from the treatment site to a proximal opening in the atherectomy catheter.