Abstract: A minimally invasive suturing device is disclosed. The minimally invasive suturing device has a shaft and a distal tip. The minimally invasive suturing device also has a flexible span coupling the distal tip to the shaft. The flexible span has an angling link, a plurality of bending links, and an end link.

Abstract: Devices for guiding an instrument into a body of a patient, at a targeted point of entry and along an insertion path at a targeted insertion angle, are described herein, such as a guide for an access needle in a PCNL procedure for accessing the kidney to remove kidney stones, the devices comprising a base component, a guide assembly, and optionally an insertion mechanism. The base component is aligned in use with the point of entry and the guide assembly cooperates with the base component to allow for the instrument to be aligned and fixed at any circumferential angle around an axis perpendicular to the point of entry and at any vertical angle ranging from 0 to 45 degrees away from the axis in a direction toward the body. The optional mechanism allows for mechanical insertion once the instrument is aligned and fixed.

Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical device includes a main body, a buffer assembly and a cutter bit. The main body includes an inner tube and an outer tube, wherein the inner tube is disposed in the outer tube. An end of the buffer assembly is connected to the inner tube. The cutter bit is connected to another end of the buffer assembly, wherein the cutter bit has a cutting portion. When the cutting portion is in contact with an object, the buffer assembly is adapted to enable the cutter bit to move relatively to the inner tube to decrease a cutting force between the cutting portion and the object, and is adapted to enable the cutting portion to be tilted with a surface of the object.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tissue anchor and a system and method employing same, the anchors including a body having a first section and a second section reversibly engagable with one another, each section including a plurality of barbs in the form of microneedles projecting from the underside therefore, the barbs on one section being inclined towards barbs on the other section, such that tissue may be captured and deformed between the barbs through displacement of the first section relative to the second section in order to achieve robust retention of the tissue anchor at a deployment site.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to heart valve prostheses, delivery devices, actuation handles, and other improved devices and methods that facilitate delivery of a heart valve prosthesis to a defective native valve structure in a patient, such as the aortic valve.

Abstract: A donor corneal tissue cutting blade provided with integrally formed asymmetrical markers for facilitation identification of the anterior and posterior sections or portions of the donor corneal tissue is disclosed. The blade is a cylindrical body having, in one embodiment, a U-shaped extension which cooperates with the body to define a keyway. Protrusions may be formed on the body and/or extension to provide further markers.

Abstract: A uterine manipulator device includes: an elongated cannulated tube comprising a proximal end and a distal end; a cervical cup having a top proximal portion of a first diameter and a base distal portion of a second smaller diameter, wherein: the base distal portion includes a hole formed therein having a perimeter including a distal end and a proximal end, and including a longitudinal axis positioned therethrough; one of the proximal end of the perimeter and the distal end of the perimeter is angled away from the longitudinal axis and the other of the proximal end of the perimeter and the distal end of the perimeter is in line with the longitudinal axis; and the elongated cannulated tube is positioned through the hole in the cervical cup.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for insertion tools for implanting electrode leads. In one embodiment, an insertion tool comprises a shaft having an outer cannula and an inner cannula. An actuator may be configured to transition the insertion tool between at least three configurations. In a first configuration, the inner cannula and the outer cannula are configured to receive the lead in the shaft. In a second configuration, the inner cannula and the outer cannula are configured to secure the lead in the shaft. In a third configuration, the inner cannula and the outer cannula are configured to cause the lead to separate from the insertion tool and implant in adjacent tissue.

Abstract: There is provided an embolization device for promoting clot formation in a bodily lumen and having a contracted delivery configuration and an expanded deployed configuration, the embolisation device comprising: a stem comprising a tube having a tube wall; and a plurality of flexible bristles extending radially outwardly from the tube, wherein at least one of the plurality of flexible bristles penetrates through the tube wall.

Abstract: An assembly for use in repairing a severed tendon comprises an elongate threading element adapted to transit along a lumen of a tendon sheath, for covering a curved needle and carrying the needle within the lumen. The assembly can also comprise a liner for lining an internal surface of the tendon sheath, defining an internal passage along which a tendon stump coupled to the curved needle can pass. The liner can have a collapsed, rest configuration in which it is adapted to be inserted into the lumen of the tendon sheath, and an expanded, operating configuration, the liner being movable to the expanded configuration by contact with the tendon stump. Once released from the liner, the threading element receives the curved needle, for covering and carrying the curved needle through the liner and along the lumen of the tendon sheath trailing the connected tendon stump.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for positioning a tip of a pacemaker lead that has passed through coronary sinus into an interventricular septum. More particularly, it relates to a method for positioning a tip of a pacemaker lead that has passed through a coronary sinus into an interventricular septum in order to more effectively transmit an electrical stimulus in a treatment using a pacemaker for patients with arrhythmia. A method of positioning a tip of a pacemaker lead, which has passed through a coronary sinus, into an interventricular septum, in order to effectively transmit electrical stimulus, includes: inserting into an intervention wire through a superior vena cava and a coronary sinus to pass through the interventricular septum and then guiding the intervention wire to an inferior vena cava; and positioning the tip of the lead into the interventricular septum by inserting the pacemaker lead along the intervention wire.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to agents and devices for promoting hemostasis and, more particularly, to bioresorbable hemostatic pads or patches releasably supported on non-resorbable scaffolds for ease of delivery in the field. A sealant and/or hemostat delivery device comprises a resorbable hemostatic pad having a wound facing side and an opposite back side, with a hemostatic and/or wound sealing agent disposed on the wound facing side; a non-resorbable scaffold having an attachment zone on said scaffold; wherein said hemostatic pad is releasably attached with the back side to the attachment zone. The bond between the scaffold and the resorbable hemostatic pad or wound dressing is either (i) severed prior to removal of the scaffold or (ii) is weakened due to the adhesive bonding them together being moisture-deactivated, or (iii) is released by mechanical disentanglement.

Abstract: An occlusive implant includes an expandable framework that is configured to shift between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. An occlusive member is disposed along at least a portion of the expandable framework. At least part of the occlusive implant is configured to repel fibrinogen. In some cases, the occlusive implant may be configured for placement within a left atrial appendage (LAA) of a patient's heart.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a needle guide includes a first lever, a second lever, a first cam and a second cam. The first cam is attached to and extends from the first lever to a housing under the needle guide. The second cam is attached to and extends from the second lever to the housing under the needle guide. At least one of the first cam and the second cam is configured to translate rotational movement from the first lever and the second lever to both linear and rotational movement of the needle guide via the housing.

Abstract: A system for aligning a needle driver with a tip of a suture needle includes a suture needle package having a base, a needle driver alignment guide, and at least one connector for securing the suture needle. The needle driver alignment guide has first and second lateral guide walls that oppose one another for defining a needle driver guide channel. An end wall interconnects the first and second lateral guide walls for defining a distal end of the needle driver alignment guide. The at least one connector secures the suture needle over the base and controls the orientation of the suture needle so that a tip of the suture needle is located within the suture needle guide channel and is bounded by the end wall and the first and second lateral guide walls. A needle driver has a clamping assembly at a distal end that engages the end wall of the needle driver alignment guide for aligning the clamping assembly with the tip of the suture needle.

Abstract: A medical instrument and method is described for facilitating lacrimal occlusion. The instrument has two arms for holding a plug being inserted through the punctum, each arm having a distal end and a proximal end. Attached to the proximal end of the arms is a dilator oriented in the opposite direction along the longitudinal axis of the instrument. The instrument is conveniently rotated in the hand of the practitioner to alternately present the functioning end of the instrument as either the distal end of the arms (for holding a plug) or the distal end of the dilator (for enlarging the punctum prior to attempting to inserting the plug). The instrument has a means for moving the two arms near to each other and away from each, and a means for holding the two arms near to each other without requiring closing pressure applied by the practitioner.

Abstract: A hair grasping device comprising a handle and a grasping mechanism on an end of the handle. The grasping mechanism includes a finger having a handle end and a grasping end and a hair grip extending from the grasping end of the finger. The hair grip and the finger are moveable with respect to one another between a hair grasping position and a hair holding position and the hair grip is operably coupled with the finger when in the hair holding position.

Abstract: A robot main body driving mechanism; a robot main body including a hollow flexible shaft, a joint portion including a bending joint and a proximal end continuous with a distal end of the flexible shaft, the bending joint receiving driving force of the robot main body driving mechanism to perform a bending operation, an end effector provided at a distal end of the joint portion, and a driving force transmission mechanism connecting the bending joint and the robot main body driving mechanism and configured to transmit the driving force of the robot main body driving mechanism to the bending joint; and a rotation driving mechanism configured to rotate the robot main body around an axis of a proximal end of the flexible shaft.

Abstract: A hand-holdable device for tattooing includes a handle part with a drive, a needle module which is detachably secured to the handle part and includes a needle that can be moved back and forth by the drive, and a protective sleeve which is configured to fully isolate the needle module from the handle part. The needle is connected to the drive by a form-fitting and/or magnetic coupling including coupling elements and the protective sleeve is releasably held between the coupling elements.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of endoscopy. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for en bloc resection of malignant and pre-malignant lesions and/or tumors within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for delivering an expandable scaffold between tissue layers (e.g., between the muscularis and submucosa layers) to elevate and stabilize the lesion or tumor for fast and efficient resection.