Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for flaring a stent deployed within a branch vessel including an ostium communicating with a main vessel, a first end of the stent extending at least partially from the branch. A catheter is provided that includes a first balloon carried on its distal end, and a second balloon that includes a distal section overlying at least a portion of the first balloon and a proximal section. The catheter distal end is introduced into the main vessel and positioned through the ostium and stent into the branch until the first balloon is disposed within the stent. The first balloon is expanded to anchor the stent, and the second balloon is expanded to flare the first end of the stent. Optionally, the first balloon is expanded further, e.g., to expand the stent within the branch body lumen and/or dilate the lesion.

Abstract: Configurations are described for conducting ophthalmic procedures to address cataract-related clinical challenges. In one embodiment, a one-piece patient contact interface may be utilized to couple a diagnostic and/or interventional system to a cornea of a patient; in another embodiment, a two-part configuration may be utilized; in another embodiment, a liquid interface two-part embodiment may be utilized.

Abstract: A precision depth guided instrument, such as a Jamshidi needle, is provided for use in various surgeries related to the vertebrae. The instrument includes an outer cannula, an inner cannula and a stylet. After the cortical bone of a vertebra is penetrated by the outer cannula of the instrument, the depth of penetration of the inner cannula is adjusted by rotation of the inner cannula. The inner cannula is then moved further into the vertebrae, and a stop mounted on the outer cannula controls the depth of penetration of the inner cannula. The correct depth of penetration is determined by radiography prior to the procedure.

Abstract: Unactivated stem cells are activated by treating them with an amplitude modulated laser beam having a wavelength lying in the range of 405 to 980 nanometers. The laser beam is modulated within a range of 8 to 12 MHz. Using the activated stem cells, tissue can be repaired and regenerated by preparing the unactivated stem cells, treating the unactivated stem cells with an amplitude modulated laser beam having a pre-determined frequency for obtaining activated stem cells, administering the activated stem cells into a body containing the tissue, and using a homing beam to guide the activated stem cells within the body to the location of the tissue.

Abstract: A method of aggregating medical information can include receiving, at a remote aggregation system, individual syndromes collected by mobile personal medical devices associated with respective bodies as the mobile personal medical devices move within an environment, aggregating the individual syndromes at the remote aggregation system, and determining whether an environmental syndrome exists for at least some of the individual syndromes. Related systems and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including a first catheter having a distal end portion transluminally advanceable to a vicinity of an anatomical site, a second catheter having a distal end portion advanceable through a first lumen and out of the first lumen, and a longitudinal implant, advanceable through the second lumen and out of the second lumen. The first and second catheters are assembled to facilitate sliding of the first and second catheters and of the implant, to configure them to assume a multi-bend formation having first and second bends separating first, second, and third domains. The first domain includes parts of the first and second catheters. The second domain includes the distal end portion of the second catheter, part of the implant, and none of the first catheter. The third domain includes part of the implant and none of the first nor second catheters. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a minimally invasive surgical instrument having a bent shaft, and more particularly to a minimally invasive surgical instrument in which at least a part of a shaft includes a bend. According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a minimally invasive surgical instrument comprising: a shaft; an end effector connected to one end of the shaft; a joint unit interposed between the shaft and the end effector; and a plurality of wires connected to the joint unit to enable the end effector to carry out joint motion, wherein the shaft comprises at least one bend, and the at least one bend may transmit therein force to operate the end effector in a roll direction, independently of the shaft. The present invention relates to a minimally invasive surgical instrument having a bent shaft, and more particularly, to a minimally invasive surgical instrument in which at least a portion of a shaft is curved.

Abstract: A method and related system to, among other things, automatically infer answers to all of the ADL questions and the first four questions of the IADL in the home. The inference methods detect the relevant activities unobtrusively, continuously, accurately, objectively, quantifiably and without relying on the patient's own memory (which may be fading due to aging or an existing health condition, such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)) or on a caregiver's subjective report. The methods rely on the judicious placement of a number of sensors in the subject's place of residence, including motion detection sensors in every room, the decomposition of each relevant activity into the sub-tasks involved, identification of additional sensors required to detect the relevant sub-tasks and spatial-temporal conditions between the signals of sensors to formulate the rules that will detect the occurrence of the specific activities of interest.

Abstract: A continuous glucose monitoring system including a sensor configured to detect one or more glucose levels, a transmitter operatively coupled to the sensor, the transmitter configured to receive the detected one or more glucose levels, the transmitter further configured to transmit signals corresponding to the detected one or more glucose levels, and a receiver operatively coupled to the transmitter configured to receive transmitted signals corresponding to the detected one or more glucose levels, and methods thereof, are disclosed. In one aspect, the transmitter may be configured to transmit a current data point and at least one previous data point, the current data point and the at least one previous data point corresponding to the detected one or more glucose levels.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods of percutaneously treating an ulcerated wound using ultrasonic energy. Some methods include delivering ultrasonic energy to a target tissue located at a position subcutaneous to the ulcerated wound. In some methods, the ultrasonic energy is delivered using an ultrasonic energy delivery device.

Abstract: A release device (150, 150a, 150b) for detaching a medical implant (105) from an insertion device (110), comprising a body (10, 10a, 10b) having a proximal end (12), which during use lies furthest from a distal end (120) of the insertion device (110), and a distal end (14), which during use faces the distal end (120) of the insertion device (110), wherein at least one first actuator (16, 18) is provided between the proximal and distal ends (12, 14), wherein the at least first actuator (16, 18) can be tilted about an axis substantially perpendicularly to at least one of the insertion elements (132, 134) so as to effect a targeted relative movement in the longitudinal direction between the first and second insertion elements (132, 134) of the insertion device (110).

Abstract: A stent loading and deployment device includes an outer elongate tubular member having opposed proximal and distal ends and an inner elongate tubular member having opposed proximal and distal ends and slidably disposed within the outer tubular member. When the distal ends of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member are axially aligned, a stent deployment region is defined there in between. The device further includes a stent loading member having opposed proximal and distal ends and slidably disposed between the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member. The distal end of the stent loading member is slidable to a distal position past the distal end of the outer tubular member for receiving a stent and is further slidable toward the proximal end of the outer tubular member to a location past the stent deployment region for disengagement of a stent from the stent loading member.

Abstract: The invention provides a neck-worn sensor that is a single, body-worn system that measures the following parameters from an ambulatory patient: heart rate, pulse rate, pulse oximetry, respiratory rate, temperature, thoracic fluid levels, stroke volume, cardiac output, and a parameter sensitive to blood pressure called pulse transit time. From stroke volume, a first algorithm employing a linear model can estimate the patient's pulse pressure. And from pulse pressure and pulse transit time, a second algorithm, also employing a linear algorithm, can estimate systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Thus, the sensor can measure all five vital signs along with hemodynamic parameters. It also includes a motion-detecting accelerometer, from which it can determine motion-related parameters such as posture, degree of motion, activity level, respiratory-induced heaving of the chest, and falls.

Abstract: Devices for delivering and deploying an endoluminal prosthesis are disclosed and comprise a delivery catheter, an endoluminal prosthesis disposed at a distal end portion of the delivery catheter, and a wire. The prosthesis comprises a tubular graft having at least one fenestration. The wire extends distally from a first wire end through an axial lumen of the delivery catheter and the prosthesis, and through the fenestration in the graft. The wire extends proximally through a lumen of the prosthesis and through an axial lumen of the delivery catheter towards a second wire end. Additional devices, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises a handle assembly configured to receive an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft assembly having an acoustic waveguide and an ultrasonic blade, and a retractable clamp arm. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide such that the ultrasonic transducer is operable to drive the ultrasonic blade to vibrate ultrasonically via the acoustic waveguide. The clamp arm is configured to selectively translate between an inoperative position and an operative position. The clamp arm is positioned generally proximal to the ultrasonic blade when the clamp arm is in the inoperative position. The clamp arm is positioned lateral to the ultrasonic blade when the clamp arm is in the operative position. When in the operative position, the clamp arm is operable to move toward and away from the ultrasonic blade so as to capture and compress tissue between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.

Abstract: A kit according to the invention includes a tool and an implantable chamber. The implantable chamber comprises a hollow main body delimiting an internal volume opening outwards via a main opening. It further comprises a septum mounted on the main body to close the main opening, and at least one conduit extending from the main body. It also comprises a displacement member, movable relative to the main body, that projects from the main body via the conduit and actuates or sets in motion an element situated in the body of the patient. It lastly comprises a drive mechanism for driving the displacement member situated in the internal volume of the main body, in order to move the displacement member with respect to the main body. The tool includes a proximal maneuvering region and a distal region that is capable of piercing the septum to actuating the drive mechanism.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue (“micrografts”) to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and/or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and/or viability of the harvested tissue.

Abstract: A system for implanting a heart valve that includes a radially self-expandable tubular body having an inflow end and a preformed groove disposed at an outer surface of the tubular body between the inflow end and the outflow end, wherein the preformed groove extends at least partially around the tubular body and having a circumferential opening facing radially outward of the tubular body. A valve may be disposed within and attached to the tubular body. Additionally, a trapping member may be configured to form at least a partial loop encircling the preformed groove so as to trap portions of native valve leaflets and/or chords in the preformed groove, the trapping member including one or more barbs.

Abstract: A method of performing a bariatric procedure through a natural body orifice is disclosed. The method comprises the step of providing a surgical instrument, comprising a handle portion, an elongated portion extending distally from the handle portion, and an end effector disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated portion. The method also comprises the steps of inserting the surgical instrument through a natural body orifice of a patient such that the end effector is adjacent a portion of the patient's stomach, and using the surgical instrument to perform a surgical task.

Abstract: An operating unit constituting a stent delivery system is provided with a first rotary roller having a first gear and a second rotary roller having a second gear. The first gear is meshed with a first tooth portion of a rack member and the second gear is meshed with a second tooth portion of the rack member. The first gear is formed to have a large diameter relative to the second gear and at the time of releasing a stent, after positioning a distal end of an outer tube body close to the stent through the rack member with the rotation of the first rotary roller of the operating unit, it is possible to move the outer tube body toward a proximal side at a lower speed than that in the previous state with the rotation of the second rotary roller.