Abstract: A catheter may include an elongate body including a proximal portion including a proximal end, and a distal tip portion. The distal tip portion may include an inner liner and a marker band circumferentially surrounding the inner liner. The distal tip portion also may include an outer jacket circumferentially surrounding a first portion of the inner liner and ending proximal of a proximal end of the marker band; and a tip outer jacket circumferentially surrounding a second portion of the inner liner and the marker band. The tip outer jacket extends distally past the marker band distal end to a distal tip of the elongate body, and a proximal end of the tip outer jacket may be laterally adjacent to a distal end of the outer jacket.

Abstract: A device for treating an aneurysm of a human or mammal patient, wherein the aneurysm may self-expand, leading to the aneurysm bursting with high risk for death of the human or mammal patient. The device comprising an implantable member adapted to be placed in connection with the outside of a blood vessel having the aneurysm, and to exercise a pressure on the outside of the blood vessel having the aneurysm, a measuring device or sensor for measuring or sensing an expansion of the aneurysm, and a pressure regulator adapted to regulate the exercised pressure on the outside of the blood vessel having the aneurysm.

Abstract: Devices for easily and quickly tying complex suture knots are disclosed. The knot tying accessories described herein provide a means for introducing a complex knot pattern into a bight of suture using a device body and a guide thread. The device body includes system for maintaining the guide thread and suture in a convoluted pathway, either with the use of channels, protrusions, or a combination of both within its interior, on its exterior, or both. The guide thread may include a coupler at one end for holding a suture end while the guide thread leads the suture through the convoluted path defined within the guide body. Pull tabs may also be included to aid with exchanging the guide thread for the suture ends.

Abstract: Delivery devices for a stented prosthetic heart valve. The delivery device includes a spindle, at least one cord, and a lateral control feature. The cord is tensioned to crimp the prosthesis to a compressed condition for delivery to a target site. Tension is lessened to allow the prosthesis to self-expand. In a tethered and expanded state in which the prosthesis has self-expanded and is connected to the spindle by the cord, the lateral control feature directs the spindle to a prescribed location relative to the prosthesis appropriate for a functional evaluation of the prosthesis. In some embodiments, the spindle is directed to a center of the prosthesis; in other embodiments, the spindle is held at a commissure of the prosthesis. The lateral control features of the present disclosure assume numerous forms.

Abstract: A surgical access device includes a cannula body and a fixation mechanism. The fixation mechanism includes a collar, a driver, a distal ring, a proximal ring, and a plurality of petals. The driver extends distally from the collar, and the distal ring is operatively engaged with a distal portion of the driver. The proximal ring at least partially surrounds an elongated portion of the cannula body and is disposed proximally of the distal ring. The plurality of petals extends proximally from the distal ring and is longitudinally translatable relative to the proximal ring. Longitudinal translation of the collar causes the plurality of petals to move between a first position defining a first gap between a proximal end of the plurality of petals and the elongated portion, and a second position defining a second, greater gap between the proximal end of the plurality of petals and the elongated portion.

Abstract: A vitrectomy probe with combined vibration dampening and attenuating. The probe may include a variety of features to lessen the vibrations felt by a surgeon during a vitrectomy procedure. These may include minimizing the degree of flow restriction through a housing that facilitates cutter reciprocation by way of air pressure. Further, utilizing softer stops at a diaphragm that drives the cutter reciprocation may be of benefit as is strategically lessening compressive forces by seals at an extension tube coupled to the diaphragm where possible. The use of a softer gripping component that is actually held by the surgeon may be of benefit in terms of vibration attenuation.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device for deep surgical corridor microvascular anastomosis are described herein. A device, comprising: an elongated body; a rod disposed at least partially within the channel of the elongated body; an actuator in association with the elongated body and the rod, wherein the actuator is operable to actuate the rod in a first axial direction; and a pair of coupling arms in association with the distal portion of the rod, wherein the actuator is operable to actuate the rod in a first axial direction such that the pivotable end of each coupling arm of the pair of coupling arms is consequently actuated in the first axial direction such that the pair of coupling arms are parallel with one another in a closed configuration.

Abstract: A compression-self-adjusting staple that comprises a substantially U-shaped staple having a bridge, two legs extending from the bridge at an angle thereto, and a compression device. The compression device is at least partly disposed between the legs and has a bias portion with a compression surface that is movably disposed between the legs and a compression resistor. The compression resistor is connected to the bridge and to the compression surface and is formed into a plurality of bends that resist movement of the compression surface towards the bridge with a pre-set compressive force.

Abstract: A method of implanting a prosthetic implant includes advancing a prosthetic implant into a patient's vasculature with a delivery apparatus, the delivery apparatus comprising a catheter and a control lead, the catheter including a lumen extending therethrough, the control lead extending through the lumen of the catheter, the prosthetic implant comprising an implant body, a seal extending radially outwardly from the implant body, and a locking bar coupled to the implant body and releasably coupled to the control lead, the locking bar radially offset relative to the central longitudinal axis of the implant body. The method further includes rotating the control lead of the delivery apparatus in a first direction relative to the catheter such that the locking bar rotates in the first direction relative to the implant body and the implant body expands radially from a first radially compressed state to a first radially expanded state.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for forming a hole in bone and implanting a suture anchor in the bone hole. The devices and methods disclosed herein allow a suture coupled to tissue to be passed through a shaft that is also configured to receive a drill bit. Exemplary guide devices are provided having a shaft with a cross-sectional shape that allows the suture to be seated in a secondary region that is offset from a primary region that receives the drill bit therethrough. A drill bit can be passed through the shaft without causing any damage to the suture extending through the shaft, and subsequently an anchor can be advanced along the suture through the shaft and guided into the bone hole.

Abstract: A lead assembly and associated process include a lead and an integrated feature that facilitates extraction of the lead from the associated body passage. The integrated feature in one embodiment is a sheath received between the associated body passage and received over the lead. The sheath has a first portion extending from adjacent the proximal end to adjacent the distal end of the lead, where the first portion has an inner surface facing with the lead outer surface and the first portion having an outer surface facing radially outward from the lead outer surface. A second portion of the sheath extends from adjacent the distal end to adjacent the proximal end of the lead. The second portion has an inner surface received over the outer surface of the first portion, and the second portion further having an outer surface abutting an inner surface of the associated body passage that receives the lead therein. The integrated feature is alternatively a wire, band, or spoke assembly.

Abstract: The invention is an implantable magnetic anastomosis device having an exoskeleton that directs self-assembly. The design allows the device to be delivered in a linear configuration using a minimally-invasive technique, such as endoscopy or laparoscopy, whereupon the device self-assembles into, e.g., a polygon. A coupled set of polygons define a circumscribed tissue that can be perforated, or the tissue can be allowed to naturally necrose and perforate. The device can be used to create anastomoses in a variety of tissues, such as tissues found in the gastrointestinal, renal/urinary, and reproductive tracts. New procedures for using anastomoses, e.g., surgical bypass are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of suturing includes: (1) wrapping a first segment of a suture through a traction loop; (2) pulling the traction loop and the first segment through an opening in a suture lock; (3) continuing to pull the traction loop such that a second segment of the suture extends through the opening, wherein the second segment has a greater denier than the first segment such that the second segment more nearly fills an entire dimension of the opening than the first segment; and (4) locking the suture in place with the second segment in the opening.

Abstract: A method of anchoring soft tissue to a suitable bone site, using a soft suture anchor, includes steps of disposing the soft suture anchor on a shaft of an inserter, and securing a proximal end of a tensioning suture limb, extending proximally from the soft suture anchor, to structure in a handle of the inserter, so that it is maintained in place at a first level of holding tension (Thold). The inserter shaft is inserted into a hone hole at a desired procedural site, so that the soft suture anchor is positioned at a location where it is to be anchored. A further step involves actuating a control mechanism in the inserter handle to move the structure proximally to apply a second level of deployment tension (Tload) to the tensioning suture limb.

Abstract: A suture anchor for knotless fixation of tissue. The suture anchor includes an implant configured to hold a suture to be anchored in bone without requiring suture knots. The suture is secured in bone by inserting the implant holding the suture into a hole in the bone, and advancing a fixation device, such as a cannulated interference screw, over a shaft at the proximal end of the implant.

Abstract: A surgical access assembly includes an elongated cannula member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a balloon anchor coupled to the distal end portion of the elongated cannula member, a sleeve of the balloon anchor extending proximally along an outer surface of the elongated cannula member, a chamber defined between the sleeve of the balloon anchor and the outer surface of the elongated cannula member, and a first collar is coupled to the elongated cannula member. The first collar is slidable along the elongated cannula member and engageable with the sleeve of the balloon anchor.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a method, device, and apparatus for positioning an apparatus on a location of a tissue. For example, a substantially rigid film over an area of tissue to be treated can be provided. The film can include a positioning arrangement that facilitates a particular spatial engagement with the apparatus. The exemplary method can further include applying a portion of the film to a portion of a surface of the tissue and positioning the apparatus at the location by the engagement of the film to the apparatus using the feature of the film.

Abstract: Diffusion and infusion resistant implantable devices and methods for reducing pulsatile pressure are provided. The implantable device includes a balloon implantable within a blood vessel of a patient, e.g., the pulmonary artery. The balloon is injected with a fluid mixture comprising a constituent fluid(s) and a diffusion-resistant gas to provide optimal balloon volume and limit fluid diffusion throughout multiple cardiac cycles. The fluid mixture may be pressurized such that the balloon is transitionable between an expanded state and a collapsed state responsive to pressure fluctuations in the blood vessel.

Abstract: A delivery system for percutaneously delivering a heart valve prosthesis to a site of a native heart valve includes a delivery catheter and a heart valve prosthesis. The delivery catheter includes an outer sheath, an inner shaft, and an orifice restriction mechanism. The heart valve prosthesis has a valve member and a docking member. When the orifice restriction mechanism is positioned within the docking member within an annulus of the native heart valve, the orifice restriction mechanism temporarily replicates the operation of the native heart valve until the valve member is positioned within the docking member.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to devices, systems, and methods for coil embolization, and, more particularly, to use and methods of forming coated coils. In an aspect, an embolic system may include a coil having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length therebetween slidingly disposed within a sheath. A coating may be disposed about the coil. A delivery filament may be configured to be slidingly disposed within the sheath proximal of the coil such that the coil can be ejected from the distal end of the sheath into the working lumen of a microcatheter. The coating may be configured to substantially fracture as the coil transitions from being substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the microcatheter to substantially misaligned with the longitudinal axis of the microcatheter upon being ejected from the microcatheter. The coating may be configured to plasticize after being ejected into an aqueous environment.