Abstract: The invention describes catheter systems and methods for accessing the brain during endovascular/neurointervention procedures in the treatment of ischemic stroke. More specifically, a multi-axial catheter system and kit is described that improves the process of accessing a carotid artery particularly in patients having a tortuous aortic arch and thereafter improves the process of gaining access to the brain to enable the insertion of aspiration and/or the deployment clot retrieval devices. In addition, methods of utilizing these systems are described.

Abstract: An ear-piercing device of a gun shape that can pierce an ear lobe quickly with less pain. The ear-piercing device includes a frame, a handle, and a plunger unit coupled to the frame. The plunger unit includes a plunger and a compression spring. A cartridge can interchangeably be coupled to the frame, wherein the cartridge includes a piercing member that can be driven by the plunger and protrudes from the housing into a compression module. The housing and compression module can clamp the ear lobe, and the piercing member can make a hole in the ear lobe. The compression module can include a cutter to snip off the portion of the piercing member inserted into the compression module. The piercing member includes a sleeve part and a needle part. The needle part makes the hole and the needle part and portion of the sleeve get snip off, while a portion of the sleeve is retained in the ear lobe.

Abstract: A medical system includes an insertion device including a delivery shaft with an internal lumen, a coupling tube coupled to the delivery shaft and configured to receive a medical device, and a liner tube inserted through the internal lumen of the delivery shaft.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and methods to assist in the introduction of an instrument into a patient, and more particularly to medical devices for measuring and/or monitoring forces applied during introduction of an access sheath through a body lumen.

Abstract: A sutureless device and methods for closing a tissue opening that minimizes the labor, cost, and skill typically required is disclosed. The apparatus comprises two anchors that attach to either side of an open tissue wound. The two anchors are connected together by a tie strip; the tie strip has a plurality of teeth and a rack. As the wound edges and anchors are brought together the ratchet system on the tie strip prevents the anchors and tissue wound from reopening. To control the distance between the two anchors, a rack and pinion system and a key or a lever system is utilized. The rack is located on the tie strip and the pinion is located on the key.

Abstract: A method for implanting a prosthesis centrally within a curved lumen includes loading a prosthesis into a delivery sheath, advancing the sheath in a patient towards the curved lumen to place at least the proximal end of the prosthesis within the curved lumen, and centering the proximal end of the prosthesis and/or the distal end of the sheath within the curved lumen. In a first advancing step, the outer catheter containing the inner sheath is advanced together towards the curved lumen to a location proximal of the curved lumen and, in a second advancing step, the inner sheath containing the prosthesis is advanced into the curved lumen to place at least the proximal end within the curved lumen while the outer catheter substantially remains at the location. After centering, the proximal end of the prosthesis is deployed centered within the curved lumen.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system is described. In some embodiments, the robotic surgical system includes a physician-side shaft controlled by a physician, the movement of which is tracked by a plurality of physician-side balls and transmitted to a plurality of patient-side balls, which in turn, move a patient-side shaft and attached surgical device, such as a stent retriever.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing a medical procedure and, in particular, an aortic valvuloplasty, in a vessel for transmitting a flow of fluid. The apparatus comprises a shaft, an inflatable perfusion balloon supported by the shaft and including an internal passage for permitting the fluid flow in the vessel while the perfusion balloon is in an inflated condition, and a valve for controlling the fluid flow within the passage. The valve may be connected to the shaft, or may comprise an elongated tube partially connected to the balloon. The balloon may comprise a plurality of cells in a single cross-section, each cell including a neck, and the valve may be positioned in a space between the shaft and the necks for controlling the fluid flow within the passage. A connector may also be provided to control the position of the valve.

Abstract: A surgical suturing system is disclosed. The surgical suturing system comprises a firing drive, an end effector, and a needle configured to be driven by said firing drive. The end effector comprises a track defined therein configured to guide the needle through a needle firing stroke. The surgical suturing system further comprises a needle driver configured to be driven by the firing drive and configured to drive the needle through the needle firing stroke.

Abstract: The disclosed technology is directed to an ultrasonic probe comprises a probe main portion configured to transmit ultrasonic vibration generated by an ultrasonic transducer. A treatment portion is configured on a distal side of the probe main portion along a longitudinal axis thereof. The treatment portion includes first direction surfaces disposed in a first direction intersecting the longitudinal axis and second direction surfaces that are adjacent to the first direction surfaces and are disposed in a second direction different from the first direction surfaces. The first direction surfaces further includes a plurality of surfaces formed into a staircase shape when being viewed from the treatment portion and one or more surfaces formed into a staircase shape when being viewed from a side opposed to the distal side of the treatment portion. The second direction surfaces further includes a plurality of surfaces formed into a staircase shape toward the distal side.

Abstract: An improved plaque extractor for shaving, scooping, cutting, and emulsifying accumulated plaque from blood vessels into fine particles, and removing the particles from blood vessel walls without cutting or permanently stretching the walls, and without substantially blocking the blood flow through the vessel during plaque removal operation. The plaque extractor includes an extractor guide and an internal auger, in which both are rotating and moving axially inside the vessel to engage the occlusive material. The operation of the device does not substantially disrupt blood pressure within the blood vessel.

Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical instrument comprising a device having a proximal end and a functional end configured to be inserted into a body part, an assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, a shaft coupled to the proximal end of the assembly, the shaft having a shaft housing, a bearing positioned around the assembly, wherein the bearing is configured to slide over the assembly, a hub having a sleeve tube. The basket comprises a plurality of grooved levers, each grooved lever having a proximal end received by the shaft housing and a distal end coupled to a tip of the basket, wherein compressing one or more of the plurality of grooved levers moves the bearing and the hub relative to the shaft and toward the functional end of the device, causing the sleeve tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to an activated state.

Abstract: A catheter delivery system (10) includes: (i) an introducer sheath (12); (ii) a catheter (14) disposed at least partially within the introducer sheath and movable axial along the introducer sheath; (iii) an invaginating tube (16) sealably secured at or near a first axial end (16a) of the invaginating tube to the introducer sheath at or near a first axial end (12 a) of the introducer sheath; (iv) a runner (28) slidably connected to the catheter; (v) the invaginating tube being sealably secured at or near a second axial end (16b) of the invaginating tube to the runner, such that the runner with inavaginating tube secured thereto is sealably connected to the catheter and movable axially along at least a portion of the catheter; and (vi) means for pressurising the annular space defined between the introducer sheath, the catheter and the invaginating tube.

Abstract: A system for treating a heart includes a catheter that is advanceable into a chamber of the heart and that is repositionable within the chamber between a septal wall and an external wall to enable penetration of the septal and external walls via a needle that is disposed within a lumen of the catheter. A first guidewire is deliverable through the penetration of the septal wall so that a distal end of the first guidewire is disposed within another chamber of the heart. A second guidewire is deliverable through the penetration of the external wall so that a distal end of the second guidewire is disposed externally of the external wall. The first guidewire is connectable to the second guidewire to join or form a path within the chamber that extends between the septal wall and the external wall.

Abstract: A surgical instrument configured for both grasping and cutting operations has a shaft with a push rod extending through it. An end effector on the shaft has a grasping jaw, a cutting jaw, and an intermediate jaw. The grasping jaw forms a grasping device with the intermediate jaw, and the cutting jaw forming a cutting device with the intermediate member. A segment of the shaft proximal to the end effector is axially rotatable between a first position, in which the push rod can advance through the segment to actuate the cutting device, and a second position in which the push rod can advance through the segment to actuate the grasping device.

Abstract: Devices used to capture sutures are described. More particularly, suture capture devices described herein include an elongate cannulated tool having a first end with a sharpened point configured to pierce tissue, and an elongate hook member positioned within a hollowed center region of the elongate cannulated tool that has a hook on a first end of the elongate hook member proximate the sharpened point of the elongate cannulated tool. The elongate hook member is capable of advancing and retracting within the elongate cannulated tool. The devices further include a handle positioned on a second end of the elongate cannulated tool that includes a trigger that advances the hook into or out of the first end of the elongate cannulated tool when pushed in a first or second direction. Methods of capturing a suture using such a device are also described.

Abstract: The self-centering inferior vena cava filter is provided, which includes a filter portion, a support portion, and a retrieval portion. The filter portion is configured to filter thrombi and includes at least two layers of filter members extending along a central axis of the self-centering inferior vena cava filter, the at least two layers of filter members are adjacent to each other and staggered around the central axis. The support portion is configured to prevent the self-centering inferior vena cava filter from tilting, and extends outwardly radially from a center point of the support portion in a direction close to the filter portion and then curls inwardly radially in a direction away from the filter portion, and is supported on a blood vessel wall by point contact. The retrieval portion is connected with at least one of the filter portion and the support portion.

Abstract: Expandable occlusive plugs and methods of using them are disclosed. The devices generally include a tubular body bearing multiple slits defining leaves, which expand radially outward when the ends of the device are brought toward one another.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a handle assembly having a closure trigger, a closure actuator coupled to the closure trigger at a first pivot, and a closure spring. The closure actuator moves proximally on a longitudinal axis in response to actuation of the closure trigger. The closure spring applies a force vector to the closure spring tangential to the longitudinal axis. A shaft assembly is coupled to the handle assembly. An end effector is coupled to a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector comprises a jaw assembly comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member is pivotally moveable with respect to the second jaw member. At least one of the first and second jaw members are operatively coupled to the closure actuator.

Abstract: A tethering assembly for securing a medical device includes a shaft and a wire that extends in sliding engagement within a proximal lumen, a channel, and a distal receptacle of the shaft. A retainer zone of the shaft, through which the channel extends, stops a transition segment of the wire, which extends between a proximal and a distal segment of the wire, from moving into the shaft receptacle, thereby restraining a distal-most tip of the wire from moving through a distal-most opening of the receptacle. When a projecting member of the device has entered a secure zone of the receptacle, via movement through the distal-most opening and a tapering passageway thereof, the distal-most tip of the wire, which may be spring-biased, can move distally into the passageway so that the tip blocks the projecting member from moving distally, back through the passageway.