Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a user input feature, an elongate shaft extending from the body along a longitudinal axis, and a needle applier coupled to the elongate shaft. The needle applier further includes a needle and a drive assembly coupled to the needle. The drive assembly is configured to rotate the needle about a rotation axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis, in response to an actuation of the user input feature. The needle applier further includes a housing containing the needle and the drive assembly. The housing presents at least one indicator. The least one indicator is positioned to indicate at least one of a position of the needle relative to the housing, and a direction of rotation of the needle relative to the housing.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described herein for repositioning a tether attached to a prosthetic heart valve. In some embodiments, a method includes inserting a distal end portion of a snare device through an incision at a first location in a ventricular wall of a heart and within the left ventricle of the heart. A tether extending from a prosthetic mitral valve, through the left ventricle and out an incision at a second location on the ventricular wall of the heart is snared with the snare device. The tether is pulled with the snare device such that a proximal end of the tether is moved back through the incision at the second location on the ventricular wall and into the left ventricle. The snare device is pulled proximally such that the tether is pulled proximally through the incision at the first location in the ventricular wall of the heart.

Abstract: A device having one or more adjustable loops or coils associated with an implant body for use in soft tissue reconstructions is provided. One exemplary embodiment of a device includes a body and a suture filament, with the filament being used to form a self-locking sliding knot disposed on a top side of the body and a plurality of adjustable coils that are substantially disposed on the body's bottom side. Terminal ends of the filament located above the body's top side can be passed through an opening of a Lark's Head knot from opposite sides, thus forming a self-locking sliding knot, and then the terminal ends can be tensioned to adjust a circumference of the coils. Changing a coil's circumference changes a location of a ligament graft disposed on the coil. Other configurations of devices and systems, as well as methods for performing ACL repairs, are also provided.

Abstract: A support system for minimally invasive surgical instruments. A platform supports one or more minimally invasive surgical instruments that extend through a guide tube into a patient. The platform is supported by at least one support arm link that is coupled to a base a rotational joint. The rotational joint's axis of rotation is aligned with a point at which the guide tube enters the patient.

Abstract: The present invention is directed in various methods, devices and systems relating to rotational atherectomy. More specifically, an oscillating driver is connected to a drive shaft, or torque transfer tube, with abrasive element mounted thereon. The result provides a rotational working diameter for the rotating abrasive element that is larger than its resting diameter. Generally, the preferred abrasive element is concentric in profile and/or with center of mass collinear with the drive shaft's rotational axis. However, eccentric abrasive elements, both in terms of offsetting center of mass and/or geometric eccentricity may also be employed.

Abstract: An electrode array assembly with a frame that is foldable or bendable on which electrodes are disposed. The frame includes laterally spaced apart bridges. Tabs extend laterally outwardly from the bridges Electrodes are disposed on the tabs. Beams, also part of the frame, extend between the laterally adjacent bridges. The frame can be folded around the beams so as to cause the laterally spaced bridges to at least partially overlap. When the beams are so bent, the electrode array can be disposed in an access cannula that has a diameter less than the width of the unfolded array.

Abstract: The devices and methods described herein relate to improved structures for removing obstructions from body lumens. Such devices have applicability in through-out the body, including clearing of blockages within the vasculature, by addressing the frictional resistance on the obstruction prior to attempting to translate and/or mobilize the obstruction within the body lumen.

Abstract: A vascular intervention device delivery system includes a thumbwheel rotatably mounted in a handle. A termination assembly is mechanically connected to the handle. A catheter extends through the termination assembly and has a proximal end attached to the handle, and a distal carrier segment for mounting a vascular intervention device. A retractable sheath is movable from a first position covering the distal carrier segment to a second position refracted proximally to uncover the distal carrier segment. A pull extends between the thumbwheel and the retractable sheath, and through the termination assembly. A stability sheath that receives the pull and the inner catheter has a proximal end that terminates in the termination assembly.

Abstract: A lumen re-entry system includes a helically wound coil having open proximal and distal ends, and defining a longitudinal movement axis. The helically wound coil includes a distal segment that is relaxed relative to a proximal segment. A tip deflection wire is attached to the relaxed distal segment and coaxially disposed relative to the helically wound coil. Movement of the tip deflection wire moves the lumen re-entry system from an advancement configuration in which the open distal end of the helically wound coil is substantially aligned with the longitudinal movement axis to a deflected configuration. The lumen re-entry system also includes a puncture wire slidably received within the helically wound coil and having a distal puncture tip.

Abstract: A scaffold strut is shaped to improve hemocompatibility. The scaffold is made from a tube having variable wall thickness. Methods are disclosed for modifying the thickness of the tube in such a way as to achieve a reduced hemodynamic profile, but without significantly affecting strength properties in areas where stress concentrations exist when the scaffold is loaded.

Abstract: A lancing device comprising a lancet holder for holding an exchangeable lancet and comprising a drive element for driving the lancet holder. The drive element has two spring elements comprising a lancing spring element for accelerating the lancet holder in the lancing direction and a restoring spring element for accelerating the lancet holder counter to the lancing direction. The drive element has a carriage unit with a spring-tensioning carriage part and a lancing carriage part, and the spring-tensioning carriage part and the lancing carriage part are arranged to be displaceable in translation relative to one another and form a lancing spring element receiving region and a restoring spring element receiving region. The lancing spring element receiving region can be reduced by translational displacement of the spring-tensioning carriage part relative to the lancing carriage part, in order to pre-tension the lancing spring element within the lancing spring element receiving region.

Abstract: Described herein are various implant delivery methods and systems that include a detachable link for connecting an implantable device and a control wire. The detachable link can include an elongate body comprising a first arm with a mating surface having a slot extending the width of the elongate body and a second arm having a mating surface that includes a extension portion adapted to mate with the slot. A guide member can extend between the first and second arms and inhibit relative transverse and/or rotational movement between the first and second arms.

Abstract: Featured is a surgical instrument including a rotating cutting implement and a heat transfer mechanism configured to absorb heat energy during the use of such a rotating cutting implement. The heat transfer mechanism is configured so the absorbed heat energy is communicated to an external heat sink. Such a heat transfer mechanism includes a heat pipe, e.g., a scintered or wick type heat pipe. The heat energy is absorbed at one end of the heat pipe to minimize the potential for damage to the tissue and the like at and/or about the surgical site. Also featured are a surgical apparatus embodying such a surgical instrument and surgical or medical methods or procedures for manipulating, rotatably cutting, grinding, abrading or debriding tissue, bone or other structures or components of a mammalian body using such surgical instruments or surgical apparatus.

Abstract: A device for fixing a first and a second tissue part or a tissue part and an implant part to each other is provided, providing a fastener including a thermoplastic material and a fastening instrument. The fastening instrument includes a first instrument component with a first contact surface facing toward a distal side and a second instrument component has a foot with a second contact surface distally of the first contact surface and facing toward a proximal side. The first instrument component and the second instrument component are displaceable with respect to each other, so that the fastener is compressible between the first and second contact surfaces by application of a relative force between the components. The instrument also includes an energy source for coupling mechanical energy into one of the instrument components to soften and/or melt an end portion of the fastener.

Abstract: An endograft delivery device assembly is disclosed. The assembly comprises: a tip; a guide wire cannula, the guide wire cannula; a pusher disposed around the guide wire cannula, the pusher having a sheath assembly receiving portion at a proximal end thereof and a main portion extending distally from the sheath assembly receiving portion to a distal end, the sheath assembly receiving portion having at least one longitudinally extending groove; and a sheath assembly slidably mounted to the sheath assembly receiving portion of the pusher. The sheath assembly has a sheath portion, mountable over a endograft, and slide connecter portion. The slide connector portion has at least one inwardly projecting key, the key keying with the groove. The sheath assembly is slidably movable from an extended position over the endograft to a retracted position in which the endograft is uncovered.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical tool having a motor with a shaft configured to rotate, a cutting device that reciprocates in accordance with the rotation of the shaft, and a position sensor that determines a state of the motor and outputs a position signal representing the motor state. A fluid regulator provides fluid to the motor, and the motor rotates in accordance with the fluid provided. A controller generates a fluid flow command based at least in part on the position signal. The fluid regulator receives the fluid flow command and regulates fluid flow to the motor accordingly.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes cartridge receiving assembly, a shaft assembly, and an interface assembly. The cartridge receiving assembly is operable to receive a needle driving cartridge. The shaft assembly includes a first actuation member that is operable to actuate the cartridge receiving assembly to thereby drive a needle from a needle driving cartridge received in the cartridge receiving assembly. The interface assembly includes a base and a plurality of drive shafts extending upwardly from the base. The drive shafts extend along respective axes that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The drive shafts are rotatable independently relative to each other. A first drive shaft of the plurality of drive shafts is operable to drive the first actuation member. The interface assembly is configured to couple with a robotic control system.

Abstract: An anti-necrosis tourniquet device utilizes an air compressor, programmable through a microprocessor, to enable a user to set periodic cycles of increased and decreased pressure in a pressure cuff as a temporary measure to address a severely hemorrhaging wound on an extremity. When a situation arises to employ a tourniquet, the cuff is applied to a proximal region of the wound. The device is activated to increase pressure in the cuff to occlude the flow of blood to the wound for a programmed period of time after which the program decreases pressure in the cuff to supply blood to the wounded extremity for another selected time period to obviate necrosis of the tissue. This modulated cycle is repeated until a patient receives full medical treatment.

Abstract: A method is provided for loading and delivering a self-expanding stent. The stent is compressed from its expanded diameter to a smaller delivery diameter. While compressed, the stent is pushed from the proximal end through the proximal end opening of a restraining sheath. The restraining sheath retains the stent in the delivery diameter. In order to deliver the stent, the proximal end of the stent is pushed and the restraining sheath is withdrawn proximally from the stent. As a result, the stent is released from the distal end opening of the restraining sheath.

Abstract: A system for treating a diverticulum in a body lumen includes a tubular member including a lumen and an elongate member in an elongated state within the lumen of the tubular member. The elongate member is configured to form a coiled state when removed from the tubular member.