Abstract: Apparatus for delivering and deploying an expandable stent having a protection sheath within a blood vessel is provided. The apparatus comprises a fluid pressure device that is coupled with a retraction device for the protection sheath, wherein the stent is automatically deployed by the fluid pressure device after retraction of the protection sheath.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering an implant within a lumen or passageway is provided. The apparatus comprises a flexible, hollow outer member having an elongated section that is inserted into and navigated through the lumen of passageway. The implant is mounted within the distal end of the elongated section. An elongated fluid chamber is defined within the outer member between two valves or seals. The valves or seals permit fluid flow in a pre-determined direction during loading of fluid into the chamber, but prevent fluid to exit the chamber during deployment of the implant. A shaft is in contact with the proximal end of the fluid column. During deployment, the shaft is held in a fixed position and the outer member actuated in a proximal direction. The implant exerts compressive forces on the outer member as it is actuated proximally. These forces are transmitted to the fluid column which resists buckling.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method and tool for implanting a stimulation lead or other medical device adjacent a pudendal nerve. The tool includes a shaped needle that enters a patient and passes through an obturator foramen passage in a pelvis. A physician places a tip of the tool at the pudendal nerve and performs test stimulation to confirm an effective stimulation location. A shape memory cannula initially covering the needle remains at the pudendal nerve when the physician removes the tool. The cannula deforms to follow the curve of the pudendal nerve once the needle is removed, and a lead is inserted into the cannula and secured at the pudendal nerve placement site. This method may provide an easier and more consistent procedure for implanting the stimulation lead near the pudendal nerve.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument to be used with an endoscope. The instrument includes an elongated tube having a distal end and a proximal end, an end effector attached to the distal end of the elongated tube, and a handle attached to the proximal end. The handle includes a mechanism for attaching the instrument to a first vacuum source. The handle further includes a second vacuum source integral with the handle for amplifying the first vacuum source, whereby the first and second vacuum sources combine to operate the end effector.

Abstract: The present invention, in an exemplary embodiment, provides a therapeutic medical appliance, delivery device and method of use. In particular, plug therapeutic medical appliances are provided that allow for the interventional treatment of pulmonary disorders such as defects characterized by pulmonary blebs and/or diffused destructive parenchymal disease. The plug therapeutic medical appliances themselves combine many of the excellent characteristics of both silicone and metal therapeutic medical appliances while eliminating the undesirable ones. In particular, these therapeutic medical appliances are preferably self-expanding in nature and allow the predetermined differential selection of relative hardness/softness of regions of the therapeutic medical appliance to provide additional patient comfort. An exemplary embodiment also provides a family of delivery devices that facilitate flexibility, durability and/or proper installation of one or more medical appliances in a single procedure.

Abstract: An intraluminal stent, an intraluminal stent delivery system, and a method of treating a vascular condition. The stent includes a framework with a plurality of flap portions projecting substantially beyond a central core region. The flap portions are movable from a compressed position and an extended position when the stent is deployed. The system includes a catheter and the intraluminal stent. The method includes positioning an intraluminal stent within a vessel. A plurality of flap portions of the stent is extended from a compressed position into contact with the vessel.

Abstract: A surgical clamp for occluding a body conduit includes first and second jaws moveable relative to each other in a generally parallel relationship. A handle assembly is operable to move the jaws relative to each other between a space position and proximate position. The first jaw has an elongate configuration characterized by a length and a width. First portions of the first jaw have in cross section a first shape which remains generally constant in area along the first jaw, while second portions have in cross section a second shape which varies in area along the length of the first jaw. The resulting clamp has a low profile jaw design which dimensional-shaped cross section which provide increased stiffness and reduced flexibility.

Abstract: Disclosed is a corneal excision or scoring device. In one embodiment, the device includes a stabilizing portion having a first opening adapted to encircle an eye, such that at least a portion of the stabilizing portion engages the conjunctival fornix of the eye when inserted. The device may also include a second opening adapted to receive a cutting portion having a cutter capable of cutting or scoring the eye. In another embodiment, the device includes a stabilizing portion having an interior with a stop and an exterior serrated edge formed from a plurality of teeth. The stabilizing portion becomes inserted in an eye, such that the serrated edge rests on a sclera of the eye. Next, a cutting portion becomes inserted into the stabilizing portion to cut or score the eye, and the stop limits the distance the cutting portion may be inserted. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A body structure is manipulated by first introducing a bulking material, such as a length of material, into an interior of the body structure in either open or laparoscopic surgical procedures. After the bulking material is introduced, an exterior region of the body structure may be manipulated while the material remains within the interior of the body structure. Typically, manipulation comprises resection of the body structure from surrounding tissue. The resected body structure may then be removed.

Abstract: A medical grasping device (10) for vascular use, having an outer sheath (12), an elongate control member (50) extending within an outer sheath (12) to a distal tip section (54), and a proximal control assembly (22) including an actuation section (24) joined to the elongate control member (50). Adjacent to the distal tip section (54) is a grasping portion (70, 70?) that is extendable from the outer sheath (12) to create loops (74, 74?) for grasping a target object (T) for repositioning within the vascular system, or for removal from the patient, with loops being retractable into the outer sheath to hold the target object against the device (10) during movement of the device. Elongate control member (50) is preferably a cannula or tube having a lumen (58) extending completely therethrough for placement over a guide wire (28) already in the patient.

Abstract: A medical catheter having an elongate body, a first expandable balloon and a filter assembly. The filter assembly includes an expandable filter having a first portion coupled to a portion of the medical catheter and a second portion positioned around at least a portion of the first expandable balloon to form a channel between the filter assembly and the first expandable balloon. The filter assembly can further include struts coupled to the second portion of the expandable filter, where the struts tether the second portion of the expandable filter to the elongate body adjacent the proximal end of the first expandable balloon. The first expandable balloon can be used in procedures to dilate blood vessels, including those that deploy stents, where the expandable filter assembly captures particles, including embolic particles, from the blood during the procedure.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for providing access to a body lumen. The apparatus includes a tubular member including a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into a body lumen, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. A pushable stiffening member extends from the distal end of the tubular member, the elongate member terminating in a distal tip. An expandable sheath extends along at least a portion of the stiffening member, the sheath being expandable from a contracted condition to minimize a profile of the sheath to allow insertion along with the stiffening member into a body lumen, and an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen communicating with the tubular member lumen. In one embodiment, the sheath includes an outer lumen and an inner lumen floating within the outer lumen, and the stiffening member is carried in the inner lumen.

Abstract: Methods and devices for providing a minimally-invasive placement of a mechanical structure for reducing the volume of a hollow body organ. Intragastric bands may be secured within the hollow body organ and then reduced in diameter to form a stricture within the hollow body organ. The strictures may be placed anywhere within the hollow body organ, and more than one stricture may be formed within the hollow body organ.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgery device for the insertion and recovery of a haemostatic plug at the surgical site. The device comprises a tubular body suitable for slidingly housing the plug, and a plunger slidingly engageable within the tubular body so as to push the plug outside the body, and to position it at the surgical site. The plug is connected to a locator that is radio-opaque, has a suitable color, and has a specific weight that allows it to float relative to the internal organs, blood or other fluids present at the surgical site. A loop is provided at a distal end of the plunger and at a proximal end of the plunger, a first handle is provided for actuating the plunger so as to grip the ball and recover the plug after use by retracting the plunger inside the tubular body.

Abstract: A stent designed for catheter delivery to a target neurovascular site via a tortuous path, in a contracted state, and deployment at the target site, in an expanded state, is disclosed. The stent includes a plurality of expandable tubular members, where member is composed of a continuous wire element forming a plurality of wave segments, and segment contains a pair of opposite looped peaks having a wave shape such that the distance between adjacent sides of a wave, on proceeding from a peak toward opposite peaks, increases monotonically with an inflection point therebetween. The expandable tubular members are joined through adjacent peaks by axial connectors. Radial expansion of the stent from a contracted to expanded state is accommodated by movement of adjacent wave-segment peaks away from one another, without significant change in the axial dimension of the stent. Also disclosed are a system incorporating the stent, and a method of treating a neurovascular abnormality.

Abstract: An articulating surgical instrument is shown, which comprises a shaft and an end effector. The shaft has a longitudinal axis, and the end effector is operationally coupled, preferably mechanically coupled, to the shaft at an articulation pivot. The instrument also comprises a first band, and in some embodiments, a second band, each operationally connected to the end effector and extending through at least a portion of the shaft. An articulation control applies a force in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis, wherein the force, when applied in one direction, is translated through the first band to the end effector to effect rotation of the end effector relative to the shaft about the articulation pivot in a first rotational direction, and when the force is applied in the opposite direction, is translated through the second band to the end effector to effect rotation of the end effector relative to the shaft about the articulation pivot in a second rotational direction.

Abstract: A method for pre-loading an implant delivery apparatus and for delivering an implant is provided. An implant is mounted within the distal end of an elongated section of a delivery apparatus. After the implant is mounted within the elongated section, fluid is drawn into a chamber within the delivery apparatus that is proximal to the implant. This is accomplished by drawing fluid, such as a biocompatible liquid, into the chamber by applying pressure to a port. The fluid is trapped inside the chamber forming a liquid column. The elongated section is advanced through a lumen or passageway delivering the implant to a desired location. A shaft, which is in communication with the fluid column, is held stationary and the elongated section retracted deploying the implant. As the elongated section is retracted, the implant exerts forces upon the elongated section that are transmitted to the fluid column which resists buckling.

Abstract: A fluidthight surgical staple for a surgical stapling device comprises a deformable back that comprises two parts that are hinged with respect to each other and at least four rows of anchoring pins. The back remains substantially flat when the staple is in place, so that it does not protrude from the wall of the organ; when the back is in the open position, the axes of the pins of the two central rows tend to align parallel to each other and the tips of the pins are separated by a gap larger than in the closed position. At least a second row of converging second anchoring pins is placed towards the outer side of each hinged part of the back. The staple is provided with gripping points for keeping the staple in open or closed position.

Abstract: Everting filter devices and methods for using the devices, including using the devices as intra-vascular filters to filter thrombus, emboli, and plaque fragments from blood vessels. The filter devices include a filter body nominally tubular in shape and having a large proximal opening. The filter body can extend from a proximal first end region distally over the non-everted exterior surface of the filter, further extending distally to a distal-most region, then converging inwardly and extending proximally toward the filter second end region, forming a distal everted cavity. The degree of eversion of the filter can be controlled by varying the distance between the filter first end region near the proximal opening and the closed second end region. Bringing the filter first and second end regions closer together can bring filter material previously on the non-everted filter exterior to occupy the distal-most region.

Abstract: An instrument for implanting a sensor in a body part, in which the sensor has at least one cord extending therefrom which is connected to an external device, includes a guide sheath for defining a path to the surface of the body part through overlaying soft tissue, the sheath having a bore extending along its length between first and second open ends through which the tool can pass and a slot that extends along its length between its first and second open ends. A delivery sheath for implanting the sensor in the hole has a bore extending along its length between a first open end at which the sensor can be mounted and a second end, with the cord extending from the sensor along the bore, in which the sheath has a slot that extends along its length between its first and second end, and wherein the delivery sheath can be received within the guide sheath by sliding the delivery sheath within the bore of the guide sheath.