Abstract: This invention relates generally to expandable intraluminal medical devices for use within a body passageway or duct, and more particularly to an optimized stent having asymmetrical strut and loop members, wherein at least one pair adjacent radial strut members have unequal axial lengths.

Abstract: A method for tissue repair including providing a kit including a mesh placer, mesh stitcher and mesh tacker, placing the mesh at a tissue repair site with the mesh placer, holding the mesh in place with the mesh placer, and fastening the mesh to tissue with at least one of the mesh tacker and mesh stitcher.

Abstract: A device for use with a trocar in suturing trocar wounds with flexible needles. The device includes a ring encompassing the trocar positionable adjacent to a body wall. The ring, often a split ring, has a pair of guide channels passing through it, each channel including an entry hole and an exit hole. These guide holes are disposed symmetrically on the ring such that the two entry holes and the two exit holes form lines passing through the longitudinal axis of the trocar. The channels are curved near their respective entry holes. The guide channels are angled in the region of the exit holes so that when the needles exit the channels into the body wall and then the body cavity they are at a predetermined distance from the nearest point on the trocar. The above described device forms a suturing system with the trocar.

Abstract: In a medical clip consisting of a platelet of an elastic bio-compatible material, the platelet is provided with a central H-shaped cut-out so as to form a frame structure with tongues extending from the frame structure toward each other and having adjacent front edges forming grasping elements, and the frame structure is curved and elastically biases the front edges toward each other.

Abstract: A tissue fastener includes a bridge section and two cannulated leg sections. The tissue fastener is a single piece of material, and the material can be a bioabsorbable material. Each of the two leg sections can include at least one barb for resisting dislodgement from tissue after the fastener is inserted into tissue. The bridge can be flexible, and the leg sections can receive needles to allow insertion of the fastener into tissue from above a surface of the tissue. Various insertion devices and mechanisms are possible to deploy the fastener into a wound in a patient's skin from above the surface of and generally perpendicular to the skin.

Abstract: Various surgical assemblies are provided, one embodiment of which includes a substantially flat template having first and second opposed sides, and having a plurality of graduated markings on said first side, and a substantially flat, flexible, surgical implant removably secured to the template and having first and second substantially flat opposed sides, and at least a first trimable portion. The surgical implant is removably coupled to the template so that the first side of the template is substantially adjacent to the first side of the surgical mesh, and so that the plurality of graduated markings are substantially adjacent to the first trimable portion of the surgical implant.

Abstract: Disclosed are medical devices and methods for tendon, ligament, and soft tissue repair. A method includes introducing a first segment having a delivery assembly into a first soft tissue, and removing the delivery assembly to expose an opening of a hollow body of the first segment. The method also includes introducing a second segment having a second delivery assembly and a second body into a second soft tissue, guiding the second delivery assembly through the opening, and advancing the second body into the hollow body, thereby joining the first soft tissue and the second soft tissue.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for passing a suture. In general, described herein are suturing devices, such as suture passers, as well as methods of suturing tissue. These suture passing devices may include dual deployment suture passers in which a first distal jaw member is movable at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body of the device and the second distal jaw member is retractable proximally to the distal end region of the elongate body and/or the first jaw member. Also described herein are suture passers in which the tissue penetrator passing the suture travels in an approximately sigmoidal pathway, with the distal end of the tissue penetrator extending distally from one jaw of the device.

Abstract: Disclosed are medical devices and methods for tendon, ligament, and soft tissue repair. A method includes introducing a first segment having a delivery assembly into a first soft tissue, and removing the delivery assembly to expose an opening of a hollow body of the first segment. The method also includes introducing a second segment having a second delivery assembly and a second body into a second soft tissue, guiding the second delivery assembly through the opening, and advancing the second body into the hollow body, thereby joining the first soft tissue and the second soft tissue.

Abstract: A bifurcated stent that uses telescoping rings to support or form the side branch lumen. This design allows the bifurcation branch to extend easily, to a useful distance, and to be deployed along oblique angles. Best of all, this design avoids the need to deploy a bent stent.

Abstract: A clipping instrument for biological tissues equipped with an outer tube which can be inserted into a biological cavity, an operating member freely passed through the outer tube, an operating wire freely passed though the operating member, a self-opening holder which can be opened and closed by the action of the operating member attached to the edge of the operating wire, and a self-opening clop having a clipping member for clopping a biological tissue which is attached to the edge of the holder in a detachable manner by opening/closing the holder. Using this clopping instrument, a lesion site can be surely clipped over a long period of time in ligating a breeding site in a biological tissue, stitching a laceration, making in excision of a mucosal tissue and so on with an endoscope.

Abstract: A deployment system for introducing stent grafts which have a side arm or into which a side arm can be deployed. For instance the stent graft can be deployed into the thoracic arch of a patient. The deployment system including an introducer (1), an auxiliary catheter (13) disposed within the introducer and an auxiliary guide wire (14) disposed within the auxiliary catheter. The auxiliary guide wire extends to adjacent the proximal end (6) of the introducer an can be extended from the proximal end of the introducer so that it can be snared from a side branch artery (56) to assist with deployment of a side arm (23) of the stent graft into the side artery or for the deployment of a side arm stent graft into the stent graft.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical instrument is used in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery for inserting a gastric band into a patient's abdomen through a laparoscopic port. The gastric band insertion instrument includes a handle, an elongated shaft and a distal end assembly. The elongated shaft includes an actuator rod that opens and closes a movable jaw at the distal end. A pin at the distal end assembly engages a hole in the front of the gastric band, and the movable jaw is closed thereby securely capturing the front end of the gastric band. The shaft and the captured gastric band are inserted through a laparoscopic port into the patient's abdomen.

Abstract: A sealing clip for sealing or holding punctures or openings in tissue closed is applied from the inner surface of the tissue. In one embodiment, the clip has piercing members for penetrating the tissue from an inner surface thereof adjacent the opening. A delivery apparatus is used to releasably hold the clip in one configuration for introduction of the clip through the puncture or opening and expand the clip to a more open configuration for pulling the clip through the tissue as the delivery apparatus is retracted. Further retraction of the delivery apparatus causes the edges of the tissue surrounding the opening to move along the clip and come together after which the clip is released and closed to hold the tissue edges of the opening together. In the case where the clip has a memory set closed shape, the clip returns toward that shape after being released to hold the tissue edges of the opening together, thereby holding the opening closed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a suture anchor that includes an elongate shank defining a longitudinal axis and having at least one engaging member for applying the suture anchor within the bone and securing the suture anchor in the bone once implanted formed thereon, and a drive head having a proximal end, a distal end and a radial cross-sectional geometry, where the drive head is mated to the elongate shank, includes at least one suture attachment element formed in a portion thereof and at least one anti-rotational member integral therewith, suture anchor kits utilizing the suture anchors and methods of attaching bone to gone.

Abstract: A removable vena cava filter configured for simplified delivery to and retrieval from the vena cava of a patient is disclosed. The filter includes struts configured to be arranged in consistent orientation together between expanded (opened) and collapsed (closed) configurations, thereby minimizing entanglement of the struts. Each of the struts has a circumferential bend relative to the longitudinal axis of the filter. The circumferential bends allow for consistent orientation of the struts when moved between the expanded and collapsed configurations and when placed in the closed configuration of the filter.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method and apparatus for delivering a medical stent to a treatment site for forming a conduit between a blood vessel and a heart chamber. The apparatus comprises a hollow cylindrical body having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent being positioned within the body; and an actuator for expelling the stent from the body to form the conduit.

Abstract: A line lock includes a body at least partially bounding a plurality of passageways such that a suture can only be drawn through the passageways along one direction. The suture may be inserted through the passageways through the use of a cartridge designed to contain the line lock. Threaders may pass through the line lock within the cartridge. Each threader may have a leading end and a trailing end that can be coupled to a suture end. Thus, two suture ends may be drawn through the passageways by coupling them to the threaders and drawing the leading ends of the threaders to cause the suture ends to pass through the passageways according to the desired pattern. The cartridge may then be opened to permit easy removal of the suture and the line lock.

Abstract: Apparatus for sealing a puncture communicating with a blood vessel includes a porous carrier formed from lyophilized hydrogel or other material. The plug may include at least first and second hydrogel precursors and a pH adjusting agent carried by the porous carrier in an unreactive state prior to exposure to an aqueous physiological environment. Once exposed to bodily fluids, the carrier expands as the lyophilized material hydrates to enhance and facilitate rapid hemostasis of the puncture. When the plug is placed into the puncture, the natural wetting of the plug by bodily fluids (e.g., blood) causes the first and second precursors to react and cross-link into an adhesive or “sticky” hydrogel that aids in retaining the plug in place within the puncture.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical instrument is used in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery for inserting a gastric band into a patient's abdomen through a laparoscopic port. The gastric band insertion instrument includes a handle, an elongated shaft and a distal end assembly. The elongated shaft includes an actuator rod that opens and closes a movable jaw at the distal end. A pin at the distal end assembly engages a hole in the front of the gastric band, and the movable jaw is closed thereby securely capturing the front end of the gastric band. The shaft and the captured gastric band are inserted through a laparoscopic port into the patient's abdomen.