Abstract: A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repair the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a base assembly, a pair of paddles, and a pair of gripping members. The base assembly includes a shaft and a coupler attached to the shaft such that the coupler can be moved along the shaft. The paddles are movable between an open position, a closed position and a bailout position. The paddles and the gripping members are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient. Movement of the coupler along the shaft causes the paddles to move between the open position, the closed position, and the bailout position. When the paddles are in the bailout position, a bailout angle between each paddle of the pair of paddles and the shaft is greater than or equal to 120 degrees.

Abstract: Treatment methods and devices are provided for percutaneously accessing a patient's thoracic region via a controlled opening in the aorta, so that cardiac procedures, such as a coronary bypass procedure, can be performed in a minimally invasive manner. Advantageously, it may be possible to perform the procedure without placing the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass. The method may include percutaneously delivering at least one catheter into an aorta of a heart, forming a controlled opening in the aorta and pericardium via the at least one catheter to access a thoracic region within the patient's chest, and performing at least one coronary bypass graft procedure through the controlled opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices for closing a passageway in a body, for example a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in a heart, and related methods of using such closure devices for closing the passageway. The method includes introducing a mechanical closure device into an atrium of the heart and transeptally deploying the closure device across the interatrial septum to provide proximation of the septum secundum and septum primum.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for attaching soft tissue to bone. In general, a deployment device, insertion assembly, and suture anchor are provided. The insertion assembly is coupled between the deployment device and the suture anchor to allow the deployment device to deploy the suture anchor into bone. Each of the various components disclosed herein can be used alone, in combination with one another, or in combination with various other devices.

Abstract: A system and method for verifying the accurate insertion positioning of a robotically guided surgical tool or probe, at its cranial target region, such as for Deep Brain Stimulation. A head mounted robot aligns a probe or tool guiding sleeve, together with an aiming rod attached at a predefined position and angle to the guiding sleeve. The aiming rod incorporates apertures through which an X-ray system can view the patient's skull. The aiming rod is attached to the tool guiding sleeve at an angle and position calculated such that the line of sight through the apertures falls exactly on the target region when the tool or probe is inserted to its predetermined depth. If the tip of the tool or probe is seen located at the center of the apertures in the X-ray image, verification is obtained that the insertion procedure has been performed accurately.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a prosthesis delivery device is described. The handle assembly comprises a stationary main handle having a proximal end and a distal end and an outer surface extending there between. A first handle extends proximally from the main handle and is rotationally moveable relative to the main handle, the first handle having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a first handle interior. A second handle extends distally from the main handle and is rotationally moveable relative to the main handle, the second handle having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a second handle interior. The first handle comprises a threaded internal surface extending between the proximal and distal ends and the second handle comprises a threaded internal surface extending between the proximal and distal ends.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a surgical device for passing suture through soft tissue. The surgical device can include at least one elongate superelastic member having a thickness and having a first resting configuration that defines at least one curve having a first radius of curvature greater than or equal to 3 times the thickness of the superelastic member. The surgical device also can include a thermally formed opening in the superelastic member, the opening adapted to receive at least one strand of suture. Moreover, the surgical device can include a superelastic member adapted to be straightened into a second configuration having a second radius of curvature larger than the first radius of curvature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a suture to bone can include grasping a first suture portion with a grasping member on a positioning tool. The first suture portion can be located into a first cannulation defined in the positioning tool. A cutting member can be advanced through a second cannulation defined on the positioning tool and out through a distal opening defined on the positioning tool. A first bone hole can be cut into the bone with the cutting member. A flexible member advancing tool can be advanced through the first cannulation. The first suture portion can be urged out of the distal opening and into the first bone hole.

Abstract: A foreign object removal device is disclosed, which includes a protective sheath, and a device main body, which is disposed in a lumen of the protective sheath, can protrude from a distal end opening of the protective sheath communicating with the lumen and is rotatable relative to the protective sheath. The device main body includes, at a distal end portion protruding from the distal end opening, a screw which rotates integrally with the device main body and in which a flat plate is twisted, and side edges of the flat plate are formed in a spiral shape.

Abstract: Methods and devices for separating an implanted object, such as a pacemaker lead, from tissue surrounding such object in a patient's vasculature system. Specifically, the surgical device includes a handle, an elongate inner sheath and a circular cutting blade that extends from the distal end of the sheath upon actuating the handle. The circular cutting blade is configured to engage the tissue surrounding an implanted lead and cut such tissue in a coring fashion as the surgical device translates along the length of the lead, thereby allowing the lead, as well as any tissue remaining attached to the lead, to enter the device's elongate shaft. The surgical device has a barrel cam cylinder in the handle assembly that imparts rotation of the blade and a separate cam mechanism in the tip of outer sheath assembly that imparts and controls the extension and retraction of the blade.

Abstract: A delivery device for a prosthetic mitral valve includes five sheaths and a handle. The first sheath is coupled to a first handle portion and is rotatable and bendable. The second sheath is coupled to a second handle portion and extends through the first sheath. The second sheath is bendable, rotatable and translatable relative to the first sheath. The third sheath is coupled to a third handle portion and extends through the first and second sheaths. The third sheath is translatable relative to the second sheath. The second handle portion is coupled to the first and third handle portions. The fourth sheath extends through the third sheath and forms part of a compartment to store the prosthetic valve. The fifth sheath extends through the fourth sheath to a tip and is coupled to a retaining sheath that closes the compartment to retain the valve in a collapsed condition.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for attaching soft tissue to bone. In general, a deployment device, insertion assembly, and suture anchor are provided. The insertion assembly is coupled between the deployment device and the suture anchor to allow the deployment device to deploy the suture anchor into bone. Each of the various components disclosed herein can be used alone, in combination with one another, or in combination with various other devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing device for repair of cardiac and vascular defects or tissue opening such as a patent foramen ovale (PFO) or shunt in the heart, the vascular system, etc. and particularly provides an occluder device and trans-catheter occluder delivery system. The sealing device would have improved conformity to heart anatomy and be easily deployed, repositioned, and retrieved at the opening site.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing device for repair of cardiac and vascular defects or tissue opening such as a patent foramen ovale (PFO) or shunt in the heart, the vascular system, etc. and particularly provides an occluder device and trans-catheter occluder delivery system. The sealing device would have improved conformity to heart anatomy and be easily deployed, repositioned, and retrieved at the opening site.

Abstract: Subcutaneous implantation tools and methods of implanting a subcutaneous device using the same. The tool may include a tool body having a longitudinally extending recess having a distal opening and having a tunneler at a distal end of the tool body extending from the distal opening of the recess. The tool may include a plunger slidably fitting within at least a portion of the tool body recess. The recess may be configured to receive an implantable device and the tunneler preferably extends distally from the recess at a position laterally displaced from the device when the device is so located in the recess. Movement of the plunger distally within the recess advances the device distally out of the recess and alongside of and exterior to the tunneler.

Abstract: Pulmonary treatment devices, systems and methods of use are provided which take into account the vast tissue damage of advanced COPD sufferers and provide treatments designed specifically to treat the particularly compromised lung tissues that are present in these patients. These treatments reduce trapped air volume, tension lung tissue and enhance lung elastic recoil. A variety of embodiments are provided, including pulmonary treatment devices that move portions of lung tissue around a rotational axis into a torqued configuration, anchoring such tissue in place for improved breathing mechanics.

Abstract: An easily detachable connection of a hollow cylindrical component, such as a graft, at a recess in tissue, such as a heart or a blood vessel, an annular element, a guide element and a spring element are provided, which are secured by way of a suture ring at the body part and at the hollow cylindrical component, and which permit an easily disengageable mutual locking by way of the spring element. To this end, the annular element comprises a groove extending around the periphery thereof, into which the spring element plunges for locking.

Abstract: A delivery device for percutaneously delivering a stented prosthetic heart includes a sheath, a handle, and adjustment device including a fine adjustment mechanism, and an outer stability shaft. The sheath defines a lumen and is configured to compressively constrain the stented prosthetic heart valve. The handle is coupled to the proximal portion of the sheath and includes an actuator mechanism coupled to a proximal portion of the sheath that is configured to selectively move the sheath relative to the housing to release the stented prosthetic heat valve. The adjustment device is coupled to the handle and includes an adjustment lumen through which the sheath and the handle slidably extend. The outer stability shaft is coupled to the adjustment device. The fine adjustment mechanism is configured to selectively move the handle and the sheath relative to the adjustment device and the outer stability shaft.

Abstract: A tissue-removing catheter includes a cutter. The catheter also includes a longitudinal force-transmitting member extending along a catheter body and being longitudinally movable relative to the catheter body. A distal end portion of the longitudinal force-transmitting member is operatively connected to a distal longitudinal portion of a cutter housing such that distal movement of the longitudinal force-transmitting member relative to the catheter body and the cutter imparts pivoting of the distal longitudinal portion to its open position to expose the cutter.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly and an articulation control assembly. The shaft assembly includes an articulation section that is configured to deflect a distal end portion from the longitudinal axis. The articulation control assembly includes an articulation control member and a transmission assembly. The articulation control member is rotatably mounted relative to the shaft assembly. The transmission assembly is operatively connected between the articulation control member and the articulation section of the shaft assembly. The transmission assembly is configured to transmit selective manipulation of the articulation control member to the articulation section and selectively actuate the articulation section.