Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one link and a plurality of beads. The plurality of beads are joined using the at least one link and configured to be arranged in an annular arrangement. Each bead includes at least one magnet. The annular arrangement is sized and configured to form a loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. Adjacent beads are magnetically attracted together at a plurality of magnetic interfaces that include first and second magnetic interfaces. The first magnetic interface has a first magnetic field strength. The second magnetic interface has a second magnetic field strength that is less than the first magnetic field strength so that the beads forming the second interface are configured to separate prior to the beads forming the first interface when the loop moves from the contracted configuration to the expanded configuration, thereby providing uniform radial expansion of the loop.

Abstract: Determining orientation of cutting windows of a mechanical resection instrument. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including: sensing a location of a cutting window through an outer tube of the mechanical resection instrument, the sensing based on a magnetic field strength of a first magnet; sensing a location of a cutting window through an inner tube concentrically disposed within the outer tube, the sensing based on a combined magnetic field strength of the first magnet and a second magnet; and stopping a rotation of the inner tube relative to the outer tube with the cutting window through the outer tube and the cutting window through the inner tube in a predetermined orientation, the stopping based on the combined magnetic field strength.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of links and a plurality of beads interconnected together using the plurality of links. Each link of the plurality of links defines a chord length. The plurality of beads is configured to be arranged in an annular arrangement. Each bead of the plurality of beads includes at least one magnet configured to emit a magnetic field. The annular arrangement is sized and configured to form a loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. The loop in the expanded configuration is configured to permit fluid flow through the anatomical structure. Adjacent magnetic fields of adjacent magnets of the adjacent beads are configured to interact until separated past a minimum threshold in response the annular arrangement moving from the contracted configuration to the expanded configuration. The minimum threshold is based on the chord length of the links.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one link and a plurality of beads. The plurality of beads is joined using the at least one link and is configured to be arranged in an annular arrangement. The annular arrangement is sized and configured to form a loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. The annular arrangement is configured to move between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration. The loop in the contracted configuration is configured to prevent fluid flow through the anatomical structure. Each bead includes a housing, a magnet contained within the housing, and a secondary element that is different from the magnet. The magnet is configured to emit a magnetic field. The magnets of the plurality of beads are configured to magnetically bias the loop toward the contracted configuration. The secondary element is contained within the housing and is configured to increase the magnetic field of the magnet.

Abstract: Vascular expandable devices and associated methods are disclosed herein. An expandable vascular device can include a generally tubular sidewall formed of a plurality of braided strands. The device can have a compressed state for delivery in which the device has a compressed state diameter of 0.027 inches or less. The device can have an expanded state in which the device has an expanded state diameter. A full expansion distance of the device corresponds to a longitudinal unconstrained distance at which the distal end of the expandable device attains the expanded state diameter. The full expansion distance can be 20 mm or less.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to systems and methods for intravascular lesion disruption. In an embodiment, a catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures upon a vascular lesion within or adjacent a blood vessel wall is included. The system includes a catheter configured to advance to a vascular lesion, the catheter including an elongate shaft that defines at least a first orifice for fluid flow; a balloon, coupled to the elongate shaft, that surrounds the first orifice where the balloon can expand from a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the catheter through a patient's vasculature to a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the catheter in position relative to a treatment site; and a propulsion system configured to propel a fluid from the first orifice toward the balloon wall to create an inertial impulse in a vessel wall to transfer momentum to the vascular lesion. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: An expandable introducer sheath with an interlock dilator. The present technology provides an expandable sheath with a step feature inside its distal opening, and a dilator with an interlock that includes a catch surface configured to engage with the step feature and resist further relative movement so that the body of the dilator is prevented from exiting the distal end of the expandable sheath. This interlocking engagement may allow the dilator to be used to extend and maintain tension on the expandable sheath during insertion into a patient, and then to be retracted from the expandable sheath by pulling the dilator in the opposite direction. The present technology also provides a dilator hub with a spring mechanism configured to achieve and maintain a desired tension on the expandable sheath and to prevent overextension of the expandable sheath when the dilator is being inserted into the expandable sheath.

Abstract: Various systems, devices and methods associated with the placement of a dock or anchor for a prosthetic valve. The anchor can comprise a plurality of coils adapted to support a valve prosthesis, the plurality of coils including an upper coil, one or more middle coils, and a lower coil. The upper coil can have a larger diameter than the one or more middle coils and the lower coil, and the upper coil is configured to engage a wall of an atrium of the heart at a position superior to and spaced axially from the mitral valve annulus after the plurality of coils have been fully delivered from the coil guide catheter.

Abstract: In some examples, a catheter includes an expandable member configured to expand radially outward from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. The expandable member is configured to be expanded and contracted in a controlled manner, e.g., in response to user actuation or automatically under the control of control circuitry of a device. For example, in some examples, control circuitry of a device can be configured to control the expandable member to expand and contract according to a predetermined expansion frequency or according to an expansion frequency determined based on a cardiac cycle of a patient.

Abstract: A device for performing minimally invasive repair of mitral valve leaflets in a beating heart through the delivery and implantation of artificial chordae tendineae includes a handle for positioning the device into a chest cavity of the patient, a capture assembly adapted to capture a valve leaflet between distal an proximal tip portions, a needle adapted to penetrate the valve leaflet, and a capture confirmation system for verifying capture of the valve leaflet between the distal and proximal tip portions.

Abstract: An overtube device includes: a tube body having a bending part and a main body part; a wire having a distal end part fixed to the bending part and a proximal end part positioned on the proximal end side and extending along a longitudinal axis; an operation part capable of pulling the wire to the proximal end side; and an overtube base configured to fix the tube body in a longitudinal axis direction so as not to advance and retract, and configured so that the operation part is provided in a state where the wire is pulled toward the proximal end side of the wire until a curved shape of the bending part is held. In a state where the operation part is mounted on the overtube base, the overtube base holds the wire in a state where the wire is pulled toward the proximal end side of the wire.

Abstract: Disclosed are coating compositions, processes, and designs for endowing vascular devices with thromboresistant and endothelializing properties. Also disclosed are designs of vascular devices used as aneurysm treating devices for assisting in the delivery, packing, and maintenance of embolization coils within an aneurysm, particularly a neurovascular aneurysm.

Abstract: A retrieval device attachable to a scope includes a handle which has an attachment portion configured to couple the handle to the scope; a shaft coupled to the handle having a wire immovably coupled to the handle; and a sheath movable relative to the handle over the wire between a distal position and a proximal position via an actuator of the handle. The actuator actuates a slider assembly of the handle. The slider assembly is coupled to the sheath and movable relative to the attachment portion to move the sheath and an expandable end effector coupled to the distal end of the wire. The end effector is movable between a collapsed configuration when the sheath is moved distally to the distal position to cover the end effector and an expanded configuration when the sheath is moved proximally to the proximal position, uncovering the end effector.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to provide hemostasis with tissue removal in order to inhibit one or more of blood loss or tissue drainage. In many embodiments, a nozzle releases a liquid jet in a liquid medium in order to provide cavitation and a plurality of shedding pulses. The liquid jet, its cavitation and the plurality of shedding pulses can affect vascular tissue in order to promote clotting in order to inhibit bleeding. In many embodiments, vessels of the vascular tissue are affected at a distance from a region where cavitation of the water jet contacts the tissue. In many embodiments, the cavitation and plurality of shedding pules are related to a pulsatile shear wave propagating along the blood vessel that is related to clot promoting changes of the blood vessel.

Abstract: An example medical device for occluding the left atrial appendage is disclosed. The example medical device for occluding the left atrial appendage includes an expandable member having a first end region, a second end region and an inflation cavity. The example medical device includes at least one fixation member having a first end and a second end coupled to the expandable member. The at least one fixation member is configured to move from a delivery configuration to a deployed configuration in response to an expansion of the expandable member. Additionally, the example medical device includes a valve member extending at least partially into the inflation cavity and the expandable member is configured to expand and seal the opening of the left atrial appendage.

Abstract: A catheter, advanced toward an anatomical site, has a proximal end and a steerable distal end. An anchor is advanced through the catheter. An anchor driver drives the anchor out of the catheter's distal end, anchoring the anchor at the site. A first constraining member engages tissue, and inhibits, after the anchor has been driven out of the catheter and before the anchoring, movement of at least the anchor driver's distal end, on a first axis between the anchor driver's distal end and a site at which the first constraining member engages the tissue. A second constraining member inhibits, after the anchor has been driven out of the catheter and before the anchoring, movement of at least the anchor driver's distal end, on a second axis. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A medical device for stone management comprises a catheter comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a first lumen and a second lumen disposed therethrough. A handle assembly is interconnected with the proximal end of the catheter, the handle assembly comprising a body defining an interior cavity, a first section and a second section. An interior passageway is disposed within the interior cavity and in fluid communication with the first lumen of the catheter. A valve assembly interconnected with the interior passageway. An actuator assembly is engaged with the valve assembly, the actuator having a first position and a second position. A vacuum port is in communication with the interior passageway and positioned on the second section of the handle. The second section of the handle forms an angle with respect to the first section of the handle.

Abstract: A self-expanding intravascular medical device including a multi-component assembly with a self-expanding outer cage component comprising a plurality of struts; and a single cell wave-shape component disposed within the self-expanding outer cage component forming a channel therein. The proximal end of the single cell wave-shape component is connected to the self-expanding outer cage component at a proximal joint.

Abstract: Delivery systems for liquid embolics and methods of using them are disclosed. The devices generally include a catheter and one or more retention elements to limit migration of the liquid embolic to non-target sites.

Abstract: The present technology is directed generally to devices, systems, and methods for capturing and cutting fibrous and trabeculated structures (such as synechiae) in vessel lumens. In one embodiment, the present technology includes an intraluminal tissue modifying system configured to capture the fibrous structures, put the fibrous structures in tension, and controllably cut through the fibrous structures without applying appreciable additional force to the vessel wall. The system may include an expandable capture device and a cutting device.