Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering energy during a surgical procedure such as phacoemulsification is provided. The method and apparatus include applying energy during at least one pulsed energy on period, comprising applying energy during a series of short burst periods, the short burst periods interspersed by short rest periods. The method and apparatus further comprise delivering minimal energy during a long off period, the long off period comprising a relatively long period when minimal energy is applied, wherein one long off period follows each pulsed energy on period. The short burst periods and the short rest periods are relatively brief in duration as compared with the long off period.

Abstract: Implantable occlusion devices that include one or more flanges extending from a tubular body are disclosed. The flange or flanges may assist in retention of the device within a vessel, cavity, appendage, etc. At least one flange on the occlusion device may include a concave surface proximate one end of a body. Because of the shape of the flange, e.g., its concavity, the occlusion device may resist dislocation due to e.g., the forces generated within the left atrial appendage during atrial filbrillation.

Abstract: A method of replacing a native cardiac valve with a prosthetic cardiac valve, the method comprising: expanding a wire mesh scaffolding in a chamber of the heart on a retrograde side of the native cardiac valve; while the scaffolding is expanded on the retrograde side of the valve positioning the prosthetic cardiac valve at the site of the native cardiac valve; expanding the prosthetic cardiac valve to replace the native cardiac valve; and collapsing the scaffolding to a collapsed state and removing the collapsed scaffolding from the chamber of the heart.

Abstract: A single-wire stylet may be constructed as an elongate single-wire, memory-metal alloy body with a generally cylindrical body profile, extending distally from a proximal end terminus, where embodiments include a polymeric distal tip member fixedly attached directly at a distal end of the single-wire body. At least one lengthwise portion of the single-wire body is at least partially in martensitic phase at operating temperatures at and below about 37° C. Where present, the polymeric distal tip member has a generally cylindrical body profile circumferentially bounded by an outer circumference substantially equal to or greater than that of the metal body. The polymeric distal tip member may be overmolded upon a distal-end tip length of an elongate single-wire, memory-metal alloy stylet body, where the distal end and/or discrete intermediate distal-portion length(s) that include martensitic-phase alloy and any polymeric member have greater flexibility than a proximal-most length of the alloy stylet body.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed that enable safe, rapid and relatively short and straight access to the cerebral arteries for the introduction of interventional devices to treat acute ischemic stroke. In addition, the disclosed methods and devices provide means to securely close the access site to the cerebral arteries to avoid the potentially devastating consequences of a transcervical hematoma.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for use in releasing soft tissue within the human body. The surgical instrument has a handle with proximal and distal ends with a tube connected to the distal end. The surgical instrument also includes a blade member that slidingly engages the tube moving along the length of the tube to cut soft tissue. Further included in the surgical instrument is a guard member that is attached to the blade member. The guard member has a hood portion and a capture portion. The hood portion is connected to the blade member with the distally positioned capture portion acting to displace surrounding tissue while capturing certain soft tissue structures resulting in the blade member being in operative position to cut and release the soft tissue. A surgical instrument kit including a plurality of modular surgical instruments and method for releasing soft tissue using the surgical instrument are also disclosed.

Abstract: A soft robotic instrument that is capable of changing its form factor (e.g., expanding and contracting) during use to facilitate minimally invasive surgery. The instrument may be formed wholly or partly of an elastomeric, electrically insulating material for mitigating the risk of injuring tissue and for mitigating the risk of electrical arcing during electrosurgery.

Abstract: A device for treating nosebleeds includes a mouth insert having a horizontally extending elongated portion, a center portion extending downward from a bottom surface of the elongated portion and a bite tab extending backward from the center portion. The elongated portion is shaped and dimensioned to be inserted into a buccal cavity of a user's mouth and to fit behind the user's upper lip and in front of the user's upper gums. The center portion is shaped and dimensioned to be positioned in front of the user's upper front teeth and the bite tab is shaped and dimensioned to provide a biting surface for the user's front teeth. Biting down onto the bite tab pushes the elongated portion upward and applies pressure upward to the user's buccal cavity and towards an anterior portion of the user's nose.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for displaying an image of a tracked tool on a user interface, wherein at least a portion of the tool is hidden from view in any image on a user interface at any point during a procedure. The tool may include a cutting tool having jaws for clamping a material and a knife for cutting the clamped material, and superimposing an indicator of a knife position on the display during and/or after cutting. The knife position may include a location and/or orientation of the knife, including any or all of a pre-cut, cut-complete, cut-incomplete and an exposed position. The disclosed systems and methods allows a user to view the knife position in applications where the knife may not be visible to a user, which is particularly useful for clamping and cutting a body tissue with a robotic surgical system in minimally invasive procedures.

Abstract: Apparatus, comprising: (i) a catheter (64); (ii) an implant (100), comprising a flexible longitudinal member (102), and a linking member (104) that extends from a first linking site (106a) of the longitudinal member to a second linking site (106b) of the longitudinal member, the implant having: (a) a delivery state in which the longitudinal member is coaxial with the catheter, and at least a portion of the linking member is disposed alongside the longitudinal member, and (b) an implanted state in which a first distance between the first linking site and the second linking site, measured along the longitudinal member, is greater than a second distance between the first linking site and the second linking site, measured along the linking member; and (iii) a plurality of tissue anchors (46), slidable through the catheter and with respect to the longitudinal member. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of a radially collapsible and expandable prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. The prosthetic valve can comprise an annular frame, leaflets, an inner skirt, and an outer skirt. The outer skirt can be secured to the outside of the inflow end portion of the frame, the outer skirt having longitudinal slack that buckles outward radially when the valve is in the expanded configuration and which lies flat when the valve is in the collapsed configuration. In some embodiments, the outer skirt is stiffer in the axial direction of the valve than in the circumferential direction of the valve. In additional embodiments, the outer skirt comprises a self-expandable fabric comprising fibers made of a shape memory material having a shape memory set to enhance the radially outward buckling of the outer skirt. Methods of crimping such valves to a collapsed or partially collapsed configuration are also disclosed.

Abstract: A medical device may include a stabilizer configured to be coupled to a port of an insertion device. The medical device may further include a shaft configured for telescopic translation within the stabilizer and a grip coupled to the shaft. Further, the medical device may include an actuator coupled to the grip. The actuator may be axially moveable relative to the grip so as to selectively actuate a distal assembly of the medical device.

Abstract: Methods and devices for fixation of soft tissue to bone are provided. In one embodiment, a suture anchor is provided having an elongate cylindrical body with proximal and distal ends and an inner lumen extending therethrough. The elongate body can be configured so that upon partial insertion into a bone hole, it is securely anchored within the bone hole and a suture extending through the inner lumen is freely slidable. It can also configured so that, upon further insertion into the bone hole, at least a portion of the elongate body compresses to lock the suture within the inner lumen such that the suture is prevented from sliding. In another embodiment, a suture anchor is provided having arms that have an open position for receiving a suture therebetween, and a closed position in which the suture is retained but allowed to slide freely.

Abstract: A surgical head clamp and robotics platform secures a head of a patient and positions an instrument relative to the head for a medical procedure. The head clamp and robotics platform comprises a planar C-shaped frame for at least partially encircling the head of a patient. An instrument arm is mounted is to a free distal end of one arm member of the frame. The instrument arm extends away from the arm member in a direction transverse to the plane of the frame. The instrument arm includes a base mounted to the arm member for movement along three degrees of freedom relative to the frame, a proximal portion extending from and pivotally connected to the base, and a distal instrument holder extending from and pivotally connected to the proximal portion. The instrument arm functions to selectively position the instrument in an angular position relative to the head clamp.

Abstract: An occlusion bypassing apparatus for re-entering the true lumen of a vessel after subintimally bypassing an occlusion in a vessel. The apparatus includes an outer shaft component having a needle lumen there-through. A proximal end of the outer shaft component is fixed within a handle of the apparatus at a first attachment point. A stabilization tube of the apparatus is disposed within the needle lumen. A proximal end of the stabilization tube is fixed within the handle at a second attachment point that is spaced apart from the first attachment point and an elongated body and a distal end of the stabilization tube are not attached to the outer shaft component. A needle component of the apparatus is configured to be slidably disposed within the stabilization tube and removable therefrom, and the stabilization tube minimizes resistive forces exerted onto the needle component by the outer shaft component.

Abstract: Devices and methods for protecting an internal channel of a subject are disclosed. In one example embodiment, a device for protecting an internal channel of a subject includes a first end portion having a first diameter and defining a first opening, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion having a second diameter and defining a second opening that is in communication with the first opening. A body portion is defined between the first end portion and second end portion. The body portion defines an interior passage between the first opening and second opening, and is expandable along a longitudinal axis from a collapsed state to an expanded state.

Abstract: A minimally invasive system and method for providing weight loss by inducing the feeling of satiety whereby an intragastric device is inserted into the gastric lumen via the esophagus and an external magnetic device is used as needed to magnetically attract the intragastric device towards the inner wall of the stomach and impart tactile stimulation sufficient to induce the feeling of satiety.

Abstract: A resistively heated shape memory polymer device is operated using resistive heating to heat the shape memory polymer device. The resistively heated shape memory polymer device is made by providing a wire that includes a resistive medium. The wire is coated with a first shape memory polymer. The wire is exposed and electrical leads are attached to the wire. In one embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a clot destruction device. In another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a microvalve. In another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a micropump. In yet another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a thermostat or relay switch.

Abstract: An attachment system for selectively attaching to an interior surface of a hollow member, which includes an expanding device selectively enlargeable from a first size position to an enlarged second size position, a friction enhancement disposed about the expanding device that is engageable with the interior surface of the hollow member when the expanding device is in the enlarged position, and a fenestrated decoupling system extending between at least a portion of the friction enhancement of the expanding device and the interior surface of the hollow member. The fenestrated decoupling system generally prevents contact of the friction enhancement with the interior surface of the hollow member when the expanding device is in the first size position and permits contact of the friction enhancement with the interior surface of the hollow member when the expanding device is in the enlarged position.

Abstract: A system is configured to create or enlarge a cavity in a tissue body and generally includes a cannula, a friction reduction covering, and a cavity creation member. The cavity creation member includes an end portion that is configured to transition between a first shape and a second shape that is different from the first shape. In operation, retracting the friction reduction covering relative to end portion causes the end portion to change shape from the first shape to the second shape such that the cavity creation member is configured to create or enlarge a cavity in the tissue body as the second end portion exits the friction reduction member.