Abstract: An implant fixture is disclosed. The implant fixture contains an elongated shaft section, and a head section, wherein the head section contains at least one concave area for bone growth therein.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering a prosthesis includes a sheath, a slide shaft having a threaded outer surface, and a handle. The handle includes an internal spring assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging the handle with the threaded outer surface of the slide shaft. The internal spring assembly includes at least one spring arm, a head coupled to the spring arm and having a circumferentially rounded threaded inner surface, and a ring slidably disposed over the spring arm. When the ring is in a first longitudinal position, the threaded inner surface of the head is spaced apart from the threaded outer surface of the slide shaft. When the ring is in a second longitudinal position, the threaded inner surface of the head is threadedly engaged with the threaded outer surface of the slide shaft. The handle may include a resilient cover to provide the internal spring assembly with a biased or nominal operational position.

Abstract: Polymeric fibers, and apparatuses for and methods of processing such fibers to be useful as sutures, where at least one end of a fiber includes a termination feature. The termination feature is formed through the application of energy to a coiled region of the fiber.

Abstract: Traditional and existing methods of cervical ripening employ a Foley Bulb designed for and typically used in bladder procedures. Consequently, the application to the cervix is sub-optimal. The described device resolves this and related limitations. The device includes a balloon that has been designed to accommodate the cervix geometry, and which can adapt to normal differences in the individual. Further improvements are attained by the use of a supporting device which couples the cervix ripening device to the individual.

Abstract: Apparatus for guiding surgical formation of a pair of symmetrical sclerectomies in an eye of a patient, including a multi-diameter generally circular cutout portion including at least a first and second portions having corresponding first and second diameters, the cutout portion being arranged for placement over the limbus of the eye and for centering the limbus within one of the first and second portions, thereby enabling estimating the diameter of the limbus, and at least first and second series of sclerectomy guiding apertures formed about the cutout portion, each guiding aperture of the first series having a paired guiding aperture in the second series formed 180° thereapart relative to a center of the cutout portion, the at least first and second series of sclerectomy guiding apertures together including at least one pair of guiding apertures having a diameter therebetween which is wider than at least one of the first and second portions.

Abstract: A pusher assembly for a stent delivery device includes a distal end of an elongate member and a stent-engaging member having proximal and distal ends. The proximal end of the stent-engaging member is mechanically coupled to the distal end of the inner member by a connector, or the proximal end of the stent-engaging member is at least partially inside the distal end of the elongate inner member. The stent-engaging member includes a portion that radially outwardly extends towards the distal end of the stent-engaging member, or the stent-engaging member includes a portion that radially outwardly extends towards the distal end of the stent-engaging member. The stent-engaging member is configured to move a stent when distally advanced and configured to not move a stent when proximally retracted. A stent delivery device includes an elongate outer member, an elongate inner member coaxially positioned within the outer member, and the pusher assembly.

Abstract: A suture device with a composite end effector, the composite end effector including a suture with an unmodified fixation element at a distal end and an overlying attachment piece disposed over the proximal end of the unmodified fixation element. The resulting composite end effector has improved strength and avoids the need for affixation methods such as welding or chemical affixation.

Abstract: Disclosed are puncture sealing systems and methods of locating a puncture site within a vessel. The systems can include puncture locating dilators and access sheaths that are configured to locate the puncture site within a vessel so that the position of the puncture site relative to a distal end of the access sheath is known during a puncture sealing procedure.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for treating a patient includes a shaft assembly and a body assembly. The shaft assembly includes an articulation joint that is operable to selectively articulate a distal end portion relative to a proximal end portion. The body assembly includes a joint drive assembly, an actuator, and a clutch lock mechanism. The clutch lock mechanism is operatively connected between the actuator and the joint drive assembly. The actuator is configured to actuate the clutch lock mechanism from a locked state to an unlocked state. In the locked state, the clutch lock mechanism is configured to seize the joint drive assembly and inhibit movement of the articulation joint. In the unlocked state, the clutch lock mechanism is configured to transmit movement of the actuator to the joint drive assembly for moving the distal end portion of the shaft assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a handle assembly; a shaft assembly including a housing extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the shaft assembly; a jaw mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly, the jaw being movable between an open spaced-apart condition and a closed approximated condition; and a pusher bar reciprocally disposed within the housing of the shaft assembly and being detachably connectable to the housing of the shaft assembly, the pusher bar being configured to load a distal-most surgical clip into the jaws during distal movement and remain connected to the housing of the shaft assembly and in a distally advanced position during an approximation of the jaws.

Abstract: Minimally invasive catheters and methods are provided for adjusting the chordae associated with an atrio-ventricular valve. The catheter is adapted to engage a selected chord and draw it into a pair of transversely spaced, receptive clamps at the distal end of the catheter in readiness to be clamped The clamps are part of a prosthetic cord assembly that includes the clamps and a cord attached to each of the clamps. The effective length of a natural chord can be increased by employing a long prosthetic cord and clamping and severing the natural chord between the clamps. The effective length of a chord can be decreased by drawing the natural chord into the distal end of the catheter to a hairpin shape and clamping the legs of the hairpin-restrained chord. The chord need not be severed when its effective length is being reduced.

Abstract: A method and dissecting device are disclosed for treating a stenotic vessel. The method including inserting a directional guide member of a dissecting device into a subintimal space of a blood vessel, the dissecting device including the directional guide member and a cutting member located proximally to a distal end of the directional guide member; and cutting a stenotic region within the blood vessel with the cutting member while advancing the distal end of the directional guide member through the subintimal space.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an injector device for introducing an intraocular lens into an eye. The injector device defines a longitudinal axis and includes an injector tip having a through guide channel for the intraocular lens. The channel has a rear inlet and a front outlet. A cassette accommodates the intraocular lens therein and two closure tips are configured for closing the cassette. The closure tips extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis axially farther rearwardly than the rear inlet. A method for prefolding the intraocular lens in the cassette is also disclosed.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating or repairing a heart are disclosed. The device includes at least one radially expandable tissue-engaging element, an elongate member (e.g., suture) coupled to the expandable element, and a locking mechanism (e.g., locking clip, suture knot). The expandable element may be anchored to heart tissue within the heart, such as in the left ventricle, with the elongate member extending from the expandable element and across a heart chamber to a second location such as the heart apex where the elongate member is held by the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A bone anchor configured for use in anchoring an implanting portion to an anchor point. A bone anchor can be of particular use in anchoring soft tissue to a bone. A bone anchor can have a wire loop and a suture. The wire loop of the bone anchor can be configured to capture a suture and to pull a portion of the suture through a hole in the anchor body aiding in anchoring an item, such as tissue to a bone. Methods of using the bone anchor with a suture and a wire loop to attach an item are disclosed.

Abstract: A medical instrument with a hollow shaft and at the distal end a tool actuated via a spring-loaded pull cable, wherein the tool is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft and is mounted such that it can be angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Actuation of the pull cable and rotation and angled positioning of the tool take place via separate drives, which are arranged on a handle. An anti-twist means protects the pull cable against torsion.

Abstract: A system includes a delivery catheter and a separately-packaged implantable medical device assembly. The assembly includes a relatively compact implantable medical device, a support shaft, a tether, and a snare mandrel. The tether, which extends in the support shaft, has a distal portion coupled to the device, at a distal end of the support shaft, and a proximal portion protruding from a proximal end of the support shaft, for engagement by a hook of the snare mandrel. An operator may use the engaged snare mandrel to pull the support shaft into a lumen of an inner shaft of the catheter so that the coupled device comes into engagement with a flared end of the catheter inner shaft. Then, after locking the proximal portion of the tether within the catheter, the operator may advance a receptacle of the catheter over the device.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for retracting a cutting assembly in the event of a failure on a motorized electrosurgical device. For example, a surgical device is provided with a handle that has an elongate shaft assembly with first and second jaws for engaging tissue. A cutting assembly is included in the surgical device that cuts tissue engaged between the first and second jaws. The surgical device also includes a drive shaft that extends from the handle through the elongate shaft and moves the cutting assembly relative to the first and second jaws, and a motorized gear assembly that causes movement of the drive shaft. In an exemplary embodiment, the elongate shaft assembly is detachable from the handle such that, when detached, the drive shaft can be manually retracted relative to the elongate shaft to retract the cutting assembly from to the first and second jaws.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to anchoring systems for occluder devices, and more specifically, to an anchoring system and method for implanting an occluder device within a left atrial appendage (“LAA”) of the heart. The anchoring system is configured so that an anchor penetrates the inner endocardium layer, middle myocardium layer, and outer epicardium layer of an LAA wall. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an occluder device anchor that has a low risk of embolization and/or causing injury to neighboring valve structures. An additional purpose of the present invention is to provide an anchoring system and method for implanting an occluder device within the LAA that allows for the occluder device to be retrievable after initial placement, reusable, and repositionable for an optimal final placement within the LAA.

Abstract: An anchoring device (1) for anchoring a boring tool (3) in a lumen (4) for boring through an occlusion (6) in the lumen (4) comprises an expandable element (18) adapted for securing to a balloon (12) of a balloon catheter (8) adjacent a distal end (7) thereof. The expandable element (18) is expandable and contractible with the balloon (12) of the balloon catheter (8) for engaging the lumen and for anchoring the anchoring device (1) in the lumen (4). A guide element (33) extends coaxially from the expandable element (18), and a guide bore (34) extending through the guide element (33) is provided with an internal primary screw thread (35) for engaging a corresponding external screw thread (36) on the boring tool (3).