Abstract: The preferred embodiment of this invention will allow a medical practitioner to more easily, quickly, and specifically remove unwanted tissue from a patient. The curved blade with a specialized surface for cutting and scraping is better suited than current options for performing this task.

Abstract: A forceps includes a housing, a shaft assembly, an end effector assembly, and a waveguide assembly. The housing has one or more transducers that generate a mechanical vibration in response to energy transmitted thereto from an energy source. The shaft assembly extends from the housing and includes one or more articulating and clamping members and a longitudinal axis defined therethrough. The end effector assembly is disposed at a distal end of the shaft assembly and includes a pair of opposing jaw members pivotable between approximated and unapproximated configurations in response to movement of the one or more clamping members. The articulating members articulate the jaw members relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The waveguide assembly is positioned within the shaft assembly and receives the mechanical vibration generated by the transducer. The waveguide assembly is positionable within one or both of the jaw members.

Abstract: A cutting implement includes a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion. Each tubular portion is hollow and includes a blade element at a distal end. The blade element helps define an aperture that allows access to the interior hollow portion of the tubular portion. A ligament graft element is threaded through the aperture of each tubular portion and the respective tubular portions are interoperated to cut the ligament graft.

Abstract: A cutting implement includes a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion. Each tubular portion is hollow and includes a blade element at a distal end. The blade element helps define an aperture that allows access to the interior hollow portion of the tubular portion. A ligament graft element is threaded through the aperture of each tubular portion and the respective tubular portions are interoperated to cut the ligament graft.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for controlling local blood pressure. In an exemplary embodiment of a device for exposing a blood vessel to increased pressure of the present disclosure, the device comprises an anchor configured for placement into a blood vessel and to expand independently from a particle held from flowing away by the anchor, the particle configured to gradually expand due to exposure to blood flow.

Abstract: The cross section of a curved portion of a curved cannula is oval shaped. The oval is oriented such that a major axis of the oval is generally aligned with the curved portion's bend radius. In one aspect, the cannula tube is ovalized so that the radius of curvature of an interior wall approaches the outer radius of an instrument component that contacts the curved portion during instrument insertion. In this first aspect, a wider contact patch area between the instrument component and the cannula results, which reduces friction and stick-slip during insertion. In another aspect, the cannula tube is ovalized so that the radius of curvature of an interior wall is less than the outer radius of an instrument component that contacts the curved portion during instrument insertion. In this second aspect, two contact patches are established between the instrument component and cannula, which also reduces friction and stick-slip during instrument insertion.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a guide catheter including a clip channel, at least one hook channel, and at least one sling channel defined therein; a clip applier movable within the clip channel, wherein the clip applier holds at least one clip; at least one hook movable within a corresponding hook channel; and at least one sling movable within a corresponding sling channel. An exemplary surgical method for treating a mitral valve may include providing a guide catheter; a clip applier held by the guide catheter, and a clip held by the clip applier; introducing the distal end of the guide catheter into the left atrium; engaging the anterior and posterior leaflets of the mitral valve with the clip; closing the clip; and disengaging the clip applier from the clip, whereby the clip remains in the mitral valve.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for sheet insertion includes: a cylindrical mantle tube of which the front and back ends are opened and the inside is formed to be a sheet receiving part and an extruding member for sheet extrusion that is inserted into the mantle tube in a state of moving in a back and forth direction that is a tube-axis direction and of rotatable, wherein the extruding member has a shaft having a longer length than that of the mantle tube and a forked sheet winding part disposed at a tip portion of the shaft, and axial slits having a size enough to insert the sheet are formed therethrough on walls facing each other at the front end of the mantle tube over approximately the same length as that of the sheet winding part.

Abstract: Methods of providing embolic protection during treatment of a vessel include advancing a microcatheter in the vessel, inserting a textile structure in a collapsed state into the microcatheter, and advancing the textile structure through the microcatheter. The methods may include, after advancing the textile structure and retracting the microcatheter to unsheathe a self-expanding bulb of the textile structure from the microcatheter, thereby allowing the self-expanding bulb to self-expand from the collapsed state to an expanded state. The methods may include performing a vascular procedure. In the expanded state, the self-expanding bulb may filter emboli released during performing the vascular procedure.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device includes inner, intermediate, and outer elements arranged coaxially. The inner element is a filamentous element, preferably a microcoil. The intermediate element is made of a non-metallic material, preferably an expansile polymer. The outer element is substantially non-expansile and defines at least one gap or opening through which the intermediate element is exposed. In a preferred embodiment, when the intermediate element is expanded, it protrudes through the at least one gap or opening in the outer element and assumes a configuration with an undulating, convexly-curved outer surface defining a chain of arcuate segments, each having a diameter significantly greater than the diameter of the outer element. The expanded configuration of the intermediate element minimizes friction when the device is deployed through a microcatheter, thereby reducing the likelihood of buckling while maintaining excellent flexibility.

Abstract: Various medical devices and methods for cutting, evacuating and/or performing work on tissue are provided. The devices and methods may utilize a reciprocating mechanism or motor powered by suction from a vacuum source. The medical devices and methods may be used on tissue in various regions of a patient's body and for treating various conditions, e.g., for performing a polypectomy.

Abstract: Methods for treating tissue, and surgical assemblies and related methods are disclosed in which a single input is used to sequentially articulate two members. A surgical assembly includes an end effector, a base supporting the end effector, an input link movable relative to the base through a range of motion between a first configuration and a second configuration, and an actuation mechanism. The end effector includes a first articulated member and a second articulated member. The actuation mechanism drivingly couples the input link to the first articulated member within a first portion of the range of motion and drivingly coupling the input link with the second articulated member within a second portion of the range of motion so that a movement of the input link from the first configuration to the second configuration articulates the first articulated member and then articulates the second articulated member.

Abstract: Tissue manipulation and retraction devices. In various forms, the manipulation devices include a cannula that is insertable through the abdominal wall. A plurality of independently controllable manipulation members extend through the cannula and are attachable to various forms of surgical tools. The surgical tools may be manipulated and controlled by a surgeon from a position outside of the patient.

Abstract: Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measurable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an implantable radiopaque stent adapted to be disposed in a body lumen. In one aspect of the invention, a plurality of elongate filaments including one or more radiopaque filaments are arranged to form a hollow tubular structure having a tubular wall that defines an inner surface and an outer surface and opposing first open end and second open end. One of the open ends of the stent is formed by an intersection of adjacent filament ends. A radiopaque compound is applied to the intersection, the radiopaque compound comprising radiopaque material and polymeric material. The radiopaque compound and radiopaque filament provide improved external imaging of the tubular structure on imaging equipment.

Abstract: Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measureable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.

Abstract: Various medical devices and methods for cutting and/or evacuating tissue are provided. The devices and methods may utilize a reciprocating mechanism or motor powered by suction from a vacuum source. The medical devices and methods may be used on tissue in various regions of a patient's body and for treating various conditions, e.g., for performing a polypectomy or discectomy.

Abstract: A staple for attaching a sheet-like implant to tissue or bone may include first and second arms, and first and second flukes. In some embodiments, the first arm has a proximal end and a distal end, and the second arm has a proximal end and a distal end. A bridge extends from the proximal end of the first arm to the proximal end of the second arm. The first fluke has a proximal end abutting the distal end of the first arm, and the first fluke extends distally from the first arm. The first fluke has a lateral extent larger than a lateral extent of the first arm and is mounted eccentrically thereto. The first fluke includes a proximal surface projecting at an outward angle in a proximal direction away from the distal end of the first arm to engage the tissue or bone when inserted therein. The second fluke has similar features. This arrangement causes the first and second flukes to rotate in response to a pullout force on the bridge.

Abstract: Catheter having a hypotube with a skive defined by a first angled cut, an axial cut, and a second angled cut. A midshaft member includes a guidewire lumen and an inflation lumen in fluid communication with an inflation lumen of the hypotube, the inflation lumen of the midshaft member configured to receive at least a portion of the hypotube. A distal tubular shaft member extends distally from the midshaft member. The distal tubular shaft member has a guidewire lumen and an inflation lumen defined therein, the guidewire lumen of the distal tubular shaft member in fluid communication with the guidewire lumen of the midshaft member. The inflation lumen of the distal tubular shaft member is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen of the midshaft member and a balloon is coupled to the distal tubular shaft member and in fluid communication with the inflation lumen.

Abstract: An implantable liner device for preventing formation of blood clots in a left atrium of a patient's heart. The liner device includes a liner body configured, in some embodiments, to cover a portion of an interior surface of the left atrium, the liner body forming a first opening sized for placement about pulmonary vein ostiums of the left atrium and a second opening for fluid alignment with a mitral valve of the left atrium. The liner body can self-expandable from a collapsed state appropriate for percutaneous delivery to the atrium to an expanded state, with the expanded state having a shape appropriate for covering the portion of the interior surface of the left atrium. The liner body can have a cap-like shape, and can be formed of mesh, fabric, braided material, and biological material such as tissue.