Abstract: A fluid injection device includes a fluid supply unit that accommodates and supplies fluid, a fluid injection unit that injects fluid supplied from the fluid supply unit, and a driving waveform generating device which is equipped with at least one adjusting device, a one-input multiple-control parameter changing unit that simultaneously changes plural control parameters for determining a fluid injection condition of the fluid injection unit on the basis of a signal from the at least one adjusting device, and a driving waveform generator that generates and outputs a driving waveform of the fluid injection unit on the basis of the control parameters set by the one-input multiple-control parameter changing unit.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable polymeric stent with time dependent structure and properties and methods of treating a diseased blood vessel with the bioabsorable polymeric stent are disclosed. The structure and properties of the stent change with time and allow the vessel to be restored to a natural unstented state. The bioabsorbable stent loses mechanical integrity in a controlled manner due to modification of selected structural elements.

Abstract: A surgical device for clipping tissue can include a replaceable cartridge comprising a stack of clips contained therein and a firing drive configured to reciprocatingly eject, or deploy, the clips from the cartridge. After the clips have been deployed from the cartridge, a blocking member can be positioned to impede or block the firing drive. In at least one embodiment, the cartridge can include a biasing member configured to bias the blocking member into a firing chamber defined in the cartridge and/or surgical device. The surgical device can also include a crimping drive configured to deform a clip after it has been ejected from the cartridge. The blocking member can also be configured to impede or block the crimping drive after all of the clips from the cartridge have been used.

Abstract: Apparatus for sterilization of a female mammal comprising at least one separation member for separation of a fallopian tube from a uterine cavity of the female mammal, a circulation assembly which is operatively connected to said at least one separation member, and at least one sterilization lumen which is operatively connected to said circulation assembly and debouching at a distal side of said at least one separation member, said at least one sterilization lumen being adapted for injection in use of a tissue necrotizing fluid capable of necrotizing a lining of at least a part of said fallopian tube, wherein said circulation assembly is adapted to circulate said tissue necrotizing fluid within said sterilization lumen and said fallopian tube. The apparatus allows quick, simple, safe and reliable sterilization.

Abstract: A laparoscopic device comprising: (a) a housing operatively coupled to a first control and a second control; (b) an end effector operatively coupled to the first control, the end effector comprising a first component and a second component selectively repositionable with respect to one another within an X-Y plane, the end effector also including a third component selectively repositionable with respect to the second component within an Y-Z plane; (c) a laparoscopic conduit extending between the housing and the end effector; and, (d) an occlusion clip deployment device operatively coupled to the end effector and the second control.

Abstract: Bodily implants that can be compacted in a distal-to-proximal direction, and which facilitate repositioning of the implant after compaction. The implants include at least one pull string for expanding the implant in a radial direction while compacting the implant in the longitudinal direction. Where multiple pull strings are provided, they can be secured to the implant at spaced locations along the implant length, and pulled successively to compact the implant in a distal-to-proximal direction. A guide member may also be provided to receive the pull strings and facilitate longitudinal compaction.

Abstract: An endoscopic vessel harvester includes a vessel keeper for capturing a target vessel within a tunnel that has been dissected along the target vessel. A cutter member cuts and cauterizes side branches while the target vessel is slidably captured in the vessel keeper. A spray nozzle carried by the vessel keeper delivers a preservative fluid via a manual control valve and a conduit. The preservative fluid is sprayed on the target vessel proximate a respective side branch immediately after being cauterized. Thus, a harvested vessel is bathed in preservative fluid prior to being actually removed from the body, enhancing endothelial preservation from cascading events.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating a target site in a body lumen are provided. A medical device includes a stent-like structure including a plurality of scoring and non-scoring filaments interwoven with one another. Generally, the stent-like structure will have more non-scoring filaments than scoring filaments to provide greater structural support and to focus the scoring forces on only a few select areas. The stent-like structure is expanded within the target site to score the target site and to provide temporary structural support while the target site is infused with a therapeutic agent. Such therapeutic agent infusion occurs with the use of a drug eluting or drug coated balloon disposed within the stent-like structure or by occluding the target site and introducing a drug into the occluded target site to sit for a period of time.

Abstract: An oral care implement for cleaning a user's tongue and/or soft tissue surfaces. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a handle extending along a longitudinal axis; first and second prong members extending from a distal end of the handle, each of the first and second prong members diverging from the longitudinal axis and having a distal end; a blade for scraping soft tissue, the blade extending between the distal ends of the first and second prong members; and the blade integrally formed with the first and second prong members, the first and second prong members transitioning into the blade at the distal ends of the first and second prong members.

Abstract: An acupuncture needle and delivery system that facilitates the sanitary insertion and handling of the acupuncture needle in all orientations, and that does not impede the performance of the various post-insertion procedures of the sort commonly used by acupuncture practitioners. In a fully assembled pre-use state, the device includes an acupuncture needle having a filiform shaft and an enlarged head portion, an insertion tube accommodating at least the filiform shaft of the acupuncture needle to protect the filiform shaft from contamination, a stabilization sleeve slidably engaging the outer surface of the insertion tube, and retainer means for releasably securing the acupuncture needle within the insertion tube.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus selectively attachable to an ultrasonic device to disrupt target cells from underlying tissue for treatment of an ocular condition, including a shaft, a coupling portion at an end of the shaft, and a cell disrupting end extending from a distal portion of the shaft. The shaft has a longitudinal axis and a first diameter. The coupling portion includes a connector portion and a hub configured to selectively couple to the ultrasonic device and impart ultrasonic vibration to the shaft. The cell disrupting end is solid and has a second diameter and a smooth, continuous, curved shape.

Abstract: An medical implantable occlusion device (100) is disclosed having a collapsed state and an expanded state and comprising a braiding (101) of at least one thread, and a distal end (102) comprised of said braiding. The distal end comprises loops (103, 104, 204, 304) formed by loop strands (105, 106, 206, 306) of the at least one thread, wherein, at least in said expanded state, each loop strand has a curved shape and extends away from a center point (117) of the distal end, whereby an apex point (107, 108, 208, 308) of each of the loop strands corresponds to the turning point of the curved shape and to the point of each of the loop strands being arranged closest to the center point. At least one of the loop strands is displaced from the center point by a center distance (109, 110, 210, 310), and the apex point lie at a distance from a periphery (113) of the distal end.

Abstract: A medical device is described, the medical device comprising a moveable member, moveable between a first position and a second position; an actuating member coupled to the moveable member, directly or indirectly, for manipulating the moveable member, that is for causing the movement of the moveable member; and an indicator coupled, directly or indirectly, to the actuating member, said indicator having a first state and a second state; the indicator and actuating member being cooperatively operable such that the indicator automatically transitions between the first state and the second state to indicate advancement of the member to the second position from the first position upon a predetermined actuation of the actuating member.

Abstract: A cannula is placed in an enlarged opening through a bladder wall and an abdominal wall by applying pulling tension to a placement guide extending through a small pathway to hold an inflated placement balloon in sealing contact with the bladder wall. The seal confines distension fluid in the bladder to establish sufficient reactive resistance to enlarge the opening through the bladder wall with blunt force dilation from an obturator.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a cannula for passing a tissue graft through soft tissue. The cannula can comprise an elongated body including oppositely disposed first and second ends and an axis that extends between the first and second ends. The elongated body can further include a passage extending between the first and second ends. The second end can include a curved portion that terminates at a sharpened, pointed tip configured to pierce and/or cut soft tissue at the surgical repair site. The tip can be axially offset from the axis of the elongated body at an angle that is less than 180°.

Abstract: A method for determining an insertion trajectory of a tool for reaching a moving target object prior to its insertion into a tissular matrix. The method comprises acquiring images of the tissular matrix, constructing a three-dimensional representation of the tissular matrix, determining coordinates of the initial position of the target object and any obstacles, and determining at least one potential trajectory of the tool from the coordinates of any obstacles and the initial position of the target object. The method further comprises simulating insertion of the tool in the tissular matrix to determine displacement of the target object during insertion of the tool up to the initial position of the target object along a potential trajectory, determining a new position of the target object based on the determined displacement, and determining the insertion trajectory for the new position of the target object.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing and an elongated shaft extending distally therefrom. The elongated shaft includes a proximal portion, a distal portion and a flexible portion supported therebetween. The flexible portion permits pivotal movement of the distal portion of the elongated shaft and an end effector supported thereon. A locking mechanism is operatively associated with the flexible portion of the elongated shaft to selectively impede pivotal motion of the distal portion. The locking mechanism includes a locking coil disposed about an axis defined by the flexible portion of the elongated shaft. A distal end of the locking coil is coupled to the distal portion of the elongated shaft, and a proximal end of the locking coil is rotatable about the longitudinal axis to laterally approximate the locking coil to flexible portion, and thus frictionally engage the flexible portion of the elongated shaft to selectively impede articulating motion thereof.

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: The present disclosure describes implantable therapeutic devices and methods for endovascular placement of devices at a target site, such as an opening at a neck of an aneurysm. In particular, selected embodiments of the present technology comprise a coil loop, or tip, on a portion of the implantable device. The coil tip can provide a soft and/or smooth interface with the aneurysm and can provide improved coverage of the neck of the aneurysm.

Abstract: A prosthetic cardiac valve comprises an anchor having an atrial skirt, an annular region, and a ventricular skirt. The prosthetic valve also has a plurality of prosthetic valve leaflets each having a first end and a free end. The first end is coupled with the anchor and the free end is opposite the first end. The prosthetic cardiac valve has an open configuration in which the free ends of the prosthetic valve leaflets are disposed away from one another to allow antegrade blood flow therepast, and a closed configuration in which the free ends of the prosthetic valve leaflets engage one another and substantially prevent retrograde blood flow therepast. The anchor has a collapsed configuration for delivery to the heart and an expanded configuration for anchoring the prosthetic cardiac valve to a patient's heart.