Abstract: Expanding or foaming adhesives are used to reduce the stomach volume to reduce the caloric intake and weight of a patient. A web structure is attached inside the stomach and an expanding or foaming adhesive is applied to the web structure. The expanding or foaming adhesive attaches to the web structure and to the stomach to partition the stomach. The partition barrier divides the stomach volume into a reduced volume available for food storage and an empty volume that the food cannot enter. The reduced volume enables the patient to feel full faster and reduce caloric intake. A passageway can be provided between the two volumes near the base of the stomach to allow food or fluids to exit from the empty volume.

Abstract: A stent graft delivery system including a tip assembly, a middle member tube, a sheath assembly, a threaded assembly, and a unitary endoseal. The tip tube is disposed in and longitudinally slideable within the proximal portion of the endoseal lumen, the middle member proximal end of the middle member tube is disposed in the distal portion of the endoseal lumen and fixed to the longitudinal cylindrical endoseal body, the first cylindrical portion of the transverse cylindrical endoseal body is disposed in the first sidewall port of the threaded assembly, the second cylindrical portion of the transverse cylindrical endoseal body is disposed in the second sidewall port of the threaded assembly, and the longitudinal endoseal cylindrical body is disposed in the threaded assembly lumen.

Abstract: The system comprises at least three anchors (2,2?,2?) intended to be attached to the patient and equipped with markers (5,5?,5?), an insertion guide device (6) with an insertion guide (7) intended to be attached to said anchors (2,2?,2?), an external calibration device (8) with at least three calibration markers (10,10?,10?) corresponding to said markers (5,5?,5?) and a planning and imaging software. The planning and imaging software is used to determine the position of a target point in the patient with respect to the markers (5,5?,5?), the calibration device is used to calibrate and orient the insertion guide (7) of the insertion guide device (6) mounted on said calibration markers (10,10?,10?) using the determination of the software before the insertion guide device is mounted on said markers (5,5?,5?) attached to the patient.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a pair of jaw members moveable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position. A drive bar is translatable between a distal and a proximal position for moving the jaw members between the spaced-apart and approximated positions. A lever is moveable between an initial position and an actuated position for translating the drive bar between the distal and proximal positions. A sleeve disposed about the drive bar includes an annular track having a substantially radial segment(s) and a substantially longitudinal segment(s). A collar interdisposed between the sleeve and the drive bar includes a stop member(s) extending radially outwardly therefrom. The stop member(s) is engaged within the track and is translatable from a first position, wherein the stop member is positioned within the longitudinal segment, to a second position, wherein the stop member is engaged within the radial segment, to lock the lever in the actuated position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument having a hollow shaft, a tool positioned on the distal end of the shaft consisting of a rigid jaw member and a jaw member that can rotate with respect to the rigid jaw member, as well as a handle positioned on the proximal end of the shaft. The tool and the handle are in active connection with one another by a push-pull rod mounted in the shaft, and the jaw members of the tool are mounted on one another by pins. It is proposed with the invention that the push-pull rod should be configured as a hollow slide tube mounted in the shaft so that it can slide axially and is in active connection with the rotatable jaw member by an actuation element that is essentially rod-shaped.

Abstract: A dummy teat including a nipple carrier and a hollow dummy nipple projecting from the nipple carrier, which has areas of a smaller wall thickness at least on two opposed longitudinal sides.

Abstract: A bending operation device includes a bending operation knob, a friction plate, two tabular fastening members, an annular member including a cam groove for moving the two tabular members from a first position to a second position, and a fixing lever configured to actuate the annular member.

Abstract: A foreign body retrieval system includes a pusher and a retrieval element connected to the distal end of the pusher. The retrieval element includes one or more gripping members that are movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the gripping members extend in a radial and outward direction from the retrieval element in order to snag and capture a foreign body.

Abstract: A delivery system for self-expanding medical devices is provided. The delivery system includes seals around an inner catheter. The self-expanding medical device may be mounted on the seals to define an open space between the seals and the inner surface of the medical device and the exterior of the inner catheter. Vacuum pressure may be applied to the open space to reduce friction between the exterior surface of the self-expanding medical device and the inner surface of an outer catheter.

Abstract: A balloon catheter is provided with integral tubular extensions for securing dilation elements to the outside of the balloon. The dilation elements are disposed within the tubular extensions along the working diameter of the balloon. The balloon may be manufactured by extruding a parison and blow molding the parison with the dilation elements installed within the tubular extensions.

Abstract: A propellable apparatus comprises one or more rotatable membranes. The rotatable membranes include an inner surface at least partially defining an encircled region and a continuous outer surface that turns outward to engage a cavity or lumen wall, for example, and turns inward to at least partially encompass a central region defining a longitudinal path. The membranes are powerable to provide movement relative to the cavity or lumen wall. The apparatus further comprises an inflatable and deflatable support structure, configured to bias the outer surface of the membranes outward to engage the cavity or lumen wall at a first outer diameter, and be deformable inward in response to a compressive force or operator command to provide a second outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter. In some examples, the rotatable membranes include belt-like membranes, and the inflatable and deflatable support structure includes at least one impermeable bladder.

Abstract: Devices are provided herein for translumenal access to a treatment site within a body cavity. In general, the devices include an elongate sleeve configured to provide access to a treatment site wherein various portions of the sleeve are associated with an anti-microbial agent. Additionally, the anti-microbial agent(s) can be disposed within a housing and/or inner lumen of the sleeve such that surgical instruments passing therethrough can be sterilized en route to and/or being withdrawn from the treatment site. Additionally, various methods are also provided herein for maintaining the sterility of a treatment site.

Abstract: A Developmental Pacifier is provided to help infants with functional feeding development and to assist with specific developmental problems in young children such as developmental delays, prematurity, gastro-esophageal reflux, autism spectrum disorder, hypotonicity, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, microcephaly, and other sensory integrative dysfunctions. The developmental pacifier of the present invention encourages acceptance of food textures and stimulates oral-motor awareness, and reduces or eliminates functional feeding problems in children. The Developmental Pacifier has a nipple with an upper portion and a base portion, a base, and sensory elements. A series of Developmental Pacifiers with varying sensory elements may be used for certain treatment regimens as prescribed by a medical practitioner, pediatric occupational therapist, or other pediatric specialist.

Abstract: An intraocular insertion device capable of safely performing discharge operation of a lens by a simpler construction. The intraocular lens insertion device has a body provided with a lens placement section where the lens is placed and a tube section for inserting the lens into an eye and has a plunger for discharging the lens placed on the lens placement section. The lens placement section has an upper holding member and a lower holding member. The upper holding member has a rib projecting on advancement axis A, to the lower side of the lens placement section. The lower holding member has a U-shaped cross-section and is constituted of a left and right pair of uprising sections and a pressing section uniting the uprising sections at their lower ends.

Abstract: An endoscopic system is composed by connecting an endoscope and peripheral equipment. The endoscope has an endoscope main body, and an imaging unit, which is slender imaging optics. The endoscope is constructed so that the endoscope main body and imaging unit are freely connectable and separable. The endoscope main body has an insertion part which is inserted into an abdominal cavity, a branch member, which is a middle end of the endoscope main body, and provided in a proximal end portion of the insertion part, a first extension part provided in the proximal end portion of the branch member, a main body operation unit provided in a proximal end portion of the first extension part, a universal cord, and a connection unit, which is provided in a proximal end portion of the universal cord, and is connected to the peripheral equipment.

Abstract: A controller includes a servo controller that performs attitude control of the bending portion. A point lock computing section is provided at the servo controller. Based on supplied distal end command value information and position feedback information, the point lock computing section performs computational processing by a distal end link root coordinate position calculating section and an inverse kinematics computing section in order to obtain a servo position command signal for a distal end-side link member and a servo position command signal for a link member other than the link member, and outputs the same to a driving section. Accordingly, point lock is enabled at two locations, namely, the distal end-side link member and an arbitrary link member, while other link members are controlled so as to assume attitudes having redundancy.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes an elongate main catheter branch and an elongate side catheter branch. The main catheter branch includes an arc shape and an inflatable balloon extending along a portion of the arc. The side catheter branch extends along the main catheter branch within a plane of the curvature of the arc of the main catheter branch. A stent can be positioned along the inflatable balloon. The stent includes a lateral branch opening through which the side catheter branch extends.

Abstract: An attachment and detachment mechanism includes convex and concave engaging portions provided in first and second couplings respectively and extending in a radial direction of first and second shaft portions, the convex engaging portion is to be slidably inserted into and removed from the concave engaging portion along a longitudinal direction of the concave engaging portion, the convex and concave engaging portions includes basic positions where the longitudinal directions of the convex and concave engaging portions correspond to the attachment and detachment direction of the first and second main body portions and the convex and concave engaging portions are insertable into and removable from each other, and the attachment and detachment mechanism further includes a guide mechanism to guide one engaging portion such that the one engaging portion is disposed at the basic position in conjunction with the attachment or detachment of the first and second main body portions.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a device (1) for moving an elongate member relative to an. elongate body through which it extends, the device comprising: a housing (10) connectable to the elongate body; a mover (20) associated with the housing and connectable to the elongate member for moving the elongate member relative to the housing and relative to a connected elongate body; and a pre-mover (40) for adjusting an elongate member connected to the mover relative to an elongate body connected to the housing in preparation for moving the elongate member with the mover. There is also disclosed a related surgical apparatus.

Abstract: An endoscopic assembly for an endoscope is disclosed. The assembly comprises a ligator barrel having proximal and distal portions. The proximal portion has a seat and a receiving wall extending to a proximal end. The receiving wall has a first threaded portion formed thereon. The assembly further comprises a connector for connecting the ligator barrel about the endoscope. The connector has a scope portion and a tip portion. The scope portion has a receiving end through which the endoscope is disposed to engage the seat for connecting the ligator barrel about the endoscope. The tip portion has a second threaded portion formed thereon and are configured to cooperate with the first threaded portion to receive the receiving wall and attach the connector with the ligator barrel. The first and second threaded portions are configured to cooperate with each other to tighten the connection of the ligator barrel about the endoscope as the threads increase surface area contact therebetween.