Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic transmission waveguide extending from the ultrasonic transducer, and an ultrasonic blade acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic transmission waveguide. The ultrasonic blade includes a base and a curved body extending distally from the base. The curved body includes a tissue-treating surface extending on a first side of the curved body and a curved edge extending on a second side of the curved body opposite the first side. The curved edge has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is offset from the distal end in a first direction, wherein the proximal end is offset from the distal end in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

Abstract: A navel retainer and related techniques are disclosed. The retainer may be configured to be deployed within a navel such that its body portion interfaces with tissue therein. In some embodiments, the retainer may include an adjustment mechanism configured to expand and collapse the size and, optionally, geometry of the body portion. In some embodiments, the retainer may be a resilient element, allowing it to be temporarily compressed and subsequently allowed to expand in size, in some cases also optionally changing its geometry. In either manner, the retainer may be adjusted in size and/or geometry to buttress the tissue of the navel, minimizing or otherwise reducing opportunity for navel contracture during a healing process. After a desired navel size and shape are achieved, a separate maintenance device optionally may be deployed within the navel. The retainer optionally may be configured to host or otherwise serve as a navel adornment.

Abstract: A valve prosthesis and a system for delivering a valve prosthesis are described herein. The system can include a core member and an engagement mechanism for releasably engaging a radially expandable valve anchor of the valve prosthesis along the core member. The engagement mechanism can include a pin assembly slidably coupled to the core member and a nose cone including a lock component slidably coupled along the core member to permit the valve anchor to disengage from the pin assembly.

Abstract: A venous anchor device operably coupled by graft material to form an anastomotic connector is provided. The venous anchor device includes a tubular main body having a metal frame structure and including a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end including a plurality of barbs thereon wherein said distal end has an outer diameter greater than the proximal end. The venous anchor device is fluidly connected by a graft to form an anastomotic connector.

Abstract: A surgical tool includes opposing jaws, handles and at least one pressure sensor. Another aspect of a surgical tool includes opposing jaws with each having an organ-contacting surface area of at least 50 mm2. A further aspect of a surgical tool includes an electronic controller connected to at least one pressure sensor and automatically adapted to calculate or determine an organ-hardness from a sensor when jaws are moved to an organ-compressing position. In yet another aspect of a surgical tool, a pressure sensor is mounted to a pancreas-compressing surface and a displacement transducer or sensor is mounted to and/or located within a handle coupled to the surface, and an electronic controller is mounted to and/or located within the handle for calculating a hardness of a pancreas and/or other organ.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating patients with functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) who are unsuitable for surgery include an interoperative, adjustable-size coapting element on a catheter which may be implanted within the left or right side of the heart and extends upward into the vasculature and out of the body. The radial diameter of the coapting element can be modulated in tandem with electrocardiographic imaging to reduce valve regurgitation. One system has an elongated catheter and an expandable coapting element mounted to a distal end with an auxetic structure connected to opposite end caps. A tensioning mechanism controlled from a proximal end of the catheter is configured to pull apart the two end caps and thus elongate and radially expand the auxetic structure. Other forms of the coapting element are disclosed, as well as a kink-resistant catheter sheath having a triangular cross-section.

Abstract: A drug-eluting self-retaining suture comprises a filament, a plurality of retainers, and a drug impregnated in or coated on the filament. The shape and distribution of retainers modifies the in vivo release kinetics of the drug. The drug release kinetics may be modified uniformly or region by region. The self-retaining suture may for example be used for reattaching severed nerves and release nerve growth factor or other regeneration accelerating agents into the region of the nerve injury.

Abstract: A triple flap nipple reconstruction is shown with preoperative incision markup lines guided by a template. The incision lines made on a patient's skin rims of flaps that are to form a reconstructed nipple. The marked-up lines define three flaps where each flap has one side in common with each of the other two flaps and also has one side in common with a part of the skin which is to be removed or de-epithelized. Also, the marked-up lines define parts of the patient's skin to be removed or de-epithelized. The surgical method thus consists of making the markup with the template with three single pedicled local dermal-fat flaps from the patient's skin and then de-epithelizing designated areas of the patient's skin, making incisions and forming, i.e., raising three flaps, forming base and elevating nipple by joining sides of de-epithelized areas, and jointing the three flaps.

Abstract: A nasal support device includes a device body. The device body defines a perimeter shape of the nasal support device and also can include a nasal support structure. The nasal support device also includes adhesive carried with the device body. The nasal support device further includes a peelable backing that covers the adhesive and includes at least one peelable backing piece that is divided into a first section and a second section by a pre-defined fold location. The pre-defined fold location is configured such that the first and second sections of the peelable backing piece remain coupled together at the pre-defined fold location after folding at the pre-defined fold location.

Abstract: An adapter assembly for connecting a loading unit to a handle assembly is provided. The adapter assembly includes a sleeve, a trocar assembly releasably securable with the sleeve, and a retaining mechanism configured to releasably secure the trocar assembly within the sleeve and to facilitate cleaning and sterilizing of the adapter assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for introducing and/or controlling a snare in a lumen (e.g., a lumen of a catheter tube, a body lumen, etc.). In one example, a snare loading device can reduce the size of a loop on a snare to allow the snare to be inserted into the catheter tube. Furthermore, before and/or after insertion of the snare into the catheter tube, the snare loading device can control the snare, by transferring motion thereto.

Abstract: An embolectomy device includes a pair of elongate spine members extending in a substantially parallel configuration along a longitudinal axis of the device, a first plurality of clot engaging structures having first ends attached to a first one of the spine members and second ends attached to other one of the spine members, and a second plurality of clot engaging structures having first and second ends attached to the respective first and second spine members offset 180° from the first plurality of attached clot engaging structures, such that, when the embolectomy device is unsheathed within in a blood vessel alongside a clot, one of the first and second plurality of the clot engaging structures contact and compress against a wall of the blood vessel to provide a biasing force to facilitate engagement of the other one of the first and second plurality of the clot engaging structures with the clot.

Abstract: A catheter that includes a reinforcing body including a wire wound or woven so that a gap is provided between each winding or weave of the wire; an inner layer, the reinforcing body being embedded in at least a part of the inner layer; and an outer layer that covers an outer periphery of the inner layer in a circumferential direction, and the reinforcing body is formed integrally including a first diameter portion with a first outer diameter, a second diameter portion with a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter, and a tapered portion increasing in diameter toward a distal end side or a proximal end side between the first diameter portion and the second diameter portion, and at least the second diameter portion of the reinforcing body is embedded in the outer layer.

Abstract: A method includes providing an inflatable implant formed of a flexible polymer material suitable for residence in the body. The implant includes a slit valve provided in its wall. The slit valve includes an elastomeric valve body with an open internal chamber being in fluid communication with a proximal opening of the valve, a concave section at its distal end, and a normally closed slit in a solid portion of the valve body connecting the concave section and the distal end of the valve body. An inflation tube having an injection tip with a distal end and an insertion stop is provided. The injection tip is inserted into the internal chamber of the slit valve until the insertion stop positively engages the proximal opening. Then, the implant with the inflation tube is delivered to a body cavity. Once delivered, fluid is introduced through the inflation tube and into the implant.

Abstract: A device for loading a leadless pacemaker onto a catheter-based delivery system includes a distal portion and a proximal portion. The distal portion includes a retention feature configured to receive the leadless pacemaker. The proximal portion is proximal the distal portion and includes a funneling structure opening toward the retention feature. The distal and proximal portions of the device are configured such that, when a distal end of the catheter-based delivery system is brought towards the proximal portion of the loading device and the leadless pacemaker is retained by the retention feature, the funneling structure guides features of the distal end of the catheter-based delivery system through an opening in an attachment feature located at a proximal end of the leadless pacemaker.

Abstract: Surgical devices and systems having rotating end effector assemblies for treating tissue are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical device can include a housing, an instrument shaft extending from the housing, and an effector assembly, in which the instrument shaft includes an outer sleeve, a waveguide, and a rotation assembly having an inner sleeve. Methods for using the same are also provided.

Abstract: A medical securing device for securing an object with a securing member into a tissue comprises an elongated sheath comprising proximal and distal ends, and a securing member introduction device having proximal and distal ends, said distal end being configured to extend from the sheath. The medical securing device comprises also a guiding trail. At least one point of the securing member introduction device is configured to travel along said first guiding trail and thereby control a defined movement of the distal end of said securing member introduction device when extending from the sheath and so to introduce the securing member to the object and to secure said object to the tissue with the securing member.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a catheter tip comprising a cavity extending between an expandable opening arranged at a first end of the catheter tip and a second end of the catheter tip, wherein the expandable opening is configured to increase in diameter from a first position to a second position in response to application of an external force to the second end of the catheter tip.

Abstract: An exemplary recapturable valve repair system for repairing a native valve of a patient during a non-open heart procedure has a delivery device, a valve repair device, and a tethering line. The delivery device has a catheter and a coupler. The valve repair device is configured to be delivered through the catheter and attach to a native valve of a patient. The valve repair device includes a coaption element, a proximal collar, and first and second paddles. The first and second paddles are connected to the coaption element. The coupler is releasably connected to the proximal collar. The tethering line connects the valve repair device to the delivery device for recapturing the valve repair device.

Abstract: The balloon includes a pouch formed of a sealed wall delimiting an internal space, and a valve for filling the internal space with a fluid, capable of being occluded after filling the internal space. The pouch delimits a fluid-draining orifice opening into the internal space. The balloon further includes an occluding ball that occludes the draining orifice. The occluding ball can be spherical or polyhedral, and be capable of releasing the draining orifice under the effect of a magnetic field, so as to enable the at least partial drainage of the fluid contained in the internal space. The occluding ball is movable along at least two distinct axes in relation to the pouch.