Abstract: A deployment device for a tissue repair system includes a front delivery assembly that is detachable from a base assembly of the deployment device. The front delivery assembly includes at least one prosthesis and at least one driven assembly that actuates the at least one prosthesis. The base assembly includes a driving assembly that may engage the at least one driven assembly of the at least one prosthesis. The front delivery assembly can be rotated so that the position of a prosthesis in the front delivery assembly is moved in and out of alignment with the driving assembly. A kit of parts may be provided that includes a base assembly as well as two or more detachable front delivery assemblies.

Abstract: A fastening element includes (a) a non-load bearing core, the non-load bearing core includes a first biocompatible polymer; and (b) a load bearing sheath, the load bearing sheath including a second biocompatible polymer, wherein the load bearing sheath surrounds the non-load bearing core. The fastening element can be used as a suture, shoe lace or rope. The non-load bearing core has a Durometer Hardness Type A value ranging from 15 to 30. The load bearing sheath is formed from a plurality of yarns, each yarn comprising a plurality of filaments in form of mono or multifilament of the second biocompatible polymer. Each yarn may have a tenacity at break value ranging from 30 cN/dtex to 45 cN/dtex.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are expandable introducer sheaths and methods of making and using the same. The sheaths minimize trauma to a patient's vasculature by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the sheath to accommodate passage of a delivery system for an implant, then return to a non-expanded state after the passage of the device. The sheath includes a foldable inner member having a detached flap structure at its distal tip that facilitates expansion of the sheath lumen to increased diameters, and an elastomeric distal end that reduces push and retrieval forces therethrough. The sheath can include a hemostasis seal on its proximal end to prevent the leakage of blood out of the sheath and prevent ballooning of outer layer of the sheath.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument is provided and includes a housing including an elongated shaft assembly extending distally therefrom. The elongated shaft assembly includes inner and outer shaft members. The inner and outer shaft members are removably coupled to the housing and the outer shaft member is movable with respect to the inner shaft member. An end effector is operably supported at the distal end of the outer shaft member and includes a pair of jaw members configured for treating tissue. A bushing operably couples to the inner and outer shaft members of the shaft assembly and selectively and releasably couples to the housing. The bushing includes one or more mechanical interfaces configured to engage one or more slots defined through the inner shaft member and one or more slots defined through the outer shaft member to release the inner and outer shaft members from the housing.

Abstract: Rotational atherectomy devices and systems can remove or reduce stenotic lesions in blood vessels by rotating an abrasive element within the vessel. The abrasive element can be attached to a distal portion of an elongate flexible drive shaft that extends from a handle assembly. In particular embodiments, the handle assembly includes a compressed gas driven turbine member that drives rotation of the drive shaft. The turbine member can be rotatably attached to a carriage that is longitudinally translatable in relation to a housing of the handle assembly. The handle assembly can include a latch mechanism that when actuated allows the carriage to translate to a proximal-most position. While the carriage is in the proximal-most position, an open pathway is created so that a guidewire can be slidably passed through the handle assembly and a lumen of the drive shaft.

Abstract: Rotational atherectomy devices and systems can remove or reduce stenotic lesions in blood vessels by rotating an abrasive element within the vessel. The abrasive element can be attached to a distal portion of an elongate flexible drive shaft that extends from a handle assembly. In particular embodiments, the handle assembly includes a compressed gas driven turbine member that drives rotation of the drive shaft. The turbine member can be rotatably attached to a carriage that is longitudinally translatable in relation to a housing of the handle assembly. The handle assembly can include a latch mechanism that when actuated allows the carriage to translate to a proximal-most position. While the carriage is in the proximal-most position, an open pathway is created so that a guidewire can be slidably passed through the handle assembly and a lumen of the drive shaft.

Abstract: Rotational atherectomy devices and systems can remove or reduce stenotic lesions in blood vessels by rotating an abrasive element within the vessel. The abrasive element can be attached to a distal portion of an elongate flexible drive shaft that extends from a handle assembly. In particular embodiments, the handle assembly includes a compressed gas driven turbine member that drives rotation of the drive shaft. The turbine member can be rotatably attached to a carriage that is longitudinally translatable in relation to a housing of the handle assembly. The handle assembly can include a latch mechanism that when actuated allows the carriage to translate to a proximal-most position. While the carriage is in the proximal-most position, an open pathway is created so that a guidewire can be slidably passed through the handle assembly and a lumen of the drive shaft.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally pertain to devices and methods for use in conjunction with implanting a baroreflex therapy system which includes an implantable pulse generator and associated circuitry contained within a hermetically sealed housing, an elongate flexible electrical lead connectable to the housing, and a monopolar electrode structure coupled with the electrical lead. More specifically, the devices and methods of the present invention allow for a mapping procedure to be conducted as part of the implant procedure prior to fully implanting the baroreflex therapy system.

Abstract: A delivery system includes a delivery catheter with a capsule configured to carry a prosthesis and a steering catheter for steering the delivery catheter. The delivery catheter can be advanced through a patient's vasculature to a target treatment area. The capsule can be opened and the prosthesis can be deployed into the target treatment area. Additionally, a method for delivering a prosthesis to a target treatment area includes advancing a delivery catheter through a patient's vasculature to the target treatment area, steering the delivery catheter toward the target treatment area, opening a capsule on the delivery catheter, and deploying the prosthesis into the target treatment area.

Abstract: A hand held device for removing ticks that are fixed to the skin of an animal or human host and comprises a housing oriented along a longitudinal axis, a tick encapsulation zone at the front end of the housing employing an openable and closable lid section capable of closing around the tick while the tick is attached to the skin of the host. A piezoelectric voltage generation device is located within the housing and activated by a striker to send a high voltage through two lead wires having their distal ends mounted within the tick encapsulation zone in gapped relationship. A trigger is mounted along an axis tangential to the longitudinal axis for triggering the piezoelectric device to send a high voltage across the electrode gap to electrocute the tick. The electrocuted tick automatically becomes detached from the host's skin and falls into the closed encapsulation zone of the device.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide a prosthesis deployment system, and method of deployment of a prosthesis using the same, having a positioning member at least partially disposed within a tubular segment of a tip assembly. The positioning member is movable between nondeployed and deployed configurations. In the nondeployed configuration the positioning member can permit the tip assembly to move relative to the enlarged body assembly. When an enlarged body is at a position farther away from a tip body, which may be at the edge of the tubular segment, the positioning member can move or flare to its deployed configuration to inhibit the enlarged body from moving relatively closer to the tip assembly. Axial force applied to the tip assembly during withdrawal of the tip assembly can be transmitted via the positioning member to the enlarged body assembly to facilitate its withdrawal from the body.

Abstract: A delivery device may generally include a support member, a distal sheath, an outer shaft and a straightening member. The support member is adapted to hold a prosthetic heart valve. The distal sheath is slidable relative to the support member between a first position in which the distal sheath is adapted to maintain the prosthetic heart valve in a collapsed condition, and a second position in which the distal sheath is adapted to expose the prosthetic heart valve. The outer shaft is connected to the distal sheath and has a curved portion. The straightening member is slidable on the outer shaft between a proximal position in which the straightening member does not cover the curved portion of the outer shaft, and a distal position in which the straightening member covers and substantially straightens at least a portion of the curved portion of the outer shaft.

Abstract: A temporary percutaneous valve-filter device having valve portions non-porous to blood and filter portions non-porous to emboli but at least in part porous to blood. In one embodiment, the device has a substantially flat valve unit and a substantially flat filter unit. In another embodiment, the device has at least one open umbrella deployed configuration. In one aspect, the device has a unitary construction with one umbrella canopy with one or more filter areas with flaps allowing unidirectional blood flow. In another aspect, the device has a valve unit and filter unit, the umbrella canopies oriented in opposite directions, and the valve unit “closes” and opens to allow blood to flow to one direction. Also provided is a temporary valve system, including a core having an inverted delivery configuration and everted deployed configuration, that may be used with or without a filter unit, and a method of deployment.

Abstract: A bioerodible endoprosthesis includes a bioerodible body including an alloy comprising at least 85 weight percent magnesium and at least one high-melting-temperature element having a melting temperature of greater than 700° C. The alloy has a microstructure including equiaxed magnesium-rich phase grains and optionally high-melting-temperature intermetallic phases. The equiaxed magnesium-rich phase grains have an average grain diameter of less than or equal to 10 microns. High-melting-temperature intermetallic phases, if present, can have an average longest dimension of 3 microns or less.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve for implanting in a patient's native valve has a self-expanding frame that comprises a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an anterior portion, and a posterior portion. The self-expanding frame has an expanded configuration adapted to engage tissue at a treatment site, and a collapsed configuration adapted to be delivered to the treatment site. The expandable frame also comprises a self-expanding atrial skirt near the second end, a self-expanding ventricular skirt near the first end, a self-expanding annular region disposed between first and second ends, a first self-expanding anterior tab disposed on the anterior portion, and a self-expanding foot coupled to the posterior portion and extending radially outward. The foot has an outer surface for engaging the tissue thereby facilitating anchoring of the prosthetic valve and minimizing or preventing rotation of the prosthetic valve.

Abstract: A handling device for a micro-invasive surgical instrument includes a gripping device, a shaft coupling, and a rod coupling. The gripping device is configured to guide and hold the handling device. The shaft coupling is configured to detachably couple a proximal end of a shaft to the handling device. The rod coupling is configured to slide in the handling device between an assembly position and a range of working positions to detachably couple a proximal end of a transmission rod to the handling device. The transmission rod is disposed in the shaft. The shaft coupling is configured to block the proximal end of the shaft in a predetermined position in which the proximal end of the shaft holds the rod coupling in the range of working positions.

Abstract: Systems for delivering prosthetic heart valve devices and associated methods are disclosed herein. A delivery system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, an elongated catheter body, a delivery capsule carried by the elongated catheter body, and two fluid chambers within the delivery capsule. The delivery capsule can be hydraulically driven between a containment configuration for holding the prosthetic heart valve device and a deployment configuration for at least partially deploying the prosthetic heart valve device. For example, the delivery capsule can be urged towards the deployment configuration when fluid is removed from the first chamber and fluid is delivered into the second chamber, whereas the delivery capsule can be urged towards the containment configuration to resheathe the prosthetic heart valve device when fluid is removed from the second chamber and delivered into the first chamber.

Abstract: There is provided an epilation device for removing body hair with at least one epilation unit. In particular, an epilation barrel, having a plurality of pairs of tweezers for pinching and pulling out hairs from the skin. The epilation device further has a drive unit for driving the at least one epilation barrel and a control unit. The control unit is able to analyze the force with which the user presses the epilation unit to the skin resulting in contact pressure and compares the contact pressure applied to at least one threshold contact pressure. Optionally, the epilation device further has a feedback unit which signals to the user, whether the contact pressure applied is smaller than, equal to, or larger than the at least one threshold contact pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to an endovascular cutting device for carrying out surgical or medical operations. According to the invention, such a device includes two cutting blades, a means for remotely actuating the two cutting blades, and at least two flexible guide rods, said cutting blades being slidably mounted onto said guide rods, and said remote actuation means including a flexible transmission means, wherein a channel, through which the flexible guide rods (50) are to be inserted, extends through said cutting blades (11, 12, 101, 102) over the entire outer length thereof.

Abstract: Described herein suture passer apparatus (devices and systems) that may be used to suture tissue within a narrow, confined space. In particular, described herein are suture passers having an elongate body and a lower jaw member that houses a tissue penetrator that is adapted to extend laterally from the lower jaw member and be deflected by a second jaw member? The second jaw member typically deflects the tissue penetrator either distally or proximally.