Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a handle and an elongate shaft, and is operable to remove an anastomotic ring device from a patient. The elongate shaft houses a plurality of ring engaging fingers. Each of the fingers comprises sheath housing a wire having a hook at its distal end. Each hook may be advanced beyond the distal end of a respective sheath to engage petals on an anastomotic ring device. Subsequent proximal retraction of the hooks secures the anastomotic ring device to the ring engaging fingers. With the anastomotic ring device secured to the ring engaging fingers, the fingers may be drawn together to collapse the anastomotic ring device from an actuated, hollow rivet-shaped configuration to an unactuated, cylindrically-shaped configuration. The surgical instrument may then contain the collapsed anastomotic ring device, thereby facilitating removal of the anastomotic ring device from the patient.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods facilitate positioning of a cardiac valve annulus treatment device, thus enhancing treatment of the annulus. Methods generally involve advancing an anchor delivery device through vasculature of the patient to a location in the heart for treating the valve annulus, contacting the anchor delivery device with a length of the valve annulus, delivering a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus, and drawing the anchors together to circumferentially tighten the valve annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having at least one tensioning member and at least one tensioning actuator for deforming a distal portion of the catheter to help it conform to a valve annulus. The catheter device may be used to navigate a subannular space below a mitral valve to facilitate positioning of an anchor delivery device.

Abstract: A device, system and method for improving delivery of hemostatic material, in which the device includes a vent cap body capable of removably engaging a cannula. The vent cap has a passage extending through the vent cap body from the cannula to an exterior of the vent cap body where a restricter for restricting the flow of fluid from the cannula to the exterior. In one embodiment, the vent cap has a valve which has an opened and closed position. In the closed position, the valve is designed to provide a back pressure or resistance. When a certain force is applied against the valve, the valve moves from the closed position to the opened position, where a gas or fluid may pass through the vent cap. The vent cap is designed to help maintain the continuity of the hemostatic material during delivery of the material from the adaptor to the trial staging chamber.

Abstract: Devices and methods generally provide enhanced stabilization, exposure and/or treatment of a cardiac valve annulus. Methods generally involve introducing a stabilizing member beneath one or more leaflets of a heart valve to engage the annulus at an intersection between the leaflets and the interior ventricular wall of the heart. Force is then applied to the stabilizing member to stabilize and/or expose the valve annulus. In some embodiments, the stabilizing member may include a series of hydraulically driven tethered anchors, such as hooks or clips, for engaging and cinching valve annulus tissue to decrease the diameter of a regurgitant valve. Alternatively, other treatments may be delivered by a stabilizing member, such as radiofrequency energy, drugs, bulking agents or shape memory stents. A second stabilizing member may also be introduced above the leaflets for further stabilization.

Abstract: A trocar assembly including a low-profile retractable shield deployable adjacent to a cutting element with a cross-sectional area which is small relative to the total cross-section of the assembly.

Abstract: A device and method for obliterating or occluding a body cavity or passageway, in particular, the left atrial appendage of a patient's heart. The procedure can be carried out intraoperatively, but is preferably carried out percutaneously by use of a delivery catheter to position an occluding device adjacent a patient's left atrial appendage. The occluding device may prevent the passage of embolic or other material to or from the left atrial appendage by volumetrically filling the appendage, closing the opening of the appendage with an occluding member, or pulling the tissue around the opening of the appendage together and fixing it in a closed state.

Abstract: A device to seal an incision in a blood vessel includes an inner member and an outer member. A suture connects the inner member and the outer member. A first portion of the suture is embedded within a second portion of the suture such that as tension in the suture increases the first and second portions are held together. According to certain embodiments, the second portion is not part of a first suture portion, and both the first and second portions are used to retain the outer member in place. A method of making such a device is also described.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a prosthesis delivery system comprising a delivery catheter having an expandable member and a prosthesis carried over the expandable member. The prosthesis includes a radially expandable scaffold section and at least two anchors extending axially from an end thereof; and means for capturing at least the anchors to prevent the anchors from divaricating from the expandable member as the catheter is advanced through a patient's vasculature.

Abstract: Apparatus for creating an anatomic space in tissue in a body including an introducer device having a tubular member with a bore extending therethrough. A tunneling shaft assembly is slidably mounted in the bore of the introducer device. The tunneling shaft assembly includes a tunneling shaft having proximal and distal extremities. A blunt tip is secured to the distal extremity of the tunneling shaft. A balloon assembly is provided. The balloon assembly is removably secured to the tunneling shaft. The balloon assembly includes a deflated collapsed balloon. A sheath encloses the balloon and is carried by the tunneling shaft. The sheath has a weakened region extending longitudinally thereof permitting the sheath to be removed to release the balloon.

Abstract: A stent (1) is a vascular prosthesis for a constricted body vessel. The stent (1) includes a tubular support frame (2) of ring segments (3) arranged in axial succession and formed by struts (5, 6) which in initial state are joined continuously in a wave-like manner. Adjacent ring segments (3) are linked by differently long connectors (9, 10) with U-shaped compensating sections (11, 12). All connectors (9, 10) point in the same circumferential direction (U). Moreover, differently long connectors (9, 10) alternate in circumferential direction (U) as well as in longitudinal stent axis (L).

Abstract: The invention provides a nested tubing cannula which comprises outer and inner elongate tubular members, both having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween. The inner tubular member is sealed at its distal end and is nested substantially coaxially within the lumen of the outer tubular member, so that the gap between the inner and the outer tubular member defines a second lumen whereas the first lumen is the lumen of the inner tubular member. A tubular sleeve is disposed coaxially between the inner and outer tubular members. A balloon is mounted on a distal region of the outer tubular member and is in communication with the first lumen. The cannula further comprises a port proximal or distal the balloon occluder and is in communication with the second lumen. Methods for making the devices herein are disclosed.

Abstract: The system (2) includes a catheter drive unit (22) and a catheter (24) extending therefrom movably mounted to a catheter drive sled (26). The catheter drive unit rotates and translates the catheter core (34) within the catheter sheath (36). The sled has a serrated, conical drive unit interface (82), with a bag-piercing tip (86) mateable with a translator drive output (92) so that a sterile drape (112) enclosing the catheter drive unit is automatically pierced when the catheter drive unit is mounted to the sled. A control unit (6) is spaced apart from the catheter drive unit and provides power and commands to the catheter drive unit and receives information and data from the catheter drive unit. The rotator and translator drive motors (54, 90) are operated from both the control unit and the catheter drive unit. Both the control unit and catheter drive unit have translation displacement displays (10, 30).

Abstract: Endoprothesis delivery systems and methods for making an using the same. An example medical endoprosthesis delivery system may include an inner member. An outer member may at least partially surround the inner member. The inner member and the outer member may be configured so that an implantable medical endoprosthesis can be disposed therebetween. A coupling device may be coupled to a portion of the outer member so that, when there is substantially no slack in the coupling device, as the coupling device moves in a proximal direction the portion of the outer member moves in the proximal direction. An adjustable stop may be coupled to the coupling device so that, when there is slack in the coupling device, as the adjustable stop is moved in the proximal direction, the amount of slack in the coupling device can be reduced.

Abstract: A surgical tool or applier for deploying an anastomotic ring that comprises a handle connected to an elongate shaft that terminates in an anastomotic ring deployment mechanism, which is moveable from an unactuated position to an actuated position. In order to prevent tissue from becoming trapped in the ring deployment mechanism during insertion or extraction of the tool, a sheath is adapted to cover ring deployment mechanism during insertion and extraction. The sheath is moveable with the ring deployment mechanism from the unactuated position to the actuated position. The sheath may comprise an elastomeric material, a braided thread, or another material.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a stent is provided for use in blood vessels with blockage near or in a bifurcation. The stent includes a side aperture. The stent is inserted into one of the daughter branches of the bifurcation and positioned with the use of markers. The stent is then expanded so as to support the wall of the blood vessel while allowing the blood to continue to flow to both daughter branches.

Abstract: A medical device comprising a catheter having a retractable outer sheath and a rolling membrane. The catheter includes a catheter inner shaft about which a stent in a reduced diameter configuration may be disposed. A stent retaining region of the sheath is disposed about the stent to retain the stent in the reduced diameter state prior to delivery. The rolling membrane is engaged to a portion of the outer sheath at an engagement region. The rolling membrane is positioned between the catheter inner shaft and the outer sheath and prior to retraction of the sheath the rolling membrane is disposed about at least a proximal section of the stent and is rollingly retracted therefrom when the sheath is retracted to deliver the stent. The device also recaptures a stent by pressurizing a intra-catheter space, which results in the longitudinal movement of the outer sheath in a distal direction to recover and retain the stent.

Abstract: A medical device having at least one expandable stent, and at least three removable slat members carried by the stent. The removable slat members provide a substantially continuous cover for the medical device, and thus impede the flow of blood through the peripheral walls of the medical device. When deployed within a blood vessel, some of the slat members may serve to cover an aneurysm and restrict the blood flow into the aneurysm. In addition, one or more of the slat members may be selectively removed to provide blood flow into a branching blood vessel. In an alternative embodiment, an inner expandable stent is coaxially disposed within the outer expandable stent, and three removable slat members are carried by the inner expandable stent.

Abstract: An expansion frame system for deploying medical devices in a patient's body cavity. The system typically includes an inner wire disposed within a lumen of an outer wire. Distal ends of the inner and outer wires are attached to a substantially circular frame at first and second points. During use, the outer wire is displaced relative to the inner wire, causing the circular frame to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the line defined by the first and second points. Medical devices, such as a filter, a stent, an occluder or a manometer, can be mounted on the circular frame. The diameter of the expansion frame can be varied to achieve optimal contact with the luminal wall of the body cavity. Methods of using the expansion frame system for temporary or permanent placement of a medical device is disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical thread for plastic surgery operations includes a clear section and multiple sharp projections on either side of the clear section. The clear section is devoid of projections while the projections on both sides of the clear section are inclined toward the clear section. There is also a method of performing plastic surgery operations using this surgical thread which includes threading the thread subcutaneously through tissue and/or muscle and in a manner such that the thread is folded back on itself as a loop or sling. The thread tension is then adjusted from both ends of the thread which extend out of two separate exit points to achieve a desired lift. The projections resist thread pull in the direction of the entry point and the clear section is located at the fold.

Abstract: The present invention is an occlusion device having a collapsible frame which allows the occlusion device to be more easily centered in a defect and retrieved in situ. The occlusion device comprises a first post configured to be located on a first side of a defect, a second post configured to be located on a second side of the defect, and a fixation device connected to the first and second posts. The fixation device is used to hold the occlusion device in place across a defect, and comprises several segments. The segments are shaped so that each segment comprises a loop, causing the fixation device to resemble a “daisy design.