Abstract: A needle cartridge for a surgical suturing instrument includes a cartridge body, a track extending through the cartridge body and defining a circular path, an arcuate needle movably positioned within the track, and a suture thread extending from the arcuate needle. A needle driver operatively connects to the cartridge body and the arcuate needle. The needle driver is configured to orbit the arcuate needle along the circular path. A needle cover is secured to the cartridge body. A clearance channel extends through at least a portion of the cartridge body along the track in communication with the track such that the clearance channel at least partially defines a suture path. The suture path is configured to receive the suture thread extending from the trailing end of the arcuate needle as the arcuate needle moves along the circular path thereby inhibiting the suture thread from obstructing movement of the arcuate needle.

Abstract: Stent delivery device includes an inner member having a distal tip, a stent disposed over a stent receiving region of the inner member, an outer sheath slidable over the inner member, a stent sheath removably coupled to both the distal tip and a distal end of the outer sheath, and a stent expanding element attached to the distal tip and/or the distal end of the outer sheath. The stent expanding element is biased in an elevated position and aids expansion of the stent when the stent sheath is removed. The stent delivery device includes a proximal junction removably coupling the distal end of the outer sheath to the stent sheath, and a proximal junction removably coupling the stent sheath to the distal tip. Each of the proximal and distal junctions are separately actuatable to decouple the stent sheath from either the distal tip or the outer sheath.

Abstract: A method of repairing an aortic valve includes, in a following order: an aortic wall incision step; an aortic valve forming step; and an aortic wall suturing step. In the aortic wall incision step, an aortic wall is cut so as to expose an aortic valve side in the inside of an aortic duct to an open atmosphere. In the aortic valve forming step, the aortic valve is formed by restricting a distance between commissures disposed adjacently to each other by placing a thread between the plurality of commissures disposed adjacently to each other. In the aortic wall suturing step, the aortic wall cut in the aortic wall incision step is sutured so as to close the aortic wall.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve holder system includes a prosthetic heart valve having a base at an inflow end, a plurality of commissure posts extending from the base toward an outflow end, and valve leaflets secured to the commissure posts to permit flow through the heart valve. A deflector is provided at the outflow end having a central hub and a plurality of arms extending from the central hub secured to and covering the tips of respective commissure posts. A valve support body is secured to the base and a post connects the valve support body to the hub of the deflector.

Abstract: A reposable surgical clip applier (10) includes a handle assembly (100) and an endoscopic assembly (200, 300, 400). The handle assembly (100) includes a housing (110) defining a body portion (111) and a fixed handle portion (112) extending from the body portion (111) and a trigger (122) pivotably connected to the housing (110) and movable relative to the fixed handle portion (112) between an un-actuated position and an actuated position. The endoscopic assembly (200, 300, 400) includes a proximal hub (210, 310, 410) configured to be selectively engageable with the housing (110) of the handle assembly (100), an elongated shaft (340) extending distally therefrom, an end effector (350) supported at a distal end of the elongated shaft (340), and an inner drive assembly (320) including a proximal portion (323) and a distal portion (325).

Abstract: A sliding distal component assembly for use in medical catheters, bioptomes and other medical devices is provided. The sliding distal component assembly includes a tubular shaft having a lumen, the tubular shaft coupled to an actuation mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position. A tip support is coupled to the tubular shaft and defines a tip support cavity therewithin. The sliding component assembly includes a pulley system having at least one pulley, a sliding distal component and at least one pull wire coupled to the pulley and the sliding distal component with at least a portion of said pulley system being housed within said tip support cavity. When the actuation mechanism is in the first position the sliding distal component is configured to translate proximally and when the actuation mechanism is in the second position the sliding distal component is configured to translate distally.

Abstract: A hub assembly for use with an endoscopic assembly of a reposable surgical clip applier includes an outer housing defining a channel therethrough, a stationary gear fixedly disposed within the channel, a display drum rotatably and slidably supported within the channel and in mechanical communication with the stationary gear, a sliding gear slidably supported within a portion of the stationary gear, and a rotating gear rotatably and slidably supported within a portion of the display drum. The rotating gear is rotatably coupled to the display drum. The display drum is caused to be rotated a first predetermined amount during each distal advancement of the sliding gear.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier includes a counter assembly including a counting wheel with a plurality of actuation features, a locking spring assembly, a driver, and a pin assembly. The counting wheel includes indicia visible through the handle assembly. The locking spring assembly is positioned within the counting wheel and is configured to prohibit multidirectional rotation of the counting wheel. The driver includes a grasping protrusion and a positioning protrusion. The driver translates between a proximal position and a distal position, wherein the grasping protrusion engages the plurality of actuation features to rotate the counting wheel to change the indicia. The pin assembly is configured to engage with the positioning protrusion of the driver, wherein during transitioning of the driver from the proximal position to the distal position, the positioning protrusion engages the stationary pin to pivot the driver, whereby the driver disengages from the plurality of actuation features.

Abstract: A shaft assembly of an apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue includes a pair of jaws movable between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position, an elongated spindle, a shaft, a slidable member, and a pusher bar fixed to the slidable member. The slidable member is movable through longitudinally-extending channels of the spindle and the shaft. The pusher bar is configured to load a distal-most surgical clip into the pair of jaws during distal movement of the slidable member, via distal movement of the spindle, and remain in a distally advanced position during approximation of the pair of jaws.