Abstract: A system for treating a septal defect having an implantable treatment apparatus and devices for delivering the implantable treatment apparatus and methods for treating a septal defect are provided. The implantable treatment apparatus is preferably implantable through a septal wall or portion thereof. The treatment system can include a flexible elongate body member, a delivery device configured to deliver the implantable apparatus, a stabilization device configured to stabilize the body member and a positioning device configured to position the delivery device in a desired location.

Abstract: Implantable medical endoprosthesis delivery systems and related components, as well as related methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument with articulated jaw structure includes a frame and two jaws. The jaws have proximal portions that are mounted to each other for movement in a substantially parallel relation between a fully open position wherein the jaws are separated for receiving tissue therebetween and an approximated position wherein the jaws are closer together. Preferably, the jaws are in the fully open position when the distal portion of at least of the jaws is located in an extended position and are in the approximated position when the distal portion of the extended jaw or jaws is located in a retracted position. The surgical instrument may further include a detachable knife assembly and knife actuating mechanism.

Abstract: The invention provides devices, systems and methods for clamping arteries which are useful in reducing or abolishing blood flow in an artery, and may be used to control hemorrhage following a caesarian delivery. A clamping device embodying features of the invention includes a pair of clamping members with opposed pressure-applying members having facing pressure-applying surfaces, at least one of which is a yieldable pressure-applying surface. The yieldable pressure-applying surface is preferably resilient. The clamping members are configured to adjust the distance between pressure-applying surfaces, and a blood flow sensor is disposed on at least one of the pressure-applying members to aid in locating the target artery and also to monitor blood flow through the artery. The clamping device is particularly suitable for occluding uterine arteries by compressing the broad ligament which contains the uterine artery and which is connected to the patient's uterus with the arterial clamp.

Abstract: A medical device having a catheter and one or more expandable constricting/occluding members. The catheter is adapted for use with therapeutic or diagnostic devices, including an angioplasty/stent catheter and an atherectomy catheter. A first constrictor/occluder mounted at the distal end of the catheter is adapted for placement in a brachiocephalic or subclavian artery. A second constrictor mounted proximal to the first constrictor/occluder is adapted for placement in the descending aorta. Pressure measuring devices may be included, and filters may be used to capture embolic debris. Methods of using the devices for preventing distal embolization during extracranial or intracranial carotid procedures or vertebral artery procedures by augmenting collateral cerebral circulation by coarctation of the aorta to enhance reversal of blood flow in an internal carotid artery, an external carotid artery, and/or a common carotid artery toward the subclavian artery are disclosed.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to an elastic sheath, device, and methods for disrupting and/or removing occlusive material from lumens, particularly biological lumens, such as the vasculature, ureter, urethra, fallopian tubes, bile duct, intestines, and the like. The subject invention provides for effective disruption and removal of occlusive material, such as a thrombus, from the body lumen with minimal risk of injury to the lumen wall. Advantageously, the invention can be used to achieve a high degree of removal while minimizing the amount of occlusive material that is released into the body lumen. The subject invention further pertains to methods for disrupting and removing occlusive material from a biological lumen. In another aspect, the present invention concerns a device useful as an in vitro model of luminal occlusion and methods for using the device to test the efficacy of devices and methods for treating luminal occlusions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of repairing a tear in body tissue includes inserting a needle containing a retaining head from a first insertion position on a first outer surface of the body tissue, through the tear and to a second outer surface of the body tissue. The retaining head is ejected from the insertion needle and grasps the second outer surface in an engaged position. An anchor coupled to the retaining head by a flexible member is advanced from a second insertion position on the first outer surface of the body tissue to a position at least through a portion of the tear. The flexible member extends a distance along the first outer surface of the body tissue from the first insertion position to the second insertion position.

Abstract: A device for removing hair includes a housing and a shaving head fixedly positioned in the housing. The shaving head includes generally disk-like depilator assemblies mounted on a shaft. Each of the assemblies includes a disk includes sloping regions on faces of the disk between lobes of the disk, pressure-transferring protrusions, and a rotation-transferring protrusion elements on the faces, a spacer disposed on the faces to prevent an accumulation of debris and/or to allow for periodic tilting of the disk so as to force the pressure transferring portion to press a pincer of an adjacent disc. A recess in one of the faces accommodates a one rotation-transferring protrusion of another adjacent disk to transfer a rotational force therebetween. Pincers are disposed between the lobes at the sloping portions and tilt about an axis according to contact with the pressure-transferring protrusions of the adjacent disk.

Abstract: A tissue-stapling device for repairing tissue is provided. The device has two guiding elements movable with respect to each other. Self-deployable wings are located on the outside of the inner guiding element, which are used for stabilizing tissue parts with respect to the device. A self-deployable clip with two or more edges can be advanced through the inner guiding element and is capable of penetrating the tissue parts. The self-deployable clip is sized so that it can be positioned against the tissue parts. The device further includes a clip penetrating mechanism that is capable of moving through the inner guiding element and is capable of penetrating the clip through the tissue parts and therewith securing the tissue parts clipped or stapled together.

Abstract: A device for ligating an oblong anatomical structure having a ligature element. A proximal portion of the ligature element may have a keeper and the distal portion may have a barb which is slidably received in the keeper. The device may further include an applicator for putting the ligature element in place, a rectilinear metal rod which extends in the tube and which, at its distal end has a spring blade, and a sheath having a radial outer duct in which the spring blade is received, and a radial inner guide groove in which the ligature element is received.

Abstract: An implantable artificial sphincter system provides long-term adjustment via transcutaneous energy transfer (TET), minimizing invasive adjustment through adding or removing fluid via a syringe. An infuser device provides bi-directional fluid transfer via a flexible conduit to a sphincter band, such as a gastric band, by a combination of thermodynamic actuation and a piezo-electrically disengaged drum brake assembly that thereby achieves a desirable small volume device. A propellant within a propellant cavity surrounds a metal bellows accumulator biased at body temperature to either expand or collapse the bellows accumulator with the opposite direction of movement effected by a thermal element that heats in combination with a negatively-biased propellant or cools in combination with a positively-biased propellant.