Abstract: A deflectable surgical shaver tool comprises a blade with a rotatable cutting shaft comprising a distal cutting end and a proximal non-cutting end, a fixed outer sheath coaxially surrounding the rotatable cutting shaft, a cutting window at the distal cutting end, and at least a portion that is deflectable. The surgical shaver tool may further comprise an actuator; a handpiece; and a first wire and a second wire, each operatively coupled to the actuator at a proximal end and to the deflectable section at an opposite distal end. The first wire and the second wire are configured to control deflection of the deflectable portion when the actuator is manipulated. This configuration allows for the curvature of the blade to be changed for more efficient surgical procedures and prevents harm to the patient.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a medical tool adapted to engage and disengage with leadless pacemakers to allow for the repeated use of the tool in delivering and implanting multiple leadless pacemakers into a patient heart in a serial or repeated manner. The tool includes a handle, an attachment mechanism, a torque portion, and a rotation limiter. The handle includes a housing. The attachment mechanism is operably coupled to the housing and configured to actuate between a released state and an engaged state. The torque portion is operably coupled to the housing and rotatable relative to the housing to transition the attachment mechanism between the released and engaged states. The torque portion includes a shaft. The rotation limiter is in sliding engagement with the shaft between a first stop and a second stop. The rotation limiter includes a first helical thread. The tool also includes a second helical thread in threaded engagement with the first helical thread and operably coupled to the housing.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm and a clamp pad. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The clamp arm is pivotally coupled with the shaft assembly. The clamp pad is configured to removably couple with the clamp arm while the clamp arm is pivotally coupled to the shaft assembly.

Abstract: A blade-protecting sheath is configured to protect a cutting blade of an ultrasonic cutting system. The blade-protecting sheath includes a main body having a first end and an opposite second end, a blade-receiving channel formed through the first end, and a nut-retention chamber connected to the blade-receiving channel. The nut-retention chamber is defined by interior planar walls that are configured to receive and constrain a nut of the ultrasonic cutting system. A blade slot is connected to the nut-retention chamber. The cutting blade is configured to pass into the blade slot and be secured within a blade chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments hereof relate to a delivery system for a transcatheter valve prosthesis, the delivery system having an integral centering mechanism to circumferentially center both the delivery system and the valve prosthesis within a vessel at the target implantation site. The centering mechanism may include expandable wings that may be selectively aligned with openings formed through a sidewall of an outer shaft of the delivery system, a coiled wing that may be selectively exposed through an opening formed through a sidewall of an outer shaft of the delivery system, a plurality of elongated filaments extending through a plurality of lumens of an outermost shaft of the delivery system that may be selectively deployed or expanded, an outer shaft that includes at least one pre-formed deflection segment formed thereon, a tool having a deployable lever arm, and/or a plurality of loops deployable via simultaneous longitudinal and rotational movement.

Abstract: A delivery system for endoluminal delivery of an expandable device comprising a catheter having a proximal end and an opposite distal end configured to support an expandable device, a primary sheath having a delivery position in which the primary sheath constrains the expandable device toward a collapsed configuration suitable for endoluminal delivery, and a handle having an actuator for axially displacing the primary sheath from the delivery position, wherein the handle includes a knob for operating one or more functions of the handle which is initially hidden to prevent use by a user and then revealed as a result of displacement of the primary sheath from delivery position so as to allow subsequent actuation of the knob by the user.

Abstract: Dilators, such as rapid exchange dilators, configured for percutaneous access are disclosed. The dilator may be configured to be disposable within, or couplable with, a catheter. In some embodiments, the dilator, or the coupled dilator and the catheter, may be configured such that a sheath is not required for percutaneous access. In other embodiments, the dilator may comprise a plug such that a guide wire may be directed from a distal end of the dilator through a port, such as a rapid exchange port, in a sidewall of the dilator. The plug may also be configured to permit passage of fluid through a lumen of the dilator while inhibiting passage of the guide wire through a length of the dilator.

Abstract: A pygmy goat and small breed livestock birthing aid to assist in the positioning of the newborn during the birthing process. The birthing aid includes a flexible cable, at least one flexible sleeve, and a cable clamp. The flexible cable is slideably inserted into the at least one flexible sleeve, such that there is a loop portion and a handle portion of the flexible cable opposite each other along the at least one flexible sleeve. The loop portion is placed over the neck of the newborn in the birthing process and the user pulls gently on the handle portion tightening the loop portion about the newborn. After gently guiding the newborn into the correct birthing, the user removes the birthing aid and manually assists the birthing process if necessary.

Abstract: A bariatric clamp may include substrate members overmolded in polymer forming first and second elongated portions, a bight portion having a flexible hinge, a fastener portion, and an engagement portion for retaining the clamp in a closed position to partition the stomach. A method for installing may include creating an opening in a patient's abdominal cavity to access the stomach, removing tissue connected to the stomach adjacent areas the clamp is to be positioned, positioning the clamp in an open position wherein first ends of the first and second elongated portions are open relative to one another, inserting the clamp into the abdominal cavity in the open position and the first and second elongated portions of the clamp separately pass through the opening in the abdominal cavity, positioning the first and second elongated portions adjacent first and second sides of the stomach, and closing the clamp to partition the stomach.

Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and related methods for delivering a prosthesis to a target location. Various embodiments of useful valve prostheses are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vascular closure device includes a release component, a delivery component, a sealing device and at least one actuator. The release component is elongate along a longitudinal direction, and defines a distal end and a proximal end. The delivery component extends along the release component such that at least the release component is movable relative to the delivery component. The delivery component includes a delivery tube body and defines a delivery tube channel. The sealing device has a toggle that is at least partially disposed within the release tube, a suture that is attached to the toggle and extends through the delivery tube channel, and a plug that is attached to the suture proximal to the toggle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for automated hair transplantation through the well-known extraction technique of capillary units or FUE, comprising the morphological analysis of hair follicles in real-time by means of artificial vision, mapping of points for extraction and implant, simulation of the final result, a system of local anaesthesia, global, simultaneous or in sequential phases, at least one articulated mechanical arm associated with a tool for differentially extracting and implanting hair follicles. The present invention is useful to reduce the time and cost associated with the intervention, improve the quality of the operation and the final result, in terms of capillary density, contemplating the study of cell differentiation of follicles with the required estimate of time required regarding the growth.

Abstract: A system to facilitate sealing a puncture of a vessel includes an implant having first and second expandable sections, and a delivery device that includes an inner tube and a circumscribing outer tube. The outer tube defines a first lumen configured to retain the implant, and a second lumen configured to channel fluid from the vessel through a distal opening proximal to the implant. A pusher circumscribed at least partially by the outer tube is configured to compress the implant to selectively expand the first and second expandable sections. The outer tube is selectively retractable relative to the inner tube such that the first expandable section remains substantially within the first lumen and the second expandable section is positioned outside of the first lumen. The outer tube is further selectively retractable relative to the inner tube such that the first expandable section is positioned outside of the first lumen.

Abstract: A hemostatic method is performed as follows: A) An at-puncture hemostatic pressure is applied to a puncture in a blood vessel via a main geometric side, and at least one off-puncture hemostatic pressure is applied to at least one position away from the puncture via at least one auxiliary geometric side, wherein the off-puncture hemostatic pressure acts on the blood vessel either directly or indirectly. B) During the hemostatic process, an ongoing flow velocity of the blood in the blood vessel is obtained and is reduced to lower than a normal flow velocity in the blood vessel by applying the at-puncture and off-puncture hemostatic pressures simultaneously, wherein the at-puncture and off-puncture hemostatic pressures are lower than a systolic pressure in the blood vessel.

Abstract: A suture clip includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall defining a lumen through the body from the proximal end to the distal end. At least one engaging arm is movable between a loaded condition in which the engaging arm is oriented substantially parallel with the sidewall of the body, and a relaxed condition in which the engaging arm is oriented transversely to the sidewall of the body and at least partially disposed within the lumen.

Abstract: In apparatus and methods for rapid deployment of tissue anchors, a tissue manipulation assembly has a pivoting jaw. A needle assembly can be advanced through the launch tube across tissue received between the jaw members of the tissue manipulation assembly. Tissue anchors can be advanced through the needle assembly for securing received tissue. The tissue anchors can be positioned within a reloadable chamber of a control handle disposed outside the patient, then advanced through the needle assembly.

Abstract: The embodiments relate to a method for operating a medical robotic device with an end effector for performing a diagnostic and/or therapeutic measure, involving predetermining at least one position to be reached by the end effector, evaluating at least two movement sequences of the medical robotic device, by which the end effector reaches the respectively predetermined at least one position, using an optimization criterion to select the movement sequence with the best evaluation result as the optimum movement sequence and implementing the optimum movement sequence, so that the respective predetermined position is reached by the end effector, in order to improve the reaching of the predetermined position.

Abstract: There is described a platform device for use in forming an anastomosis and maintaining a desired curvature of a lumen in a desired shape during an anastomosis assistance period. The platform is formed from one or more bioabsorbable or biodegradable polymer filaments. There is also described a method for inserting a platform device for use in creation of an arteriovenous fistula by identifying a candidate artery and a candidate vein and dissecting the candidate vein. Next, inserting a platform device into the vein and creating a breach in the candidate artery at a desired angle and location. Next, introducing the platform device and vein into the candidate artery and forming the platform device into a curvature angle selected to minimize turbulent blood flow in an anastomosis formed by the vein and the artery. The platform may also be used to maintain potency of supply blood vessels and/or organ blood vessels or the lumens during an organ transplant procedure.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument for use during a surgical procedure includes a body, a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and an actuation assembly. The body is configured to receive an ultrasonic transducer for selectively generating an oscillation at a first or a second predetermined power level. The shaft assembly projects from the body and includes an acoustic waveguide connected to the ultrasonic blade. The actuation assembly includes a selector collar generally surrounding the body and a plurality of activation buttons disposed radially about the body proximate to the selector collar. The selector collar is selectively movable along the body between a first position and a second position for selecting between the first and second predetermined power levels. The plurality of activation buttons are configured to direct the ultrasonic blade to oscillate with the selected first or second predetermined power levels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for accessing the left heart of a subject. For example, the invention includes a percutaneous inter-ventricular transseptal technique for accessing the left ventricle. In certain embodiments, the invention includes guiding a transseptal sheath to the right ventricle and positioning the transseptal sheath within the inter-ventricular septum.