Abstract: A suture anchor has an entry tip and a hollow cylindrical body. The entry tip is integral to a hollow cylindrical body. The entry tip is at a distal end and the body has a proximal end and projections formed on an external surface of the body for retaining the anchor in a pre-drilled hole formed in bone. Four suture openings are formed on the tip at the distal end. Each opening is connected to an internal cavity of the body. The four suture openings are divided into two pairs, a first pair and a second pair. Each first or second pair of two suture openings are recessed in a respective first or second external channel formed in the entry tip. Each pair of two suture openings is configured to receive a suture.

Abstract: A surgical system includes an instrument driver having a distal end positionable in a body cavity and a user input device. The instrument driver and user input device are positioned to removably receive distal and proximal portions, respectively, of a surgical instrument. The user input device is configured to generate movement signals in response to manual manipulation of the proximal portion of the surgical instrument. At least one motor operable to actuate the instrument driver in response to the movement signals and to thereby change position of the distal portion of the surgical instrument within the body cavity.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering and deploying stents with proximal and distal apices includes a guidewire catheter, a nose cone assembly, a proximal capture portion and a stent graft with proximal and distal stents. The nose cone assembly is at the distal end of the guidewire catheter and includes a nose cone and a distal capture portion. The proximal capture portion is proximal to the distal capture portion of the nose cone assembly. The proximal stent is releasably secured to the distal capture portion and the distal stent is releasably secured to the proximal capture portion. The stent graft can be deployed by releasing the proximal stent and the distal stent from proximal and distal capture portions of the delivery system.

Abstract: A medical system for treating an internal tissue opening can include a closure device and associated delivery device. The closure device can include a body portion operatively associated with a first anchor and a second anchor. The body portion can include a plurality of segments defining a multi-cellular structure. A segment can define a variable width along a length of the segment to have a substantially equal stress level along the length when deflected. The closure device can be configured to apply lateral force to tissue of the internal tissue opening to bring tissue together for closure. The closure device can have a substantially flat aspect, and have a depth thickness that is substantially greater than the thickness or width of a majority of the members forming the closure device. The closure device can also include a member adapted to induce tissue growth.

Abstract: Expandable sealing means for endoluminal devices have been developed for controlled activation. The devices have the benefits of a low profile mechanism (for both self-expanding and balloon-expanding prostheses), contained, not open, release of the material, active conformation to the “leak sites” such that leakage areas are filled without disrupting the physical and functional integrity of the prosthesis, and on-demand, controlled activation, that may not be pressure activated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering a prosthetic device through the vasculature of a patient includes a radially expandable member coupled to the distal end of an elongate shaft. The expandable member has an open frame configuration and an outer mounting surface for mounting the prosthetic device in a collapsed state thereon. The expandable member expands radially outwards from a first configuration to a second configuration to expand a prosthetic device mounted thereon.

Abstract: An areal implant comprises a flexible, porous basic structure which is non-resorbable or partly resorbable and which contains non-resorbable colored elements arranged in a stripe-like pattern. Furthermore, resorbable colored elements arranged in a stripe-like pattern are provided.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient includes providing an implantable vessel filter including a plurality of legs and a center-post, inserting the filter into a delivery assembly, and deploying the filter at a desired location in a patient's body. One or more of the legs may have a hook at a distal end thereof and the center-post includes a grooved distal section to receive the hooks. The filter legs transition from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration during deployment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vascular conduit device including a deformable flange and complementary securing ring in cooperation for securing the device within an aperture defined in a tissue wall. The present invention further provides a system for implanting such a vascular conduit device in a tissue wall. More specifically, the present invention provides a system including a coring device for defining an aperture in a tissue wall (such as a ventricle and/or a blood vessel) and securely implanting a vascular conduit device therein so as to provide fluid communication between a first and second surface of the tissue wall via the vascular conduit device.

Abstract: A vena cava filter is described, having one or more frame members or an elongated member arranged in helical fashion. A plurality of filaments connect frame members or portions of the elongated member. The filaments may be made of suture material. Hooks may be placed on a free end of the filaments, along the length thereof, or on one or more frame members to engage the blood vessel wall and anchor the filter. A retrieval member may be positioned on the filter to facilitate withdrawal of the filter from the blood vessel.

Abstract: A mechanism for removing a fluid-filled object from a patient. The apparatus includes a deflation tube with a puncture member at one end of the tube for piercing a hole in the object wall. The apparatus includes a retrieval mechanism slidable within the deflation tube lumen. The retrieval mechanism includes an expansion element that is expandable when positioned within the object from a first configuration with a dimension less than that of the deflation tube lumen to a second or deployed configuration with a dimension that is greater than an outer dimension of the puncture member. The expansion element contacts an inner surface of the inflatable object as the deflation tube and retrieval mechanism are withdrawn from the body cavity. The expansion element may be a T-bar, a foldable anchor, an inflatable member, or another expandable form.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods from delivering prosthetic devices, such as prosthetic heart valves, through the body and into the heart for implantation therein. The prosthetic devices delivered with the delivery systems disclosed herein are, for example, radially expandable from a radially compressed state mounted on the delivery system to a radially expanded state for implantation using an inflatable balloon of the delivery system. Exemplary delivery routes through the body and into the heart include transfemoral routes, transapical routes, and transaortic routes, among others.

Abstract: An introducer apparatus includes an outer sleeve and an inner cannula received within the lumen of the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve has a profile such that at least a portion of the distal end of the outer sleeve tapers in the distal direction at an angle not exceeding about 2° relative to a longitudinal axis of the apparatus. The distal open end of the outer sleeve has a wall thickness not exceeding about 0.003 inch, and is sized such that a first wire guide is receivable therethrough. The inner cannula includes a tapered distal end portion. The inner cannula distal open end is sized such that a second wire guide is receivable therethrough, and the first wire guide is not receivable therethrough. The tapered distal portion of the inner cannula extends distal to the distal open end of the outer sleeve, such that a generally smooth diametrical transition is provided between the outer sleeve tapered portion and the open distal end of the inner cannula.

Abstract: A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.

Abstract: A delivery device (20, 22) for and a method of delivering a substance to the nasal airway (1) of a subject, in particular the posterior region of the nasal airway, the delivery device comprising: a closure unit for causing the closure of the oropharyngeal velum of the subject; and a delivery unit for delivering a gas flow entraining a substance to one of the nostrils of the subject at such a driving pressure as to flow around the posterior margin of the nasal septum and out of the other nostril of the subject, wherein the delivery unit comprises a nosepiece (30, 40, 58, 82, 102, 132) which includes an outlet through which the gas flow is in use delivered to the one nostril and a sealing member for sealing the one nostril to the outlet such as in use to prevent the escape of the gas flow through the one nostril.

Abstract: In some aspects, a surgical procedure for the removal of a prostate gland is provided. The procedure comprises: (a) positioning an implant material within the urethra, (b) removing the prostate, thereby creating a urethral stump and a bladder neck, wherein the implant material occupies the urethral stump, the bladder neck, or both, and (c) securing the bladder neck to the urethral stump in an anastomosis procedure to establish a path of urine flow from the bladder to an external urethral opening (e.g., the meatus). Subsequently, the implant material is removed from the urethra, for example, by natural urine voiding or by flowing a removal fluid through and/or around the implant material in the urethra. In other aspects, a medical kit is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to medical devices, systems and methods for preventing the embolic material flowing about a junction of at least one branch blood vessel and another blood vessel from entering the other blood vessel. The device includes a self cleaning flexible filter and a frame. The external surface of the filter is configured to temporarily trap at least some of the embolic material flowing about the junction as a result of the blood inflow though the filter. The filter is also configured to expel the trapped embolic material into the other blood vessel.

Abstract: Systems and devices for endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms are described. Various configurations of coiled implants may be used as stenting devices or aneurysm coils. The implants include one or more filaments wound about a longitudinal axis to form a generally tubular shape. Lateral flexibility of the implants may be manipulated by, for example, adjusting a pitch between adjacent filaments, using different materials for the filaments, employing different filament cross-sectional shapes, grouping filaments into pluralities of varying flexibilities, and nesting inner coils within outer coils.

Abstract: A drug package comprising a plurality of drug vials containing drugs for delivery to a patient in a drug delivery device; and a data carrier including drug treatment information for use by the drug delivery apparatus.

Abstract: A trocar system for providing access across a body wall includes a trocar and an anchor provided in the form of a first helix. The anchor is adapted for placement in an operative position wherein the anchor extends at least partially through the body wall. A second helix formed on the trocar is size and configured to engage the first helix of the anchor so that rotation of the trocar relative to the anchor moves the second helix along the first helix. In this manner, the trocar is drawn into the anchor as it moves into the body wall. A proximal force applied to the anchor resists tenting of the abdominal wall. The anchor also holds the layers of the body wall together thereby resisting peritoneal separation.