Abstract: The present invention provides a tissue closure device, comprising: a first clamping base and a second clamping base which may be opened/closed relatively and form an accommodation cavity after being closed; and a pouch assembly which may be driven to move in the accommodation cavity, wherein: the pouch assembly comprises a staple pusher, a pair of needle heads movably connected to the staple pusher, and a connection portion connected to the proximal ends of the pair of needle heads; and when the staple pusher moves from the proximal end to the distal end, the pair of needle heads pushes a tubular tissue located in the accommodation cavity to the distal end until the distal ends of the pair of needle heads are closed to close the tubular tissue into a purse string. A bundled purse string with a gathered center may be formed through the tissue closure device.

Abstract: A vascular stent conveying system includes a housing, an outer cannula, a cleaning tube, an inner cannula, and a driving assembly. The outer cannula is located outside the housing and is connected to a first end of the housing. The cleaning tube is connected to a second end of the housing, a first end of the cleaning tube is located in the housing, and a second end of the cleaning tube extends out of the housing. A part of the inner cannula is located in the housing, a first end of the inner cannula extends into the outer cannula, and a second end of the inner cannula extends from the first end of the cleaning tube to a tube chamber of the cleaning tube. A part of the driving assembly is located in the housing, and operably engaged with a part of the inner cannula located in the housing.

Abstract: Button-suture assemblies which employ a knotted locking mechanism do not maintain tension when securing bone and tissue fragments. A knotless method and device for maintaining tension and providing precise placement of a button-suture assembly during stabilization procedures comprising a locking pin, which mates with a button creating pinch points with increased surface area through which suture can pass from a baseplate through two dedicated openings in the button, one for the first end of the suture and one for the second end of the suture while preventing tension loss during the locking step and therefore allowing for precise placement of the button-suture assembly.

Abstract: A lithotripter is provided for fragmenting a stone inside a patient's body. In one form, the lithotripter includes a motor having at least two modes of operation and is configured to produce first and second waveforms. A wave guide shaft is configured to transmit the first and second waveforms to the stone. In one form, at least one of the first and second waveforms is provided to the stone at a frequency that is about equal to a natural frequency of the stone. In a variation, the lithotripter may include an ultrasonic driver configured to produce an ultrasonic frequency waveform and a sonic driver configured to produce a sonic frequency waveform. The sonic driver is mechanically coupled to the ultrasonic driver. The ultrasonic driver and the sonic driver may be disposed within a driver housing. In another variation, the lithotripter may include a brushless DC motor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a container adapted to dispense its content under pressure. The container of the present invention consists of two separate compartments separated from one another by a slidable piston. The container of the present invention contains a haemostatic paste.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a medical device to a subject's body, either directly to the subject's body or to an intermediary element on the subject's body. The apparatus prevents substantially any relative movement between the medical device and the subject's body. Such an apparatus comprises: (i) a back base positioned between the subject's body and a surface that the subject lies thereon, (ii) at least one set of straps connected to the back base and to at least one of the medical device and the intermediary element, and (iii) at least one set of connectors providing a connection between the at least one set of straps and one or more of the medical device, the intermediary element and the back base. The apparatus may further comprise any of pivoting connectors, a respiration sensor, and straps with a stretchable section. The apparatus may be used in combination with a sterile drape.

Abstract: An explantation accessory includes a catheter with a steerable head carrying a tubular receptacle adapted to accommodate the proximal portion of the capsule. The explantation accessory further includes a lasso having a flexible wire extending along the catheter to and forming at its distal end a deformable loop. One end of the deformable loop is mobile so as to allow tightening of the loop under the effect of a traction exerted on the flexible wire along the catheter. The free end edge of the tubular receptacle comprises a protruding anterior portion, an axially recessed posterior portion with respect to the anterior portion and located diametrically opposite to the protruding anterior portion, and two beveled edges connecting the protruding anterior portion to the recessed posterior portion.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of assembly with a predetermined alignment includes first and second modular assemblies and an electrical lockout. The first modular assembly includes at least a portion of an end effector configured to manipulate a tissue. The second modular assembly includes a transducer power circuit and an activation switch electrically connected to the transducer power circuit. The electrical lockout is electrically connected to the transducer power circuit and configured to inhibit the activation switch from powering the ultrasonic transducer with the first and second modular assemblies misaligned from the predetermined alignment such that the first and second modular assemblies are in a locked-out state. The electrical lockout is further configured to allow the activation switch to power the ultrasonic transducer with the first and second modular assemblies in the predetermined alignment such that the first and second modular assemblies are in an operational state.

Abstract: A system for removing an obstruction from a blood vessel. The system can include a catheter with a proximal section with a proximal section lumen diameter, a distal section with a distal section lumen diameter less than the proximal section lumen diameter, an intermediate section extended between proximal and distal sections. The system can include a clot retrieval device with a clot engaging element. The system can include a shaft being advanceable through the lumen of the catheter the obstruction of the blood vessel, the shaft can include a shaft proximal section; a shaft distal section attached to the clot engaging element and configured to cross the obstruction, a diameter of the shaft proximal section being greater than a diameter of the shaft distal section thereby inhibiting the shaft proximal section from distally advancing through the catheter distal section.

Abstract: A medical device includes an expandable conduit, a prosthetic heart valve and a delivery device, including a balloon catheter. The expandable conduit may include one or more inner or outer sleeves supported by a frame or stent. The sleeve(s) may be a bioprosthetic tissue wrapped, molded or sewn about the frame or stent. Coupled to an end of the expandable conduit is the prosthetic heart valve. The conduit and heart valve may be crimped on the balloon catheter for percutaneous deployment. The frame may be constructed of an expandable material for the conduit portion and an expandable material for the prosthetic heart valve portion. The prosthetic heart valve can be anchored at the native heart valve and then the conduit can be expanded into place to protect the aorta.

Abstract: An expandable balloon, for insertion in a vessel of the human or animal body, is movable between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The balloon includes a plaque disrupting formation arranged to be on an outer surface of the balloon when in the expanded condition. When in the expanded condition, the balloon has a centre line which follows a substantially helical path.

Abstract: A method of delivering a rigid intravascular device to a target location in a patient's heart includes positioning a distal tip of an elongated member of the intravascular device delivery system in a right atrium of a heart and moving the distal tip of the elongated member into a left atrium of the heart. The method includes advancing an inner steerable catheter of the elongated member longitudinally distally relative to an outer sleeve of the elongated member a first longitudinal distance; deflecting at least a portion of the inner steerable catheter a first deflection amount; then advancing an inner steerable catheter of the elongated member longitudinally distally relative to an outer sleeve of the elongated member a second longitudinal distance; and then deflecting at least a portion of the inner steerable catheter a second deflection amount.

Abstract: The present invention wants to provide an improved tongue cleanser showing an improved cleaning effect. For this, a tongue cleanser is suggested having an essentially disc-shaped body, which is provided on its use-side front surface with a profiling suitable for superficially scraping impurity adherent to the human tongue and which forms a hose connection, which communicates with the profiling.

Abstract: Technologies are described for an endoscopic duct clearing system. A cannula can be shaped to pass through an endoscope within an esophagus, into a duodenum, and through an incision in a duodenal papilla. A capture basket may be deployed from a distal end of the cannula. A hand control at the proximate end of the cannula may be operable to position the distal end of the cannula from outside the endoscope into proximity of blockage material. A suction line may be coupled from a suction source to the proximate end of the cannula. A suction control may be coupled to the suction source. The suction control may be operable to adjust a level of suction drawn by the suction source through the distal end of the cannula. The suction control may be adjusted to draw the blockage material against or into the cannula for removal from the patient.

Abstract: There is provided a cervical canal dilator device having a hollow shaft having proximal and distal ends. The shaft is covered on an end portion of the distal end by a slidable protective sleeve. There is at least one inflatable dilating balloon formed on the distal end of the shaft. There is at least one tube extending internally along the shaft and connected to the at least one balloon for inflation thereof, the tube having a connection port on the proximal end of the shaft. A camera is situated at the tip of the distal end of the shaft and a plurality of ejection orifices are formed on the shaft, adjacent to the camera, and anywhere else along it.

Abstract: A pusher assembly for a stent delivery device includes a distal end of an elongate member and a stent-engaging member having proximal and distal ends. The proximal end of the stent-engaging member is mechanically coupled to the distal end of the inner member by a connector, or the proximal end of the stent-engaging member is at least partially inside the distal end of the elongate inner member. The stent-engaging member includes a portion that radially outwardly extends towards the distal end of the stent-engaging member, or the stent-engaging member includes a portion that radially outwardly extends towards the distal end of the stent-engaging member. The stent-engaging member is configured to move a stent when distally advanced and configured to not move a stent when proximally retracted. A stent delivery device includes an elongate outer member, an elongate inner member coaxially positioned within the outer member, and the pusher assembly.

Abstract: Surgical instruments and, particularly, ophthalmic surgical instruments are disclosed. Example surgical instruments include forceps for removal of an internal limiting membrane (ILM). The example forceps may include a textured surface formed at a distal end of the forceps jaws. The textured surface may have a plurality of microposts that operate to increase a coefficient of friction between the ILM and the forceps in order to reduce a normal force, applied by the forceps, needed to engage the ILM.

Abstract: In some examples, an apparatus may include a needle configured to define a path through tissue of a patient, tubing configured to slidably receive the needle via a proximal opening, an anchor configured to slidably receive at least a portion of the tubing, and an anchor deployment member comprising a body and an anchor engagement member. Such an apparatus may be used to introduce and anchor an implantable medical device within a patient.

Abstract: A reentry apparatus has an outer catheter configured to accommodate a first reentry device and an inner catheter configured to fit within the outer catheter. The inner catheter has a series of expanding anchors extending from the outer surface of the inner catheter and a reentry channel configured to accommodate a second reentry device. A retaining wire extends along the upper surface of the expanding anchors. A reentry channel is located in the configured to accommodate a second reentry device.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for flaring a stent deployed within a branch vessel including an ostium communicating with a main vessel, a first end of the stent extending at least partially from the branch. A catheter is provided that includes a first balloon carried on its distal end, and a second balloon that includes a distal section overlying at least a portion of the first balloon and a proximal section. The catheter distal end is introduced into the main vessel and positioned through the ostium and stent into the branch until the first balloon is disposed within the stent. The first balloon is expanded to anchor the stent, and the second balloon is expanded to flare the first end of the stent. Optionally, the first balloon is expanded further, e.g., to expand the stent within the branch body lumen and/or dilate the lesion.