Abstract: An expandable medical sheath can include a sheath body having a lumen that extends between proximal and distal ends of the sheath. The sheath can have first and second members where the first member has a different elastic modulus than the second member such that one provides elasticity to the sheath and the other provides column strength. The first and second members can be coupled together in alternating sections to form the tubular sheath or the stiffer members can be embedded in the elastic member along all or a portion of the longitudinal length of the sheath. The sheath can automatically move to an expanded state to allow a larger diameter medical device to pass through the lumen, and once through the sheath can automatically return to its initial diameter.

Abstract: A drill guide fixture may be configured to prepare a skull for attachment of a cranial insertion fixture. The drill guide fixture may include a central drill guide and a bone anchor guide at a base of the drill guide fixture. The central drill guide may define a central drill guide hole therethrough, wherein the central drill guide hole has a first opening at a base of the drill guide fixture and a second opening spaced apart from the base of the drill guide fixture. The bone anchor drill guide may define a bone anchor drill guide hole therethrough, and the bone anchor drill guide hole may be offset from the central drill guide hole in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to a direction of the central drill guide hole. Related cranial insertion fixtures, robotic systems, and methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A robotic suture knot tying system includes a first robotic arm, a second robotic arm, a suturing device including a suturing end effector operatively coupled to the first robotic arm, and a suture handling device operatively coupled to the second robotic arm. The system also includes a control system operatively coupled to the first robotic arm, the second robotic arm, the suturing device, and the suture handling device and configured to control operation thereof to cooperatively perform a suture knot tying procedure on a patient.

Abstract: A device includes an elongated hollow member having an open distal end for receiving tissue therein and at least one exterior groove for loading at least one ligation band thereon. The device also includes a band deployment sleeve slidable over the exterior of the hollow member and configured to move from a radially expanded position to a radially contracted position in which, when the band deployment sleeve slides longitudinally over the hollow member, the distal portion engages the at least one ligation band. A closing sleeve slidable over the exterior of the band deployment sleeve is configured to constrain the distal portion from the radially expanded position into the radially contracted position. Retracting the closing sleeve proximally over the distal portion of the band deployment sleeve releases the distal portion from the radially contracted position into the radially expanded position.

Abstract: A valve prosthesis and a system for delivering a valve prosthesis are described herein. The system can include a support frame, a valve anchor comprising an anchoring leg and a plurality of U-shaped members, and a connection member coupled to the support frame and slidably coupled to the anchoring leg.

Abstract: A method for adjusting control parameters of a clip applier using a surgical hub is disclosed. The method comprises gathering data during a first surgical procedure, evaluating the gathered data to determine the appropriate operation of a clip applier in a subsequent surgical procedure, gathering data during the operation of the clip applier in the subsequent surgical procedure, determining if the operation of the clip applier needs to be adjusted based on the data gathered during the subsequent surgical procedure, and adjusting the operation of the clip applier based on the data gathered during the subsequent surgical procedure.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an animal marking and treatment apparatus. The marking apparatus is an animal treatment apparatus to apply an animal treatment to a surface or subcutaneous layer of an animal via an operative end. The marking apparatus includes a marking portion, attached to the animal treatment apparatus, and located at the operative end. The marking apparatus is located such that when the animal receives the treatment the marking portion marks the animal by stamping at the same time.

Abstract: Inverting tube thrombectomy apparatus for removing clot that are configured to prevent compression of the apparatus that may separate the distal end of the apparatus from the clot and may make it difficult to advance the apparatus to engage with the clot, particularly in a tortious vessel. The apparatuses and methods of using them described herein may be adapted to prevent tension in the flexible tube that is rolling and inverting over the distal end of the inversion support catheter when capturing a clot. Also described herein are inverting tube thrombectomy apparatus that are configured to reload either automatically or manually within the vessel to capture additional clot material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a needle channel usable in a hair transplant device, and the needle channel can be coupled to the outer circumferential surface of a central shaft inside the hair transplant device so as to be slidable in a vertical direction, and comprises: a body part having a tubular inner space; a needle coupled to the lower end of the body part; a core shaft slidably arranged in the tubular inner space and inside the needle; a slot longitudinally formed in the body part, and opened radially and outwardly from the central axis of the central shaft; a lever coupled to the upper end of the core shaft, and arranged to be slidable in a vertical direction in the slot.

Abstract: The present invention is a surgical suturing device that assists in applying an open-looped, pre-knotted suture around a targeted area of application. The surgical suturing device contains a handle, a grasping mechanism, a first jaw, a second jaw, a first coupler, and a second coupler. The first jaw and the second jaw each contains a jaw body and a coupler receiver. The first coupler and the second coupler each contains a strand receiver. The handle is operatively connected to the first jaw and the second jaw through the grasping mechanism. The coupler receiver is positioned adjacent to the jaw body, opposite to the grasping mechanism along the jaw body. The first coupler is removably positioned within the coupler receiver of the first jaw. The strand receiver traverses into the first coupler and the second coupler. The second coupler is removably positioned within the coupler receiver of the second jaw.

Abstract: A medical instrument is provided with a first arm extending in a longitudinal direction and having a grip area between a rear end and a front working end. At least two elongated holes are formed in the grip area, which are arranged offset to each other in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Improved corneal lenticule extraction tools which integrate defined angles, tip features, and the use of vacuum into the tool to aid in the removal of the lenticule. The tool has a body and a tip each with an internal air channel. The tip has a straight portion and a curved portion at a distal end, with one or more orifices disposed on the curved portion. The body either has a mechanism for generating a vacuum in the internal air channel, such as a resilient diaphragm, or is connected to an external vacuum source. Use of tip features and angles helps the surgeon find tissue edges during tissue removal. The use of vacuum aids to draw the tissue to the tool and to hold the tissue by the tool. The improved tools improve speed of extraction as well as completeness of extraction so that no tissue is left behind.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are tissue marking devices and methods that enables marking a target tissue more than 24 hours prior to surgery. The tissue marking device includes a hook assembly having a compressed configuration and a deployed configuration and a handle assembly for positioning the hook assembly in a targeted tissue. The hook assembly may include a hook body comprising at least two hooks and a thread connected to the hook body. The handle assembly may include a handle body, a needle having a lumen, and a stylet having a lumen.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatus for approximating targeted tissue using locking sutures. The locking sutures can be configured to receive suture ends that are interweaved through portions of the locking sutures. In a pre-deployment configuration, a locking suture can slide along suture tails and can be positioned at a target location within a target region. Once a desired position and/or tension is achieved, the locking suture can be transitioned to a post-deployment configuration where the locking suture constricts around the suture tails to inhibit relative movement between the suture tails and the locking suture.

Abstract: Medical device for embolic protection in an aortic arch, comprising a catheter having a shaft and a distal end portion of the shaft, an expandable embolic protection device having a filter membrane and a frame. The frame comprises a frame loop and an elongated frame shaft having a distal end portion connected to the frame loop in a connection point, in its expanded state the frame loop spans said filter membrane and bending means to bend the distal end portion of the catheter and/or the distal end portion of the frame shaft. The medical device comprises a protective state in which the distal end portion of the catheter is bent, the embolic protection device is expanded, the frame shaft extends in a longitudinal direction of the bent distal end portion and the expanded frame loop being completely positioned distally of the connection point.

Abstract: Provided is a tele-operated forceps-driver variable stiffness master device including a master member to generate an input displacement signal generated by pressing with a user's finger, and a slave member to operate based on the input displacement signal, measure operation information, calculate a gripping force based on the operation information, and provide the master member with at least one of a stiffness change command signal or a force feedback based on the calculated gripping force.

Abstract: A device for cardiac surgery includes a first frame member having a first end that is pivotably coupled to a first end of a second frame member, and two or more apertures are disposed through each of the first and second frame members that are each configured to receive a corresponding portion of suture. The first frame member and the second frame member are pivotably displaceable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a second end of the first frame member and a second end of the second frame member are separated by a first distance, and in the second position, the second end of the first frame member and the second end of the second frame member are separated by a second distance that is greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A method for extracting a lead from a patient comprising: providing a lead removal stylet; inserting the stylet into the lead; locking the stylet to a position inside the lead; and vibrating the stylet with tissue disrupting vibration to cause the lead to vibrate and to disconnect from binding tissue.

Abstract: A drill guide fixture may be configured to prepare a skull for attachment of a cranial insertion fixture. The drill guide fixture may include a central drill guide and a bone anchor guide at a base of the drill guide fixture. The central drill guide may define a central drill guide hole therethrough, wherein the central drill guide hole has a first opening at a base of the drill guide fixture and a second opening spaced apart from the base of the drill guide fixture. The bone anchor drill guide may define a bone anchor drill guide hole therethrough, and the bone anchor drill guide hole may be offset from the central drill guide hole in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to a direction of the central drill guide hole. Related cranial insertion fixtures, robotic systems, and methods are also discussed.

Abstract: An adjustable heart valve repair system includes a suture implanting apparatus and a suture locker. The suture implanting apparatus is operable to implant a suture into at least one leaflet of a heart valve. The suture locker is operable to fix the suture. The suture locker includes an adjusting device to adjust tensioning or loosening of the suture.