Abstract: A seal member for use with a replacement heart valve implant may include a tubular polymeric seal element configured to be disposed on an outer surface of a replacement heart valve implant, the tubular polymeric seal element defining a central longitudinal axis; and a reinforcement strip fixedly attached to the tubular polymeric seal element proximate a first end of the tubular polymeric seal element, the reinforcement strip extending circumferentially around the central longitudinal axis. The reinforcement strip may include a radiopaque element extending circumferentially around the central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a syndesmosis treatment construct configured to be placed into a cinched configuration that presses a first bone against a second bone. The syndesmosis treatment construct comprises a proximal fixator to contact the first bone and a distal fixator to contact the second bone. A first suture and a second suture are parallelly looped through the proximal fixator and oppositely looped through the distal fixator. Distal ends of the first and second sutures are fixated within a washer disposed between the proximal fixator and the first bone. Proximal ends of the first and second sutures are passed through openings in the washer and through the proximal fixator. Pulling of the proximal ends by a practitioner places the syndesmosis treatment construct into a cinched configuration. Any of various suitable suture knots may be formed so as to fixate the cinched configuration.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical system includes an ultrasonic transducer, a probe, and at least one circuit. The ultrasonic transducer is designed to ultrasonically vibrate. The probe is coupled to the ultrasonic transducer and is designed to treat a living tissue by the ultrasonic vibration. The circuit performs functions including detecting a pressing force of the probe against the living tissue, calculating a value of a product of the pressing force, an amplitude of the ultrasonic vibration, and a resonance frequency of the probe, comparing the calculated value with a predetermined product value, and generating a predetermined signal based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A system for driving an helical anchor into biological tissue including concentric inner and outer drivers defining a driver passageway therebetween for mounting the helical anchor thereinto, the inner and outer drivers being axially rotatable and longitudinally fixed relative to each other. The inner driver includes a protrusion protruding in the driver passageway and configured for engaging the helical anchor to prevent pure translation of the anchor along the inner driver while allowing helical movements of the helical anchor relative to the inner driver. The outer driver is includes a slot extending therealong from an outer driver distal end towards an outer driver proximal end, the slot receiving the anchor protrusion thereinto and allowing movements of the anchor protrusion therealong. An actuator selectively rotates the inner and outer driver relatively to each other.

Abstract: A suture placement system is disclosed. The suture placement system has a plate defining a first opening spaced from a second opening. The suture placement system also has a first lumen having proximal and distal ends, wherein the distal end of the first lumen is coupled to the first opening. The suture placement system further has a second lumen having proximal and distal ends, wherein the distal end of the second lumen is coupled to the second opening. The suture placement system also has a guide coupled to the plate. A method of minimally invasive suture placement is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an instrument assembly usable in a procedure. The instrument includes a connection for a working portion and to a tool handle. The assembly includes a method and system for interconnection and/or identification of the working portion and the handle. The instrument may also include various trackable features to allow for a navigated procedure.

Abstract: Surgical instruments and assemblies for sealing and cutting tissue monitor jaw angle and/or jaw clamping force to provide feedback to an operator of the surgical instrument indicative of whether the tissue is suitable clamped for sealing and/or cutting. A surgical instrument or assembly includes a jaw operable to clamp tissue, a sealing mechanism, a cutting mechanism, an actuation monitoring assembly, and a feedback assembly. The actuation monitoring assembly monitors jaw angle and/or clamping force. The feedback assembly outputs feedback to the operator, based on the jaw angle and/or clamping force, as to whether the current clamping angle and/or jaw angle is suitable for sealing and/or clamping tissue.

Abstract: An implant system presented herein includes an engagement wire, a pull wire, and a braided implant having a distal ring thereon. The engagement wire has an elongated member with a radially extending engagement feature at its distal end. The braid can be moved from a delivery shape sized to traverse a catheter to an implanted shape sized to occlude an aneurysm neck. When the braid is in the delivery shape, the pull wire and the elongated member extend through the distal ring and the engagement feature is in a distal direction in relation to the distal ring. Once at least a portion of the braid is positioned in the aneurysm, the pull wire and the elongated member can be moved in a proximal direction to engage the engagement feature to the distal ring and move the distal ring proximally, thereby reshaping the braid within the aneurysm.

Abstract: A surgical suture apparatus for passing a double-ended surgical needle forwards and backwards includes a main body, a first jaw element and a second jaw element, each including a holding device to hold a needle-end of the surgical needle. The first jaw element and second jaw element are movable with respect to each other between a take-over position, where a surgical needle can be passed between the first holding device and the second holding device, and an open position. The surgical apparatus further includes an operating device to operate the first holding device and the second holding device to alternately hold the first needle-end by the first holding device and the second needle-end by the second holding device, where the first jaw element is detachably mounted on the main body.

Abstract: A suturing device for being inserted into and used in a body is disclosed. The suturing device includes a front arm that has string support portions supporting both ends of a surgical string, and a front guide portion attached to the string support portions and a back arm that has a needle-shaped member, a needle support portion supporting the needle-shaped member in a state of pointing to a predetermined first direction, and a back guide portion attached to the front guide portion such that the back guide portion is capable of sliding in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction, and rotating around an axis substantially parallel to the first direction. The front guide portion has a first guide groove guiding the needle-shaped member to one end of the surgical string supported by the string support portion and a second guide groove guiding the needle-shaped member.

Abstract: The bending of the catheter is controlled from the handle by a variable tension exerted to a steering cable housed in an offset longitudinal notch of the catheter. The handle comprises: a body adapted to be held in hand by an operator; a piston, axially mobile in rotation and in translation inside the handle body; a first mechanism with a pulley for the winding of the steering cable and a lever for modifying in a controlled manner the tension of the cable and hence controlling the steering of the catheter; and a second mechanism comprising a member for holding a security wire and a member for adjusting the axial position of this wire with respect to the internal tube of the catheter, so as to keep the security wire in tight condition whatever the bend provided to the catheter by operation of the first mechanism.

Abstract: A suture passer is provided, defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a jaw assembly configured to be operated to selectively grip an internal tissue of a patient, and a needle mechanism configured to be operated to place a suture on the tissue. The assembly comprises a stationary first jaw portion and a second jaw portion pivotable about a jaw axis with respect to the first jaw portion between a closed position and an open position, the jaw assembly being configured to hold a thread for the suture. The needle mechanism comprises a needle being configured for piercing the tissue and pulling the thread from the jaw assembly, and a carrying member at a first end thereof being pivotable, independently of the second jaw portion, with respect to the first jaw portion, the needle being hingedly articulated to a second end of the carrying member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument apparatus for removably receiving an end effector coupled to an elongate control link for actuating the end effector to perform surgical operations is disclosed. The apparatus includes an actuator housing and an elongate shaft extending from the actuator housing and having a bore for receiving the control link. The apparatus also includes an actuator mounted within the actuator housing and includes a clamp aperture disposed to receive the control link while the clamp aperture is being urged into an unclamped state by an opening force, the clamp aperture being operably configured to move between the unclamped state and a clamped state in response to the opening force being released, the aperture in the clamped state being operable to restrain the control link within the actuator for movement in a longitudinal direction substantially aligned with the elongate shaft.

Abstract: A suture placement system is disclosed. The suture placement system has a plate defining a first opening spaced from a second opening. The suture placement system also has a first lumen having proximal and distal ends, wherein the distal end of the first lumen is coupled to the first opening. The suture placement system further has a second lumen having proximal and distal ends, wherein the distal end of the second lumen is coupled to the second opening. The suture placement system also has a guide coupled to the plate. A method of minimally invasive suture placement is also disclosed.

Abstract: An end effector for a surgical tool includes a first jaw that defines an aperture, a second jaw rotatably coupled to the first jaw, and a spacer pin received within the aperture and protruding from an upper surface of the first jaw. The spacer pin is adjustable within the aperture to define a jaw gap between the first and second jaws when the second jaw is moved to a closed position and engages the spacer pin, and the spacer pin is secured within the aperture to set the jaw gap.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a preloaded stent graft delivery device includes a guidewire catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a guide wire lumen therethrough; a nose cone dilator at the proximal end of the guide wire catheter, the nose cone dilator comprising a distal end and a capsule on the distal end of the nose cone dilator; a handle assembly at the distal end of the guidewire catheter, the handle assembly comprising a first section and a second section releasably connected to the handle assembly and in communication with the capsule on the distal end of the nose cone dilator; a ratchet assembly disposed within an interior surface of the first section of the handle assembly; a pusher catheter extending from the handle assembly towards the nose cone dilator; and a sheath disposed coaxially over the pusher catheter.

Abstract: A needle and suture assembly includes a needle made of a superelastic alloy, such as Nitinol, including an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end with a sharpened tip, a suture having a free end juxtaposed with the proximal end of the elongated body of the needle, and a connector disposed between the needle and the suture. The connector includes a first end attached to the proximal end of the elongated body of the needle and a second end attached to the free end of the suture. The connector is made of a material, such as stainless steel, having less elasticity and greater plasticity than the superelastic alloy of the needle.

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 suture coupled to the support frame and slidably coupled to the anchoring leg.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for delivering several sutures accurately and simultaneously around the perimeter of an annular prosthetic device (prosthetic heart valve, annuloplasty ring, etc.) to secure the prosthetic device within a native heart valve region. Devices can comprise a proximal handle portion including an actuator and a distal suturing portion including several curved and straight needles arrayed around the shaft axis. The straight needles and the curved needles are configured to simultaneously guide a plurality of sutures through the native tissue and through the annular prosthetic device. The actuator can cause the straight needles to move axially relative to the curved needles and can also cause the curved needles to rotate, such that the motions are coordinated to simultaneously place all the sutures.

Abstract: A left atrial appendage occluder, including a closure disc, a bracket located on one side of the closure disc, and a connecting member connecting the closure disc and the bracket; the bracket includes a first fixing connection member, a second fixing connection member, and a number of support rods; the first ends of the plurality of support rods are collapsed and secured by the first fixing connection member; the second ends of the plurality of support rods are collapsed and secured by the second fixing connection member; a connecting member is connected to the first fixing connection member. The bracket is arranged such that the two ends constituted by at least two support rods have a closed structure, thus increasing the area of contact between the outer surface of the bracket and the left atrial appendage.