Abstract: Systems and methods for blood flow control are described herein. In some variations, a blood flow control system may comprise a blood flow control device. The blood flow control device may be placed within a body of a patient and may comprise an expandable member and a sensor. The sensor may be configured to measure at least one of a physiologic condition of the patient and a pressure associated with the expandable member. The blood flow control system may include at least one controller communicably coupled to the sensor to: receive data indicative of at least one of the physiologic condition of the patient and the pressure associated with the expandable member from the sensor, compare the received data with target data, identify at least one error based on the comparison, and in response to identifying the error, inhibit at least one function of the blood flow control system.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for use with a robotic manipulator includes an end effector assembly having one or two end effector members, each having a distal treatment end, a proximal end, and a tendon pass-through. Each end effector member is sandwiched between a corresponding pair of pulley members that, when assembled define an annular tendon pathway that is between the pulley members and that is aligned with the pass-through. For each end effector member, a tendon having a distal loop portion ends through the tendon pass-through, with its legs passing proximally from the pass-through, extending in opposite directions around the tendon pathway and proximally through the instrument's shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a medical device. The medical device includes an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member. The outer tubular member has a distal end, an open window disposed at the distal end, and one or more dimples. The inner tubular member has a distal tip and one or more axial grooves. The inner tubular member is configured to be received within the outer tubular member. The one or more axial grooves and the one or more dimples are configured to align the distal tip of the inner tubular member with the open window of the outer tubular member. The open window of the outer tubular member and the distal tip of the inner tubular member are configured to cut tissue.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly includes a pusher assembly having proximal and distal ends, a conductive sacrificial link disposed at the distal end of the pusher assembly, and a vaso-occlusive device secured to the pusher assembly by the sacrificial link. The pusher assembly includes first and second conductors extending between the proximal and distal ends thereof. The sacrificial link is electrically coupled between the first and second conductors, such that the first conductor, sacrificial link and second conductor form an electrical circuit, and, when a disintegration current is applied through the sacrificial link through the first and second conductors, the sacrificial link thermally disintegrates, thereby releasing the attachment member and vaso-occlusive device from the pusher assembly.

Abstract: A surgical device for clipping tissue can include a replaceable cartridge comprising a stack of clips contained therein and a firing drive configured to reciprocatingly eject, or deploy, the clips from the cartridge. After the clips have been deployed from the cartridge, a blocking member can be positioned to impede or block the firing drive. In at least one embodiment, the cartridge can include a biasing member configured to bias the blocking member into a firing chamber defined in the cartridge and/or surgical device. The surgical device can also include a crimping drive configured to deform a clip after it has been ejected from the cartridge. The blocking member can also be configured to impede or block the crimping drive after all of the clips from the cartridge have been used.

Abstract: A surgery supporting apparatus is capable of controlling a posture of a first surgical instrument that is inserted into a body cavity and mechanically drivable, by using a second surgical instrument to be inserted into the body cavity. The apparatus comprises a robot arm configured to control the posture of the first surgical instrument attached to the robot arm. Instructions stored in a memory cause the apparatus to function as a control unit configured to control the motion of the robot arm such that the posture of the first surgical instrument is controlled in accordance with the posture of the second surgical instrument, in a case of a first mode, and controls the motion of the robot arm in accordance with a manipulation including contact to the robot arm, in a case of a second mode.

Abstract: Devices used to provide transseptal access are disclosed. The devices may comprise at least one cannula, a needle, and a handle. The cannula and the needle may be configured to be inserted through a dilator while not damaging a lumen wall of the dilator. The handle may be configured to lock the needle in a retracted position. The devices may be configured to telescopically advance the needle through an atrial septum.

Abstract: A suture securing device having a plurality of zones includes a first zone, a second zone and a third zone. The device includes a lower layer extending across each of the first zone, the second zone and the third zone, an upper layer disposed in the first zone and the second zone, and an insert having at least one eyelet disposed in the first zone, the insert being sandwiched between the upper layer and the lower layer.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal device for treating obesity includes a three-dimensional porous structure configurable between a compressed pre-deployment configuration to facilitate delivery and an expanded post-deployment configuration. The porous structure includes a first opening at its proximal end and a larger second opening at its distal end. The porous structure also includes a sleeve coupled to its distal end. Optionally, the device further includes a suture at the proximal end of the wire mesh structure to facilitate retrieval and an anti-migration component positioned at the junction of the porous structure with the sleeve. The porous structure is deployed in a patient's stomach such that the anti-migration component sits proximal to the patient's pylorus and prevents migration of the entirety of the device into and through the pylorus. The sleeve extends through the pylorus, into the duodenum and ends in the duodenum or jejunum.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for forming an anastomosis between a first layer of tissue and a second layer of tissue of a patient's body. The system includes a first anastomosis device component and a second anastomosis device component configured to interact with the first anastomosis device component. The first anastomosis device component is configured to be delivered to a first lumen inside the patient's body. The second anastomosis device component is configured to be delivered to a second lumen inside the patient's body. The second anastomosis device includes one or more sensors configured to capture sensor data for determining an alignment of the second anastomosis device component relative to the first anastomosis device component, or for characterizing the position or orientation of the second anastomosis device component in three-dimensional space.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument, comprising: a shaft; an end effector element; an articulation at a distal end of the shaft for articulating the end effector element, the articulation comprising: a first and second joint permitting the end effector element to adopt a range of configurations relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft, the first joint being driveable by a first pair of driving elements having a first positional accuracy requirement and the second joint being driveable by a second pair of driving elements having a second positional accuracy requirement lower than the positional accuracy requirement of the first pair of driving elements; and an instrument interface at a proximal end of the shaft, comprising: a chassis formed from the attachment of a first chassis portion to a second chassis portion, the first chassis portion comprising a mounting surface to which the shaft is mounted; wherein the first pair of driving elements are secured relative to the first chassis portion.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of an apparatus and system for performing a sleeve gastrectomy. The apparatus can include a bougie for insertion into an interior of a stomach, the bougie having a proximal bougie end and a distal bougie end, an inflation lumen having a proximal lumen end and a distal lumen end, the inflation lumen extending from the proximal bougie end through the distal bougie end, a fluid delivery system coupled with the proximal lumen end, the fluid delivery system being operably configured to deliver positive pressure in a predetermined positive pressure range into the stomach, and a monitor coupled with the proximal lumen end operably configured for the monitoring of pressure or volume within the stomach.

Abstract: A deployable tube apparatus may include a spool and a flexible sheet coiled about the spool in a laterally unfurled condition. The flexible sheet may have a first lateral margin and a second lateral margin, and may be deployable from the laterally unfurled condition with the first and the second lateral margins spaced from each other to a deployed tubular condition where the first and the second lateral margins are coupled to each other to form an enclosed lumen. The deployable tube apparatus may provide lateral support to an elongated flexible instrument, such as a catheter. Methods of creating and using the deployable tube apparatus are described.

Abstract: An instrument manipulator may comprise a frame comprising an outer shell and an inner frame, the inner frame being movably coupled to the outer shell. The instrument manipulator may also include a plurality of actuator outputs protruding in a distal direction from the frame and an instrument support feature coupled to the outer shell. The instrument manipulator may further comprise a latching mechanism, the latching mechanism being configured to move the inner frame, the outer shell, or both relative to one another, so as to operably engage the plurality of actuator outputs with a plurality of actuator inputs of an instrument supported by the instrument support feature.

Abstract: A surgical device for carrying out an anastomosis in the intestine, including a protective device having an anchor element consisting of a stent and a flexible outer sheath, and an introducer including a first deformable guide tube, where the downstream end of the outer sheath is connected to the first guide tube or to a first connecting piece, the outer sheath being folded inside the first deformable guide tube, and the stent being held in radial compression inside the first deformable guide tube.

Abstract: A clot removal device for removal of an occlusion from a lumen in a patient's body is provided. The clot removal device has a lumen, an elongated member positioned within the lumen and extending axially from a proximal end to a distal end of the lumen, a handle attached to the proximal end of the lumen, a first expandable member positioned along a length of the elongated member, a second expandable member positioned along the length of the elongated member, wherein the second expandable member is distal to the first expandable member relative to the handle.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical clip applier includes an endoscopic assembly and a handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a housing, a trigger, a drive bar, and a ratchet assembly. The ratchet assembly includes a first rack, a second rack, a pawl housing engageable with the first rack, and a second pawl engageable with the second rack. In a first position, the pawl housing is in registration with the first rack to prohibit reversal of a direction of movement of the trigger until the pawl housing is disposed beyond a proximal end or a distal end of the first rack. In a second position, the pawl housing is out of registration with the first rack to permit reversal of the movement of the trigger after the second pawl is disposed distally beyond a distal end of the second rack or proximally beyond a proximal end of the second rack.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for the removal of anatomical occlusions, and an occlusion removal device comprising a first body adapted to be mounted to a delivery wire and releasably engaged to the delivery wire, wherein while engaged the first body remains fixed on the delivery wire and upon release moves axially along the delivery wire, and a second body adapted to be mounted to the delivery wire. A first proximal body may be oriented proximally to a second distal body. The proximal body and the distal body may be adapted to expand upon exiting a delivery catheter. The proximal body may be releasably engaged by a mechanically breakable connection or an electrolytically or heat disconnectable connection, the electrolytically disconnectable connection being broken upon an application of electric current to the electrolytically disconnectable connection.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for removing a predetermined portion of soft tissue from a target tissue layer, thereby creating a channel between two side walls of the target tissue layer, are described. The medical device is a cutting tool comprising: an elongated round body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a uniform outer cross-section at a proximal side thereof; a cutting portion at a distal side of the elongated body, comprising at a distal end thereof a cutting edge of a first cross-section being smaller than said outer cross-section, and a distally and continuously decreasing outer cross-section; and a chamber extending along the longitudinal axis inside the cutting tool from said cutting portion, the chamber having dimensions enabling storing of the removed soft tissue portion inside the chamber thereby providing a validation to the channel creation.

Abstract: A constricting cord can be delivered to the vicinity of an annulus using an apparatus that includes a set of support arms, with a respective anchor launcher supported by each of the support arms. An inflatable first balloon is configured to push the support arms away from each other when the first balloon is inflated. An inflatable second balloon is mounted to a shaft and is configured for inflation when the second balloon is disposed distally beyond the first balloon. In some embodiments, the distal balloon is inflated while it is in a ventricle. In some embodiments, the distal balloon is inflated while it is in a pulmonary artery.