Abstract: A tattooing apparatus including a needle having at least one tip. The needle is configured to move between a first position in which the tip is located above the surface of a skin, and a second position in which the tip is located at a penetration depth underneath the skin surface. The needle is further configured to deposit an ink between the skin surface and the penetration depth. The tattooing apparatus further includes a needle drive mechanism configured to move the needle between the first position and the second position. The tattooing apparatus includes a sensor configured to output a feedback signal corresponding to a skin thickness characteristic. The tattooing apparatus further includes a controller configured to receive the feedback signal, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the penetration depth based on the skin thickness characteristic.

Abstract: Described are surgical cutting tools and related methods, useful to sever tissue, optionally cauterizing the tissue; the cutting tool includes a frame that can be extended and retracted at the distal end of the cutting tool such that the frame supports a cutting element useful to cut tissue.

Abstract: A catheter system for treating lesions is provided. The system is suitable for treatment of bifurcation lesions, has a low profile and provides substantially predictable translational and rotational positioning. In one embodiment, the system includes a fixed wire balloon catheter and a partially attached guidewire lumen, wherein the guidewire lumen is attached to the catheter at a crotch point. The location of the crotch point is predetermined so as to provide substantially predictable positioning. Several embodiments of the system are described for various types of lesions and vessel configurations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accessing, stabilizing and sealing a device attached to a tissue surface comprising a tissue attaching device having an outer base ring defining an opening therethrough and a distally projecting tissue attachment element. The systems variously utilize annular sealing flanges distally attached to the outer base ring outside or inside the tissue attachment element to create a fluid tight seal. The systems variously utilize coils with regions of differing pitch to create sealing tissue pressure. Methods for installing an apical attaching device with a transapical port into a patient, comprising assessing the patient's viability for installation of the apical attaching device by determining an Index of Tissue Elasticity (ITE).

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical instrument with an elongate shaft, a surgical tool arranged at a distal end of the shaft for conducting surgical manipulations and a handle arranged at a proximal end of the shaft for actuating the surgical tool. The shaft has an elongate shaft tube and an elongate actuation rod arranged movably within the shaft tube, the tool and the handle both being connected to the shaft tube and the actuating rod such that the tool can be actuated by the handle through a motion of the actuating rod relative to the shaft tube.

Abstract: An intragastric device including (1) a first wire mesh structure having a pre-deployment shape, a post-deployment shape greater than the pre-deployment state, and one or more openings on an upper portion of the first wire mesh structure that are configured to permit food to enter the device, (2) a second wire mesh structure having a pre-deployment shape a post-deployment shape greater than the pre-deployment state, and one or more openings on a lower portion of the second wire mesh structure that are configured to permit food to exit the device. A sleeve may be coupled to the lower portion of the wire mesh structure. An anti-migration collar may interconnect the wire mesh structure and the sleeve. In use, food enters the upper portion of the first wire mesh structure, passes through both wire mesh structures, and then exits the lower portion of the second wire mesh structure.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for preventing surgical devices used in laparoscopic procedures including opposed jaws and an overload mechanism from overloading the opposed jaws of the device. In one embodiment a surgical device, includes a handle and an elongate shaft extending distally therefrom with opposed jaws coupled to a distal end thereof. The surgical device can include a trigger pivotally movable about a first pivot axis during a first range of motion from an open position toward a closed position, to cause the opposed jaws of the end effector to move from an open position to a partially closed position. The trigger can further be pivotally movable about a second pivot axis during a second range of motion from the partially closed position to the fully closed position, without causing corresponding movement of the opposed jaws from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: This medical manipulator includes a body section, an insertion section, a channel, a movement amount detection section configured to detect an amount of movement of a medical treatment tool inserted through a body-side channel provided in the body section, a distal-end-side contact section provided to be in contact with the medical treatment tool inserted through an insertion-side channel arranged in the insertion section and configured to rotate about its own axis to move the medical treatment tool, a first drive section configured to rotate the distal-end-side contact section. The distal-end-side contact section is rotated so as to move the medical treatment tool with respect to the insertion-side channel by an amount of movement which is the same as the amount of movement detected by the movement amount detection section.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed that provide therapeutic benefit and treatment for a variety of neurologic and physiologic conditions that include obesity, urinary incontinence, and sensory system disorders.

Abstract: A variable scale medical implant deployment device comprising a variable inner diameter scale sleeve insert is provided. Also described are kits containing the variable scale medical implant deployment device and methods for deploying a medical implant into a body lumen using a variable scale medical implant deployment device.

Abstract: A medical instrument is disclosed for crushing a thrombus present in a pulmonary artery of a living body by an ultrasonic vibration. The medical instrument includes an elongated main body section capable of being inserted into an airway of the living body, and an ultrasonic oscillation section which can be inserted into the living body by the main body section and which oscillates the ultrasonic vibration inside the living body. By the medical instrument, a thrombus present in a pulmonary artery can be rapidly crushed, whereby a therapeutic effect on pulmonary embolism can be obtained.

Abstract: A debridement device having a controllable Lorentz-force actuator is disclosed. The debridement device includes a nozzle delivering a jet of debridement substance to a tissue and the jet is driven by the Lorentz-force actuator. The device may have a suction port for removing the debridement substance. A second Lorentz-force actuator can be used for each of the jet and suction. The first and second Lorentz-force actuators for the jet and suction can also be configured to provide for continuous jet injection and continuous suction. The device may include a second nozzle delivering a second jet of debridement substance to the region of tissue and the first and second jets may intersect and dissipate into a mist upon intersection to dissipate the kinetic energy of the jets. The Lorentz-force actuator may drive a reciprocating piston pump providing continuous pressure to the nozzles.

Abstract: A stent graft system for intraluminal deployment in an aorta and a branch vessel includes an aorta stent graft with a fenestration aligned with a branch vessel and a branch vessel prosthesis with a flaring portion at a proximal end and a tubular portion. When deployed, the flaring portion of the branch vessel prosthesis is retained within the aorta stent graft, and the tubular portion extends through the fenestration and into the branch vessel. The system includes at least one positional indicator, including a positional indicator associated with the branch vessel prosthesis for indicating the position of a point along the branch vessel prosthesis predetermined for optimal alignment with the fenestration during deployment.

Abstract: Stent delivery systems and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. An example stent delivery system may include an inner member having a proximal end. A sleeve may be coupled to the inner member adjacent to the proximal end. A deployment sheath may be disposed about the inner member. A gear rack assembly may be coupled to the deployment sheath. A stent may be disposed between the inner member and the deployment sheath. A handle may be coupled to the inner member and to the deployment sheath. The handle may include an actuation member. The actuation member may be coupled to the gear rack assembly so that actuation of the actuation to member shifts the longitudinal position of the gear rack assembly and the deployment sheath. An engagement mechanism may be coupled to the gear rack assembly. The engagement mechanism may be configured to engage the sleeve of the inner member so that proximal retraction of the gear rack assembly results in proximal retraction of the inner shaft.

Abstract: A surgical staple and staple cartridge for removably storing the surgical staple. The staple can be formed and/or stamped from a sheet of material. The staple can include a base and staple legs extending from the base. The base can be non-linear and/or laterally contoured intermediate the staple legs.

Abstract: This patent document discloses perfusion catheters and related methods for treating complications related to CTO interventions or dilating a vessel occlusion while maintaining a passage through the treated vessel segment. A perfusion catheter can include a balloon formed of an inflatable tube and an elongate shaft having a lumen for providing inflation fluid to, or withdrawing inflation fluid from, the balloon. The inflatable tube can be coiled in a helical manner around a central axis into a series of windings. Adjacent windings can be stacked against and bonded to each other, and an inner surface of the series of windings, when inflated, can define the passage. The elongate shaft can be eccentrically attached to a proximal portion of the balloon and the shaft's lumen can be in fluid communication with the interior of the balloon, specifically the inflatable tube. The inflatable tube can include two different polymer tubes, one slightly smaller than the other.

Abstract: A TL/T tip is made by scaling down the dimensions of an L/T tip by the ratio of the TL/T frequency to the L/T frequency so that the TL/T tip can operate by excitement from a transducer at the same frequency that would have produced L/T motion in the L/T tip. A reductive resonator may be included between the transducer and the TL/T tip.

Abstract: A vessel protector system includes an outer sheath, an inner tube disposed within the outer sheath and moveable in a longitudinal direction relative to the outer sheath and at least one protector coupled to the inner tube, each of the at least one protector having a body formed from a filtering material and extending between a leading end and trailing end coupled to the inner tube, the body having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. A snare is coupled to the leading end of the body at one end, and having a second end passing through the interior of the outer sheath, whereby the exertion of a pulling force on the second end of the snare contracts the at least one protector.

Abstract: An instrument manipulator and a robotic surgical system including an instrument manipulator are provided. In one embodiment, an instrument manipulator includes a plurality of independent actuator drive modules, each of the plurality of actuator drive modules including an actuator output, wherein each of the actuator outputs are configured to independently actuate a corresponding actuator input of a surgical instrument without force input from another actuator output. The instrument manipulator further includes a frame housing the plurality of independent actuator drive modules, the frame including a distal end from which each of the actuator outputs distally protrude for engaging the corresponding actuator inputs of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A variety of passive intragastric implant devices for obesity treatment are disclosed. Such passive devices do not autonomously change shape, but instead react within the stomach to induce satiety. The devices may provide slowed entry into the stomach, thus reducing the intake capacity. Additionally, the devices may contact areas within the stomach, such as the cardia surrounding the esophageal sphincter, to stimulate satiety-inducing nerves. Some devices combine two or more of these satiety-inducing features. Methods of implant are disclosed including compressing the devices within a delivery tube and transorally advancing the devices through the esophagus to be deployed within the stomach. Removal of the devices occurs in the reverse. The implants are formed of materials that permit the implant to be compressed into a substantially linear transoral delivery configuration and that will resist degradation over a period of at least six months within the stomach.