Abstract: An occlusive device includes a frame element having a distal end and a proximal end, and a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration. The occlusive device also includes an occlusive face having a peripheral edge, where the occlusive face positioned toward the proximal end of the frame element. The occlusive device also includes at least one anchor positioned at the peripheral edge of the occlusive face, where the at least one anchor extends at an acute angle to the peripheral edge of the occlusive face.

Abstract: A delivery system and method for delivering a prosthetic heart valve to the aortic valve. The system includes a delivery catheter having a steering mechanism thereon for delivering a balloon-expandable prosthetic heart valve to the aortic valve through an introducer passing into the left ventricle through its apex. The introducer may have a more floppy distal section than a proximal section to reduce trauma to the heart wall while preserving good operating field stability. The delivery catheter includes a deflecting segment just proximal to a distal balloon to facilitate positioning of the prosthetic heart valve in the proper orientation. A trigger in a catheter handle may be coupled to a deflection wire that actuates the deflecting segment, while a slider in the handle controls retraction of a valve pusher. The prosthetic heart valve may be installed over the existing calcified leaflets, and a pre-dilation valvuloplasty procedure may also be utilized.

Abstract: A cranial anchor system configured to attach to an opening in a cranium includes an anchor member. The anchor member has a middle anchor portion and a lower anchor portion coupled to and disposed in a downward direction relative to the middle anchor portion. The lower anchor portion has a plurality of contact members, each of which have a leg that extends at least partially in the downward direction, a tab connected to the leg, and a rib disposed between the leg and the tab. The system further includes an outer sheath and an inner sheath disposed within the outer sheath and slidable relative to the outer sheath.

Abstract: A percutaneous device including a temporary valve attached to a sheath, the sheath having an inverting section for delivery and removal thereof from a blood vessel. The sheath is inverted for delivery, housing the valve between inverted layers thereof. To deploy said valve, the sheath is everted to position the temporary valve on an outer surface thereof. The temporary valve and sheath are reversibly movable between inverted and deployed configurations. Upon eversion, the temporary valve assumes a radially expanded canopy shape having an outer diameter selected to contact the vessel wall and allow blood flow in only one direction. The temporary valve may be removed by releasing one end of the valve from the sheath, flattening the temporary valve along the longitudinal axis of the sheath. Also provided is a temporary valve system comprising a dilator for inverting and everting the sheath, said dilator being removably connected to the sheath.

Abstract: A transluminal sheath is advanced into a femoral vein of a subject, through an inferior vena cava of the subject, into a right atrium of a heart of the subject, and transseptally into a left atrium of the heart. A surrounding-sheath is advanced out of a distal end of the transluminal sheath, into the left atrium, and toward a commissure of a mitral valve of the heart. A commissural helix is implanted at the commissure by advancing the commissural helix out of the surrounding-sheath and through the commissure into a left ventricle of the heart, such that the commissural helix wraps around at least some chordae tendineae at the commissure and facilitates sealing of the commissure. Subsequently to the implantation of the commissural helix, the surrounding-sheath is extracted from the heart. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A robotic surgery system includes a mobile base, a robotic device mounted on the mobile base, a surgical tool positioned at a distal end of the robotic device, an optical tracking emitter/detector mounted on the mobile base and configured to track an anatomical feature, and circuitry configured to characterize a pose of the surgical tool relative to the anatomical feature based on data from the optical tracking emitter/detector.

Abstract: A method for treating a heart valve involves delivering a catheter into a ventricle of a heart, advancing a coil from the catheter, rotating the coil at least partially around a papillary muscle of the ventricle, embedding a distal end of the coil in tissue of the ventricle, and manipulating a suture coupled to the coil to adjust a position of the papillary muscle.

Abstract: A vascular filter device (1) comprises a plurality of filter elements (6) which are movable from a capturing position to an open position upon elapse of a predetermined period of time. In the capturing position the filter elements (6) are configured to capture thrombus passing through the inferior vena cava. In the open position the filter elements (6) are configured to facilitate unrestricted blood flow. The filter elements (6) are biased towards the open position. The filter (1) comprises a holder member (10) to temporarily hold the filter elements (6) in the capturing position until elapse of the predetermined period of time. The holder member (10) comprises a biostable wire element (12) which extends through an opening (13) in each filter element (6), and a biodegradable/bioabsorbable stop element (11). Upon biodegrading/bioabsorbing of the stop element (11), the filter elements (6) are free to move from the capturing position to the open position.

Abstract: An example medical device delivery system is disclosed. The delivery system includes an inflation shaft having a first lumen, a second lumen and a distal end region, the distal end region including an elongated tip. The delivery system also includes a detachment shaft extending along a portion of the inflation shaft. The delivery system also include a delivery shaft having a proximal end region, a distal end region and a lumen extending therein. The delivery system also includes an occlusive member positioned within at least a portion of the lumen of the delivery shaft, wherein the occlusive member is configured to expand and seal the opening of a left atrial appendage. Further, a portion of the elongated tip is removeably engaged with the occlusive member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic tip and methods of operating the same. The ultrasonic tip comprises a shaft including a base and a flexible body. The body comprises a first portion and a second portion. The body is coupled to the base at the first portion and extends from the first portion to the second portion along a longitudinal axis. The second portion includes a cutting portion comprising a neck, and a head extending radially from the longitudinal axis. The head is coupled to the neck. A circular aperture is disposed between the head and the neck to define an inner circumferential surface. The head and the neck form an outer circumferential surface comprising a plurality of cutting teeth, the outer circumferential surface having a first thickness at the head that is greater than a second thickness at the neck.

Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for suturing tissue is provided that includes a body having a proximate end and a distal end. A suturing head is coupled to the distal end of the body, including a first set of curved needles, a second set of curved needles, and a plurality of sutures. A first end of a suture is coupled to one of the curved needles of the first set. A second end of the suture is coupled to one of the curved needles of the second set. The curved needles of the first set are oppositely oriented to the curved needles of the second set. The suturing head can be positioned between two substantially parallel sections of tissue. An actuator is coupled to the body to deploy the first and second sets of curved needles.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a device and method for managing urinary incontinence. The device includes a platform, a balloon, and a valve. The platform and balloon can include a silicone material, a thermoplastic material, and an adhesive and/or a cement for sealing the urethra. The thermoplastic and silicone materials can soften at the body temperature so that their shape can be adapted to fit the three-dimensional contour of surfaces of the urethra. The balloon seals the internal orifice of the urethra, and the platform can block the leakage associated with the balloon. The valve permits selective urine voiding. The method includes inserting the device into the urethra and the bladder. The method can also include inflating the balloon. The method can further include pulling the balloon so that the balloon is in sealing contact with the neck of the bladder and moving the platform to a suitable position for sealing the urethra.

Abstract: An atherectomy system that utilizes an anchoring balloon with a rotary debulker and a crossing balloon to remove or debulk lesions formed on the interior wall surface of a body vessel. The system may include a first balloon coupled to a first tubular member, a rotary debulker coupled to a second tubular member, a second balloon coupled to both the third tubular member and the axially moveable fourth tubular member such that the second balloon is disposed inside the third tubular member. Methods for operating this device are also provided.

Abstract: A follicle container includes a receptacle to hold a hair follicle extracted from skin by a follicle extractor; a conduit, coupleable with the follicle extractor, to convey the extracted hair follicle toward the receptacle; and an injector to aerosolize and inject an irrigant into the conduit while the extracted hair follicle travels toward the receptacle. By injecting an irrigant into the conduit, the extracted follicle is less likely to be damaged on its journey to the receptacle. The irrigant lubricates the interior wall of the conduit and thus reduces friction between the extracted follicle and the wall as the follicle travels in the conduit. The irrigant also washes the interior of the conduit and keeps the extracted follicle moist and flexible. Flexibility allows the follicle to more easily suffer without damage bumps with the wall of the conduit and/or other extracted follicles as the follicle travels in the conduit.

Abstract: Tools and methods are provided for delivering a device to a native valve of a patient's heart. A catheter can include a flexible tube, a plurality of links, and a control wire. Applying tension to the control wire pulls on the links, which causes links to bend the flexible tube.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described herein for positioning an epicardial anchor device and measuring the load of a tether extending from a prosthetic heart valve and coupled to the epicardial anchor device. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a handle assembly coupled to an elongate member and a docking member coupled to a distal end of the elongate member. The docking member can be releasably coupled to an epicardial anchor device configured to secure a tether extending from a prosthetic heart valve implanted with a heart at a location on an exterior of a ventricular wall of the heart. A force sensor device is coupled to the handle assembly and can measure a force exerted on the force sensor device. The force is associated with a tension of the tether extending through the elongate member and handle assembly.

Abstract: Clamping heads are disclosed with epilators and clamping hairs, and can include a first clamping unit and at least two spring plates arranged adjacent to each other on a plane traversing an axis of rotation of a stopper plate, each of said spring plate having a first spring plate clamping surface, and said stopper plate is adjacent to said first clamping unit and having a stopper plate clamping surface opposing said first spring plate clamping surface of each said spring plate, such that during rotation of said stopper plate relative to said first clamping unit, said first clamping unit reciprocally moves away from and towards said stopper plate such that a first space between said first spring plate clamping surface and said stopper plate clamping surface opens and closes for clamping hair.

Abstract: This invention relates to the design of tissue covering elements for use in vacuum assisted tissue apposition systems, wherein the geometry of the covering elements favours the application of contractile forces over compressive or extensive forces at the tissue interface.

Abstract: A device for the fragmentation of a calculus includes a probe, and a drive unit for deflecting the probe along the longitudinal extension thereof. The drive unit includes a first drive element for periodically deflecting the probe and a second drive element for the pulsed deflection of the probe. The drive unit is configured such that periodic deflection and pulsed deflection can be superimposed.

Abstract: A device for performing tricuspid regurgitation operation is proposed. The device for performing tricuspid regurgitation operation is easily inserted through the inferior vena cava, the tricuspid valve, and the pulmonary artery in sequence in order to treat tricuspid regurgitation (TR) which is a disease where blood from the right ventricle flows back into the right atrium through an empty space (i.e., orifice) formed by incomplete closing of the tricuspid valve (TV) which is positioned between the right atrium and the right ventricle of the heart. The device includes: a fixing member for pulmonary artery installed in the pulmonary artery; a fixing member for inferior vena cava installed in the inferior vena cava; a connecting tube connecting the fixing member for the pulmonary artery and the fixing member for the inferior vena cava to each other; and a blocking part passing obliquely through the tricuspid valve.