Abstract: Embolic coils with detachable segments that are separated by detachment capsules that are thermolytically degradable such that varying lengths of coil may be implanted into a vascular malformation to occlude same. The capsules are radiotransparent when compared to the adjoining coil segments to the location of the segments is easily seen. The capsules further include protruding electrical contacts that make positive contact with terminals on a delivery catheter. The terminals on the delivery catheter serve as markers so the relationship between the detachment capsules and the terminals is easily visible under x-ray.

Abstract: A heart valve annulus repair device having a tissue engaging member and a plurality of anchors. The tissue engaging member includes a loop of wire. Each of the anchors has a pointy front end and a back end and a slot that runs in a front-to-back direction. The anchors are distributed about the loop of wire with the front ends of the plurality of anchors facing the heart valve annulus and with the loop of wire passing through the slots. The device further includes means for implanting the anchors into the heart valve annulus tissue so that the tissue engaging member becomes affixed to the heart valve annulus.

Abstract: An aneurysm implant support device for treating an aneurysm at a bifurcation can include a body having a tubular lattice extending from an upper body section, through a mid body section, and to a lower body section. The upper body section can be sized, shaped, and otherwise configured for implantation in an aneurysm sac. The upper body section can include support elements positioned at the aneurysm neck which inhibit the embolic implants from exiting the aneurysm. The mid body section can have two large cell openings substantially larger than the cell openings over a majority of the tubular lattice. The two large cell openings can be placed across passageways from a stem blood vessel to branch blood vessels of the bifurcation. The lower body section can be sized, shaped, and otherwise configured to anchor within the stem blood vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, method, and apparatus for harvesting follicular units from an epidermis. The disclosed apparatus includes a hollow tubular structure having a central axis and an end structure that is attached to an end of the hollow tubular structure. The end structure terminates distally at a substantially flat annular face that is substantially in a plane perpendicular to the central axis. The flat annular face has a sharp outer edge.

Abstract: A surgical clamp is disclosed. The surgical clamp comprises a two-piece body comprising atop jaw housing that inter-fits with a bottom jaw housing; the top jaw housing comprising a top jaw; the bottom jaw housing comprising a bottom jaw; the inter-fitting top jaw housing and bottom jaw housing disposed for movement relative to one another; a bias to the top jaw housing and bottom jaw housing apart; and a lever moveable between a lock position and an open position and the lever disposed to prevent opening movement of the top jaw housing relative to the bottom jaw housing and to allow graduated relative closing movement of the top jaw housing relative to the bottom jaw housing in the lock position and to allow opening and closing movement of the top jaw housing relative to the bottom jaw housing in the open position.

Abstract: A tissue removal device, and methods of using the same, are described. An exemplary detachable, handheld tissue removal device comprises a hand piece and a blade assembly removably attachable to the hand piece. The blade assembly includes a rotatable resection member driven to rotate and surgically remove tissue from a target tissue site, and a coupling assembly including a locking member to detachably couple the blade assembly to the hand piece and operatively enable or disable the rotation of the blade assembly relative to the hand piece. The rotation of the blade assembly causes a change in rotating angle of the blade assembly. The coupling assembly can secure the rotating angle of the blade assembly during the tissue resection procedure.

Abstract: Devices described herein include an actuated clot retrieval catheter system. The system includes a catheter having a metallic region positioned at the distal tip of the catheter. The metallic region includes at least two abutting metals in a bimetallic coil configuration. The bimetallic coil expands to form a seal with the inner wall of a vessel. In some examples, the bimetallic coil also captures a clot for removal from the vessel. The bimetallic coil is manufactured from metal-based materials having different thermal expansion coefficients. Conductive wires extend along a longitudinal axis of the catheter from an electrical current controller to at least a portion of the metallic region. Electrical current to the metallic region causes the bimetallic coil to transition from a tight configuration to an expanded configuration and remove the clot.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument including an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, a shaft assembly that defines a longitudinal axis proximally extending from the end effector and an ultrasonic transducer assembly proximally extending from an acoustic waveguide in communication with the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic surgical instrument also includes a housing proximally projecting from the shaft assembly such that the ultrasonic transducer assembly is positioned within the housing and a carrier moveably supports the ultrasonic transducer assembly along the longitudinal axis. The carrier collectively moves the ultrasonic transducer assembly, the acoustic waveguide, and the end effector relative to the housing from a proximal, retracted position to a distal, extended position, for inserting the ultrasonic blade into a patient.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed comprising a control system and a strain gage circuit. The operation of the control system is modifiable by an input from the strain gage circuit.

Abstract: The present application provides a connecting and releasing structure for a balloon system, a balloon system comprising the connecting and releasing structure, and a method for fabricating the same. The connecting and releasing structure is used for connection and release of a catheter and a balloon. The connecting and releasing structure comprises a self-sealing valve positioned on the balloon. The self-sealing valve comprises a catheter connecting port. The catheter passes through the catheter connecting port and is sealedly connected to the self-sealing valve. The self-sealing valve is completely or partially bonded to the inner wall of the balloon. When the catheter is removed after delivery of a filler, the self-sealing valve is not pulled out of the balloon, and thus leakage of the filler can be prevented.

Abstract: A surgical clamp jaw is disclosed, having an inner profile and a deflection control profile opposite the inner profile. In one embodiment, the inner profile has a first substantially concave profile in an unclamped position and a second substantially flat profile in a clamped position. In one embodiment, the deflection control profile has one or more sets of corresponding abutment surfaces, at least one set of which is not contacting each other when the inner profile is in the unclamped position and which is contacting each other when the inner profile is in the clamped position. In one embodiment, the surgical clamp jaw defines one or more flexion assistance voids, wherein at least one of the one or more flexion assistance voids is in contact with a gap between one of the one or more sets of corresponding abutment surfaces.

Abstract: A system effectively narrows a patulous Eustachian tube (ET) of a patient with a guide catheter, instrument, and insert. The guide catheter includes a shaft, a lumen and a distal end configured to provide access the ET when the guide catheter is inserted into a head of the patient. The instrument comprises a shaft. The insert comprises a body configured to radially expand and retract between a non-expanded state and an expanded state. The insert is sized and shaped to be received within the first lumen when in the non-expanded state and is operable to expand to the expanded state to substantially reduce an effective diameter of the ET.

Abstract: A catheter for actively scoring or slicing a lesion. A catheter body includes first and second lateral openings. A selectively deployable cutter is connected to the catheter body. The cutter has a retracted configuration in which it does not perform a slicing or scoring function, such as while tracking through the vasculature, and a deployed configuration for slicing or scoring an obstruction. The cutter may include a plurality of retractable blades, such that when deployed, each blade projects in a different direction, such as from one of the lateral openings. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A uterine fibroid tissue removal device includes an inner tube disposed within an outer tube and configured to be translated and rotated relative to the outer tube, and a separately formed unitary distal tip member attached to a distal end of the inner tube, such that the distal tip member translates and rotates relative to the outer tube along with the inner tube, wherein a distal facing open cutting end of the distal tip member in fluid communication with an axial lumen of the distal tip member translates across a tissue resection window in a sidewall of the outer tube so as to sever tissue extending therethrough, the distal tip member axial lumen being in fluid communication with an axial lumen of the inner tube, wherein an outer diameter of the distal tip member is greater than an outer diameter of the inner tube.

Abstract: A barbed suture is provided. The barbed suture includes an elongate body and at least one barb extending from the elongate body. The elongate body defines a recess adjacent the at least one barb. Also provided is a method of making a barbed suture. The method includes the steps of providing a suture nest and a punch apparatus configured for operable engagement with the suture nest, loading a suture through the suture nest, engaging the punch apparatus with the suture nest, and disengaging the punch apparatus with the suture nest.

Abstract: A medical device is disclosed, the medical device includes an outer tubular member made from one or more rigid materials having a first bend element including a distal end portion of the outer tubular member and a second bend element proximal to the first bend element in a natural state; and a treatment member on the distal end portion configured to grind a substance inside a body lumen, and wherein an outer diameter of the treatment member is larger than an outer diameter of the outer tubular member, and a difference between the outer diameter of the treatment member and the outer diameter of the outer tubular member is less than a thickness of a blood vessel wall.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for applying a bioadhesive substance to an internal surface of the eye, such as the retina, can include an outer sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end, a passageway extending along a length of the elongate body and an opening at the distal end of the elongate body, an applicator tip including an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an applicator portion coupled with the distal end of the elongate body, and a substance supply lumen extending along a length of the device through which a bioadhesive substance can pass so that the bioadhesive substance can be applied to at least the applicator portion of the applicator tip. Some embodiments of the device can also have a source of the bioadhesive substance in fluid communication with at least the substance supply lumen.

Abstract: A first anchor is anchored inside a coronary sinus of a heart of a subject. A second anchor can be driven into a tricuspid annulus of the heart. A distal portion of the second anchor can be disposed adjacent and parallel to a center portion of the second anchor. The second anchor can be seated against a surface of the annulus, for example, such that (i) the distal portion is disposed perpendicular to the center portion, (ii) the center portion extends through the annulus, and (iii) a proximal portion of the second anchor is disposed in the atrium. A distance between the first and second anchors can be reduced by applying tension to a tensioning member coupled to the first anchor and the proximal portion of the second anchor. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for transplanting follicles and other cells from one location on a patient to another location on the same or different patient without the need to shave or cut hair extending from the follicles or cells.

Abstract: An occlusion device includes a sealing disc, and a fixing frame connected to the sealing disc and located on one side of the sealing disc. The fixing frame includes a connecting portion connected to the sealing disc and at least one supporting body. The at least one supporting body radiates from the connecting portion and extends towards a proximal end to form a plurality of supporting sections. The supporting section is provided with at least one first restraint portion. The fixing frame is provided with at least one second restraint portion. The occlusion device further includes at least one restraint member. The restraint member is connected to the first and second restraint portion so a portion of the restraint member between the first and second restraint portion generates a restraint force that restrains movement of at least the supporting section.