Abstract: A lead delivery catheter having a slittable pull ring is described. The lead delivery catheter includes a deflection wire attached to the slittable pull ring to deflect the catheter. The slittable pull ring has several ring holes arranged in a pattern. The pull ring is located distal to a tubular braid of the lead delivery catheter, and a size and pattern of the ring holes can be similar to a size and pattern of holes in the tubular braid. The structural similarity between the pull ring and the tubular braid facilitates use of a consistent cutting force to slit through the tubular braid and the pull ring of the lead delivery catheter. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Described herein are devices for cleansing the internal surface of various body cavities. The devices generally include a handle and one or more cleansing tips having different sets of cleansing surfaces. In addition to removing debris, and disrupting bacterial biofilms so as to make these bacteria more susceptible to various cleansing agents, the devices may be configured to deliver an antiseptic agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, or a fragrance to the body cavity surfaces, or deliver UV light to sanitize the surfaces. Methods for cleansing the surfaces of body cavities such as the nasal passages and vaginal cavity are also described herein. Systems including one or more cleansing devices and one or more cleansing formulations are further described.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for managing surgical instruments throughout their lifecycle include disabling a usage based device lockout and providing notifications for devices nearing a usage based lockout. A device adaptor connected inline between a surgical instrument and a power source can be configured to alter a device EEPROM to allow for additional device usage despite a usage based lockout. Notifications and user prompts may be displayed requiring a user to acknowledge that a usage based device lockout has occurred in order to avoid an attempt to use an expired device in a future procedure.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure relate to apparatuses, systems, and methods for anastomosing vascular systems in medical procedures. A pair of similar or identical coupling devices may be disposed at the ends of two vessels, either natural or synthetic. The coupling devices may be capable of hermaphroditically connecting to one another to provide a simple and secure connection which promotes growth of the vessels between the bio-absorbable coupling devices.

Abstract: An example occlusive implant is disclosed. The example occlusive implant includes an expandable framework configured to shift between a first configuration and a second expanded configuration, an occlusive member disposed along at least a portion of an outer surface of the expandable framework and a resilient member coupled to the occlusive member. Further, the resilient member is configured to keep the occlusive member taut against an outer surface of the expandable member in both the first configuration and the second configuration.

Abstract: A vascular filter system comprises a vascular filter (1), a clamp device (50), and a delivery catheter (51). The filter (1) comprises filter elements (6). When used without the clamp device (50), the filter elements (6) move from a closed state to an open state upon elapse of a predetermined period of time. In the closed state the filter elements (6) capture thrombus passing through the inferior vena cava (2). The delivery catheter (51) is employed to deliver the clamp device (50) to the filter (1) after the filter (1) has been deployed in the inferior vena cava (2). The clamp device (50) engages with the filter elements (6) of the filter (1) to clamp the filter (1) in the closed state beyond elapse of the predetermined period of time. Because of the presence of the clamp device (50), the filter elements (6) are no longer free to move from the closed state to the open state upon elapse of the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to automated systems, devices, and methods of sewing a target device such as a prosthetic implant device. The systems and methods include forming a stitch on the target device, adjusting a thread coupled to a needle used to form the stitch so that the thread is clear of (e.g., does not interfere with) a path of the needle, and applying a targeted tension to the thread to tension the stitch on the target device. The suturing process can also include providing different targeted tensions during formation of the stitch. The suturing process can also include providing different targeted tensions at different stages of the formation of the stitch to aid in forming the stitch, to clear the needle path of the thread, and/or to hold the stitch in place in preparation for the next stitch.

Abstract: The present teachings provide systems, devices, and methods for reshaping the heart and reducing valve regurgitation. A device can be positioned proximate the heart and have a delivery profile and an inflated profile. The device can have a primary cavity and a secondary cavity, and an adhesive inside the secondary cavity. An injectable medium can be injected to the primary cavity of the device. As the primary cavity is filled, the adhesive is forced out of the secondary cavity to adhere the device. The inflated device can exert pressure on the heart, change the shape of a valve annulus, and allow a better coaptation of the valve leaflets.

Abstract: A treatment of obstructive lung disease includes aiming a condensable vapor towards the airway wall, causing a band-shaped lesion to grow to a depth into the airway wall. Ablation parameters are set to control the depth of the band-shaped lesion to encompass the epithelial layer and exclude the smooth muscle layer of the airway. A wide variety of configurations of the vapor delivery are described to create ablation patterns in the airways of the patient with particular emphasis on treating chronic bronchitis.

Abstract: Devices and methods for affixing reinforcing material to a fascial incision in an abdominal wall to reinforce and augment closures thereof. The device includes first and second arms, each having a proximal end and a distal end extending away from a housing with a length therebetween. The distal end of the first arm is spaced from the distal end of the second arm such that the first and second arms are engageable with reinforcing material on opposing sides of a fascial incision. One or more fixation elements are deployable from the distal end of at least one of the first and second arms to affix the reinforcing material on opposing sides of the fascial incision.

Abstract: A balloon comprising: a center portion having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a length between the proximal end and the distal end. The center portion comprises: a first nominal diameter and a first radial modulus at the proximal end; a second nominal diameter and a second radial modulus at the distal end; further wherein, the first nominal diameter is equal to the second nominal diameter, such that, when the balloon is inflated to a nominal pressure, the center portion has a constant diameter over the length; and further wherein, the first radial modulus is smaller than the second radial modulus, such that, when the balloon is inflated above a nominal pressure, the center portion adopts a tapered shape in which the proximal end has a first stretched diameter and the distal end has a second stretched diameter, the first stretched diameter being larger than the second stretched diameter.

Abstract: Inflatable compression devices are disclosed. In some embodiments the devices provide compression to the torso of a patient, including at a pocket configured to receive a pacing device. In some embodiments at least one securing strap is displaceable with respect to a compression member. In some embodiments a compression member is displaceable relative to at least one securing strap.

Abstract: A tissue clipping device and system, and method for clipping tissue are disclosed. The tissue clipping device includes a clip with clip arms that is slidably disposed within a channel of a lock tube. The clip is designed to move between an open configuration in which distal ends of the clip arms are separated from each other for receiving tissue therebetween, and a closed configuration in which the distal ends of the clip arms are closer to each other than in the open configuration for clipping the tissue received therebetween. The tissue clipping system further includes a delivery device for delivering and deploying the tissue clipping device. The delivery device is releasably coupled to the tissue clipping device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to numerous delivery devices and methods for transcatheter prosthetic heart valve loading, deployment and delivery utilizing at least one suture. Disclosed delivery devices utilize improved suture routing methods and configurations that reduce suture tangling and also provide the ability to adjust the prosthetic heart valve expansion and contraction prior to the final release of the prosthetic heart valve from the delivery device.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically separating hair follicles includes a follicle separating unit configured to cut a skin tissue of a scalp cut from a back of a head of an alopecic patient in units of follicles and to classify follicles by a number of hairs included in each follicle in an incisional hair transplant or to classify follicles each directly extracted from the back of the head of the alopecic patient by the number of hairs included in each follicle in a non-incisional hair transplant, and a follicle separation control unit configured to control an operation of the follicle separating unit.

Abstract: A medical device includes a link, a first tool member, a second tool member and a third tool member, which each have a proximal end portion movably coupled to the link and a distal end portion. The distal end portion of the first tool member can engage a first object and be associated with a first medical function, the distal end portion of the second tool member can engage a second object and be associated with a second medical function, and the distal end portion of the third tool member can engage the first object or the second object and be associated with the first and/or second medical function. Each of the first, second and third tool members can move relative to the link independent of movement of the each of the other tool members.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical system is disclosed including an end effector, an elongate shaft, an articulation joint, and an articulation system. The end effector is rotatable relative to the elongate shaft about the articulation joint. The articulation system includes a distal plate, a first cable, a second cable, and a gear. The distal plate is configured to articulate toward a first side of the gear based on the gear rotating in a first direction and articulate toward a second side of the gear based on the gear rotating in a second direction. The end effector is configured to articulate in a first articulation direction about the articulation joint based on the distal plate articulating toward the first side of the gear. The end effector is configured to articulate in a second articulation direction about the articulation joint based on the distal plate articulating toward the second side of the gear.

Abstract: There is provided a laminate membrane for an implant, comprising: an inner layer having an inner layer thickness; a first covering layer disposed on one side of the inner layer, the first covering layer having a first covering layer thickness; and a second covering layer disposed on another side of the inner layer, the second covering layer having a second covering layer thickness.

Abstract: An ultrasonic device may include an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency, in which the system may include an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. A method of estimating a state of an end effector of the ultrasonic device may include applying a drive signal defined by a magnitude and a frequency to the ultrasonic transducer, sweeping the frequency of the drive signal from below a first resonance to above the first resonance of the electromagnetic ultrasonic system, measuring and recording, impedance/admittance circle variables Re, Ge, Xe, and Be, comparing, the measured impedance/admittance circle variables Re, Ge, Xe, and Be to reference impedance/admittance circle variables Rref, Gref, Xref, and Bref, and determining, a state or condition of the end effector based on the result of the comparison. An electromechanical ultrasonic system may include a control circuit to effect the method.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and establishing access to the renal capsule. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices and methods for performing a percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) procedure accurately and efficiently while minimizing exposure of the medical professional to harmful radiation.