Abstract: An orally administrable implement for expanding in a stomach of an animal, including a mammal, to fill a space in the stomach, is provided for weight control. The implement includes: a fluid-permeable expandable container having a first dimension and a second dimension; and a plurality of clusters comprising a swellable material contained within the container and capable of swelling when contacted with a fluid; whereby when the implement is ingested, the fluid in the stomach enters the container causing the clusters therein to swell and the container to expand from the first dimension to the second dimension.

Abstract: The tissue retrieval system deploys a tissue bag at the surgical site. The bag is supported by the system as tissue is placed within the bag and is closed to isolate the collected tissue and allow the bag and collected tissue to be removed from the body. The bag can be reopened and re-closed as desired through use of a guide bead and cord. The bead also facilitates removal of the collected tissue.

Abstract: Described are devices, methods, and systems useful in the treatment of fistulae, and in certain embodiments those having openings extending into the alimentary canal, such as anorectal fistulae. Illustratively, an anorectal fistula can be treated by placing a volumetric construct within the primary opening of the fistula. In certain embodiments, the volumetric construct can include a rolled remodelable material processed to form a substantially unitary body. Advantageous such remodelable materials can include collagenous extracellular matrix materials, such as small intestine submucosa.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument includes a control wire having a push rod at its distal end and an end effector assembly having first and second effector elements such as scissors blades mounted on a clevis. The effector elements are operated by a cam-pin on the push rod riding in cam-slots defined in the effector elements. According to one aspect of the invention, the effector elements are symmetrically opened even when the push rod is canted relative to the clevis. According to another aspect of the invention, the effector elements can be rotated into a closed configuration that minimizes the distal dimension across the effector elements. In addition, the effector elements, when in the closed configuration, can rotate together to facilitate insertion of the end effector into an entry portion of an endoscope.

Abstract: Metal foils, wires, and seamless tubes with increased mechanical strength are provided. As opposed to wrought materials that are made of a single metal or alloy, these materials are made of two or more layers forming a laminate structure. Laminate structures are known to increase mechanical strength of sheet materials such as wood and paper products and are used in the area of thin films to increase film hardness, as well as toughness. Laminate metal foils have not been used or developed because the standard metal forming technologies, such as rolling and extrusion, for example, do not lend themselves to the production of laminate structures. Vacuum deposition technologies can be developed to yield laminate metal structures with improved mechanical properties. In addition, laminate structures can be designed to provide special qualities by including layers that have special properties such as superelasticity, shape memory, radio-opacity, corrosion resistance etc.

Abstract: An intraocular lens insertion device and a cartridge which enable the intraocular lens to be inserted into an eye more stably and easily than ever before. A supporting portion 102 of an intraocular lens 100 arranged on a lens-advancing side in a lens-advancing direction x is pressed against a protrusion 21 so as to be bent backward. Thus, releasing the intraocular lens 100 from a nozzle portion 13 is allowed to begin with the releasing of a curved portion of the supporting portion 102 that has become U-shaped and hard to move freely. As a result, there can be provided an intraocular lens insertion device and a cartridge which enable the intraocular lens 100 to be inserted into an eye more steadily and easily than ever before.

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 liquid injection device includes: a chamber to which the liquid to be injected is supplied and the injection nozzle is connected; a pump that pumps the liquid into the chamber; a volume varying unit that varies the volume of the chamber by being deformed according to a drive voltage applied thereto; and a drive voltage applying unit that applies the drive voltage having a predetermined voltage waveform to the volume varying unit in a state in which the liquid is supplied to the chamber, wherein the pump is a unit that pumps the liquid to the chamber in a state involving the pressure variations, and the drive voltage applying unit is a unit that applies the drive voltage to the volume varying unit while compensating the influence applied by the pressure variations of the pumped to the chamber on injection by varying the voltage waveform of the drive voltage.

Abstract: Vitrectomy probes and system related thereto are disclosed herein. The disclosure describes vitrectomy probes having an adjustable cutting port size. The cutting port size may be adjusted by altering a position of a stroke limiter via a stepper motor. Various example features are described for adjusting the size of the cutting port.

Abstract: Apparatus for advancing a vascular implant into a blood vessel. The apparatus comprises a first elongate member, the first elongate member having sufficient column strength to function as a pusher member; and a second elongate member, the second elongate member being thinner than the first elongate member and extending to a distal end located at a first point which is at or near a distal end of the first elongate member. The elongate members form an implant retaining portion while the distal end of the second elongate member is located at the first point. The implant retaining portion is located proximal of the first point. The implant retaining portion comprises a space located between the elongate members and configured for receiving an implant portion, with the first elongate member on one side of the space and the second elongate member on another side. The implant retaining portion further comprises a proximal side and a distal side which further circumscribe the space.

Abstract: Vitrectomy probes and system related thereto are disclosed herein. The disclosure describes various example vitrectomy probes having an adjustable cutting port size. Various example features are described for adjusting the size of the cutting port. Further, the disclosure provides examples for adjusting the size of the cutter port while the vitrectomy probe is in operation.

Abstract: An angioplasty device has a filter associated with it to capture embolic particles that may be broken free during an angioplasty procedure. In one embodiment the embolic filter has a frame in which struts are connected to end rings and to each other by a plurality of interconnected oval members. In another embodiment the device includes an actuator at the proximal end of an actuator wire. By rotating a knob on the device, the physician can smoothly tension the wire by a predetermined amount to prevent the filter from opening too much or too little. Various other embodiments of filter frames are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hair implant anchor usable with a hair implant anchor deployment device for inserting one or more hairs into a tissue portion is provided. The hair implant anchor includes a holder configured to grip one or more hairs and one or more selectably deployable leaves formed with the holder. When the anchor is in its first configuration prior to implantation of the hairs, the leaves are constrained by the deployment device in a position generally parallel to an insertion axis, and in a second configuration, subsequent to implantation of the hair, the leaves adopt a position extended away from the insertion axis, thereby securing the holder and hair gripped thereby within the tissue portion. The invention also provides a method for use of the anchor, a hair implantation system, a multi-hair implantation system and a hair implantation assembly.

Abstract: A motive device for use in magnetically sensitive environments includes a front supporting plate, a rear supporting plate, and at least one guiding rail extending longitudinally between the front and rear supporting plates and supported thereby. At least one module is supported by the guiding rail, is located longitudinally between the front and rear supporting plates, and is configured to provide at least one of translational and rotational motions to a moved structure extending from the at least one module longitudinally toward and beyond the front supporting plate. The translational motion is guided by motion of the module between the front and rear supporting plates longitudinally along the at least one guiding rail. The module provides the at least one of translational and rotational motions to the moved structure entirely pneumatically. The structures comprising the motive device are all made entirely from non-ferromagnetic materials.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a single sleeve that constrains an expandable device to a dimension suitable for endoluminal delivery of the device to a treatment site, and further allows expansion of the device toward an outer peripheral dimension that is smaller than a fully deployed outer peripheral dimension to allow positioning of the device at the treatment site prior to full deployment and expansion of the device at the treatment site.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a single sleeve that constrains an expandable device to a dimension suitable for endoluminal delivery of the device to a treatment site, and further allows expansion of the device toward an outer peripheral dimension that is smaller than a fully deployed outer peripheral dimension to allow positioning of the device at the treatment site prior to full deployment and expansion of the device at the treatment site.

Abstract: An endoscopic device includes a longitudinal member, a pair of jaws installed at a distal end of the longitudinal member and configured to be freely opened and closed, a first grasping member supported by a first jaw of the pair of jaws, a second grasping member supported by a second jaw of the pair of jaws, the second body having a wire shape, flexibility, and being curved in a loop shape, a long operating transmission member having a distal end portion connected to the pair of jaws and installed to advance and retreat along a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal member, and an open-close operating portion installed at a proximal end portion of the operating transmission member and configured to be manipulated to open and close the pair of jaws.

Abstract: Described are devices, methods, and systems useful in the treatment of fistulae, and in certain embodiments those having openings extending into the alimentary canal, such as anorectal fistulae. Illustratively, an anorectal fistula can be treated by placing a volumetric construct within the primary opening of the fistula. In certain embodiments, the volumetric construct can include a rolled remodelable material processed to form a substantially unitary body. Advantageous such remodelable materials can include collagenous extracellular matrix materials, such as small intestine submucosa.

Abstract: An anchor assembly configured to locate and anchor body tissue surrounding an opening in the body tissue. The anchor assembly can include a plurality of anchor elements. Each anchor element can include an elongate portion and an anchor portion extending from the elongate portion. The elongate portion can be configured to be manipulated by a user. The anchor portion can have a contracted configuration capable of passing through the opening in the body tissue and can have an expanded configuration capable of anchoring the body tissue surrounding the opening. The anchor portion and the elongate portion can be integrally formed from a single wire.

Abstract: Heart valve prosthesis recapture devices and methods for recapture are disclosed, which can be used for recapturing a partially deployed heart valve prosthesis. The recapture device comprises a recapture sleeve, configured to envelop and collapse a partially deployed heart valve prosthesis. The recapture sleeve comprises a distal end, configured to be securely attached to a guide wire, and a proximal end, comprising an opening along a longitudinal axis of the recapture sleeve. The opening can be configured to expand as it engages the heart valve prosthesis, and be biased toward a closed configuration. An attachment element can interface with the distal end of the recapture sleeve and be securely attached to a guide wire, such as by crimping. The recapture sleeve can include a support structure comprising at least one spine and a plurality of ribs.