Abstract: A device for introduction into a body vessel includes a shaft, a balloon positioned at the distal end of the shaft, a guidewire disposed longitudinally within the shaft to receive a guidewire during use, a balloon disposed at the distal end of the shaft, and longitudinal scoring wires to score a vascular lesion attached to the distal end of the shaft. The scoring wires are disposed over the balloon and disposed within the shaft. The proximal ends are welded or otherwise affixed to a spring mounted in the handle. The balloon expands when fluid is delivered to the balloon through the inflation lumen. This expansion pushes the scoring wires against the vascular lesion. The scoring wires attach to a source of vibrations. The scoring wires are made of a helical coil.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include drive units and other effective types of movement inducing devices that include load sensing mechanisms capable of giving feedback to a user when a force is being applied to the devices during use. The applied force for which monitoring is provided may be one or more of a lateral force transverse to a longitudinal rotating axis of a surgical blade, burr, or other mechanism, a force applied along the longitudinal rotating axis, and other forces.

Abstract: An ultrasonic device may include an electromechanical ultrasonic system having a resonant frequency, the system including a transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. A method of driving the blade may include determining a tissue type contacting the blade, setting current delivered to the transducer to achieve a desired blade temperature, and setting a desired period during which the desired temperature is applied to the tissue. The tissue type may be determined by measuring an impedance of the transducer, comparing an impedance measurement data point to a reference data point, and classifying the impedance measurement data point based on a result of the comparison. Alternatively, the tissue type may be determined by applying a drive signal to the transducer, sweeping the frequency of the drive signal from below to above a resonance of the ultrasonic system, measuring and recording impedance/admittance variables, and comparing the measured variables to reference variables.

Abstract: A reciprocating drive system for a surgical instrument can include a housing defining a central axis. An inner surface of the housing can define a plurality of helical threads extending along the housing. The reciprocating drive system can include a shaft member defining a motive coupler configured to receive torque from a motive source to rotate the shaft member, and a first follower engaged with, and extending radially outward from, the shaft member, and configured to correspondingly engage the plurality of helical threads, such that rotation of the shaft member translates the shaft member laterally along the central axis.

Abstract: Described herein are atherectomy catheters, systems and methods that include longitudinally displaceable drive shafts that drive actuation of one or more cutters at the distal end of the catheter. The catheters described herein may include one or more imaging sensors for imaging before, during or after cutting tissue. In some variations the imaging sensor may be rotated around the perimeter of the catheter independently of the rotation of the cutter. Also describe herein are imaging catheters that may be used without cutters.

Abstract: Implants described herein can be used as flow diverters and can generally include a plurality of twisting struts extending from a central node. The twisting struts can be twisted along a long axis of each strut. The implant can have a proximal portion affixed to the central node and extending radially from the central node. The twisting struts can have a distal portion. The long axis can be disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion of the twisting struts. The implant can have a collapsed configuration to be delivered through a catheter into an aneurysm. The implant can have an expanded configuration to anchor within the aneurysm.

Abstract: In one aspect, devices for image guided laparoscopic surgery are disclosed. Such devices can comprise a shaft, a surgical component, a handle, and one or more sensors. The shaft comprises a proximal end and a terminal end that opposes the proximal end. The surgical component is disposed at the terminal end of the shaft, and the handle extends from the proximal end of the shaft. The handle comprises one or more actuating components configured to actuate the surgical component. The one or more sensors are disposed on or over the handle, and are configured to detect and/or track movement of the handle and/or actuation of one or more of the actuating components.

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: The present disclosure provides flexible medical scissors, including a main body, a lifting mechanism, an adjusting mechanism, a flexible sleeve, and a shearing mechanism. The flexible medical scissors provide the lifting mechanism at a top of a handle, the finger sleeve in the lifting mechanism sleeves a ring finger of a user, when using, the finger sleeve is pulled to enable the pull rope to pull the rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft drives the movable cutter to rotate, so that a shearing function is realized. The adjusting mechanism is disposed at a bottom of the handle, three groups of sliding grooves are formed in the adjusting mechanism, and sliding columns are respectively disposed in the sliding grooves.

Abstract: A left atrial appendage occluder with advanced connection manner and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The left atrial appendage occluder includes a sealing portion and an anchoring portion. Each of the sealing portion and the anchoring portion is provided with a connection part formed by converging a corresponding shape of the sealing portion or the anchoring portion respectively. The connection parts of the sealing portion and the anchoring portion extend toward each other to be fixed and misaligned with each other.

Abstract: An airway assist device and methods of making and using an airway assist device to assist in opening an airway or removing fluid or material obstructing an airway of a subject.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treatment of a patient's vasculature are described. Embodiments may include a permeable implant such as a permeable shell or mesh having a radially constrained state configured for delivery within a catheter lumen, an expanded state, and a plurality of elongate filaments that are woven together. The permeable implant may include a stiffer proximal portion that is configured to sit at the neck of an aneurysm. The stiffer proximal portion may include additional mesh layers on either the inside or the outside of a first permeable shell. The distal portion of the device may be softer and deformable.

Abstract: A stiffening device is disclosed that is adapted to cooperate with a flexible kidney stone extractor. The stiffening device includes a tube having a lumen sized to receive a part of flexible kidney stone extractor; a diversion member having a channel that is configured to receive a part of the flexible kidney stone extractor; and a connector coupled between the tube and the diversion member. The connector allows the channel of the diversion member to communicate with the lumen of the tube. A proximal portion of the connector is connected to the diversion member and a distal portion of the connector is connected to the tube.

Abstract: Novel intraocular lenses comprising at least one haptic having a shape memory alloy with a transition temperature substantially higher than the human body temperature, the shape memory alloy being post-surgically, selectively adjustable with a laser beam.

Abstract: A suture needle having a bendable region includes an elongated body having a proximal section, a distal section, and a bendable region located between the proximal and distal sections. The bendable region has a reduced cross-section and/or is made of a superelastic material that is more flexible than the proximal and distal sections of the elongated body for enabling the suture needle to transform from a first configuration having a larger dimension to a second configuration having a smaller dimension. When in the first configuration, the suture needle is larger than an inner diameter of an elongated conduit of a trocar. In order to pass the suture needle through the elongated conduit of the trocar, the elongated body is bent at the bendable region so that the suture needle is smaller than the inner diameter of the elongated conduit of the trocar.

Abstract: A positioning unit for guiding a medical object such as a needle includes a securing unit by which the positioning unit may be arranged on the medical object. In order to enable an improved guidance for the medical object, an indicating element with a plurality of indicators is provided. The indicating element is arranged in a fixed position relative to the securing unit. An acquisition unit acquires an item of movement information. The positioning unit is configured to control the plurality of indicators dependent upon the movement information.

Abstract: Tether apparatus may be used to replace an implanted lead extension with a replacement lead extension without tunneling or the use of tunneling tools.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hybrid stent having a balloon-expandable portion joined to a self-expanding portion. The hybrid stent is capable of withstanding the forces applied by delivery. Delivery systems for deploying a hybrid stent are described, as are methods of using such delivery systems.

Abstract: Instruments and methods for harvesting a tissue structure such that a tendon graft are provided. In general, the surgical instrument includes an elongate shaft and an end effector pivotally coupled to a distal end thereof. The end effector defines a tissue seating passage configured to seat therethrough a portion of the tendon when the end effector is in use. The end effector is configured to be manipulated such that either its first or second end is positioned as a leading end. A method for using the end effector to harvest a tendon includes using the end effector to strip and cut the tendon at one end thereof when the first end of the end effector is a leading end, manipulating the end effector such that its second end becomes the leading end, and using the end effector to strip and cut the tendon at another, opposite end thereof.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a body assembly and an end effector. The body assembly includes a control module, an orientation sensor communicatively coupled to the control module, and an energy component. The energy component is operable to activate the end effector at a plurality of energy settings. A storage device is communicatively coupled to the control module and includes a plurality of gesture profiles and corresponding energy settings. The control module is configured to set the energy setting of the energy component to a corresponding energy setting in response to a correlation between the output of the orientation sensor and a gesture profile. In some versions, the control module modifies the energy setting based upon output from a force sensor that measures the force on the end effector. The control module may also decrease the energy setting in response to an anomalous acceleration or deceleration detected by an accelerometer.