Abstract: A suturing system and a method thereof are provided. The suturing system includes a tube that has a first rod moveable therein and a second rod that is coupled to an outer surface of the tube. A needle is coupled to an end of the tube and includes an insertion portion. In addition, a suture lock is inserted onto the second rod and a first end of a suture engages with a tip of the needle or the tube. A second end of the suture is fixed within the suture lock. The insertion portion is engaged with the first end of the suture prior to insertion through the material. The suturing system allows for single handed operation, thus simplifying a suturing process while improving accuracy.

Abstract: Assemblies and delivery apparatus for delivering a medical device into a patient's vasculature are disclosed. In some examples, an assembly includes a delivery apparatus and a radially compressible and expandable prosthetic heart valve. The delivery apparatus includes a handle, a first shaft and a second shaft extending from the handle, and a locking mechanism to prevent axial movement of the second shaft relative to first shaft. The second shaft extends coaxially through the first shaft and includes, at a distal end portion thereof, a balloon, one or more radiopaque markers, and the prosthetic valve radially compressed over the balloon. A flared end piece extending from the first shaft covers a proximal portion of the balloon during advancing of the delivery apparatus through a patient's vasculature. The first shaft is retractable relative to the second shaft to expose the balloon from the flared end piece.

Abstract: Medical devices for closing anatomical apertures, such as atrial or ventricular septal defects, are disclosed. The medical devices can include a plug body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. The plug body can include an exterior surface, an interior surface defining an interior lumen, and a seal which can be located within the interior lumen. The medical devices can also include at least one arm member extending through the plug body between the exterior surface and the interior surface of the plug body. In certain embodiments, the medical device can include a distal loop and a proximal loop extending through the plug body. In certain embodiments, the proximal loop can be smaller than the distal loop, such that a top end and a bottom end of the proximal loop can fit within a top end and a bottom end of the distal loop.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for repairing heart valves through percutaneous transcatheter delivery and fixation of annuloplasty rings to heart valves. An annuloplasty ring includes an outer hollow body member including a plurality of regions. Adjacent regions cooperate with one another to change the body member from an elongate insertion geometry to an annular operable geometry. Adjacent regions are coupled by a biasing element or a stepped connector to allow expansion to an expanded state and contraction to a contracted state in the annular operable geometry. The annuloplasty ring also includes an internal anchor member located at least partially within the body member and having a plurality of anchors configured to attach the annuloplasty ring to tissue of a heart valve annulus. An angled ring closure lock allows coupling of the ends of an annuloplasty ring at an apex of a D-shape annular operable geometry.

Abstract: A colpotomy device for performing a hysterectomy is provided. The device includes a flexible drive tube having a proximal end and a distal end and bendable therebetween. The device also has a rotatable cutting implement at the distal end of the flexible drive tube at a specified offset from a bendable longitudinal axis of the flexible drive tube. Furthermore, the device includes couplings located within the flexible drive tube and rotatable about the bendable longitudinal axis of the flexible drive tube. The couplings can be in a series that includes inter-coupling joints and transmits a rotational force between the proximal and distal ends of the flexible drive tube through a variable angle between the couplings. The variable angle can correspond to bending of the drive tube in order to drive rotation of the cutting implement at the specified offset about the axis of the flexible drive tube.

Abstract: A hemostatic device is disclosed capable of effectively performing hemostasis on a puncture site of a subject without generating over-pressurization compression. The hemostatic device includes a first hemostatic member and a second hemostatic member which is movable relatively close to or away from the first hemostatic member, pinches a skin around the puncture site of the subject between the first hemostatic member and the second hemostatic member when the second hemostatic member moves toward the first hemostatic member, and performs hemostasis on the puncture site.

Abstract: A valvuloplasty system comprises a balloon adapted to be placed adjacent leaflets of a valve. The balloon is inflatable with a liquid. The system further includes a shock wave generator within the balloon that produces shock waves. The shock waves propagate through the liquid and impinge upon the valve to decalcify and open the valve.

Abstract: An implant delivery sleeve comprises a tubular wall having a proximal end with a proximal opening, a distal end with a distal opening, and an implant delivery channel extending between the proximal and distal ends of said tubular wall. A plurality of bands interconnect portions of the tubular wall for constricting the implant delivery channel adjacent the distal end of the tubular wall. As an implant is advanced toward the distal end of the tubular wall, the constriction squeezes and/or deforms the implant for facilitating insertion into an incision that is smaller than the normal size of the implant.

Abstract: A medical hand-held instrument includes two handle elements that can swivel relative to one another, and a spring element having two spring element ends. The spring element ends are each connected to one of the two handle elements such that, when swiveling at least one of the two handle elements out of an initial position, a swiveling back into the initial position can be achieved by the spring element At least one of the two spring element ends is connected to the corresponding handle element via form-fit which is generated by reshaping the spring element. A method for producing a medical hand-held instrument includes connecting two handle elements such that they can swivel relative to each other.

Abstract: Prosthetic valve systems for treating a native valve exhibiting regurgitation can include a support structure in which a separate prosthetic heart valve can be placed. A method for implant a prosthetic valve system can include advancing a first catheter delivery sheath through an introducer sheath and into a left ventricle of a patient's heart, deploying at least a portion of a support structure from the first catheter delivery sheath and positioning the support structure around native leaflets of the patient's native mitral valve, positioning a prosthetic heart valve in a radially collapsed configuration within the patient's native mitral valve, and expanding the prosthetic heart valve from the radially collapsed configuration to a radially expanded configuration, wherein the prosthetic heart valve contacts the native leaflets from within the patient's native mitral valve and is separated from the support structure by the native leaflets.

Abstract: A device for treating disease along a main vessel and at least one branch vessel extending from the main vessel includes a branch member for deployment in the branch vessel, the branch member having a branch lumen; and a main body for deployment in the main vessel. The main body has a generally tubular wall extending generally longitudinally between opposite first and second ends. The wall has an internal surface defining a main lumen and an opposite outer surface. The wall has a recessed portion that is recessed relative to the outer surface of the wall and positioned between the first and second ends of the main body. The main body has an opening formed in the recessed portion of the wall for receiving the branch member therethrough such that the branch lumen is in fluid communication with the main lumen.

Abstract: A surgical forceps is provided that is configured for treating and/or cutting tissue. The surgical forceps is based on the so named ‘mosquito forceps’ and provides a clamping configuration of the tip that is particularly useful for neuropathic skin surgery, such as in case of diabetes or other skin irregularities e.g. the callus or the like.

Abstract: A lancing device having a housing with a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis. The lancing device also has a lancet carrier translationally supported with respect to the housing. The lancet carrier has a proximal end and a distal end. The lancing device additionally has a charging mechanism and/or an ejection mechanism adapted to pivot into the lancing device for engaging portions of the lancet carrier to perform the same.

Abstract: There is provided an intraocular lens injector capable of smoothly performing an operation when an intraocular lens is injected, the intraocular lens injector, including: a hollow body 5 having a lens setting portion 11 on which an intraocular lens 4 is set; a plunger 9 that moves through an inside of the hollow body 5 in an axial direction of the hollow body 5; a pushing member 10 that pushes out the intraocular lens 4 from the lens setting portion 11 by moving together with the plunger 9, through the inside of the hollow body 5, and toward front part of the axial direction of the hollow body 5; a first flange 14a protruded from an outer circumferential surface of the hollow body 5; and a second flange 14b arranged on a rear end side with respect to the first flange and protruded from the outer circumferential surface of the hollow body 5; wherein the hollow body 5 is configured so that a shape on the A direction side toward a center of gravity of the hollow body 5 in which the first flange 14a is arra

Abstract: Methods and devices for temporarily occluding blood vessels are provided for use in emergency conditions to control trauma-induced hemorrhaging. An occlusion device is delivered and deployed through a rapidly introduced, percutaneously placed needle that carries an occlusion device in readiness to be deployed out of the needle. The deployed occlusion device applies pressure to the target blood vessel to control blood loss.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading an endovascular shunt into a delivery catheter includes a base, a boss rod connected to, and extending longitudinally across, the base, and a plurality of guide bosses slidably coupled to the boss rod. The guide bosses include a delivery catheter guide boss coupled to the delivery catheter, a malecot holding tube guide boss, wherein a malecot holding tube is connected to a first lateral side of the malecot guide boss extending towards the delivery catheter guide boss, a claw assembly guide boss, where a claw assembly is attached to a first lateral side of the claw guide boss extending towards the malecot holding tube guide boss, and a chase pin guide boss, wherein a chase pin is connected to a first lateral side of the chase pin guide boss extending towards the claw assembly guide boss.

Abstract: A robotic arm according to various implementations includes: a tool driver configured to hold a surgical tool; a first section comprising a first end coupled to a base, a second end distal from first end; a first link that includes a motor configured to rotate at least a portion of the first section around a pitch axis; a second link coupled to the first link, the second link including a motor configured to rotate at least a portion of the first section around a roll axis; and a second section comprising: a first end coupled to the second end of the first section, a second end distal from the first end, a first link that includes a motor configured to rotate at least a portion of the second section around a roll axis, a second link coupled to the first link.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an implantation accessory for placement at a heart valve annulus location of a patients heart, the annulus having a first axis, the implantation accessory comprising: a first surface; a second axis perpendicular to the first surface; and, a maneuvering system for aligning the first axis and the second axis. In certain embodiments, a removable bioprosthetic heart valve assembly for implantation into an abutment ring attached at a heart valve annulus location of a patients heart, the abutment ring having a first axis, the removable bioprosthetic heart valve assembly includes a bioprosthetic valve for coupling to the abutment ring and a holder. The holder, detachably coupled to the bioprosthetic valve, includes a first surface, a second axis perpendicular to the first surface, and a maneuvering system for aligning the first axis and the second axis. Methods of implantation are also disclosed.

Abstract: An inner member rotatable in an angled outer tubular member of a rotary surgical cutting instrument includes first and second tubular members. The first tubular member includes a rigid proximal portion, a rigid distal portion, and a flexible intermediate portion. The proximal and distal portions are comprised of a first material and the intermediate portion is comprised of a second material. The second tubular member is coaxially disposed around the first tubular member along the intermediate portion. The second tubular member includes a proximal section, a distal section, and a central section. The central section is flexible and the proximal and distal sections are rigid. The second tubular member is comprised of a single material. The proximal section is fixedly coupled to the proximal portion and the distal section is fixedly coupled to the distal portion.

Abstract: A suturing system including apparatus and methods for disposing stitches in a substrate comprising a thread carrier which inserts a thread in the substrate at a first location and withdraws the thread from the substrate at a second location.