Abstract: A method of attaching a surgical suture inside of a pelvis includes moving an anchor deployment component relative to the anchor delivery component, pushing an anchor out of the anchor delivery component and into tissue inside of the pelvis, and engaging anchor with the tissue inside of the pelvis.

Abstract: A forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members movable between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. A knife assembly having a cutting blade disposed at a distal end thereof is also provided. The knife assembly is translatable relative to the end effector assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the cutting blade extends between the jaw members to cut tissue grasped therebetween. The knife assembly includes a proximal component and a first distal component that includes the cutting blade. The proximal and first distal components are removably coupled to one another to facilitate replacement of the first distal component. Methods of preparing such forceps for reuse are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating on tissue includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body and includes an acoustic waveguide. The waveguide is configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm, and a clamp pad. The blade is in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The clamp arm is configured to pivot about a first pivot point toward and away from the ultrasonic blade and includes a coupling feature. The clamp pad is selectively attachable to the blade to acoustically isolate the clamp arm from the ultrasonic blade. The coupling feature of the clamp arm is configured to provide a snap fit between the clamp pad and the clamp arm and thereby permit manipulation of the clamp pad for removal of the clamp pad from the clamp arm.

Abstract: Aspects are directed to an improved suction catheter that increases the effectiveness of clearing the airway, reducing the need for separate suctioning and foreign body grasping instruments. The embodiments described herein provide medical personnel the ability to use one hand and catheter to selectively grasp an anatomically lodged foreign body while reducing the likelihood of lumen blockage and interruption of suction. The embodiments described herein further provide an auxiliary access port that allows insertion of a bougie instrument into a suction catheter. The suction catheter may be a Yankauer device or improved suction catheter with grasping housing. The bougie instrument may extend through the access port and a lumen of the catheter while still providing suction via the lumen. Due to the small size of the suction catheter, the bougie instrument may extend from the catheter's distal end when placed in close proximity to a patient's vocal cords.

Abstract: Disclosed is an atrial appendage clip, including a first clip arm and a second clip arm that are symmetrically arranged; a first cavity and a second cavity are correspondingly provided in the first clip arm and the second clip arm along an axial direction thereof; a first spring and a second spring are correspondingly provided in the first cavity and the second cavity; the first spring is connected with the second clip arm via a first pull wire, and the second spring is connected with the first clip arm via a second pull wire, so as to form a closed loop structure; and as the first spring and the second spring are stretched or compressed, the first clip arm and the second clip arm are opened or closed therebetween.

Abstract: A balloon is provided for selectively moving an esophagus away from an ablation site. The balloon is received through an oral cavity and into the esophagus of a patient. A deflecting member is provided in the tube, the balloon, or both, so as to selectively distort to bend the balloon and/or the tube to move the esophagus away from the ablation site. The deflecting member may comprise at least one of a strip made of a shape memory material that is responsive to the receipt of a stimulus to deflect to a predetermined shape, a strip that is made of or contains a ferrous material and that deflects in response to the presence of a magnetic field, and a selectively tensionable cable, wire, or string. The deflecting member may be supplemented by a stiffening strip that is located in the balloon and that causes the balloon to expand circumferentially and asymmetrically when inflated.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument comprising a shaft and end effector element connected by an articulation. The articulation comprises a first joint driveable by a first pair of driving elements. The first joint permits the end effector element to rotate about a first axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft, the rotation of the end effector element about the first axis bounded by an extreme rotation angle relative to the longitudinal axis. A second joint is driveable by a second pair of driving elements. A pulley arrangement constrains the second pair of driving elements, and comprises a first set of pulleys rotatable about the first axis, and a second set of pulleys located relative to the first set of pulleys such that at the extreme rotation angle the second pair of driving elements is retained in contact with both the first and second sets of pulleys.

Abstract: A therapeutic garment for treatment of over-shunting headaches and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the therapeutic garment includes a waistband and an abdominal portion that extends from the waistband to encircle the abdomen and hips from the groin to the costal margin of a person wearing the therapeutic garment. A binder portion is partially coincident to the abdominal portion. The binder portion includes a pressure subassembly including a network of interconnected channels having an inflation valve accessible from an exterior of the abdominal portion. The pressure assembly, when selectively inflated, provides a qualified degree of compression to distend an epidural venous plexus of the person wearing the therapeutic garment. The therapeutic garment may further be fashioned into a brief, a tank top, or include leg extensions.

Abstract: A semi-automatic precision positioning robot apparatus and method for use of the same to hold, position, orient and/or move a workpiece are provided. The positioning apparatus utilizes an actuator system of a given configuration to manipulate a workpiece holding unit with multiple degrees of freedom to achieve various positions and orientations. An associated tool may further be provided to interact with the workpiece in various positions and orientations. The positioning apparatus enables an operator to obtain high degrees of maneuverability while maintaining precision and consistency in the manufacture and production of various products and components.

Abstract: In some examples, the disclosure describes a medical assembly that includes a stent including a primary electrode, where the stent is configured to expand from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, a secondary electrode, and an energy source configured to deliver an electrical signal between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode through a fluid in contact with the primary electrode to cause the fluid to undergo cavitation to generate a pressure pulse wave within the fluid.

Abstract: Rotational atherectomy devices and systems can remove or reduce stenotic lesions in blood vessels by rotating one or more abrasive elements within the vessel. The abrasive elements are attached to a distal portion of an elongate flexible drive shaft that extends from a handle assembly that includes a driver for rotating the drive shaft. In particular implementations, individual abrasive elements are attached to the drive shaft at differing radial angles in comparison to each other (e.g., configured in a helical array). The centers of mass of the abrasive elements can define a path that spirals around the drive shaft in a direction that is opposite to the wind direction of filars of the drive shaft, and opposite to the direction of rotation. In some embodiments, a concentric abrasive tip member is affixed to and extends distally from a distal-most end of the drive shaft.

Abstract: An ear tagging station includes a cart or table having at least one tagging pliers mounted thereon. The pliers have jaws which are normally open to receive male and female tag parts. An actuating arm engages one of the plier handles. A foot pedal on the cart is depressed to lift the arm and thereby close the plier jaws so as to secure the ear tag to a piglet's ear.

Abstract: A system and method for a stent delivery system, the delivery system having a catheter and a balloon coupled to a distal portion of the catheter. The catheter with the radially expandable member is inserted into a cavity in a mold. Heat and pressure are applied for a period of time which inflates the balloon and imparts a shape memory to a portion of the balloon. The balloon is removed from the cavity of the mold with a shape memory.

Abstract: Applicators for applying an on-skin assembly to skin of a host and methods of their use and/or manufacture are provided. An applicator includes an insertion assembly configured to insert at least a portion of the on-skin assembly into the skin of the host, a housing configured to house the insertion assembly, the housing comprising an aperture through which the on-skin assembly can pass, an actuation member configured to, upon activation, cause the insertion assembly to insert at least the portion of the on-skin assembly into the skin of the host, and a sealing element configured to provide a sterile barrier and a vapor barrier between an internal environment of the housing and an external environment of the housing.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include one or more tubular prostheses carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft, a sheath slidably disposed over the prostheses, and a guidewire tube extending from within the sheath to the exterior of the sheath through an exit port in a sidewall thereof. A guidewire extends slidably through the guidewire tube. The sheath can be moved relative to the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube to expose the prostheses for deployment. Methods of delivering stents are also provided.

Abstract: A stent-graft (20) comprises strut members (30) and a graft member (32), which is fixed to the strut members (30). The strut members (30) and the graft member (32) are arranged so as to define, when the stent-graft (20) is in a radially-expanded state: a main tube (40), which is shaped so as to define a main lumen (42); and a lateral tube (50), which (a) has (i) a distal end (52) and (ii) a proximal end (54) that is joined to a lateral wall (56) of the main tube (40) at a junction (60), (b) is shaped so as to define a lateral lumen (62) that is in fluid communication with the main lumen (42), and (c) defines a central longitudinal axis (64). The strut members (30) that define the lateral tube (50) are shaped so as to define two to four non-contiguous arcuate members (70), which (a) are centered around the central longitudinal axis (64); and (b) collectively subtend at least 150 degrees around the central longitudinal axis (64).

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners including a housing, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, surgical fasteners disposed in the elongated shaft, a firing system for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft, and a trigger coupled with the housing for activating the firing system. The firing system includes a firing rod disposed in the elongated shaft and an energy storing element disposed in the housing for building up energy for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: Catheter-delivered endovascular medical devices are described. The devices may include a pull wire attached to a deployable dual basket system. The deployable dual basket system may include a proximal basket and a distal basket that are connected by basket connector tether memory metal strips that rotate/twist relative to the longitudinal axes of the basket and form flex points of the system. The proximal basket and the distal basket may be comprised of a plurality of cells and the proximal basket may taper at its proximal end and the distal basket may be tapered at its distal end. Methods of using and making the devices are also described.

Abstract: System and methods of controlling a robotic system are disclosed. The robotic system interacts with an anatomy that is held by a support. The robotic system comprises a force-applying device that applies a force externally to the anatomy while the anatomy is held by the support. A controller measures the extent to which the anatomy is held by the support and controls the robotic system based on the measured extent.

Abstract: Catheter-delivered endovascular medical devices are described. The devices may include a pull wire attached to a distal body. The distal body may be formed of a distal body outer body comprising a basket comprised of a plurality of cells defined by a plurality of basket strips and a distal body inner body located in the interior of the distal body outer body and comprising a plurality of distal braided mesh openings formed by a plurality of woven linear strands. The distal braided mesh openings may be smaller than the cells when the device is in the relaxed state. Methods of using and making the devices are also described.