Abstract: Fixation system for engaging tissue of a patient including an implantable fixation device having a first arm and a second arm, a first proximal element, a second proximal element, and a coupling member. The system includes a delivery device having a catheter, a shaft extending through the at least one lumen of the catheter, a first proximal element actuator and a second proximal element actuator. The second end portions of the first proximal element actuator and second proximal element actuator can be coupled to at least one of the shaft and the coupling member.

Abstract: Endoscope assemblies, biopsy caps, and methods for making and using the same. An example endoscope assembly may include an endoscope having a channel formed therein and a port that provides access to the channel. A cap may be coupled to the port. The cap may include a base having a securing member for securing the cap to the port, an outer shell and a brush section disposed within the interior volume adjacent the disk shutter section, the brush section including a plurality of brushes arranged in a helical fashion.

Abstract: A surgical method of cataract fragmentation and extraction via microbubble cavitation is described. In particular, gas-filled microbubbles are injected into a lens capsule of a subject's eye, and cavitation of the microbubbles is activated by applied ultrasound energy. The ultrasound energy can be applied from an external device. The cavitation fragments cataract tissues without damaging other tissue, such as the lens capsule. Fragmented lens material is then aspirated from the lens capsule. The method can be used alone or in conjunction with other methods, such as phacoemulsification.

Abstract: A delivery system for prosthetic medical devices. The delivery system may include a delivery system configured to be driven between a containment configuration and a deployment configuration. The delivery system may be configured to cause relative motion between a delivery capsule and a prosthetic device within the delivery capsule. The delivery system may include a first fluid pathway and a second fluid pathway and may be configured to switch between the first fluid pathway and the second fluid pathway as the delivery system transitions toward a deployment configuration. The delivery system may include a recapture circuit configured to enable the delivery system to recapture a prosthetic device using the delivery capsule.

Abstract: A fluid control device for endoscope includes a gas feeding conduit, an operation button and a deforming portion. The deforming portion is disposed on a downstream side with respect to the operation button, and has a closing portion which is brought into contact with an inner wall of the gas feeding conduit in a state where the operation button is not pushed.

Abstract: Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to the removal device. The removal device can have a core assembly that includes a hypotube coupled to a first electrical terminal and a pushwire coupled to a second electrical terminal, the pushwire extending through the hypotube lumen. An insulating layer separates the hypotube and the pushwire, and an interventional element is coupled to a distal end of the pushwire. The interventional element can be disposed adjacent to a thrombus. An electrical signal is delivered to the interventional element to promote adhesion of the thrombus to the interventional element. The electrical signal can optionally be a periodic waveform, and the total energy delivered can be between 0.75-24,000 mJ and the peak current delivered via the electrical signal can be between 0.5-5 mA.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivery and deployment of a heart valve prosthesis with a torque anchoring mechanism includes a balloon having a shaped surface configured to engage a corresponding shaped surface of the heart valve prosthesis. The balloon is configured to rotate about a central longitudinal axis of the delivery device to rotate the heart valve prosthesis.

Abstract: A guidewire includes an elongated member and a shaft extending distally from the elongated member, wherein the elongated member and shaft are configured to be navigated through vasculature of a patient. The guidewire further includes a first conductor extending around the shaft to define an outer perimeter of the guidewire and a first electrode adjacent the shaft. The first conductor is configured electrically connect the first electrode to an energy source. The guidewire further includes a second electrode and a second conductor configured to electrically couple the second electrode to the energy source. The first and second electrodes may be configured to deliver an electrical signal to fluid contacting the first and second electrodes to cause the fluid to undergo cavitation to generate a pressure pulse wave within the fluid.

Abstract: The various inventions relate to robotic surgical devices, consoles for operating such surgical devices, operating theaters in which the various devices can be used, insertion systems for inserting and using the surgical devices, and related methods.

Abstract: Cleaning devices disclosed herein provide, for example, an effective and reliable approach for cleaning an exposed surface of an imaging element (e.g., a lens) of an imaging device (e.g., an endoscope). Cleaning devices disclosed herein enable an imaging element to be cleaned while located within a concealed operation site (e.g., an in-vivo surgical site). To enhance imaging device compatibility, cleaning devices disclosed herein have integral therewith a seating adjustor that allows a user to selectively adjust the position of an imaging device seated thereon. Cleaning devices disclosed herein are thus able to accommodate imaging devices that would otherwise be incompatible due to a distance between the imaging element of the imaging device and a position of a cleaning member of the cleaning device being either too big or too small.

Abstract: A surgical tool including a housing having a proximal end and a distal end the housing including a guide rail. The tool also includes a yoke slidably coupled to the housing, a handle pivotally coupled to the housing, and a link coupling the handle to the housing, the link having a first end and a second end, the first end of the link rotatably coupled to the handle and the second end of the link rotatably coupled to the yoke and slidable within the guide rail. The tool further includes a yoke pivot pin pivotably coupling the second end of the link to the yoke and a handle pivot pin coupling the link to the handle, wherein the handle pivot pin is disposed proximal compared to the yoke pivot pin.

Abstract: A delivery tool includes a tubular distal tip fixed to a distal end of a delivery tube. A retention portion of an implant wire of an implant is removably disposed within the tubular distal tip. A pull wire has a distal end portion that is shaped so as to define a pull-wire loop and is removably disposed partially within the delivery tube. A safety wire is removably disposed partially within the tubular distal tip, with a distal portion of the safety wire passing through a tip distal opening. The safety wire has a proximal end portion that is shaped so as to define a safety-wire hook hooked on the pull-wire loop. Proximal pulling on the pull wire proximally retracts the safety wire from the tip distal opening, thereby allowing the retention portion to pass through the tubular distal tip. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A medical system that includes a medical device having an imaging device configured to capture images of a target site. A location of the target site is determined based on the images. The medical device includes a light source configured to direct light onto the location of the target site, and a processor and non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to move a sensor of a medical instrument toward the location of the target site based on the sensor detecting the light at the target site.

Abstract: An example cutting balloon is disclosed. The example cutting balloon includes an expandable member having an outer surface and longitudinal axis, a first cutting member disposed along the outer surface of the expandable member and a covering encapsulating the expandable member and the first cutting member.

Abstract: In some embodiments, endoscopy systems and/or methods of using endoscopy systems are described. In some embodiments, an endoscopy system comprises one or more of piezoelectric elements or hooked blades. In some embodiments, stylets for use with an endoscopy system are described. In some embodiments, the endoscopy systems are useful for orthopedic procedures. In some embodiments, the endoscopy systems are useful for arthroscopic procedures.

Abstract: Numerous delivery devices for delivery of a stented prosthesis, such as a stented prosthetic heart valve. Various delivery devices include a capsule that is advanced proximally to retain the stented prosthesis, which is secured over an inner shaft assembly of the delivery device. The delivery device further includes a bumper or bumper assembly to provide a smooth transition of the capsule over the stented prosthesis. In some alternate disclosed embodiments, the bumper further serves to connect various elements of the inner shaft assembly. Additional embodiments include a bumper assembly arranged and configured to longitudinally expand and contract to substantially fill any open space as the capsule is retracted from the stented prosthesis, which prevents kinking in the capsule. Additional embodiments include proximal and/or distal bumpers for temporarily covering and smoothing the ends of the stented prosthesis as part of a delivery device that does not include a capsule.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes a processor configured to generate a clock at predetermined timing, a light source apparatus configured to irradiate white light and excitation light in a time division manner in synchronization with the clock, and an endoscope configured to perform image pickup based on irradiation timing of the light source apparatus. The processor generates a first white light image at a first clock, generates a first fluorescent image at a second clock, generates a second white light image at a third clock, and generates a third white light image at a fourth clock and superimposes the second white light image and the first fluorescent image at the fourth clock and superimposes the third white light image and the first fluorescent image at a fifth clock.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes an elongate shaft, an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft and including opposing first and second jaws, and an articulable wrist that interposes the end effector and the distal end, the wrist including a linkage providing one or more lateral arms receivable within a corresponding one or more grooves defined in the first and second jaws, wherein mounting the linkage to the first and second jaws at the corresponding one or more groove generates a jaw pivot where the first and second jaws pivot between open and closed positions.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an illumination portion including an emitter and being configured to radiate illumination light beam onto an imaging subject, the beam having intensity distribution in which light and dark portions are spatially repeated; a controller configured to cause widths of the dark portions to change; an imager configured to acquire a plurality of illumination images of the subject being illuminated with beams in which the widths of the dark portions are different from each other; and at least one processor including hardware, the processor being configured to: create first and second images from each of the illumination images, the first images containing a greater quantity of information about a deep layer of the subject than the second images do; and calculate information about depths of a feature portion in the subject on the basis of changes among the first images and changes among the second images.

Abstract: Provided is a technique for further reducing the scale of an endoscope system. An optical distribution connector according to the present disclosure discloses an optical distribution connector (additional connector) which includes an optical connector portion that is configured to be attachable to and detachable from a processor and realizes an optical connection with the processor, a plurality of medical device mounting portions, each of which is attachable to and detachable from a medical device, and at least one optical element that distributes light emitted from a light source included in the processor in each direction of the plurality of medical device mounting portions. In this optical distribution connector, at least one optical element has a spectral distribution wavelength characteristic defined by the light transmittance and the light reflectance for each of the plurality of wavelength bands of light (see FIG. 5).