Abstract: A combined magnetic and bioabsorbable device for ventral hernia closure and/or tension distribution for maintenance of tissue apposition for healing, while avoiding a long-term footprint of foreign material and precluding materials spanning the interior layer of the abdominal closure where risk to visceral structures exists.

Abstract: A minimally invasive medical device for tissue expansion is provided. The medical device has an expandable balloon and a sturdy substantially hollowed core. A membrane-covered port is provided at one end of the balloon to receive an insertion apparatus or an injection member. The balloon is inflatable by injecting a gas or a liquid through the membrane-covered port via the insertion apparatus or the injection member. A shell is provided to substantially encase the balloon and the insertion apparatus is provided to assist with maneuverability of the medical device. A method of tissue expansion includes implanting the medical device into an expandable tissue and inflating the balloon. A method of expanding a breast tissue of a patient after a mastectomy includes placing a patient under local anesthesia, making a small incision into an expandable tissue, implanting the minimally invasive medical device, and inflating the device gradually.

Abstract: The present application is concerned with a skin treatment device that has a handle section arranged to be held in a human user's hand, a treatment head section having a skin treatment unit and a skin contact frame having a skin contact surface, the skin contact frame at least partially encircling a skin treatment area and a vibration generation unit being coupled with the skin contact frame to vibrate at least a portion of the skin contact frame at an ultrasonic frequency.

Abstract: A suturing device includes a curved needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a curved needle holder. The suture connects with the curved needle. The actuator interacts with the elongate body and is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip. The curved needle holder includes an inner surface defining a needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening. The curved needle has a curved needle radius and the curved needle passage has a curved needle passage radius that is different than the curved needle radius and the curved needle frictionally engages the inner surface when the needle is in a retracted position.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a flexible fixation member having a body with a longitudinal extent and a width, the body defining a plurality of openings through the body, each of the plurality of openings formed substantially cross wise through the width of the body, and a suture having two terminal ends, the suture being interwoven through each of the plurality of openings in the body of the fixation member such that multiple portions of the fixation member are slidably coupled to the suture and configurable to form a cluster within a surgical site.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ophthalmic knife and methods of its use for treatment of various conditions including eye diseases, such as glaucoma, using minimally invasive surgical techniques. The device is configured for cutting the tissues within the eye, for example, a trabecular meshwork (TM).

Abstract: Implementations of a body hair removal pad for defibrillator usage (“defibrillator hair removal pad”) are provided. In some implementations, the defibrillator hair removal pad comprises a base (or base layer) and an adhesive layer. In some implementations, a method for using the defibrillator hair removal pad comprises positioning the adhesive layer on the skin of a heart attack victim and pulling the adhesive layer from the skin of the heart attack victim with the adhesive layer stuck to the body hair on the skin.

Abstract: A bone or tissue repair device can deploy first and second anchors from a distal end of a bore of a needle. A cylindrical first anchor can be disposed in the bore proximal to a distal end of the bore. A cylindrical second anchor can be disposed in the bore proximal to the first anchor. A pusher wire can include teeth positioned at a distal end of the pusher wire. The pusher wire and teeth can be configured to engage an interior of the first anchor; advance distally, with respect to the needle, to force the first anchor distally out of the bore; retract proximally, with respect to the needle and the second anchor, to position the teeth inside an interior of the second anchor; engage the interior of the second anchor; and advance distally, with respect to the needle, to force the second anchor distally out of the bore.

Abstract: A hair pulling device includes a machine body which is provided with a hair clamping support (1) and a driving device. A fixation shaft (3) which is fixed and non-rotary as well as a plurality of positioning frames (2) which are driven by the driving device to rotate around the fixation shaft (3) are disposed on the hair clamping support (1); a plurality of groups of hair clamping assembly units which are rotated with the positioning frames (2) are disposed, along an axial direction of the fixation shaft (3), on the positioning frames (2); the fixation shaft (3) is fixedly sleeved by a positioning shaft (4); The hair pulling device has high hair clamping efficiency and reliable and stable clamping force, and avoids the problems that hair pulling fails due to failure of an elastic part or hair pulling fails due to insufficient clamping force.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing a soft tissue site, and augmenting the soft tissue site, such as the breast(s), scar, depression, or other defect, of a subject through use of devices that exert a distractive force on the breast(s) and grafting of autologous fat tissue such as domes and sealing rims for surrounding each of the soft tissue site and a regulated pump. The method for preparing the soft tissue site, and enhancing fat graft results, entails application of the distracting force to the targeted soft tissue site at least intermittently for some period of time and preferably several weeks prior to the graft procedure. A rotated aspect of the invention includes following the preparation steps by transfer of fat from other areas of the subject to the subject's soft tissue site, and then reapplication of the distractive force to the soft tissue site that received the autologous fat graft.

Abstract: An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a handle assembly; a shaft assembly including a housing extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the shaft assembly; a jaw mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly, the jaw being movable between an open spaced-apart condition and a closed approximated condition; and a pusher bar reciprocally disposed within the housing of the shaft assembly and being detachably connectable to the housing of the shaft assembly, the pusher bar being configured to load a distal-most surgical clip into the jaws during distal movement and remain connected to the housing of the shaft assembly and in a distally advanced position during an approximation of the jaws.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a left atrial appendage occluder having a sealing disc and a fixing bracket which is connected to the sealing disc and located at one side of the sealing disc; the fixing bracket comprising a connecting portion connected to the sealing disc, and a plurality of supports. After radiating out distally from the connecting portion, the plurality of supports are bent to extend proximally to form a plurality of spaced suspended supporting segments. The left atrial appendage occluder further includes a thin film, with all the supports being connected through the thin film.

Abstract: Embodiments of a radially collapsible and expandable prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. A valve frame can have a tapered profile when mounted on a delivery shaft, with an inflow end portion having a smaller diameter than an outflow end portion. The valve can comprise generally V-shaped leaflets, reducing material within the inflow end of the frame. An outer skirt can be secured to the outside of the inflow end portion of the frame, the outer skirt having longitudinal slack when the valve is expanded and lying flat against the frame when the valve is collapsed. A diagonally woven inner skirt can elongate axially with the frame. Side tabs of adjacent leaflets can extend through and be secured to window frame portions of the frame to form commissures. The window frame portions can be depressed radially inward relative to surrounding frame portions when the valve is crimped onto a delivery shaft.

Abstract: A recapturable external LAA exclusion clip system includes a clip comprising first and second clip struts, at least one of the struts having a connector interface comprising a first portion of a lock, and a delivery device comprising a handle and an end effector. The handle comprises jaw and lock controls. The end effector is connected to the handle and comprises a clevis and first and second jaws. The jaws are connected to the clevis and operatively connected to the jaw control to actively articulate at least one of the jaws with respect to the other. At least one of the jaws has a connector comprising a second portion of the lock operatively connected to the lock control to removably lock with the first portion of the lock. The first and second portions of the lock have a locked state and are configured to unlock the locked state upon actuation of the lock control.

Abstract: An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a teether, wherein the teether is prevented from twisting when the circumferential length of a band thereof worn around the wrist of an infant is adjusted so as to not harm the body of the infant and a comfortable fit around the wrist is ensured.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described for occluding the left atrial appendage (LAA). The device excludes the LAA from blood flow to prevent blood from clotting within the LAA and subsequently embolizing, particularly in patients with atrial fibrillation. The implantable device is delivered via transcatheter delivery into the LAA and secured within the LAA. The implant comprises an expandable and compliant frame and an expandable and conformable tubular foam body carried by the frame. The device may have a thromboresistant cover at a proximal end and a thromboresistant coating on the foam body. The frame may have recapture struts inclining radially outwardly in the distal direction from a central hub. The frame may have axially extending side wall struts, with adjacent pairs of side wall struts joined at one or more apexes. Anchors extend from the frame to engage tissue. The anchors can also be reversible to allow retraction of the anchors and repositioning or retrieval of the device.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a robotic manipulator that includes a mounting fixture defining a longitudinal channel, and a surgical tool removably coupleable to the mounting fixture. The surgical tool including a tool housing matable with the mounting fixture, an elongate shaft extending from the tool housing and receivable within the channel, and a latching mechanism provided on the elongate shaft and comprising one or more retention tabs biased radially outward with one or more biasing members. The one or more retention tabs are movable between a deployed state, where the one or more retention tabs protrude radially outward through a corresponding one or more slots to engage the mounting fixture, and a retracted state, where the one or more retention tabs are urged radially inward through the one or more slots to disengage the mounting fixture.

Abstract: An introducer assembly includes a first actuating mechanism for actuating a constraining sheath between a first state releasably constraining a vascular implant and a second state allowing deployment of the vascular implant; a second actuating mechanism for actuating a blocking mechanism between a blocked state for blocking other functions of the handle and an unblocked state for allowing operation of the other functions of the handle; and an operating knob operatively coupled to both of the first and second actuating mechanisms for concurrent operation of both of the first and second actuating mechanisms in response to actuation of the operating knob.

Abstract: An auricular acupuncture patch to which an energy and blood stimulating part is attached is disclosed. The auricular acupuncture patch according to the present invention is attached along the reflect point of the ear, thereby being effective for treating dizziness, headaches, gastritis, asthma, gastroduodenal ulcers, enteritis, abdominal pain, diarrhea, bowel dysfunction, menstrual irregularity, insomnia, migraines, phobias, nervous vomiting, high fever, skin pruritus, oligogalactia, indigestion, obesity, smoking, and the like, and enabling the replacement of a decorative part, which are formed on the auricular acupuncture patch having the energy and blood stimulating part attached thereto, so as to provide various aesthetic effectiveness and conveniences in replacement.

Abstract: Embodiments of a radially collapsible and expandable prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. A valve frame can have a tapered profile when mounted on a delivery shaft, with an inflow end portion having a smaller diameter than an outflow end portion. The valve can comprise generally V-shaped leaflets, reducing material within the inflow end of the frame. An outer skirt can be secured to the outside of the inflow end portion of the frame, the outer skirt having longitudinal slack when the valve is expanded and lying flat against the frame when the valve is collapsed. A diagonally woven inner skirt can elongate axially with the frame. Side tabs of adjacent leaflets can extend through and be secured to window frame portions of the frame to form commissures. The window frame portions can be depressed radially inward relative to surrounding frame portions when the valve is crimped onto a delivery shaft.