Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The acoustic waveguide comprises a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section comprises a plurality of body portions aligned along the longitudinal axis and a flexible locking member. The flexible locking member is operable to secure the body portions in relation to each other and in relation to the shaft. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: According to one example, an ophthalmic surgical probe for treating an eye of a patient includes a body arranged for grasping by a surgeon and a cutting element extending distally from the body. The cutting element includes a sleeve member and an inner member disposed within the sleeve member, the inner member being movable axially with respect to the sleeve member. The probe also includes an actuating element configured to reciprocally move the inner member relative to the sleeve member. The actuating element includes a first coil secured within the body, a first magnet operatively secured to the inner member, and a second magnet that is not secured to the inner member, the second magnet being positioned and arranged to move in an opposite direction of the first magnet upon application of a voltage to the first coil.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device is constructed out of dissimilar metallic materials that are in contact or otherwise in close proximity with one another, thereby causing the device to undergo galvanic corrosion when exposed to an electrolytic medium, such as blood or other body fluid, wherein one of the dissimilar metallic materials is zirconium or zirconium alloy to create a corrosive product including zirconia having a relatively high hardness, a relatively high fracture toughness, and a relatively high stability when the device is implanted in a vasculature site, such as an aneurysm.

Abstract: An instrument for use in a medical procedure that includes a proximal end, a distal end, a handle adjacent to the proximal end of the instrument, a flexible elongated neck extending distally from a distal end of the handle, a jaw power screw extending from a distal end of the neck, a pair of moveable jaws operatively connected to the jaw power screw, and a handle power screw assembly operatively connected to a proximal end of the flexible neck within the handle, wherein manipulation of the handle will control movement of the jaws.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating an abdominal incision or hernia are described. An implant for the restoration or prophylactic treatment of an abdominal wall comprises an elongate element and at least one sheet connected to the elongate element along a longitudinal axis of the elongate element. The elongate element is positioned along the line of incision, and the at least one sheet is secured to the abdominal muscles surrounding the incision.

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 disclosure provides for a spiral filter and delivery apparatus where the filter comprises a support supporting a body and defining a frame. The frame comprises a proximal end extending to a distal end. A filtering member may be attached to the proximal end and extend distally to the distal end. The filtering member and the frame may move between a delivery state and a deployed state. In the deployed state, the frame extends helically within the circumference of the body vessel and has a filtering lumen formed therethrough. The filtering member may be disposed within the filtering lumen in a spiral for filtering within the intended body vessel.

Abstract: A surgical clip includes three double-armed clip parts that are mounted to be rotatable about an axis of rotation and each comprise one operating arm and one clamping arm, wherein a middle clip part is arranged such that its operating arm is arranged between the operating arms of the two outer clip parts and its clamping arm is arranged between the clamping arms of the two outer clip parts, as well as a spring that pretensions the two outer clip parts into a closed clip position in which the clamping arms of the three clip parts abut one another.

Abstract: An embolus filter introducer system has a symmetric introducer sheath with a filter inside. The introducer sheath can be attached at either end to a deployment actuator. The deployment actuator can thereby be used to push the filter out of the introducer sheath. Since the sheath can be oriented in a selectable direction, so can the filter, allowing the sheath to be introduced via a jugular or femoral approach to the vena cava.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices capable of (1) gasping tissue, (2) passing suture through the tissue, and (3) resetting both their tissue grasping and suture passing features without the device being removed from the incision.

Abstract: A magnetic device and method are disclosed for providing a safer and more reliable technique for closing a hole or rupture in the septum of the heart. A device is disclosed with proximal and distal occluders that are connected to one another via a catheter and are inserted on either side of the hole or rupture. Also disclosed are two patches that are placed on either side of the hole or rupture with at least one of the patches being composed of magnetic material with the other being magnetic or metallic.

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 invention relates to a multi-blade device for cutting the tissues within the eye, for example, a trabecular meshwork (TM).

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering a collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes a valve support structure for supporting a collapsible prosthetic heart valve, and a distal sheath movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the valve support structure between a first position in which the distal sheath is adapted to surround a collapsible prosthetic heart valve supported on the valve support structure, and a second position in which the distal sheath is adapted to expose the collapsible prosthetic heart valve for deployment. The distal sheath is at least partially formed of an inner polymer layer, an outer polymer layer, and a tubular supporting member sandwiched between the inner polymer layer and the outer polymer layer.

Abstract: A tongue cleaning device includes a tool head defining a trough that delivers the vacuum flow from an inlet to the inner surface disposed above a working edge for efficient removal of debris. The trough has a defined rear wall giving it a defined width. This allows the vacuum flow to be directed to where it is needed to remove debris. One configuration of the device has a head that defines a liquid distribution channel with an outlet disposed in front of the working edge with a supply of liquid being removably in fluid communication with the liquid distribution channel. The liquid supply being a bulk supply or a hand held bottle with a supply tube extending down the handle of the device. Another configuration of the device includes vacuum control openings controlled by the user's finger.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for closing a patent foramen ovale. Some of the disclosed apparatuses include an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, with first and second suture clasp arms adapted to hold end portions of a suture when in an extended position. A first suture catch mechanism is slidably housed in the elongate body and moves in a proximal-to-distal direction to engage the suture end held by the first suture clasp arm, and a second suture catch mechanism is slidably housed in the elongate body and moves in a distal-to-proximal direction to suture end held by the second suture clasp arm. The first suture clasp arm can be positioned around the septum primum to deliver a suture thereto, and the second suture clasp arm can be positioned around the septum secundum to deliver a suture thereto.

Abstract: An intraocular lens inserter can include an energy storage portion, an actuator portion that provides temperature compensation, and a lens support portion. The energy storage portion can include a compressible energy storage device, such as a compressible fluid, springs, and other devices. The inserter can include an actuator portion operating with a substantially incompressible fluid. The actuator can be configured to provide an operator with control over the release of pressurized fluid so as to move a plunger for the discharge of a lens from an intraocular lens cartridge, discharge of the lens being limited based at least in part on pressure feedback from the pressurized fluid due temperature increases.

Abstract: An instrument for deploying a surgical implant includes a handle, an elongated shaft extending from the handle, and a frame arm. The frame arm includes a clip pair for releasably attaching the surgical implant to the frame arm. The clip pair includes first and second clips operably coupled by a spring member. The first and second clips are repositionable from a closed position to an open position. The spring member biases the first and second clips towards the closed position. A lock bar is coupled to the frame arm and translatable between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the locked position, the lock bar maintains the first and second clips in either the open or the closed position. When the lock bar is in the unlocked position, the first and second clips are freely rotatable between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying fasteners includes a drive motor, a replaceable loading unit having an end-effector assembly, and an adapter configured to releasably couple a replaceable loading unit to the drive motor. The adapter includes a strain gauge having a drive circuit coupled thereto. The strain gauge and the drive circuit are configured to directly measure a driving force in the adapter.

Abstract: A surgical device for deploying a surgical implant includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion includes a frame arm. A spring clip system is coupled to the frame arm and includes a pair of clips and a spring member. The spring member is connected to each of the clips and biases the clips towards a closed position. In the closed position, the clips are configured to retain the implant in contact with the frame arm.

Abstract: A device for holding and aligning a trephine blade includes an elongated cylindrical component, a first alignment structure and a second alignment structure. The elongated cylindrical component extends along a first axis and comprises a hollow cylinder having an open proximal end, an open distal end, an inner cylindrical surface and an outer cylindrical surface. The first alignment structure is integral and co-planar with the proximal end and comprises a first circle attached to the inner cylindrical surface with one or more radially extending rods. The second alignment structure is arranged parallel to the first alignment structure within the hollow cylinder above the distal end and comprises a second circle attached to the inner cylindrical surface with one or more radially extending rods. The first and second circles are coaxial with the first axis and the first circle comprises a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the second circle.