Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, method, and apparatus for harvesting follicular units from an epidermis. The disclosed apparatus includes a hollow tubular structure having a central axis and a trumpet bell structure that is attached to an end of the hollow tubular structure. The trumpet bell structure terminates at a flat annular face that is substantially in a plane perpendicular to the central axis. The flat annular face has a sharp outer edge, and an inner surface of the trumpet bell structure inward from the flat annular face is smoothly varying.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the intravascular treatment of clot material within a blood vessel of a human patient are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, engaging an interventional device of a catheter system with clot material in a blood vessel and withdrawing the interventional device and the portion of the clot material through a guide catheter. In some embodiments, the catheter system can include an attachment/valve member coupled to a proximal portion of the guide catheter, and the method can include unsealing the attachment/valve member to facilitate withdrawing the interventional device through the attachment/valve member without significant retention of clot material within the attachment/valve member. The method can further include resealing and aspirating the guide catheter before advancing another interventional device to the clot material to again engage and remove clot material from the blood vessel.

Abstract: A percutaneous transluminal angioplasty device, comprising an elongated catheter, an interventional device operably coupled to the proximal end of the catheter, a filter operably coupled to the distal end of the catheter, the filter movable between a collapsed and deployed position, and an actuator wire for deploying the collapsing the filter. At least a portion of the actuator wire extends within the catheter. The filter comprises a filter chassis comprising a movable collar a fixed collar and a tubular braided scaffolding coupled between the movable collar and the fixed collar. The filter chassis also comprises a filter membrane coupled to the tubular braided scaffolding.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that include a cord that is flexible and elongated defining a length. The cord may include a core having a porous surface and a porosity-reducing element on at least a portion of the core.

Abstract: Devices and methods for performing a transseptal puncture procedure using a device which includes either an untapered or tapered blunt end cannula disposed in an introducer carrying a sharp guidewire disposed longitudinally through the lumen of the blunt cannula, and a blunt end dilator wherein the guidewire is flexible and has an atraumatic shape at its tip. The cannula gives the more flexible introducer a defined shape and steerabilty allowing an ordinarily skilled physician to easily access a selected location on the septal wall of the heart for transseptal puncture and introducer placement thereacross without employing an exposed sharp end needle during the procedure.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for removing a vascular occlusion, such as a clot, from a blood vessel. A tubular sheath is inserted into the vessel and a self-expanding Nitinol mesh filter is deployed from a distal end of the tubular sheath at a location proximal to a clot. An inner catheter is advanced through the tubular sheath and through the mesh filter for contacting the clot. An expandable agitation element is provided along a distal end portion of the inner catheter for cutting or chopping the clot, thereby facilitating removal of the clot and improving blood flow through the vessel. Resulting clot particles are captured by the mesh filter. Negative pressure may be applied along a proximal end portion of the sheath for aspirating remaining particles. Certain embodiments of the method are well-suited for treating deep vein thrombosis and do not require the use of thrombolytic drugs.

Abstract: A magnet-assisted suture grasper for grasping a magnetic suture is provided. The magnet-assisted suture grasper includes a suture retrieval needle, a retriever body, a grasper wire, a grasper arm, and a grasper magnet. Translation of the retriever body within a needle lumen of the suture retrieval needle in a first direction causes the grasper arm to move from a first position to a second position, thereby exposing the grasper magnet from the needle lumen and allowing contact between the grasper magnet and a magnetic suture attracted thereto. Translation of the retriever body within the needle lumen in a second direction opposite the first direction causes the grasper arm to move from the second position to the first position, thereby sequestering the grasper magnet and grasping the magnetic suture within the needle lumen.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for removing a vascular occlusion, such as a clot, from a blood vessel. A tubular sheath is inserted into the vessel and a self-expanding Nitinol mesh filter is deployed from a distal end of the tubular sheath at a location proximal to a clot. An inner catheter is advanced through the tubular sheath and through the mesh filter for contacting the clot. An expandable agitation element is provided along a distal end portion of the inner catheter for cutting or chopping the clot, thereby facilitating removal of the clot and improving blood flow through the vessel. Resulting clot particles are captured by the mesh filter. Negative pressure may be applied along a proximal end portion of the sheath for aspirating remaining particles. Certain embodiments of the method are well-suited for treating deep vein thrombosis and do not require the use of thrombolytic drugs.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for removing a vascular occlusion, such as a clot, from a blood vessel. A tubular sheath is inserted into the vessel and a self-expanding Nitinol mesh filter is deployed from a distal end of the tubular sheath at a location proximal to a clot. An inner catheter is advanced through the tubular sheath and through the mesh filter for contacting the clot. An expandable agitation element is provided along a distal end portion of the inner catheter for cutting or chopping the clot, thereby facilitating removal of the clot and improving blood flow through the vessel. Resulting clot particles are captured by the mesh filter. Negative pressure may be applied along a proximal end portion of the sheath for aspirating remaining particles. Certain embodiments of the method are well-suited for treating deep vein thrombosis and do not require the use of thrombolytic drugs.

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, the handle assembly encapsulates an electric motor assembly, a pump assembly, and a controller assembly.

Abstract: A method and device for generating points of a 3D scene from a depth image. To reach that aim, depth information associated with a current pixel is compared with depth information associated with pixels spatially adjacent to the current pixel in the depth image. When the difference of depth between the current pixel and an adjacent pixel is greater than a first value and less than a second value, at least an additional point of said 3D scene is generated, in addition to a current point associated with the current pixel of the depth image, the number of additional points depending on the depth difference.

Abstract: A medical device is disclosed that can effectively destroy an object in a biological lumen, a method for controlling rotation of the medical device, and a rotation controller. The medical device to be inserted into a biological lumen to destroy a thrombus in the biological lumen includes a long shaft portion that is rotationally driven, a drive unit that rotates the shaft portion, a breaking member that is provided at a distal portion of the shaft portion and is rotatable, and a control unit that controls the rotation of the drive unit, in which the control unit controls the drive unit to repeat the rotation while interposing a stop of the rotation between rotations of the drive unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for fastening around a cranial burr hole includes a substantially flat core and a shell encapsulating a ring portion of the core. The shell defines an orifice substantially centered within the ring portion, and has a contoured lower surface to match the cranial curvature. Pliable arms of the core extend laterally from the ring portion, each being terminated by a fastener member. A central portion of a placement tool for the apparatus has a lower part configured to extend through the apparatus orifice, and an upper part from which first and second arms of the tool extend laterally. Each tool arm is terminated with a receptacle to hold a bone screw, and, when the tool central portion lower part extends through the apparatus orifice, each receptacle aligns with a corresponding fastener member, and lower openings of the receptacles are generally oriented along the contoured lower surface.

Abstract: A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue in a body lumen includes a catheter body assembly having an axis and proximal and distal end portions spaced apart from one another along the axis. At least a portion of the catheter body assembly is sized and shaped to be received in the body lumen. A handle is mounted to the proximal end portion of the catheter body assembly and operable to cause rotation of the catheter body assembly. The handle includes internal handle components that interface with the catheter body assembly. The internal handle components provide at least four interface locations spaced axially along the catheter body assembly. A tissue-removing element is mounted on the distal end portion of the catheter body assembly. The tissue-removing element is configured to remove the tissue as the tissue-removing element is rotated by the catheter body assembly within the body lumen.

Abstract: A system includes a first tube, a sharp coil at a distal end of the first tube, a second tube displaceable within the first tube, and a sharp housing at a distal of the second tube for storing fasteners. The housing can be positioned at a first tissue, and the coil rotated to advance the coil into engagement with the first tissue. The first tube is retracted to retract the first tissue, and then a first fastener is deployed at the first tissue location. Then, without removing the system from the patient, the distal end of the system is moved adjacent a second tissue location, and the process is repeated for a second fastener at the second tissue location. A suture extends between the first and second fasteners, and tension is applied to the suture to draw the first and second tissues toward each other to reconfigure the tissue.

Abstract: A medical device for removing an object in a body lumen includes a catheter and a drive device. The drive device includes a hub support portion with which a hub portion of the catheter is interlocked. The hub portion has first and second engagement portions interlocked with the hub support portion. The hub support portion includes a rotation blocking portion that is engaged with the first engagement portion to block the hub portion from rotating with respect to the hub support portion, a movement blocking portion that is engaged with the second engagement portion to block movement of the hub portion with respect to the hub support portion in an axial direction, and a releasing portion that releases a state in which a rotation of the hub portion is blocked while maintaining a state in which movement of the hub portion is blocked.

Abstract: A suture device for use in combination with a delivery system including a lumen extending through the delivery system includes a needle usable to carry a suture, a distal shuttle configured to releasably secure the needle, a sleeve disposable over the distal shuttle, the distal shuttle movable relative to the sleeve between a locked position in which the needle is locked to the distal shuttle and an unlocked position in which the needle is releasable from the distal shuttle. The suture device includes a distal assembly including an elongate tool guide movable between a deployment configuration in which the elongate tool guide is substantially parallel with the distal assembly and a working configuration in which the elongate tool guide curves away from the distal assembly.

Abstract: A tissue microfracture apparatus including a housing having a proximal end and a distal end that includes an aperture. The apparatus also includes an elongated member having proximal and distal ends with at least one tissue microfracture spike protruding from the distal end. The member operates cooperatively with the housing to expose a portion of the spike through the aperture. The apparatus also includes a disposing facility between the elongated member and the housing to dispose the spike in a home position within the housing. The disposing facility may be a spring element positioned at either the proximal or distal end of the housing. The elongated member may include a force receiving surface on the proximal end for receiving a force that facilitates exposing the portion of the spike. An exposure limiting facility limits the exposed portion of the spike.

Abstract: A fixation device delivery system is described. The system includes a driver and a cooperating fixation element featuring a barb which becomes active upon deployment in the inner abdominal wall.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods relate to generation of augmented images using virtual content that is part of an augmented reality presentation and images of a scene captured via an image sensor. A wearable heads-up display (WHUD) may present an augmented reality presentation with virtual content projected into a field of view of a scene, while an image sensor captures images of the scene. The image sensor may be part of the WHUD or part of a separate device, for instance part of a smartphone. A wearer may view a scene via the WHUD and capture an image of all or a portion of the scene, for instance via a camera of either the WHUD or a separate device. An application monitors the virtual content and can generate an augmented image, which can be transmitted/printed, replicating the augmented reality experience and/or adding customized messages to the resulting augmented image.