Abstract: Catheter having an elongate tubular shaft including an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen defined therein, the guidewire lumen extending along at least a distal length of an inner tubular member of the elongate tubular shaft. The catheter includes a distal tip member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal tip member is monolithic and the proximal end of the distal tip member is secured to a distal end of the inner tubular member. The catheter includes a balloon having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion of the balloon sealingly coupled to the distal portion of the elongate tubular shaft. The distal portion of the balloon is sealingly coupled to the distal tip member and the balloon defines an inner chamber in communication with the inflation lumen, wherein the proximal end of the distal tip member is disposed within the inner chamber.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods for expanding a polymeric tube using one or more deformable members. The methods can involve disposing the polymeric tube within the one or more deformable members and radially deforming the polymeric tube and the one or more deformable members. The rate of deformation of the polymeric tube and/or the extent of deformation of the one or more polymeric tubes can advantageously be controlled along one or more axes by at least one of the one or more deformable members.

Abstract: A robotic system can include a surgical instrument with a wrist that allows N degrees of freedom of movement. The N degrees of freedom can be controlled by N+1 cable segments. The wrist can include a first set pulleys configured to rotate about a first axis and a second set of pulleys configured to rotate about a second axis. The wrist can further comprise one or more pulleys configured to engage two of the cable segments, wherein at least one of the pulleys is shared by a first cable segment and a second cable segment. The first cable segment and the second cable segment that share the pulley can be independent from one another. In some circumstances, the surgical instrument can be actuated N+1 degrees of movement by advancing or retracting at least two of N+1 cable segments.

Abstract: A device for occlusion of a body lumen comprises an implantable occlusion apparatus (3) operably attached to an elongated catheter member (4) configured for transluminal delivery and deployment of the occlusion apparatus in the body lumen. The occlusion apparatus comprises a radially expansible element (5) detachably attached to the elongated catheter member, and adjustable between a contracted orientation suitable for 10 transluminal delivery and a deployed orientation configured to occlude the body lumen, an energy delivery element (6, 14, 21) configured to deliver energy to surrounding tissue to heat the tissue, and a sensor (7) configured to detect a parameter of the wall of the body lumen. The energy delivery element (6, 14, 21) and sensor (7) are axially movable independently of the radially expansible element whereby, in use, the energy delivery 15 element and sensor can be transluminally retracted leaving the radially expansible element in-situ occluding the body lumen.

Abstract: One example method for improving robotic surgical safety via video processing includes identifying, during a robotic surgical procedure, one or more surgical tools using one or more images of the surgical procedure captured by a camera, the robotic surgical procedure employing a robotic surgical device controlling the one or more identified surgical tools; predicting, for at least one of the one or more images, one or more loaded surgical tools that are controlled by the robotic surgical device and should be in a field of view of the camera; comparing the one or more identified surgical tools with the one or more loaded surgical tools; determining that at least one of the one or more loaded surgical tools does not match any of the one or more identified surgical tools; and causing the at least one loaded tool of the robotic surgical device to be disabled.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of performing an image guided carpal tunnel release procedure. The method includes directing fluid through a hypodermic needle toward a median nerve of a patient to move the median nerve away from a deep surface of a transverse carpal ligament (TCL) of the patient. The method further includes dissecting the TCL with the hypodermic needle by sliding a cutting edge associated with the hypodermic needle along the TCL.

Abstract: A surgical tool incorporates a suture guide and anchor driver supporting an anchor where the anchor is maintained at a distance from the suture guide until release of a detent mechanism. Thereafter, the anchor is allowed to move into proximity to the suture guide, fixing a suture supported by the suture guide to a substrate, the entire procedure being achievable with a single hand.

Abstract: A method of repairing a defective heart valve is disclosed comprising directing an implant delivery catheter to form a first curve of the implant delivery catheter around chordae of the heart valve on a ventricular side of the heart valve, inserting the implant delivery catheter through the heart valve to an atrial side thereof, forming a second curve of the delivery catheter along an annulus of the heart valve on the atrial side, and ejecting an annuloplasty implant from the delivery catheter while retracting the delivery catheter such that the annuloplasty implant is arranged along the first and second curve on the ventricular and atrial side.

Abstract: An example occlusive implant is disclosed. The example occlusive implant includes an expandable framework configured to shift between a first configuration and an expanded configuration and a fixation member disposed along the expandable framework. The fixation member includes a first engagement portion and an anchor portion. Further, the first engagement portion is designed to be secured to the expandable framework and the anchor portion extends away from an outer surface of the expandable framework.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of treating a patient that has a low coronary ostia height. The methods can involve advancing a heart valve prosthesis to a native valve structure having an ostium and positioning the prosthesis to align a gap between major peaks of the prosthesis with the ostium to avoid obstruction of the ostium. The presently disclosed methods and prostheses can be effective at treating patients with a coronary ostia height of as low as 10 mm, 8 mm, 6 mm, or less.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to operate the drive mechanism in a first operating mode in which the atherectomy burr is operated at a speed reference and with a predetermined torque limit. The controller is adapted to determine when the atherectomy burr becomes stuck while in the first operating mode and is further adapted to, when the atherectomy burr becomes stuck, operate the drive mechanism in a second operating mode that is different from the first operating mode.

Abstract: A heart valve anchor apparatus may include a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The body may include a first radially expandable portion at the proximal portion of the body, a second radially expandable portion at the distal portion of the body, and a root portion extending from the first radially expandable portion to the second radially expandable portion, the root portion having an outer extent. The first radially expandable portion may be configured to self-expand to an outer extent greater than the outer extent of the root portion when radially unconstrained. The second radially expandable portion may be configured to self-expand to an outer extent greater than the outer extent of the root portion when radially unconstrained. In an unstressed configuration, the body may define a longitudinal centerline that extends away from a plane tangent to the root portion.

Abstract: A method of applying a contact lens to an eye of a subject can include: applying an ophthalmic composition to the contact lens, wherein the ophthalmic composition includes a colorant that temporarily colorizes the contact lens; and positioning the colorized contact lens onto a correct position of the eye while visualizing the colorized contact lens. A method of removing a contact lens from an eye of a subject can include: applying an ophthalmic composition to the contact lens while located on the eye of the subject, wherein the ophthalmic composition includes a colorant that temporarily colorizes the contact lens; and removing the colorized contact lens from the eye while visualizing the colorized contact lens.

Abstract: A medical device includes a clevis, a first blade, a second blade, and a tension member. The first and second blades are rotatably coupled to the clevis. The first blade includes a first coupling portion. The tension member is coupled to the first blade and applies a torque to the first blade to rotate the first blade about the clevis between a first, second, and third orientation. The second blade includes a second coupling portion. The second coupling portion is coupled to the first coupling portion such that A) the second blade remains in a fixed position relative to the clevis when the first blade is between the first and second orientation, and B) rotation of the first retractor blade between the second and third orientation transfers at least a portion of the torque to the second retractor blade causing rotation of the second blade about the clevis.

Abstract: A method comprising capturing a pose of a surgical tool at a surgical site of a patient. The method includes determining a range of movement of the surgical tool at the surgical site, in response to the captured pose. The method includes displaying a representation of the determined range of movement onto an image associated with the surgical site. The method includes providing one or more instructions to limit a movement of a robotic device according to the determined range of movement.

Abstract: An occlusive implant system may include a catheter having a lumen extending therethrough, a core wire slidably and rotatably disposed within the lumen, the core wire having a threaded member disposed at a distal end, and a medical implant having an expandable frame, an occlusive element disposed on the frame, and a threaded insert coupled to a proximal portion of the frame, wherein the threaded member is removably coupled to the threaded insert.

Abstract: A prosthetic mitral valve may be anchored in a native mitral valve. The prosthetic mitral valve preferably has a large anterior prosthetic leaflet that spans the entire width of the native anterior leaflet and the anterior prosthetic leaflet moves away from left ventricular outflow tract during systole to create a clear unobstructed outflow path.

Abstract: A cannula assembly having a retention member and a method of manufacture of the cannula assembly is provided. The cannula assembly includes a cannula and a sleeve disposed around the cannula from a proximal end to a distal end. The sleeve can include a balloon formed by a stretch blow molding process following local heating once advanced over the cannula. Once formed, the balloon can be conditioned to constrict against the cannula. A conditioning aid can be advanced over the balloon when it is still formable to constrict the balloon against the cannula.

Abstract: A buttress is applied to an end effector of a surgical stapler. The buttress is loaded on a platform of a buttress applier cartridge. The end effector is closed upon the platform. An adhesive layer of the buttress secures the buttress to the end effector. The buttress is thus adhered to the end effector when the end effector is opened. The end effector is then actuated on tissue of a patient, thereby stapling the buttress to the tissue.

Abstract: Device and method for relieving muscle tension. The device includes three pairs of tips. Each pair is located, relative to the other two pairs of tips, at a vertex in a triangular orientation. Each pair of tips includes a unique horizontal distance in between the tips. Each tip is equidistant in height relative to its respective counterpart tip. The device also includes a connector configured to connect each tip to its counterpart tip. The connector is situated such that there is a pre-determined height differential between the apex of each pair of tips and the top of the connector. The apex of each pair of tips is vertically longer than the height of the connector.