Abstract: A hand-held gripping device that allows a surgeon to reach interior portions of a person's anatomy, includes a gripping portion having a pair of jaws and/or nets movable relative to each other between fully clamped and fully opened positions thereof, a handle portion spaced apart from the jaw portion by a bendable central portion that is hollow and corrugated, with a cord extending therethrough.

Abstract: A deployment device for a flexible implant includes a housing and one or two chambers formed therein. When two chambers are included, the housing can have two elongate openings formed in its outer sides, each providing side access to one of the chambers, and the flexible implant can be rolled into a double-rolled configuration and placed in the chambers of the deployment device in such a way that a middle portion of the flexible implant is external to the housing. When the flexible implant is rolled and loaded in the deployment device, the flexible implant can extend out through open end(s) of the chamber(s) or can be encapsulated within the chamber(s). The flexible implant can be provided separate from the deployment device. The flexible implant can include a flexible base sheet including a body portion and a tab. A flexible separable layer can be removably disposed on the body portion.

Abstract: Insertion devices and associated systems and methods for the percutaneous placement of patient leads are disclosed herein. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a cannula having a lumen and a first dilator. The first dilator can be positioned within the lumen and the first dilator and the cannula can be used to create a percutaneous entry point. An additional dilator can be positioned over the first dilator and advanced into the percutaneous entry point to expand the percutaneous entry point. A final dilator can be inserted into the patient and two leads can be advanced into the patient through the final dilator.

Abstract: This disclosure covers various concepts to use for obtaining measurement of tension in catheter pullwires to improve controllability of a robotic surgical system.

Abstract: Prosthetic heart valves described herein can be deployed using a transcatheter delivery system and technique to interface and anchor in cooperation with the anatomical structures of a native heart valve. Deployment systems and methods for using the deployment systems described herein facilitate accurately and conveniently controllable percutaneous, transcatheter techniques by which the prosthetic heart valves can be delivered and deployed within a patient.

Abstract: A depth limiter for surgical suturing is disclosed. The depth limiter has a tissue stop. The depth limiter also has at least one attachment point coupled to the tissue stop and configured to removably engage a surgical suturing device to position the tissue stop relative to a tissue bite area of the surgical suturing device. A further depth limiter for surgical suturing is disclosed. The depth limiter has a tissue stop. The depth limiter also has at least one attachment point coupled to the tissue stop and configured to engage a surgical suturing device to position the tissue stop relative to a tissue bite area of the surgical suturing device.

Abstract: A tacker for applying a rotary tack, including a tacker for applying a rotary tack, including a handle with a first trigger assembly and a second trigger assembly, the trigger assemblies being coupled to an articulated applicator arm which is disposed through a drive shaft connected to the handle, the first trigger assembly operative to apply a rotary tack from a distal end of the applicator arm and the second trigger assembly operative to bend the distal end of the applicator arm, wherein a longitudinal axis of the handle is tilted with respect to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A medical device is provided in which one or both ends of the device encourage the formation of tissue across substantially the entire area of the respective end that is exposed to the blood flow for reducing the risk of a thrombotic embolism. The medical device includes a tubular structure having at least one expanded volume portion and a tapered transition portion. The tubular structure may be made through the braiding of a number of strands, and a first end feature may be used to secure the proximal strand ends. The proximal strand ends may be secured via the proximal end of the first end feature, such that the tapered transition portion is formed over the circumferential surface of the first end feature, and only a proximal end surface (or a portion of the proximal end surface) of the first end feature is exposed to the path of flowing blood.

Abstract: In one illustrative embodiment, a thrombectomy device is disclosed. The thrombectomy device includes a treatment portion, comprising a reversibly-expandable framework configured to be deployed from within a microcatheter into a selected vasculature for removing thrombus or embolus. The thrombectomy device further includes a substantially tubular connection member disposed on a proximal end portion of the treatment portion configured to receive a terminal portion of a delivery member for positioning the treatment portion within the vasculature. The framework comprises structural features for engaging the thrombus or embolus including one or more of: framework peaks and valleys along a long axis of the treatment portion or a plurality of strut members.

Abstract: The invention provides improved devices, systems, and methods for tissue approximation and repair at treatment sites. The invention provides devices, systems, and methods that may more successfully approximate and repair tissue by improving the capture of tissue into the devices. The invention may be a one-way mechanism that allows tissue to enter the mechanism but not easily exit, such as a leaf-spring, a protrusion, a pivoting arm and one or more frictional elements.

Abstract: An aspiration system includes an elongate tubular member having a lumen; an aspiration catheter configured to be inserted through the lumen of the elongate tubular member, and including a tubular aspiration member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen, and configured to at least partially extend out of the lumen of the elongate tubular member at the distal end of the elongate tubular member; an elongate support member coupled to the tubular aspiration member and extending between a proximal end of the aspiration catheter and the proximal end of the tubular aspiration member; and an annular sealing member coupled to the tubular aspiration member and configured to create a seal against an inner surface of the elongate tubular member, when a vacuum sufficient to cause aspiration is actively applied to the lumen of the elongate tubular member.

Abstract: A method of treating a thrombus is provided wherein a device is advanced to the vicinity of the thrombus, a thrombolytic agent is applied to the thrombus, and an expandable basket of the device is expanded to capture at least a portion of the thrombus within the expandable basket. The device includes a catheter having a distal portion, a lumen and a plurality of openings on the outer surface of the catheter, through which the thrombolytic agent is supplied. The device further includes a sheath and may include a collar which assists in expanding the expandable basket as the sheath is moved relative to the catheter.

Abstract: An intracavity balloon catheter may include a flexible catheter and a balloon provided on a distal end of the flexible catheter. The balloon may be inflatable with the introduction of fluid into the balloon from the flexible catheter. The balloon may be composed of a plurality of sections, including a center section and side sections. The inflated balloon may have shapes such as cylindrical, semi-cylindrical, or pillow shape. The intracavity balloon catheter may further include a securing device, such as a positioning ring, for securing the position of an inserted intracavity balloon catheter. This securing device may be composed of two, matable components with a passage extending through. The flexible catheter may be insertable into the passage. Tabs may be provided, either on one of the components or on a locking mechanism provided between the components, to prevent sliding of an inserted flexible catheter.

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: Inflatable medical balloons are disclosed herein. The inflatable medical balloons include balloon walls that are reinforced with graphene. The balloon walls can include any number of layers and one or more of the layers may include graphene. Catheters including the medical balloons are also disclosed in addition to methods for manufacturing the inflatable medical balloons.

Abstract: A delivery system for transcatheter implantation of a heart valve prosthesis. The delivery system includes an outer sheath component defining a lumen therethrough, an elongate tube having at least two flat wires longitudinally extending from a distal end thereof, and self-expanding first and second frames disposed in series within a distal portion of the outer sheath component and held in a compressed delivery configuration therein. The elongate tube and the at least two flat wires are slidably disposed within the lumen of the outer sheath component. In the compressed delivery configuration the at least two flat wires longitudinally extend along exterior portions of the first and second frames and are woven through adjacent ends of the first and second frames to releasably couple them to each other. Proximal retraction of the at least two flat wires from the first and second frames releases at least the first frame from the delivery system.

Abstract: A port closure device includes a pair of jaws that may move repeatably between open and closed positions and repeatably pass a needle therebetween. The jaws are generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the device in the closed position and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis in the open position. The device further includes a jaw control rod for controlling movement of the jaws and a needle control rod for controlling the passing of the needle between the two jaws.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical device for performing a surgical procedure includes an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end spaced along a longitudinal axis. The elongated member has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a passageway. A septum is configured to separate the passageway into a first conduit and a second conduit. A distal end of the second conduit terminates before a distal end of the first conduit to form a stepped configuration. An ultrasonic-driven cutting blade is disposed within the second conduit and is configured for cutting tissue such that the cutting blade vibrates ultrasonically to cut tissue. The distal end of the first conduit includes an outlet configured for delivering material to a surgical site and the distal end of the second conduit includes an inlet configured for aspirating the surgical site.

Abstract: A treatment method and medical device are disclosed for cutting a substance inside a body lumen. The medical device includes a drive shaft that is rotatable; a strut that is rotatably connected to a distal side of the drive shaft, that extends along a rotation axis, and whose central portion is expandable radially outward; and a support portion that is rotatably connected to the distal side of the drive shaft, that is formed in a mesh shape and a tubular shape while including multiple gaps, at least a portion of which is positioned on a radially inner side of the strut, and that is expandable radially outward by a central portion in a direction extending along the rotation axis being bent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for use in surgery to which a surgical implement is connectable in order to conduct surgery on a patient, wherein input means (7) for controlling operating parameters and display means (8) for indicating the operating parameters are provided, wherein the device (1) comprises a first display (9) which is essentially horizontal during operation and a second display (10) which runs obliquely upwards at an installation angle (A), wherein the device (1) exhibits position detection means (18) for detecting contactlessly communicating surgical implements (2, 14, 15) deposited on the first display (9) with regard to their positions on the first display (9).