Abstract: A method for securing a suture to bone can include loading the suture in a distal opening of an inserter of an assembly. The suture can be coupled to soft tissue. The assembly can include the inserter, an anchor carried by the inserter, a distal tip and a driver each coupled to the inserter. A hole can be formed in the bone with the distal tip, and the distal opening and a portion of the suture can be positioned in the hole. The driver can be actuated to allow movement relative to the inserter and can be advanced in a first direction to drive the anchor about the inserter into the hole to secure the distal tip, anchor and suture to the bone with an absence of a knot. The driver can be moved in a second direction to remove the inserter from the distal tip, anchor and suture.

Abstract: A facial lift device to be placed behind the lips and above the gums disposed alongside the buccal and facial surface of a living human maxilla or a human mandible no further than the most posterior tooth of one side to the most posterior tooth of the opposite side of said maxilla or mandible. The facial device embodies an outward lifting force when placed within the human mouth under the lips and alongside the anterior vestibule centered on the frenulum, such that when said facial lift device is forced behind the maxilla or mandible lips, the facial lift will forcibly lift out the dermal layer reducing and removing lower facial wrinkles within the perioral region.

Abstract: Suture locking clamps for securing prostheses such as heart valves or annuloplasty rings with sutures and without knots improve the ease of implantation. The clamps have opposed clamp halves separated by a slot opening to one side and surrounded by a biasing member such as one or more C-clip springs. Sutures pass laterally into the slot which is held open by a retention member positioned between the clamp halves. The locking clamp slides along the sutures into position, the tension of the sutures is adjusted, and the retention member removed to allow the biasing member to clamp the sutures between the clamp halves. A delivery tool used to deliver and deploy the locking clamps contains a number of clamps within a delivery tube in a stack and bonded together for safety and a common retention member. The tool has a longitudinal channel on one side for entry of sutures.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to specially designed magnesium-aluminum (“Mg—Al”) alloys and medical uses thereof in a hemodynamic environment, and, more particularly to devices for sealing an opening formed through biological tissue (such as blood vessels) made from such specially designed magnesium-aluminum alloys.

Abstract: A control system for an arterial catheter operable to selectively impede blood flow includes a processor and a storage medium accessible to the processor that bears instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to execute logic including receiving a first signal representing a physical parameter associated with a patient in whom the catheter is disposed, receiving a second signal representative of time, and causing inflation of a first balloon on the catheter to impede blood flow in the first artery. Based at least in part on the first signal satisfying a first condition, the instructions include causing deflation of the first balloon. Based at least in part on the second signal indicating elapse of a predetermined time period, the instructions include causing deflation of the first balloon regardless of whether the first signal satisfies the first condition.

Abstract: A method for knotlessly securing suture in a bone tunnel including securing a suture to a tissue to be fixated by a suture anchor; preloading a proximal threaded component of an anchor onto a drive shaft; preloading a distal component of the anchor onto an actuator shaft, passing the suture through an eyelet of the distal component of the anchor, inserting the distal component of the anchor and then the proximal component of the anchor into the bone hole; confirming the placement of the proximal component of the anchor relative to the distal component of the anchor by viewing an indicator on the driver handle; and pivoting a trigger device about a pivot axis to translate the actuator shaft to a second position to compress the suture at the distal end of the proximal anchor and to lock the distal anchor to the proximal anchor.

Abstract: A method for aspirating material from a patient includes providing an elongate tubular member having a lumen having a first diameter adjacent its distal end, providing an aspiration catheter including a tubular aspiration member having an aspiration lumen and configured to at least partially extend out of the lumen of the elongate tubular member, an elongate support member coupled to the tubular aspiration member, and at least one annular sealing member coupled to the tubular aspiration member and configured to seal against the first diameter, placing the distal end of the elongate tubular member into vasculature, inserting the aspiration catheter into the lumen of the elongate tubular member, extending the distal end of the tubular aspiration member out of the distal end of the elongate tubular member such that the at least one annular sealing member is aligned with the first diameter of the lumen of the elongate tubular member, and applying a vacuum to the lumen of the elongate tubular member at the such th

Abstract: Embodiments described a shield for a surgical morcellator. Specifically, embodiments disclose a denticulate shield for the distal tip of a surgical morcellator with notches, wherein the notches are configured to catch loose morcellated tissue and prevent the loose morcellated tissue from being falling or remaining into the patient.

Abstract: Non-expandable space-occupying devices for treating voids within the body are disclosed. The devices can have multiple non-expandable space-occupying elements connected to a flexible leader. Methods of making and using the devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for treating a vascular condition by restoring patency to a vessel while reducing the likelihood that emboli become dislodged into the bloodstream. In a first embodiment, the apparatus comprises a graft having proximal and distal regions, a first support member attached to the distal region of the graft, and a second support member attached to the proximal region of the graft. The first and second support members may comprise first and second stents, respectively. The first stent is deployed distal to a vascular condition, and the second stent is deployed proximal to a vascular condition, such that the graft spans the length of the vascular condition to entrap emboli during treatment of the vascular condition. In an alternative embodiment, the graft is adapted to be everted to form a pocket adapted to entrap emboli dislodged during treatment of the vascular condition.

Abstract: Controlled deployable medical devices that are retained inside a body passage and in one particular application to vascular devices used in repairing arterial dilations, e.g., aneurysms. Such devices can be adjusted during deployment, thereby allowing at least one of a longitudinal or radial re-positioning, resulting in precise alignment of the device to an implant target site.

Abstract: A medical implantable occlusion device is disclosed comprising a fabric of at least one thread and a structural formation thereof having a collapsed and an expanded shape, the formation comprises a proximal and a distal portion, a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal portion, wherein at least one of the proximal and distal portions comprises a peripheral edge having a first and a second radius of curvature in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first radius of curvature is different from the second radius of curvature.

Abstract: In one embodiment, system for real time monitoring of catheter aspiration includes a housing having a first port adapted for connection to a vacuum source and a second port adapted for connection with an aspiration catheter, a pressure sensor in fluid communication with an interior of the housing, a measurement device coupled to the pressure sensor and configured for measuring deviations in fluid pressure, and a communication device coupled to the measurement device and configured to generate an alert signal when a deviation in fluid pressure measured by the measurement device exceeds a pre-set threshold. In another embodiment, the system for real time monitoring of catheter aspiration further includes a vacuum source for connection to the first port and an aspiration catheter having an aspiration lumen for connection to the second port.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments and methods of use for a surgical excision device which contains a disposable handheld instrument with a blade for severing a uvula and an attached net for capturing and removing the uvula.

Abstract: Systems, methods and kits relating to in-situ forming polymer foams for the treatment of aneurysms or fluid filled spaces are disclosed. The systems include an insertable medical device and an in-situ forming foam of lava like materials with a fast forming outer skin and a slower hardening interior that is formed from a one-, two- or multi-part formulation. When used to treat an aneurysm, the foam is placed into contact with at least a portion of an exterior surface of the medical device and/or the tissue surface of the aneurysm.

Abstract: A suture passer assembly is used for manipulating a suture with a selectively moveable wire member. The suture passer assembly includes at least one grasping member and a single-body hollow tube. The tube defines a first end, a second end, a tube wall, and a tube passage extending from the first end to the second end. The wire member is moveably received within the tube passage. The tube wall includes at least one aperture that is disposed between the first end and the second end. A first portion of the grasping member extends through the tube wall and into the tube passage via the aperture. A second portion of the grasping member remains outside the hollow tube. The first portion is operable to grasp the wire member and selectively move the wire member relative to the hollow tube due to manipulation of the second portion of the grasping member.

Abstract: Methods are provided for using an intraocular shunt deployment device to deploy an intraocular shunt from the device and into an eye.

Abstract: A collapsible medical device and associated methods of occluding an abnormal opening in, for example, a body organ, wherein the medical device is shaped from plural layers of a heat-treatable metal fabric. Each of the fabric layers is formed from a plurality of metal strands and the assembly is heat-treated within a mold in order to substantially set a desired shape of the device. By incorporating plural layers in the thus-formed medical device, the ability of the device to rapidly occlude an abnormal opening in a body organ is significantly improved.

Abstract: Methods and constructs for soft tissue to bone repairs employing tensionable knotless anchors, without knot tying. The tensionable knotless anchors may be used by themselves or in combination with additional constructs (which may have a similar or different configuration, i.e., modified according to the specific repair) and with the flexible strands provided through tissue, around tissue, or through and around tissue to be repaired or fixated.

Abstract: A system and method of delivering and detaching an implant within a body of a patient is described. A tether connects an implant with a delivery device. The delivery device includes a heater through which the tether passes. The inner lumen of the delivery system pusher may accommodate the lead wires which connect to the heater.