Abstract: An illustrative example suture securing method includes moving a first member in an insertion direction into bone. The first member includes an eyelet and suture threaded through the eyelet transverse to the insertion direction. The method includes moving a second member relative to the first member in the insertion direction into a suture securing position where the second member traps the suture.

Abstract: An instrument for treating tissue during a medical procedure includes a hand-held portion and a working portion. The hand-held portion is manually supported and moved by a user and the working portion is movably coupled to the hand-held portion. A tracking device is attached to the hand-held portion for tracking the instrument. The tracking device is in communication with a control system, which is used to keep the working portion within or outside of a boundary. A plurality of actuators are operatively coupled to the working portion. The control system instructs the actuators to move the working portion relative to the hand-held portion during the medical procedure in order to maintain a desired relationship between the working portion and the boundary.

Abstract: An embolic protection device includes an expandable and contractible filter that can be supported by one or more struts. The struts can be connected to the filter or interwoven into the filter, so as to assist in the expansion and contraction of the filter. In one embodiment, the proximal ends of the struts connect to a joint that is fixed in position relative to a delivery wire, while the distal end of the filter connect to a joint that slides relative to the delivery wire.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a ligator adapted for use with an endoscope includes a ligator body adapted to mount to a body of the endoscope, a barrel adapted to mount to a distal tip of a shaft of the endoscope, the barrel supporting multiple elastic bands that can be sequentially deployed onto internal tissue, and an activation mechanism supported by the ligator body, the activation mechanism including a rotatable activation knob, a rotatable cord winding ring, an activation cord, and a stop element that limits rotation of the activation knob to rotation between a start position and an end position beyond which no further rotation is possible.

Abstract: A system for implanting a heart valve includes a radially self-expandable tubular body having an inflow end and an outflow end and a preformed groove disposed at an outer surface of the tubular body between the inflow end and the outflow end. The preformed groove extends at least partially around the tubular body, and has a circumferential opening facing radially outward of the tubular body. A valve is disposed within and attached to the tubular body, and a trapping member is configured to be moved into the preformed groove and form at least a partial loop around the preformed groove. An insertion member is configured to push the trapping member into the preformed groove. Additionally, a coupling member can provide a releasable attachment between the trapping member and the insertion member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a deployment system for an endoluminal device. The deployment system includes a confining sheath placed around a compacted endoluminal device. A deployment line is provided in the system that is an integral extension of the sheath. As the deployment line is actuated, the sheath retracts from around the compacted endoluminal device. As the sheath retracts from around the endoluminal device, material from the sheath may be converted into deployment line. Once the sheath is retracted from around the compacted endoluminal device, the endoluminal device expands in configuration and repairs vascular or cardiac structures of an implant recipient. Any remaining sheath material is removed from the implantation site along with the deployment line.

Abstract: A delivery system including a distal capture device that has a sleeve with a passageway defined axially therethrough and one or more elastically deformable sections. Each of the one or more elastically deformable sections has a free terminating end and an opposite end mounted to the distal end of the sleeve. The elastically deformable sections transition between: (i) a fully expanded state in which the elastically deformable section is distally biased in a direction away from the sleeve; and (ii) a retracted state in which the free terminating end of each of the elastically deformable sections is proximally deflected backwards over itself in a direction toward the proximal end of the sleeve.

Abstract: A catheter includes a catheter body defining first and second lumens, and a wire having first and second segments each with a greater stiffness, and a middle segment with a lesser stiffness. The wire is in an elastically deformed access state where the middle segment extends from an opening to the first lumen to an opening to the second lumen and forms a smaller loop. The wire is adjustable via sliding the first and second segments in opposed directions to an elastically deformed treatment state where the first segment extends from the opening to the first lumen to the opening to the second lumen and forms a larger loop.

Abstract: A method for repairing focal defects in tissue of a patient using an instrument having a cutting tip and a drive motor for rotating the cutting tip includes the steps of receiving a virtual three-dimensional model of a bone created from scan data of the bone wherein the bone has a focal defect, creating a three-dimensional shape of a target volume of material to be removed from the bone, removing the target volume of the material from the bone with the cutting tip, and placing an implant into the bone to repair the focal defect.

Abstract: A blood filter includes a hub, a plurality of legs, and a plurality of arms. Each of the legs includes a hook at a distal end thereof, a first linear segment extending substantially parallel to a hub longitudinal axis, a second linear segment extending obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis at a first angle, and an intermediate linear segment coupled to the first and second segments, the intermediate segment extending obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis at a second angle less than the first angle. Each of the arms has a free end closer to the longitudinal axis than the hook of each of the legs. The free ends of the arms are spaced radially transverse to the longitudinal axis at substantially the same radial distance.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a flexible stapling device (1). More particularly, this invention concerns a flexible endovascular stapling device (1) for an intravascular procedure such as patent foramen ovate closure, which is designed to avoid open heart surgery by permitting the closure of the defect utilizing a stapling means (26) which is positioned by using a flexible shaft/guidewire system.

Abstract: Devices and methods for cutting and collecting a specimen from a mass of tissue. The device may include an integrated cut and collect assembly. The integrated cut and collect assembly includes a cutting portion and a collection portion that includes a flexible membrane. The collection portion of the assembly is attached to the cutting portion thereof. The cutting portion is configured to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue and the collection portion is configured to collect the cut specimen and to encapsulate and isolate the cut specimen within the membrane to enable its safe retraction from the mass of tissue.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are described for treating venous insufficiency in which the vein is compressed at least partially along a treatment zone. A system can be provided including an injection device, such as a glue gun, that is operably connected to a delivery catheter that can be advanced across a treatment zone in the vein. The delivery catheter can be used to deliver one, two, or more boluses of media (e.g., cyanoacrylate) to occlude the vein along different spaced-apart sections of the treatment zone. External compression can also be applied to the vein by a compression element, such as a hand or multifunctional ultrasound transducer, to occlude portions of the vein along the treatment zone prior to or during the introduction of the boluses of media.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for the haptic sensation of forces at a remote location. Groups of MEMS-based pressure sensors are combined into sensor arrays. In some embodiments, the pressure sensors are encased in silicone or other elastomeric substance to allow for routine use in the aqueous environment of the body. The sensor arrays may be housed in a No-compatible material (e.g., stainless steel, plastic) and may be attached to a printed circuit board to allow the electrical signal generated by the sensors to be communicated to a user. The sensor arrays may be used with faceplates that directly interact with the target tissue or object. The faceplates may be rough, smooth, serrated, or any other texture. The present apparatuses and methods are particularly well suited for robotic surgery and may be used in wherever haptic sensing of forces at a remote location is desired.

Abstract: A surgical clip includes a first clamping arm and a second clamping arm rotatably coupled to each other and prestressed against each other into a closed position by a spring in the rotational direction, a first housing part being formed or arranged on the first clamping arm and a second housing part being formed or arranged on the second clamping arm, the housing parts forming a housing in which the spring is received.

Abstract: A clip unit includes: a clip body having a pair of arm parts; and a fastening ring arranged in the outside of the clip body and configured to maintain the arm parts in the closed state, in which the clip body includes a connection base section connecting the base end side of the pair of arm parts, and a connection tail section provided on the connection base section to extend opposite to the arm parts and connected to the front end of a transmission member, and the connection base section has a flat part perpendicular to the axial direction of the fastening ring, and the arm parts and the connection tail section are connected on a side of the flat part.

Abstract: A deployment device having a carrier tube, for bringing a sealing plug into position within a puncture tract or incision and deploying the sealing plug within the incision or puncture tract, towards the outer surface of a tissue puncture, is provided. The carrier tube is designed to facilitate easier deployment and improved compaction of the sealing plug, the sealing plug often made of collagen. The carrier tube is adapted to prevent the premature hydration of the sealing plug, where premature hydration of the sealing plug may result in difficulty in deploying the sealing plug. The carrier tube is designed to facilitate easier loading of puncture tract closing elements into the distal end of the carrier tube.

Abstract: Disclosed is a balloon of an intragastric device, comprising, in combination: a core of a first material and having an inner surface and an outer surface; and a coating of a second material on at least one of the inner surface of the core and the outer surface of the core. Disclosed is a method, comprising, in combination: creating a core of a balloon by a core in a first material; dipping at least one of an inner surface of the core and an outer surface of the core in a second material, whereby a coating is formed on at least one of the inner surface of the core and the outer surface of the core. Also disclosed are products by processed disclosed herein. The first material may be of a more dimensional consistency than the second material, have a greater elasticity than the second material, or be primarily of polydimethylsiloxane. The second material may be of higher acid resistance than the first material, be less permeable than the first material, or be primarily of polydiphenylsiloxane.

Abstract: A biopsy marking apparatus for placing a radiopaque marker at the location of a percutaneous biopsy. The biopsy marking apparatus comprises an introducer in combination with a radiopaque marker. The introducer ejects the radiopaque marker at the location of the biopsy. The introducer is configured to completely eject the radiopaque marker and prevent it from being subsequently drawn into the introducer as the introducer is removed from the biopsied tissue mass. The radiopaque marker has enhanced radiopaque characteristics and enhanced non-migration characteristics.

Abstract: A device and method for treating bodily diseases and/or conditions, for example, varicose veins, tumors and aneurysms including for example insertion of a blocking device toward a target destination using a catheter and delivery of sclerosing or other agents to the vessel while maintaining minimal, for example zero pressure in the treatment area. The blocking device may prevent treatment materials, embolisms, debris etc. from entering the upstream section of vessel. The blocking device may include, for example, a cap or other concave shape and may be expandable or extendible towards the vessel walls.