Abstract: Provided is a method of activating osteogenic or chondrogenic activity at a site in a subject in need thereof. Also provided is a method of treating a bone or cartilage defect in a subject. Additionally, the use of a reduced pressure apparatus for treating a bone or cartilage defect adjacent to dura mater, periosteum, or endosteum is provided. Further provided is a composition for treating a bone or cartilage defect. Also, the use of a reduced pressure apparatus and a biocompatible scaffold for the manufacture of a composition for treating a bone or cartilage defect adjacent to dura mater, periosteum or endosteum is provided.

Abstract: A medical instrument comprising: (A) a first joint comprising a first member and a second member, the first member configured to be repositionable with respect to the second member in an X-Y plane; (B) a second joint operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint comprising a third member and a fourth member, the third member configured to be repositionable with respect to the fourth member in a Y-Z plane perpendicular to the X-Y plane; and, (C) a controller operatively coupled to the first joint and the second joint, the controller including a first control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the first member and the second member, and a second control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the third member and the fourth member.

Abstract: Tissue expansion system includes a pump, a controller, and inflatable bladder, and a pressure sensor. The pump is adapted for substantially continuous operation in response to a pressure within a subcutaneously implanted inflatable bladder. The pump is thus able to deliver inflation medium to the bladder when the pressure within the bladder is below a predetermined lower threshold while stopping delivery of the fluid when the pressure rises above a higher threshold or reaches a predetermined maximum volume.

Abstract: A delivery assembly includes a ring sleeve that fits snugly over a main endoscope on the distal end of the endoscope. An extension tube projects distally away from the ring sleeve and may be made integrally with the sleeve. The extension tube is off-axis from the ring sleeve and endoscope. A tube-like inner carrier is reciprocatingly disposed inside the extension tube. One or more resilient tissue compression rings are placed in a stretched configuration on the inner carrier. To push the rings off the carrier, the carrier is pulled proximally within the extension tube and the compression ring is thus pulled into contact with the distal end of the extension tube. Continued pulling of the carrier causes the compression ring to be pushed off the assembly onto target tissue, at which point the ring is relaxed to assume a small configuration and clamp the target tissue.

Abstract: A multi-part surgical staple assembly is provided to provide uniform compression across stapled tissues. The staple assembly generally includes a U-shaped staple, a staple plate positionable against a backspan of the staple for engagement with one side of a stapled tissue section and a platen for receipt of tissue penetrating tips of the staple and engageable with an opposite side of a stapled tissue section. The staple plate and platen are provided with holes to receive the legs of the staple. In one embodiment, the staple plate is provided with a biasing member to bias the staple plate away from the backspan of the staple and toward the stapled tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method for loading a beneficial agent into an expandable medical device. The method includes the steps of sealing a plurality of openings extending through the medical device from a first side to a second side with a sealing member to substantially prevent a beneficial agent from passing through the openings, partially filling the openings with the beneficial agent delivered from an automated micro-jetting dispenser, substantially solidifying the beneficial agent, and removing the sealing member from the plurality of openings.

Abstract: This material comprises an annuloplasty member (12) able to be introduced using a catheter (2) through minimally invasive vascular access, then to be delivered by said catheter and fixed to the valve annulus (104).

Abstract: A vacuum system is described for endoscopic intracavity, intraluminal or intracorporeal vacuum therapy, for aspirating body fluids, wound secretions or gases from a hollow volume, such as a body cavity, a hollow organ, a tissue abscess or an intestinal lumen, particularly in the production of a temporary endoscopic closure of an intestinal lumen. Based on this, many embodiments of an endoscopy arrangement are described.

Abstract: A vasoocclusive coil is reinforced with a stretch resistant member to improve safety during retraction of the coil. The stretch resistant member is fixedly attached at one end to the vasoocclusive coil, and the other end of the stretch resistant member is detachably mounted to an elongated pusher member to allow for placement and release of the vasoocclusive coil within the patient's vasculature. The stretch resistant member may be formed from a therapeutic and/or bioactive non-metallic material to enhance the therapeutic properties of the vasoocclusive coil.

Abstract: A surgical filament snare assembly including an anchor capable of being fixated in bone and having a filament engagement feature. A first filament has a noose with first and second noose limbs connected, preferably slidably connected, to the filament engagement feature of the anchor. The first and second noose limbs emerge from the anchor as first and second free filament limbs which are capable of being passed through tissue to be repaired and then passable through the noose. The noose, such as one or more half-hitches, is capable of receiving the free filament limbs and strangulating them when tension is applied to at least one of the free filament limbs and the noose to enable incremental tensioning of the tissue after the anchor is fixated. Preferably, the snare assembly further includes a flexible sleeve joining at least some portion of the first and second free filament limbs to facilitate passing of the free filament limbs at least through the tissue as a single unit.

Abstract: Provided are a medical suture having micro cogs on a surface thereof and a method of manufacturing the medical suture. The method of manufacturing a medical suture includes steps of: producing a suture preform where micro cogs are formed on a surface thereof by heating and pressing a raw material of a suture for surgery in an overflow mould in a heat-press solid-phase forming method; and producing a suture with twist maintained by applying a tensile force and a rotational force to the suture preform in a vacuum state where a specific temperature condition is maintained.

Abstract: A surgical filament snare assembly including an anchor capable of being fixated in bone and having a filament engagement feature. A first filament has a noose with first and second noose limbs connected, preferably slidably connected, to the filament engagement feature of the anchor. The first and second noose limbs emerge from the anchor as first and second free filament limbs which are capable of being passed through tissue to be repaired and then passable through the noose. The noose, such as one or more half-hitches, is capable of receiving the free filament limbs and strangulating them when tension is applied to at least one of the free filament limbs and the noose to enable incremental tensioning of the tissue after the anchor is fixated. Preferably, the snare assembly further includes a flexible sleeve joining at least some portion of the first and second free filament limbs to facilitate passing of the free filament limbs at least through the tissue as a single unit.

Abstract: An illustrative example suture securing assembly includes an inserter having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis between the distal end and the proximal end. A first member includes an eyelet oriented to thread suture across the longitudinal axis. The first member is situated near the distal end of the inserter. The first member is configured to be placed in bone. A second member is situated near the distal end of the inserter. The second member is moveable relative to the first member in a distal direction toward the eyelet into a suture securing position where the second member traps suture.

Abstract: A delivery system for use with a prosthetic heart valve having a stent frame to which a valve structure is attached includes a shaft assembly including a distal end, an intermediate portion, and a first coupling structure disposed near the distal end and configured to be coupled to a distal end of the prosthetic heart valve via a first tether. A sheath assembly defines a lumen sized to slidably receive the shaft assembly. The delivery system is configured to transition from a loaded state in which the sheath assembly encompasses the prosthetic heart valve to a deployed state in which the sheath assembly is withdrawn from the prosthetic heart valve. The first coupling structure is configured to be manipulated in a first direction to provide a controlled expansion or contraction of the distal end of the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portion. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent is formed of intertwined meander patterns forming triangular cells. The cells are adapted to provide radial support, and also provide longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The cells also provide increase coverage of a vessel wall. Loops in the stent are disposed and adapted to cooperate, so that after expansion of said stent within a curved lumen, the stent is curved and cells on the outside of the curve open in length, but narrow in width, whereas cells on the inside of the curve shorten in length, but thicken in width to maintain a density of the stent element area which is much more constant than otherwise between the inside and outside of the curve. The stent also minimizes flaring out by eliminating free loops of the radially supporting circumferential bands of loops.

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. 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 polydimethyl-siloxane.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are provided for performing lung volume reduction in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other conditions where isolation of a lung segment or reduction of lung volume is desired. The methods are minimally invasive with instruments being introduced through the mouth (endotracheally) and rely on isolating the target lung tissue segment from other regions of the lung and occluding various lung passageways with the use of occlusal stents. The occlusal stents are delivered with the use of an occlusal stent delivery system which is loaded with the occlusal stent with the use of an occlusal stent loading system.

Abstract: Apparatus for permanent placement across an ostium of a left atrial appendage in a patient, which includes a filtering membrane configured to extend across the ostium of the left atrial appendage. The filtering membrane has a permeable structure which allows blood to flow through but substantially inhibits thrombus from passing therethrough. The apparatus also includes a support structure attached to the filtering membrane which retains the filtering membrane in position across the ostium of the left atrial appendage by permanently engaging a portion of the interior wall of the left atrial appendage. The support structure may be radially expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration which engages the ostium or the interior wall of the left atrial appendage. The filtering membrane may define an opening therethrough that is configured to expand from a first size which inhibits the passage of thrombus therethrough to a second size which allows an interventional device, e.g.

Abstract: A delivery device for percutaneously deploying a prosthetic valve includes a sheath, an inner shaft, and a release assembly. The release assembly is disposed between the sheath and the inner shaft, and includes a retraction member, a release member, and a retention member. The retraction member can self-retract in length from an extended condition to a retracted condition. The release member can self-expand from a compressed condition to an expanded condition. The retention member is distal the release member. In a delivery state, the sheath end is distal the retention member, the release member is in the compressed condition and the retraction member in the extended condition to retain the prosthesis. In a deployment state, the sheath end is positioned to permit the release member to self-transition to the expanded condition, allowing the retraction member to self-transition to the retracted condition and release the prosthesis.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for filtering debris flowing in an in vivo fluid stream, the assembly comprising at least one balloon configured to volumetrically expand and, during at least a portion of the expansion, operatively connect with a filter, and to contract following the expansion. The assembly further comprising a filter configured to operatively connect with the at least one balloon during at least a portion of the volumetric expansion of the at least one balloon, such that the filter expands during the operative connection in order to filter debris from a fluid flowing in a fluid stream within which the expanded filter is disposed.