Abstract: A method and device to improve lung function in a patient having restricted ventilation. The device may include an implantable airway bypass device that relieves trapped air. The method may include a treatment procedure that minimizes irritation of tissue to control healing processes.

Abstract: Methods and percutaneous devices for assessing, and treating patients having sympathetically mediated disease, involving augmented peripheral chemoreflex and heightened sympathetic tone by reducing chemosensor input to the nervous system via percutaneous carotid body ablation.

Abstract: Methods and devices for assessing, and treating patients having sympathetically mediated disease, involving augmented peripheral chemoreflex and heightened sympathetic tone by reducing chemosensor input to the nervous system via carotid body ablation.

Abstract: Methods and percutaneous devices for assessing, and treating patients having sympathetically mediated disease, involving augmented peripheral chemoreflex and heightened sympathetic tone by reducing chemosensor input to the nervous system via percutaneous carotid body ablation.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods using low frequency ultrasound to emulsify, disintegrate, cut and/or coagulate tissue in a narrow space such as the nasal passages and paranasal sinuses. The devices may comprise a low frequency generator, a functionally active handle, an ultrasound emitter, a concentrator, a waveguide and distal functional tips. The devices and methods are configured to safely and efficiently carry out surgical procedures within the nose and sinuses, among other soft tissues within the body.

Abstract: Methods and devices for assessing, and treating patients having sympathetically mediated disease, involving augmented peripheral chemoreflex and heightened sympathetic tone by reducing chemosensor input to the nervous system via carotid body ablation.

Abstract: Methods and percutaneous devices for assessing, and treating patients having sympathetically mediated disease, involving augmented peripheral chemoreflex and heightened sympathetic tone by reducing chemosensor input to the nervous system via percutaneous carotid body ablation.

Abstract: Methods and cryogenic devices for assessing, and treating patients having sympathetically mediated disease, involving augmented peripheral chemoreflex and heightened sympathetic tone by reducing chemosensor input to the nervous system via carotid body ablation.

Abstract: Drug delivery systems which are configured to retain and then distribute one or more drugs upon an actuating surface and/or balloon for delivery to a tissue region are described herein. The drug delivery system may comprise in one variation a volume of one or more drugs held in a reservoir, e.g., a silo, which may be located proximally of the expandable actuating surface and/or balloon. The one or more drugs may be separated from one another by valves or immiscible fluid barriers for distribution upon the surface, which may be varied in pore distribution, have a coating or covering for facilitating drug distribution, etc.

Abstract: A method of forming a soft tissue biopsy cavity marker may include steps of providing a radio-opaque element and a bio-compatible and bio-degradable polymer such as alginate and delivering the provided radio-opaque element and the provided polymer to a biopsy site, such as a breast biopsy site. A gelling initiator that includes divalent cations such as NaCl2 may then be provided and delivered to the biopsy site, causing the previously delivered polymer to gel and to form a soft tissue biopsy marker in situ (within the biopsy site).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the treatment of venous insufficiency, such as varicose veins, are described herein utilizing endovenous treatments. Such treatments may include systems to create an initial endovascular injury to the vessel wall utilizing any number of mechanisms, such as chemical, mechanical, electrical, etc. modalities. An implantable device, optionally having a sclerosing agent infused therein, may additionally be implanted along the injured tissue to promote, maintain, and otherwise enhance the tissue inflammation and scarring, thereby remodeling the diseased vessel wall.

Abstract: Tissue expanding and drug delivery systems with actuating three-dimensional surfaces are described for controlling the delivery and release of therapeutic agents against or upon tissue regions of interest. Such treatments devices and methods may include systems utilizing pores having various pore architectures to control the release of one or more drugs from an outer layer of an expandable delivery instrument, such as a balloon.

Abstract: A method of treating a cavity created by a percutaneous excisional procedure carried out through an incision includes steps of providing a post-procedure cavity implant, the post-procedure cavity implant including: a radiopaque element; a core portion coupled to the radiopaque element, the core portion including a first porous matrix defining a first controlled pore architecture, and a shell portion coupled to the core portion, the shell portion including a second porous matrix defining a second controlled pore architecture that is different from the first controlled pore architecture; implanting the post-procedure cavity implant into the cavity, and closing the incision.

Abstract: A method for mapping a lymphatic system following a cavity generating procedure, may include a step of providing a post-biopsy cavity treatment implant, the implant including a collagenous matrix having a non-uniform cross-linking density that is configured to cause the implant to swell non-uniformly when placed within an aqueous environment, the implant including a dye or a pigment contained therein. The provided post-biopsy cavity treatment implant may then be implanted into the cavity and the cavity closed. The dye/pigment may then be caused to be released from the implant and to propagate through the lymphatic system. The propagated dye/pigment may then be visualized in the lymphatic system using a selected visualization mode.

Abstract: An implant for filling a cavity created by an excisional procedure includes first and second portions. The first portion may include a first collagenous matrix that defines a first selected crosslinking density and the second portion may include a second collagenous matrix that defines a second selected cross-linking density that is different than the first cross-linking density. The first and second cross-linking densities may be selected so as to cause the first and second portions to swell in such a manner that the implant swells into a size and a shape that is similar to the predetermined size and shape of the cavity when the implant is implanted. An aqueous solution may be added to the cavity if the cavity is not sufficiently aqueous to cause the implant to swell.

Abstract: A device for removing breast tissue may include a shaft and a cutting element mounted to the shaft. The cutting element may be movable between a bowed position and a straightened position. The cutting element may bow outward away from the shaft when in the bowed position. The cutting element may have an elongate cutting side which cuts tissue when the shaft is rotated. The cutting element may have a length that is at least 25 times larger than a width of the cutting element.

Abstract: A method of removing breast tissue may include a step of providing a tissue cutting device having an elongate cutting element coupled to a shaft, in which the cutting element is movable between a bowed position and a retracted position. A deployed part of the cutting element may lie outside the shaft when in the bowed position, and the deployed part of the cutting element may have a cutting side which penetrates the tissue as the shaft is rotated. The tissue cutting device may be introduced into the breast and a power source may be coupled to the elongate cutting element. The elongate cutting element may be moved to the bowed position so that the deployed part of the cutting element lies outside the shaft. Energy may be prevented from being transmitted from a portion of the deployed part of the cutting element for cutting to the tissue while the elongate cutting element is in the bowed position.

Abstract: A method of cutting breast tissue for removal may include a step of providing a tissue cutting device having an elongate cutting element, the cutting element being movable between a bowed position and a retracted position, the cutting element having a radially outer side and a radially inner side. The tissue cutting device may be introduced into a breast and the elongate cutting element may be moved to the bowed position. A power source may be coupled to the elongate cutting element; and the cutting element may be rotated after the moving step so that the cutting element cuts the breast tissue. The radially outer side of the cutting element may have a larger surface area for transmitting energy to cut the tissue than the radially inner side.

Abstract: A method of marking an orientation of a cut specimen of tissue prior to excision thereof from a body includes steps of disposing a tissue-marking probe in the body adjacent the cut specimen, the tissue-marking probe including a tissue-marking tool configured to selectively mark the cut specimen. A surface of the cut specimen is then marked with the tissue-marking tool such that the orientation of the cut specimen within the body is discernable after the cut specimen is excised from the body. The tissue-marking tool may be configured to selectively bow out of and back into a window defined near a distal tip of the probe and the marking step may include a step of selectively bowing the tissue-marking tool out of the window and following the surface of the cut specimen while rotating the probe. The tissue-marking tool may include an RF cutting tool and the marking step may include a step of coagulating or cauterizing a selected portion of the surface of the cut specimen with the RF cutting tool.

Abstract: A method of marking a cavity in a breast for subsequent visualization may include steps of providing a device having a delivery opening, a first marker and a second marker, the first and second markers being movable through the delivery opening, the first marker being configured to be visualized by ultrasound and the second marker configured to be radiopaque, the first and second markers being free to move relative to one another; introducing the device into a breast so that the delivery opening is positioned in a cavity formed in the breast; and moving the first marker and the second marker through the delivery opening and into the cavity in the breast, the first and second markers being free to move relative to one another when delivered into the cavity so that the first and second markers may take a number of different positions relative to one another when positioned within the cavity.