Abstract: Thrombus removal apparatus includes a balloon catheter with a short balloon at a distal end thereof. An aspiration catheter is disposed coaxially over the balloon catheter. The balloon catheter includes a plurality of holes for the administration of lytic agent. The apparatus does not seal off completely the zone of the vessel around the thrombus, thereby allowing movement of blood within the vessel. The balloon is shaped so that it can be pulled along the vessel in an upstream direction so as to drag against the vessel walls for assisting in the removal of the thrombus.

Abstract: A method of temporarily reducing the diameter of a stent graft (10) and a stent graft with its diameter reduced. The stent graft has a tubular body and self expanding stents.

Abstract: Among other things, a gastrostomy tube including a feeding tube that spans between an outer retention device and an inner retention device is disclosed. Embodiments of the inner retention device include an ultrasonic marker positioned within the inner retention device. The inner retention device and the ultrasonic marker have a variety of shapes or embodiments. The ultrasonic marker positioned in the inner retention device eliminates or reduces the use of fluoroscopy or endoscopy to position and later verify the location of the gastrostomy tube in a patient. Beneficially, the health risks associated with fluoroscopy and endoscopy are thereby eliminated or reduced with their associated disuse thereof. Moreover, the use of expensive hospital suites or operating rooms is eliminated or reduced with the use of portable ultrasound equipment that can be transported to a patient's bedside for verification of the location of the ultrasonic marker.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide apparatus and methods for facilitating endoscopic resection of tissue. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first tube having proximal and distal regions, and a working lumen disposed within at least a portion of the distal region. A second tube is disposed circumferentially around at least a portion of the distal region of the first tube. A wire has a distal end that is securely attached to a distal region of the second tube. In use, rotation of the second tube relative to the first tube causes the wire to pass circumferentially over a distal face of the first tube to incise tissue disposed within the working lumen of the first tube.

Abstract: A deployment device for deploying an expandable endoluminal prosthesis within a body vessel may include an elongate member extending longitudinally along at least a portion of a length of the deployment device. The deployment device may include at least one engagement member coupled to the elongate member and extending outwardly from the elongate member. The deployment device may include a circumferential trigger wire extending at least partially circumferentially around the elongate member and removably received between the engagement member and the elongate member. The circumferential trigger wire may be manipulatable from a distal end of the deployment device, whereby the circumferential trigger wire is removable from between the engagement member and the elongate member.

Abstract: A catheter system and a method for accessing the bile duct are provided. The catheter system includes an elongate shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The catheter also includes a first lumen extending at least partially through the elongate shaft, a distal portion of the first lumen extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft and a distal port operably connected to the first lumen. The catheter system also includes a second lumen extending at least partially through the elongate shaft and a side port operably connected to the second lumen, the side port positioned proximal to the distal port and operably connected to the second lumen. The second lumen includes an angled wall portion adjacent to the side port. A marker is included on the distal portion of the elongate shaft, the marker configured to indicate the position of the side port.

Abstract: A prosthesis and a method for directing flow through a passageway formed between a first bodily lumen and a second bodily lumen are provided. The prosthesis includes a body having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen extending therethrough. The prosthesis also includes a sleeve operably connected to the body at a connected portion. The sleeve has a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a sleeve lumen extending therethrough. At least a portion of the body is positioned within at least a portion of the sleeve lumen and the distal portion of the sleeve is free from connection to the distal portion of the body and extendable away from the body to contact a wall of the first bodily lumen. The sleeve is configured to allow fluid flow through the sleeve lumen from the first bodily lumen to the second bodily lumen.

Abstract: A stent graft (1) including a tubular wall (3) with at least one fenestration (40) including a peripheral (37) reinforcement around at least part of the fenestration. There can also be a tubular extension (15). The side arm includes a stent (19) and a cover (17) and extends from and is in fluid communication with the fenestration and the stent graft. The stent may be a self expanding stent. The ring and/or tubular extension provides better support and sealing for an extension arm. The fenestration (40) can be circular or if towards the ends of the stent graft may be in the form of a U-shape (50) with an open end.

Abstract: A method of temporarily reducing the diameter of a stent graft (10) and a stent graft with its diameter reduced. The stent graft has a tubular body and self expanding stents.

Abstract: Certain aspects of this disclosure relate to uniquely constructed medical implants that incorporate an electronic or other medical device. Some illustrative pocket-like implants provide an interior space for receipt of an electronic medical device, and are implantable in a patient with the electronic medical device positioned in the interior space. In one form, an inventive construct includes a remodelable material component that is effective upon implantation to promote cellular invasion and ingrowth into the remodelable material so that it becomes replaced by new patient tissue and so that the electronic medical device becomes surrounded by a new pocket structure comprised of newly generated, functional patient tissue. The electronic medical device will be a pacing device or other cardiac rhythm management (CRM) device in select embodiments.

Abstract: A method of embolic protection during a medical procedure in a patient's body vessel includes inserting a medical device having an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member into the body vessel. A flexible filter portion has one end attached to the distal end of the inner tubular member and the other end attached to the distal end of the outer tubular member. The filter portion is deployed within the body vessel so that the filter portion extends distally from the outer tubular member and expands radially outward to engage the filter body with an enclosing body vessel wall. A medical instrument is inserted through the inner tubular member to perform the medical procedure. The filter portion allows the passage of blood cells to surrounding vessels and prevents emboli from entering surrounding vessels. After removing medical instrument, the medical device is also removed from the body vessel.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide a medical device comprising a stent framework having proximal and distal regions and a lumen extending therebetween, and which comprises a biodegradable material. A first covering is coupled to at least a portion of an outer surface of the stent framework. When the stent framework is in an expanded deployed configuration, at least a portion of the first covering is disposed adjacent to a target site and fluid flows through the lumen of the stent framework. Further, the stent framework comprises a material that biodegrades a predetermined time after the first covering achieves at least partial remodeling at the target site. In various embodiments, one or more second coverings may be disposed adjacent to the first covering and comprise a material that biodegrades before the stent framework biodegrades.

Abstract: A stent graft for deployment into the aorta of a patient has a tubular body with a proximal portion of a selected diameter; preferably a reduced diameter portion, distal of the proximal portion, having a diameter less than the selected diameter; a tapered portion, extending between the proximal portion and the reduced diameter portion; and optionally a distal portion, distal of the reduced diameter portion. At least three, preferably four or five, low profile side arms are provided, preferably in the reduced diameter portion and/or the tapered portion, for connection of an arm extension to an aortic branch vessel. All but one of the side arms are to be connected at the physician's choice, depending on the anatomy of the patient. One side arm is to provide temporary perfusion to external of the stent graft after deployment of the stent graft into the aorta, and is subsequently blocked.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide a surgical access port comprising at least one channel having proximal and distal ends, and a lumen extending therebetween. The at least one channel comprises a first state in which the proximal end is positioned proximal to the distal end, and comprises a second state in which the at least one channel is everted by advancing the proximal end through the distal end, such that the proximal end is positioned distally beyond the distal end. An expansion member of the surgical access port is configured for insertion through a surgical incision in a contracted state, and expands to a diameter larger than the surgical incision in an expanded state. In one embodiment, the expansion member comprises a toroidal balloon that comprises a material adapted to flex and conform to tissue distal to the surgical incision in the expanded state.

Abstract: A graft is used to interconnect two vessels, such as an artery and a vein for hemodialysis. The graft includes a body having first and second ends, and a wall to define a passageway formed in the body. The wall includes a plurality of tubular layers, such as a first layer and one or more second layers disposed radially inward relative to the first layer. Each second layer has first and second ends that can be enclosable. The second layer is removable from the graft body from within the passageway of the graft body after clot formation. A grasper can be used to attach with at least one of the ends of the second layer. In response to withdrawal of the grasper, the corresponding end of the second layer gathers radially inward away from a layer adjacent to the second layer.

Abstract: Among other things, there are disclosed embodiments of full-core biopsy needles having an outer needle component and a middle cannula through a lumen in the outer component, through which a mandrel may be placed. The outer component includes an internal boss that reduces its internal diameter, and the cannula includes fingers that extend distally. When the needle is inserted for biopsy, tissue enters the outer component and cannula. Moving the cannula forward causes the fingers to engage a surface of the internal boss, resulting in the fingers curving into the tissue. The fingers pinch the tissue while reducing or eliminating compression of the sample to provide an easier removal of the tissue from adjacent tissue, as well as providing a block or backstop keeping the tissue within the needle. Gaps are provided between the fingers to further reduce damage to the tissue sample.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis introducer may include a rotatable inner cannula including a proximal end. The introducer may include a proximal tip disposed at the proximal end of the inner cannula and including a distal end. The introducer may include a retaining member including an engaging member extending radially outward. The retaining member may be disposed about the proximal end of the inner cannula. In response to rotation of the inner cannula with respect to the retaining member, the proximal tip may be longitudinally movable relative to the engaging member between a retaining configuration and a releasing configuration. The proximal tip and the engaging member may be spaced from one another by a greater longitudinal distance in the releasing configuration than in the retaining configuration.

Abstract: A deployment device for deploying a self-expanding fenestrated stent graft. The device includes a fenestrated stent graft retained on an introducer. The introducer includes a main catheter and an auxiliary catheter preloaded within the introducer and extending from distal the distal end of the stent graft, into the lumen of the stent graft and through the fenestration.

Abstract: There is disclosed, among other things, embodiments of a biopsy needle for taking a full core sample through soft tissue. In the illustrated embodiments, the needle includes a single monolithic tubular member having a notch cut part-way through a distal portion of the tubular member to form an arch-shaped finger. At least a portion of the finger is bent toward the notch and into the lumen of the tubular member. Methods for using these embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments illustrated provide the discovery of systems, methods, and apparatuses of endoscope stabilization devices for use with, for example, slim scopes, so as to provide, for example, a flexible outer structure capable of bending and holding a fixed position so as to provide, for example, support to make cannulation with a slim scope and target anatomy easier and more efficient.