Abstract: A delivery apparatus can include a handle portion and at least one rotatable drive shaft. The handle portion has an actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism includes a motor and one or more actuators. The rotatable drive shaft has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion is coupled to the motor, and the distal end portion is configured to be releasably coupled to a prosthetic heart valve. The actuation mechanism is configured to control and monitor expansion of the prosthetic heart valve. The handle is configured for actuating the actuation mechanism, tracking a response of native tissue when the prosthetic heart valve is in contact with the native tissue, and stopping expansion of the prosthetic heart valve once a rate of change of expansion of the prosthetic heart valve declines below a threshold.

Abstract: A multiple-firing crimp device comprises crimps, a shaft, a crimp movement assembly, and a snare. Each crimp has an internal hollow. The shaft has a distal crimping location, an exterior surface, and an interior with the clips stacked therein, the crimps moving therein along a longitudinal axis. The shaft defines a lateral opening proximal to the crimping location and communicates the interior to the environment outside the exterior surface. The crimp movement assembly within the shaft delivers the first crimp to the distal crimping location by moving the first crimp longitudinally from a first proximal position into the distal crimping location and returning to a second proximal position without the first crimp. The snare pulls at least one cord from distal of the first crimp through the first crimp and through a portion of the shaft and out the side of the shaft through the lateral opening.

Abstract: A multiple-firing crimp device comprises crimps, a shaft, a crimp movement assembly, and a snare. Each crimp has an internal hollow. The shaft has a distal crimping location, an exterior surface, and an interior with the clips stacked therein, the crimps moving therein along a longitudinal axis. The shaft defines a lateral opening proximal to the crimping location and communicates the interior to the environment outside the exterior surface. The crimp movement assembly within the shaft delivers the first crimp to the distal crimping location by moving the first crimp longitudinally from a first proximal position into the distal crimping location and returning to a second proximal position without the first crimp. The snare pulls at least one cord from distal of the first crimp through the first crimp and through a portion of the shaft and out the side of the shaft through the lateral opening.

Abstract: A method of implanting a replacement mitral valve can include expanding a replacement mitral valve to a first expanded configuration. The replacement mitral valve can include a force-expanding mitral valve lattice and a self-expanding valve trampoline lattice. The mitral valve lattice has an inflow end portion and an outflow end portion, and the valve trampoline lattice is attached to the outflow end portion of the mitral valve lattice. The method can also include rotating a plurality of jack screws connected to the mitral valve lattice. The jack screws can be configured to expand the mitral valve lattice from the first expanded configuration to a second expanded configuration.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector, operable to effect a surgical procedure when actuated, and an actuation assembly operable to actuate said surgical end effector. The actuation assembly comprises a part operable to move between a starting position and an actuated position in which the part actuates the surgical end effector, an electrically-powered motor, a transmission mechanically connecting the motor to the part and being operable to selectively displace the part to the starting position, the actuated position, and at least one point between the starting position and the actuated position when the motor is operated, and a manual release mechanically coupled to the transmission to selectively interrupt the transmission and, during interruption, displace the part towards the starting position independent of operation of the motor.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that comprises a receiving portion for removably receiving therein an interchangeable part, wherein the receiving portion has a communication connection, a handle having a controller electrically connected to the communication connection, and an interchangeable part removably connected to the receiving portion and having an encryption device electrically removably connected to the communication connection when at the receiving portion, wherein the encryption device is programmed to authenticate the interchangeable part upon an exchange with the controller when the interchangeable part is at the receiving portion and, after at least a partial use of the interchangeable part, store a used status of the interchangeable part.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus comprises a handle portion and at least one rotatable drive shaft. The handle portion has an actuation mechanism and a display. The actuation mechanism includes a motor and one or more actuators. The rotatable drive shaft has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion is coupled to the motor, and the distal end portion is configured to be releasably coupled to a prosthetic heart valve. The actuation mechanism is configured to control and monitor expansion of the prosthetic heart valve, and the display is configured to display a diameter of the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to minimally invasive, cost-effective, adaptable methods, systems, and devices used to repair anatomical joint conditions. The repair may be necessitated by trauma, disease or other conditions. The anatomical joint may specifically include mammalian joints such as the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, finger, hip, spine, toe and ankle, for example. The methods, systems, and devices disclosed herein include leveraging the significant (and often unappreciated) role the subchondral bone plays in the health status of the afflicted anatomical joint.

Abstract: A mitral valve implant includes a force-expanding mitral valve lattice having an interior orifice and a self-expanding valve trampoline attached at the interior orifice of the force-expanding mitral valve lattice. The mitral valve lattice is self-expandable to a first configuration and force expandable from the first configuration to a second configuration. The configurations can be circular or D-shaped. The mitral valve lattice comprises jack screws adjusting configurations of the mitral valve lattice. The valve trampoline has a cylindrical central region comprising valve leaflets. An outwardly flaring implant skirt is attached to the mitral valve lattice exterior. Wall-retaining wires are attached to the mitral valve lattice, are petal-shaped, and have a pre-set, radially outward, memory shape. The wires and skirt impart a force on a respective side of the native mitral valve when the mitral valve lattice is expanded within an annulus of the native mitral valve.

Abstract: A variably-flexible device that comprises a hollow body, a steering element that steers a steerable portion of the hollow body, the steering element being comprised of steering tendons disposed within the hollow body, a torque-transmitting element that extends into the steerable portion of the hollow body, and stiffening element disposed within the hollow body to selectively maintain the hollow body in a relatively stiff condition.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising an instrument shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a control handle connected to the proximal end of the instrument shaft, a surgical end effector connected to the distal end of the instrument shaft at a joint, wherein the surgical end effector is configured to articulate, at the joint and with respect to the instrument shaft, about an articulation axis, and wherein the surgical end effector had a pull-to-release articulation lock configured to retain the joint in a fixed position and the control handle has an articulation lock actuator that is configured to, when actuated, release the articulation lock.

Abstract: A method for delivering RF energy to living tissue includes the steps of extending a guidewire to a tissue treatment site in a body. A controllable stiffness catheter is provided with a stiffness device having non-metallic properties and a temperature-changing device. The stiffness device is in a stiff state below a given temperature and in a soft state above the given temperature. While supplying power to the temperature-changing device, the catheter is threaded along the guidewire up to the treatment site in the soft state. Power is removed from the temperature-changing device to alter the non-metallic properties of the stiffness device and directly result in a change of the stiffness device to the stiff state without straightening the catheter. The RF energy supply device is physically contacted with the treatment site and RF energy is delivered to the treatment site from the RF energy supply device.

Abstract: A torque-transmitting, variably-flexible device, comprising a hollow body having a proximal end, a distal end and a given length, a torque-transmitting element that extends substantially entirely over the given length of the hollow body, a steering element that steers the distal end of the hollow body, the steering element being comprised of steering tendons disposed within the hollow body, and stiffening tendons disposed within the hollow body to selectively maintain the hollow body in a relatively stiff condition, wherein the stiffening tendons are unassociated with the steering element of the device.

Abstract: A catheter comprises a heater control supplying power, a handle, a base catheter with lumen and comprising a proximal section and a distal segment, and a variable stiffness element. The element comprises a heater connected to the heater control, coiled at least at the distal segment, and comprising a shaft portion of a first metallic conductive material and a heater portion of a second metallic conductive material. A jacket is disposed about the heater portion. A variable flex sub-assembly between the catheter and jacket comprises a non-conducting braid and a binding material. Without power, the binding material is stiffened. Responsive to heating of the binding material, the binding material softens to increase flexibility of the variable flex sub-assembly at least at the distal segment. Responsive to removing power, the binding material cools and stiffens to decrease flexibility of the variable flex sub-assembly at least at the distal segment.

Abstract: A method of surgically cutting tissue with an ultrasonic instrument that comprises an ultrasonic waveguide that is movable along a longitudinal extent of the ultrasonic instrument comprises the steps of temporarily compressing tissue between two opposing jaws disposed at a distal end of the ultrasonic instrument, applying a resonant ultrasonic wave to the ultrasonic waveguide, and moving the ultrasonic waveguide in a distal direction along the longitudinal extent to advance the ultrasonic waveguide between at least a portion of the jaws to cut and seal the tissue temporarily secured between the jaws.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus can include a handle portion and at least one rotatable drive shaft. The handle portion can have an actuation mechanism with a motor. The rotatable drive shaft can have a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion of the rotatable drive shaft can be coupled to the motor, and the distal end portion of the rotatable drive shaft can be configured to be releasably coupled to a prosthetic heart valve. The actuation mechanism can be configured to control and monitor expansion of the prosthetic heart valve and to control and monitor torque of the motor.

Abstract: A controllable stiffness catheter comprises a shaft comprising an inner sheath defining an access lumen, an outer sheath surrounding the inner sheath and defining an annulus therebetween, the annulus having a vacuum connection at which a vacuum is applied to the annulus, and a mechanical stiffener disposed at least at a portion of the annulus and free to move relatively in the annulus with respect to at least one of the inner sheath and the outer sheath.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for a forceps includes jaws, a cutting assembly, and at least one cam assembly. At least one jaw is moveable relative to the other about a pivot between open and closed positions for grasping tissue. At least one jaw includes a control trough that extends therealong. The pivot has first and second pivot bosses defining a pivot hole therebetween. The cutting assembly includes a blade and blade control portion, and defines a longitudinal axis through the blade and the control portion. The control portion slidably translates through the pivot hole defined between the pivot bosses to allow selective advancement thereof through the trough. The blade is disposed distally of the pivot and extends farther from the axis than an outer surface of the control portion. The cam assembly is coupled to the moveable jaw and is actuatable to move the movable jaw between the positions.

Abstract: A controllable stiffness catheter comprising a shaft comprising an inner sheath defining an access lumen, an outer sheath surrounding the inner sheath and defining an annulus therebetween, the annulus having a vacuum connection at which a vacuum is applied to the annulus, and a mechanical stiffener disposed at least at a portion of the annulus.

Abstract: A multiple-firing crimp device comprises crimps, a shaft, a crimp movement assembly, and a snare. Each crimp has an internal hollow. The shaft has a distal crimping location, an exterior surface, and an interior with the clips stacked therein, the crimps moving therein along a longitudinal axis. The shaft defines a lateral opening proximal to the crimping location and communicates the interior to the environment outside the exterior surface. The crimp movement assembly within the shaft delivers the first crimp to the distal crimping location by moving the first crimp longitudinally from a first proximal position into the distal crimping location and returning to a second proximal position without the first crimp. The snare pulls at least one cord from distal of the first crimp through the first crimp and through a portion of the shaft and out the side of the shaft through the lateral opening.