Abstract: Described are methods and systems for engaging sutures and anchors and the resulting suture and anchor sets. In certain aspects, an end of the suture may be heated to create a melted mass of suture material. The melted mass may act as a shoulder to resist backing out of a hole in the anchor through which the suture is threaded, thereby engaging the suture and the anchor. Adhesive material may optionally be used to enhance the engagement between the suture and anchor.

Abstract: An aneurysm closure clip along with a system and method for use by a physician in delivering the closure clip into the vasculature of a patient is disclosed. The closure clip delivery system comprises a delivery tube in the form of a catheter, a guide wire, and a detachable closure clip. The closure clip includes a proximal side and a distal side. The distal side comprises at least two winged elements that interact with the wall of the body vessel to hold the clip in place after delivery. The proximal side includes a seal element and a guide bar. The guide bar is in communication with the guide wire during delivery. The seal element forms a barrier between the aneurysm and the rest of the body vessel, thereby, reducing any pressure exerted on the aneurysm. The seal element and optionally the winged elements include a material layer comprised of bioremodelable material, such as an extracellular matrix material (ECM).

Abstract: An occlusion device comprising a plurality of inner coils and a plurality of outer coils is described. When the device is deployed to a body vessel or a body cavity, it expands radially due to the material from which the outer coils are made. The inner coils function to occlude the vessel while the outer coils provide support. The device can be capped at both ends or may have a free distal end. A method of deploying the device is also provided.

Abstract: A detachable treatment device delivery system includes a delivery sheath defining a lumen, a treatment device having a proximal attachment segment configured for receipt within the delivery sheath, and a deployment wire configured for receipt within the delivery sheath. A delivery configuration is defined by an overlap of a distal segment of the deployment wire and the proximal attachment segment within an attachment zone of the delivery sheath. In the delivery configuration, an inner surface of the delivery sheath is outwardly expanded and compressed around the deployment wire and the treatment device at the overlap. In a deployed configuration, the deployment wire is proximally spaced from the attachment zone, and the proximal attachment segment is distally spaced from the attachment zone and the distal opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides a closure device for blocking blood flow into an aneurysm. The closure device includes a frame for positioning the closure device in the aneurysm and a cover supported by the frame to block blood flow through the frame into the aneurysm. The present invention also provides a method of blocking blood flow into an aneurysm using the closure device of the present invention.

Abstract: An occlusion device comprising a plurality of inner coils and a plurality of outer coils is described. When the device is deployed to a body vessel or a body cavity, it expands radially due to the material from which the outer coils are made. The inner coils function to occlude the vessel while the outer coils provide support. The device can be capped at both ends or may have a free distal end. A method of deploying the device is also provided.

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, an inner tubular member having a semi-cylindrical distal end is within and slidable with respect to an outer tubular member. A semi-cylindrical channel is in the distal end, as well as a planar end surface. The channel has a set of one or more protrusions or texture, and a complementary set of protrusions or texture are placed on the inside of the outer member so that the sets of protrusions or texture face each other when the distal ends of the members are adjacent each other. Methods for using these embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A prosthesis system for repair of a transected body vessel is provided. The system can include first and second prostheses each including a tubular graft body and a support structure. Each prosthesis can be expandable between a compressed and an expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration, outer surfaces of the first and second prostheses can engage walls of the body vessel. The system can include a sleeve member formable into a tubular body. The first and second prostheses can be coupled to one another at a joint to form a coupled prosthesis. The sleeve member can receive the coupled prosthesis and cover the joint to inhibit leakage therefrom. The prosthesis system can connect first and second portions of the body vessel to permit blood flow therethrough. The sleeve member can be discrete to the coupled prosthesis or can have one end fixedly attached to the coupled prosthesis.

Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of a retaining mechanism for holding a portion of the suture of a suture anchor are disclosed. When a suture anchor is inserted into a patient, the portion of the suture extending from the body is held in tension by a two-piece snap-fit mechanism. One piece has a base with an extending shaft portion and a bulbous head, and a lumen runs through the shaft. The second piece has a hole or space for snapping the second piece onto the first piece. The extending portion of the suture runs through the lumen in the first piece and can be wrapped around the shaft. Snapping the second piece onto the first contains the suture and prevents loss of tension in it.

Abstract: An occlusion device has a covering attached to a support frame that includes a disc-shaped member and a crossbar that extends across a central opening defined by the disc-shaped member. The occlusion device has a first, or deployed, configuration in which the crossbar defines a curve that extends from the disc-shaped member, and a second, or resting, configuration in which the disc-shaped member and the crossbar lie substantially in a single plane. Each of the disc-shaped member and the crossbar include a core wire that extends through a lumen of a coil multiple times.

Abstract: A detachable treatment device delivery system includes a delivery sheath defining a lumen, a treatment device having a proximal attachment segment configured for receipt within the delivery sheath, and a deployment wire configured for receipt within the delivery sheath. A delivery configuration is defined by an overlap of a distal segment of the deployment wire and the proximal attachment segment within an attachment zone of the delivery sheath. In the delivery configuration, an inner surface of the delivery sheath is outwardly expanded and compressed around the deployment wire and the treatment device at the overlap. In a deployed configuration, the deployment wire is proximally spaced from the attachment zone, and the proximal attachment segment is distally spaced from the attachment zone and the distal opening.

Abstract: A detachable treatment device delivery system includes a delivery sheath defining a lumen, a treatment device having a proximal attachment segment, which includes an enlarged outer diameter region, configured for receipt within the delivery sheath, and a deployment wire configured for receipt within the delivery sheath. A delivery configuration is defined by an overlap of a distal segment of the deployment wire and the enlarged outer diameter region within an attachment zone of the delivery sheath. The deployment wire and the treatment device have a combined outer diameter at the overlap, and, in the delivery configuration, the overlap is proximally spaced from a narrowed diameter region of the attachment zone, which has a smaller diameter than the combined outer diameter. In a deployed configuration, the deployment wire is proximally spaced from the attachment zone, and the proximal attachment segment is permitted to advance through the distal opening.

Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of a retaining mechanism for holding a portion of the suture of a suture anchor are disclosed. When a suture anchor is inserted into a patient, the portion of the suture extending from the body is held in tension by a two-piece snap-fit mechanism. One piece has a base with an extending shaft portion and a bulbous head, and a lumen runs through the shaft. The second piece has a hole or space for snapping the second piece onto the first piece. The extending portion of the suture runs through the lumen in the first piece and can be wrapped around the shaft. Snapping the second piece onto the first contains the suture and prevents loss of tension in it.

Abstract: A prosthesis system for repair of a transected body vessel is provided. The system can include first and second prostheses each including a tubular graft body and a support structure. Each prosthesis can be expandable between a compressed and an expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration, outer surfaces of the first and second prostheses can engage walls of the body vessel. The system can include a sleeve member formable into a tubular body. The first and second prostheses can be coupled to one another at a joint to form a coupled prosthesis. The sleeve member can receive the coupled prosthesis and cover the joint to inhibit leakage therefrom. The prosthesis system can connect first and second portions of the body vessel to permit blood flow therethrough. The sleeve member can be discrete to the coupled prosthesis or can have one end fixedly attached to the coupled prosthesis.

Abstract: A method of puncturing an interatrial septum between a right atrium and a left atrium may include introducing a distal end of a catheter endoluminally into the right atrium. The method also may include introducing a distal end of a cannula into the right atrium. The cannula may include a proximal first segment and a distal second segment. The distal second segment may be deflectable away from a linear configuration relative to the proximal first segment. A needle tip may be provided at a distal end of the distal second segment. At least a portion of the cannula may be received within a lumen of the catheter. The method also may include deflecting the distal second segment in the right atrium to a deflected configuration by actuating a mechanism at a proximal end of the cannula to align the needle tip with a target point on the interatrial septum.

Abstract: An aneurysm closure clip along with a system and method for use by a physician in delivering the closure clip into the vasculature of a patient is disclosed. The closure clip delivery system comprises a delivery tube in the form of a catheter, a guide wire, and a detachable closure clip. The closure clip includes a proximal side and a distal side. The distal side comprises at least two winged elements that interact with the wall of the body vessel to hold the clip in place after delivery. The proximal side includes a seal element and a guide bar. The guide bar is in communication with the guide wire during delivery. The seal element forms a barrier between the aneurysm and the rest of the body vessel, thereby, reducing any pressure exerted on the aneurysm. The seal element and optionally the winged elements include a material layer comprised of bioremodelable material, such as an extracellular matrix material (ECM).

Abstract: There is shown and described embodiments of a biopsy needle that is simpler to make and use than existing devices. An inner and outer cannula are provided, with the outer cannula having a superelastic finger that lies along the length of the inner cannula in a retracted position and partially covers the lumen of the inner cannula in an extended position. The finger is pointed and in the form of a triangle in a particular embodiment, and does not extend beyond the outer extent of the inner cannula in the extended position.

Abstract: An occlusion device and a method for occluding an opening in a body tissue with the occlusion device are provided. The occlusion device comprises a middle portion, a distal portion, and a proximal portion. The middle portion may be formed of non-woven wires and twisted about the longitudinal axis. The distal portion and the proximal portion may be comprised of a shape memory material. The occlusion device may be shape set to establish a preset configuration, and thus may be deformable to fit in and occlude the opening in the body tissue.

Abstract: A method of puncturing an interatrial septum between a right atrium and a left atrium may include introducing a distal end of a catheter endoluminally into the right atrium. The method also may include introducing a distal end of a cannula into the right atrium. The cannula may include a proximal first segment and a distal second segment. The distal second segment may be deflectable away from a linear configuration relative to the proximal first segment. A needle tip may be provided at a distal end of the distal second segment. At least a portion of the cannula may be received within a lumen of the catheter. The method also may include deflecting the distal second segment in the right atrium to a deflected configuration by actuating a mechanism at a proximal end of the cannula to align the needle tip with a target point on the interatrial septum.

Abstract: An occlusion device has a covering attached to a support frame that includes a disc-shaped member and a crossbar that extends across a central opening defined by the disc-shaped member. The occlusion device has a first, or deployed, configuration in which the crossbar defines a curve that extends from the disc-shaped member, and a second, or resting, configuration in which the disc-shaped member and the crossbar lie substantially in a single plane. Each of the disc-shaped member and the crossbar include a core wire that extends through a lumen of a coil multiple times.