Abstract: An example medical device is disclosed as an expandable stent. The stent includes a tubular scaffold having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lumen extending therein. The expandable stent also includes a liner disposed within the lumen of the tubular scaffold. Further, the liner is radially spaced from a medial region of the tubular scaffold to define a tissue ingrowth region along an uncovered portion of the medial region. Additionally, the liner extending along the tissue ingrowth region is configured to limit the amount of tissue ingrowth along the medial region of the scaffold.

Abstract: A method is described for shearing a tissue wall between a first cavity and an adjacent second cavity in a human or animal body. The tissue wall has a periphery forming an edge of an opening between the first cavity and the second cavity. A first member is placed into the first cavity, such that the first member is adjacent the wall. A second member is placed in the second cavity, proximate the first member. The first and second members have materials which magnetically attract one another. The first member and the second member are placed such that there is magnetic attraction between the first member and the second member through the wall and thereby compress an overlapping portion of the wall to create pressure necrosis. The first member and the second member are connected by a thread, wherein the thread extends over the edge of the opening.

Abstract: An assembly for anchoring in tissue may include an anchor part and a biasing part. The anchor part has a support made of a resilient material and at least two needles. The needles have a stem and a tip end configured to engage tissue. A portion of the stem is embedded in the support. The needles are allowed to be positioned according to a first configuration. A biasing part is configured to position the anchor part according to a second configuration differing from the first configuration in an orientation of the needles relative to one another. The biasing part includes holding means configured to hold the anchor part in the second configuration. The support is allowed to be deformed, thereby acting as a pivot when the needles change between the first configuration and the second configuration.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to stents, systems, and methods for gastrointestinal treatment. In some embodiments, a stent may include a tubular scaffold having a first end opposite a second end, wherein a lumen extends between the first and second ends. The tubular scaffold may include a flared section and a medial section extending from the flared section, wherein a first diameter of the flared section is greater than a second diameter of the medial section. The stent may further include a liner extending partially along a surface of the tubular scaffold, wherein the liner is spaced from an anchoring region of the flared section to promote tissue ingrowth with the flared section.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to stents, systems, and methods for gastrointestinal treatment. In some embodiments, a stent may include a tubular scaffold having a first end opposite a second end, wherein a lumen extends between the first and second ends. The tubular scaffold may include a flared section and a medial section extending from the flared section, wherein a first diameter of the flared section is greater than a second diameter of the medial section. The stent may further include a liner extending partially along a surface of the tubular scaffold, wherein the liner is spaced from an anchoring region of the flared section to promote tissue ingrowth with the flared section.

Abstract: A method is described for shearing a tissue wall between a first cavity and an adjacent second cavity in a human or animal body. The tissue wall has a periphery forming an edge of an opening between the first cavity and the second cavity. A first member is placed into the first cavity, such that the first member is adjacent the wall. A second member is placed in the second cavity, proximate the first member. The first and second members have materials which magnetically attract one another. The first member and the second member are placed such that there is magnetic attraction between the first member and the second member through the wall and thereby compress an overlapping portion of the wall to create pressure necrosis. The first member and the second member are connected by a thread, wherein the thread extends over the edge of the opening.

Abstract: A device for shearing tissue in a human or animal body may include a first member made of a first material and a second member made of a second material. A thread is connected to the first member and to the second member, and the first and second materials show magnetic attraction between one another. A means is provided for pulling the thread between the first and second members.

Abstract: An assembly for anchoring in tissue may include an anchor part and a biasing part. The anchor part has a support made of a resilient material and at least two needles. The needles have a stem and a tip end configured to engage tissue. A portion of the stem is embedded in the support. The needles are allowed to be positioned according to a first configuration. A biasing part is configured to position the anchor part according to a second configuration differing from the first configuration in an orientation of the needles relative to one another. The biasing part includes holding means configured to hold the anchor part in the second configuration. The support is allowed to be deformed, thereby acting as a pivot when the needles change between the first configuration and the second configuration.

Abstract: A device for cold plasma endoscopy may include a cold plasma generating system, a catheter and electrically conductive means. The cold plasma generating system includes a gas source, an electrical source, a dielectric chamber, a first electrode surrounding the dielectric chamber and electrically connected to the electrical source. The catheter has a first lumen for carrying the cold plasma fluidly connected to the dielectric chamber at a proximal end and having an opening at a distal end for delivering the cold plasma. The electrically conductive means extend inside the first lumen. The electrical source is configured to apply a pulsed excitation signal to the first electrode. The device includes remotely actuated deployable confinement means for creating a confined space, wherein the opening of the first lumen is arranged in the confined space, the deployable confinement means allowing for confining the plasma substantially within the confined space.

Abstract: An assembly for delivering a therapeutic agent includes a catheter and a supply system. The catheter includes a catheter body having a first lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis, and a first outlet adjacent to the distal end and in fluid communication with the first lumen. The supply system includes an inlet port for a carrier fluid, an inlet port for the agent, and an output port in fluid communication with the two inlet ports and the first lumen at the proximal end. The supply system further includes a fluid path from one inlet port to the output port having a constriction in vicinity of the other inlet port configured to aspirate the agent by Venturi effect. The catheter includes a valve arranged adjacent the one outlet and in fluid communication with the first lumen.

Abstract: A device for non-contact measurement includes a light source and a light pattern projector having a diffractive optical element. An imaging system images a target site illuminated by the light pattern projector. The light pattern projector and the imaging system are attached to a support in fixed relative positions. The support has a longitudinal axis parallel to an optical axis of the projector, and the projector and the imaging system are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis. The light source emits a plurality of light beams of different colors, each one being a coherent beam optically coupled to the diffractive optical element. The diffractive optical element diffracts the plurality of light beams according to different diffraction angles resulting in separate patterns. The processing unit determines a measurement based on at least two positions automatically recognized in data acquired from a single one of the separate patterns.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to stents, systems, and methods for gastrointestinal treatment. In some embodiments, a stent may include a tubular scaffold having a first end opposite a second end, wherein a lumen extends between the first and second ends. The tubular scaffold may include a flared section and a medial section extending from the flared section, wherein a first diameter of the flared section is greater than a second diameter of the medial section. The stent may further include a liner extending partially along a surface of the tubular scaffold, wherein the liner is spaced from an anchoring region of the flared section to promote tissue ingrowth with the flared section.

Abstract: An example medical device is disclosed as an expandable stent. The stent includes a tubular scaffold having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lumen extending therein. The expandable stent also includes a liner disposed within the lumen of the tubular scaffold. Further, the liner is radially spaced from a medial region of the tubular scaffold to define a tissue ingrowth region along an uncovered portion of the medial region. Additionally, the liner extending along the tissue ingrowth region is configured to limit the amount of tissue ingrowth along the medial region of the scaffold.

Abstract: An example medical device is disclosed as an expandable stent. The stent includes a tubular scaffold having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lumen extending therein. The expandable stent also includes a liner disposed within the lumen of the tubular scaffold. Further, the liner is radially spaced from a medial region of the tubular scaffold to define a tissue ingrowth region along an uncovered portion of the medial region. Additionally, the liner extending along the tissue ingrowth region is configured to limit the amount of tissue ingrowth along the medial region of the scaffold.

Abstract: A device for shearing tissue in a human or animal body may include a first member made of a first material and a second member made of a second material. A thread is connected to the first member and to the second member, and the first and second materials show magnetic attraction between one another. A means is provided for pulling the thread between the first and second members.

Abstract: An example medical device is disclosed as an expandable stent. The stent includes a tubular scaffold having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lumen extending therein. The expandable stent also includes a liner disposed within the lumen of the tubular scaffold. Further, the liner is radially spaced from a medial region of the tubular scaffold to define a tissue ingrowth region along an uncovered portion of the medial region. Additionally, the liner extending along the tissue ingrowth region is configured to limit the amount of tissue ingrowth along the medial region of the scaffold.

Abstract: Force transducer (10) include two structural members (11, 12) spaced apart to define a gap (101) and being linked to each other. Optical fibers (13) are to the members and are freely suspended in the gap. The optical fibers are configured to provide a change in a detectable optical property responsive to a change in relative position between the two members in one or more predetermined degrees of freedom. Each of the optical fibers (13) is fixed to both structural members and continuous between the members to link the two structural members to each other. The optical fibers are substantially the only structure forming a link between the two structural members (11, 12), such that the arrangement of the optical fibers defines substantially the stiffness of the link between the two structural members in the one or more predetermined degrees of freedom, which stiffness is mainly, such as for at least 95%, determined by the optical fibers.

Abstract: A method of selective catheterism of in a network of conduits of an anatomical structure including inserting a flexible distal end of a guide for catheterism through the network of conduits. An appendage is attached on the distal end of the guide, the appendage includes a channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the guide. A catheter is slid along the catheter until a distal face of the catheter surrounding the guide engages a proximal surface of the appendage. A force oriented in a distal direction is exerted with the catheter on the appendage, which disengages the appendage from the distal end of the guide within the network of conduits. Navigation through the network of conduits is continued with the flexible distal end of the guide once the appendage is removed.

Abstract: A device for supporting an endoscopic tool is disclosed comprising attachment means for attaching the device to an endoscope, a first guide tube having a distal open end and configured for accepting the endoscopic tool through it, first and second projecting members extending distally of the attachment means and being spaced apart when the device is attached to the endoscope to define a working space between them. The attachment means comprise first and second clamping members and at least one cable linking the clamping members. The cable is remotely actuatable for moving the clamping members relative to each other to adjust a spacing between them, accepting an endoscope. The cable allows for securing the clamping members to the endoscope. The first projecting member is attached to the first clamping member such that it has a fixed or at least one fixable position relative to the first clamping member, and the second projecting member is attached to the second clamping member.

Abstract: A method of selective catheterism of in a network of conduits of an anatomical structure including inserting a flexible distal end of a guide for catheterism through the network of conduits. An appendage is attached on the distal end of the guide, the appendage includes a channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the guide. A catheter is slid along the catheter until a distal face of the catheter surrounding the guide engages a proximal surface of the appendage. A force oriented in a distal direction is exerted with the catheter on the appendage, which disengages the appendage from the distal end of the guide within the network of conduits. Navigation through the network of conduits is continued with the flexible distal end of the guide once the appendage is removed.