Abstract: A device for treating chronic heart failure made of a construct composed of cardiac tissue and a frame supporting the construct. The frame has a plurality of elongated members and the cardiac tissue is attached to the elongated members. The elongated members extend outwardly from a converging region and diverge to provide a distal opening and a space proximal of the distal opening between the elongated members, the space dimensioned to fit over a heart of the patient to treat chronic heart failure.

Abstract: A system for stapling tissue comprises a flexible endoscope and an operative head including a pair of opposed, curved tissue clamping jaws sized to pass through an esophagus, the jaws being moveable with respect to one another between an open tissue receiving configuration and a closed tissue clamping configuration, a first one of the curved jaws including a stapling mechanism and a second one of the jaws including a staple forming anvil surface, the stapling mechanism including staple slots through which staples are fired arranged in a row extending from a proximal end of the first jaw to a distal end thereof in combination with a control handle which, when the operative head is in an operative position within one of a patient's stomach and esophagus, remains outside the patient, the control handle including a first actuator for moving the jaws relative to one another and a second actuator for operating the stapling mechanism.

Abstract: A vessel filter having a first region and a second region, the filter movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel. The first region has a filter portion having a converging region to direct particles toward the center of the filter and includes a plurality of spaced apart filter struts. The struts each have a strut height defined as a distance between a first wall and a second wall. A plurality of hooks are at the second region, the hooks having a vessel penetrating tip and a width greater than the width of the strut from which it extends such that the penetrating tip portion of the hook extends beyond the first wall.

Abstract: A system for stapling tissue comprises a flexible endoscope and an operative head including a pair of opposed, curved tissue clamping jaws sized to pass through an esophagus, the jaws being moveable with respect to one another between an open tissue receiving configuration and a closed tissue clamping configuration, a first one of the curved jaws including a stapling mechanism and a second one of the jaws including a staple forming anvil surface, the stapling mechanism including staple slots through which staples are fired arranged in a row extending from a proximal end of the first jaw to a distal end thereof in combination with a control handle which, when the operative head is in an operative position within one of a patient's stomach and esophagus, remains outside the patient, the control handle including a first actuator for moving the jaws relative to one another and a second actuator for operating the stapling mechanism.

Abstract: An atherectomy device for removing deposits such as plaque from an interior of a vessel including an outer member and a rotatable shaft positioned for rotational movement within the outer member. The outer member is fixed axially. A rotatable tip is mounted to the distal region of the rotatable shaft for rotation about its longitudinal axis upon rotation of the shaft. The rotatable shaft includes a guidewire lumen for receiving a guidewire to enable over the wire insertion of the device.

Abstract: A method of treating a lesion in a body lumen to enlarge a passageway in the lumen including inserting a plurality of cutting members and a tracking member through a first lumen of a catheter, withdrawing the catheter from the cutting members and tracking member, inserting the catheter over the tracking member and leaving the cutting members outside the catheter, and expanding a portion of the catheter to move the cutting members into cutting contact with the lesion. A device for treating a lesion in a body lumen including a plurality of cutting members and a tracking member is also provided.

Abstract: An orthopedic brace for preventing injury to a wearer including a body having a series of liquid filled regions, the body having a first more flexible state wherein the liquid filled regions contain a liquid material and a second more rigid state wherein the liquid within the regions is hardened to a second harder state, the body transformable from the first state to the second state upon receiving a force which exceeds a predetermined value. A chemical reaction or an isothermal process can cause the phase change.

Abstract: An atherectomy device for removing deposits such as plaque from an interior of a vessel including an outer member and a rotatable shaft positioned for rotational movement within the outer member and fixed axially within the outer member. A tip is mounted to the distal region of the rotatable shaft and is positioned distally of the distal end of the outer member to create a gap between the proximal end of the rotatable tip and the distalmost edge of the outer member. The rotatable tip has a longitudinal axis mounted to the rotatable shaft for rotation about its longitudinal axis upon rotation of the shaft, the shaft including a guidewire lumen for receiving a guidewire to enable over the wire insertion of the device.

Abstract: A helmet for tracking impact including at least one sensor, a processor in communication with the sensor and a storage file in communication with the processor, the at least one sensor measures a force applied to the helmet and sends a signal to the processor indicative of the measured force. The processor receives the signal indicative of the measured force and compares the measured force to a predetermined value, wherein if the measured force exceeds the predetermined value data is sent to the storage file to record the measured force. The helmet can include an alarm system and/or an injury tracking system.

Abstract: A system for stapling tissue comprises a flexible endoscope and an operative head including a pair of opposed, curved tissue clamping jaws sized to pass through an esophagus, the jaws being moveable with respect to one another between an open tissue receiving configuration and a closed tissue clamping configuration, a first one of the curved jaws including a stapling mechanism and a second one of the jaws including a staple forming anvil surface, the stapling mechanism including staple slots through which staples are fired arranged in a row extending from a proximal end of the first jaw to a distal end thereof in combination with a control handle which, when the operative head is in an operative position within one of a patient's stomach and esophagus, remains outside the patient, the control handle including a first actuator for moving the jaws relative to one another and a second actuator for operating the stapling mechanism.

Abstract: A device for closing an aperture in a vessel wall comprising a covering member having a longitudinal axis and positionable inside the vessel against the internal opening of the aperture and a first spherical retainer positionable external of the vessel. The covering member has a dimension to prevent egress of fluid through the aperture.

Abstract: A system and method for treating obesity including a first instrument containing a first magnet therein, the first instrument insertable into a stomach of a patient and the first magnet deployable into the stomach of the patient and having a first space. A second instrument contains a second magnet therein, the second instrument insertable into a bowel of a patient and the second magnet deployable into the bowel of the patient and having a second space. A stent is insertable into the first and second spaces to maintain an opening formed between the stomach and bowel.

Abstract: An atherectomy device for removing deposits such as plaque from an interior of a vessel including an outer member and a rotatable shaft positioned for rotational movement within the outer member and fixed axially within the outer member. A tip is mounted to the distal region of the rotatable shaft and is positioned distally of the distal end of the outer member to create a gap between the proximal end of the rotatable tip and the distalmost edge of the outer member. The rotatable tip has a longitudinal axis mounted to the rotatable shaft for rotation about its longitudinal axis upon rotation of the shaft, the shaft including a guidewire lumen for receiving a guidewire to enable over the wire insertion of the device.

Abstract: A method of treating a lesion in a body lumen to enlarge a passageway in the lumen including inserting a cutting member and tracking member through a first lumen of a catheter, withdrawing the catheter from the cutting member and tracking member, inserting the catheter over the tracking member and leaving the cutting member outside the catheter, and expanding a portion of the catheter to move the cutting member into cutting contact with the lesion. A device for treating a lesion in a body lumen including a cutting member and tracking member is also provided.

Abstract: An atherectomy device for removing deposits such as plaque from an interior of a vessel including an outer member and a rotatable shaft positioned for rotational movement within the outer member. The outer member is fixed axially. A rotatable tip is mounted to the distal region of the rotatable shaft for rotation about its longitudinal axis upon rotation of the shaft. The rotatable shaft includes a guidewire lumen for receiving a guidewire to enable over the wire insertion of the device.

Abstract: A device for treating acid reflux comprising a sleeve configured and dimensioned for insertion into the esophagus of the patient, the sleeve having a proximal portion, a distal portion and an intermediate portion between the distal and proximal portions. The sleeve includes a an inner member applying a radial force on the sleeve for securement within the esophagus, and a skirt connected to the sleeve to block acid backup from the stomach while not inhibiting passage of food into the stomach.

Abstract: A helmet for tracking impact including at least one sensor, a processor in communication with the sensor and a storage file in communication with the processor, the at least one sensor measures a force applied to the helmet and sends a signal to the processor indicative of the measured force. The processor receives the signal indicative of the measured force and compares the measured force to a predetermined value, wherein if the measured force exceeds the predetermined value data is sent to the storage file to record the measured force. The helmet can include an alarm system and/or an Injury tracking system.

Abstract: A helmet including a body, an outer shell having an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of shock absorbers, the shock absorbers being positioned internal of the outer shell. A first set of shock absorbers has a first shock absorption characteristic and a second set of shock absorbers has a second shock absorption characteristic, the second shock absorption characteristic being different than the first shock absorber.

Abstract: A device for closing an aperture in a vessel wall comprising a covering member having a longitudinal axis and positionable inside the vessel against the internal opening of the aperture and a first spherical retainer positionable external of the vessel. The covering member has a dimension to prevent egress of fluid through the aperture.

Abstract: A device for closing an aperture in a vessel wall comprising a covering member having a longitudinal axis and positionable inside the vessel against the internal opening of the aperture and having a dimension to prevent egress of fluid through the aperture and having a first opening. A first retainer is positionable external of the vessel. A flexible connecting member operatively connects the covering member and the first retainer, wherein the first opening of the covering member is configured to restrict movement of the connecting member.