Abstract: A valve delivery system and valve delivery method are disclosed. The valve delivery system includes an inner shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and an elongated tension member to continuously circumferentially coil around a prosthetic valve disposed on the inner shaft to form a sheath portion to releasably contain the prosthetic valve on the inner shaft in a compressed state, the elongated tension member extending from the sheath portion along the longitudinal axis of the inner shaft.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering a heart valve prosthesis includes a heart valve prosthesis and a delivery catheter. The heart valve prosthesis includes an anchoring member and an inner valve support, and further includes a radially collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. The delivery catheter includes a handle, an outer shaft, an intermediate shaft, an inner shaft, and a distal tip component. The delivery catheter further includes a delivery configuration. In the delivery configuration, the outer shaft of the delivery catheter is configured to retain a first portion of the anchoring member, the intermediate shaft is configured to retain a first portion of the inner valve support, and the distal tip component is configured to retain a second end of the anchoring member and a second end of the inner valve support each in a radially compressed state.

Abstract: A system for delivering an implantable medical device includes a handle housing. An outer sheath is coupler secured to a proximal end of an outer sheath that is configured to cover at least a portion of the implantable medical device. An outer sheath drive assembly is operably coupled to the outer sheath coupler and is configured to translate the outer sheath relative to the handle housing. An actuation shaft coupler is secured to a proximal end of an activation shaft. An actuation shaft drive assembly is operably coupled to the actuation shaft coupler and is configured to cause the actuation shaft to translate relative to the handle housing and shift the implantable medical device from a first position and a second position in which the implantable medical device is radially expanded relative to the first position.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering a heart valve prosthesis includes a heart valve prosthesis and a delivery catheter. The heart valve prosthesis includes an anchoring member and an inner valve support, and further includes a radially collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. The delivery catheter includes a handle, an outer shaft, an intermediate shaft, an inner shaft, and a distal tip component. The delivery catheter further includes a delivery configuration. In the delivery configuration, the outer shaft of the delivery catheter is configured to retain a first portion of the anchoring member, the intermediate shaft is configured to retain a first portion of the inner valve support, and the distal tip component is configured to retain a second end of the anchoring member and a second end of the inner valve support each in a radially compressed state.

Abstract: A delivery system for an implantable medical device includes an outer shaft defining an outer shaft lumen and an inner shaft translatable within the outer shaft lumen, the inner shaft defining a lumen extending through the inner shaft. An actuation mechanism extends through the lumen and includes a coupler, a force translation rod that extends proximally from the coupler and a plurality of push pull rods that extend distally from the coupler and that releasably couple to the implantable medical device. The force translation rod includes a transition in electromagnetic permeability. The delivery system includes an inductive coil disposed relative to the force translation rod and positioned to detect a change in inductance resulting from the transition in electromagnetic permeability passing through the inductive coil.

Abstract: A delivery system for an implantable medical device includes an outer shaft and an inner shaft translatable within the outer shaft. An internally exposed coil is disposed within the inner shaft and is electrically coupled to an externally exposed coil that can be used to inductively transmit a current flowing through the internally exposed coil. An actuation member extends within the inner shaft and includes a coupler, a force translation rod that extends proximally from the coupler and a plurality of push pull rods that extend distally from the coupler and that releasably couple to the implantable medical device. As the force translation rod moves relative to the internally exposed coil, an impedance varies in accordance with relative position.

Abstract: A drive assembly for use with a delivery catheter for delivering an implantable medical device includes a drive motor configured to be operably coupled to an inner shaft of the delivery catheter such that operation of the drive motor causes the inner shaft to translate relative to the outer shaft and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a position signal from a position sensor indicating a position of the implantable medical device relative to the outer shaft as well as a motor signal indicating a rotational position of an output shaft of the drive motor. The controller is configured to output a control signal instructing operation of the drive motor based upon the indicated rotational position of the output shaft of the drive motor and the indicated position of the implantable medical device relative to the outer shaft.

Abstract: A delivery system for an implantable medical device includes an outer shaft defining an outer shaft lumen and an inner shaft translatable within the outer shaft lumen, the inner shaft defining a lumen extending through the inner shaft. An actuation mechanism extends through the lumen and includes a coupler, a force translation rod that extends proximally from the coupler and a plurality of push pull rods that extend distally from the coupler and that releasably couple to the implantable medical device. The force translation rod includes a transition in electromagnetic permeability. The delivery system includes an inductive coil disposed relative to the force translation rod and positioned to detect a change in inductance resulting from the transition in electromagnetic permeability passing through the inductive coil.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering a heart valve prosthesis includes a heart valve prosthesis and a delivery catheter. The heart valve prosthesis includes an anchoring member and an inner valve support, and further includes a radially collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. The delivery catheter includes a handle, an outer shaft, an intermediate shaft, an inner shaft, and a distal tip component. The delivery catheter further includes a delivery configuration. In the delivery configuration, the outer shaft of the delivery catheter is configured to retain a first portion of the anchoring member, the intermediate shaft is configured to retain a first portion of the inner valve support, and the distal tip component is configured to retain a second end of the anchoring member and a second end of the inner valve support each in a radially compressed state.

Abstract: A system for delivering an implantable medical device includes a handle housing. An outer sheath is coupler secured to a proximal end of an outer sheath that is configured to cover at least a portion of the implantable medical device. An outer sheath drive assembly is operably coupled to the outer sheath coupler and is configured to translate the outer sheath relative to the handle housing. An actuation shaft coupler is secured to a proximal end of an activation shaft. An actuation shaft drive assembly is operably coupled to the actuation shaft coupler and is configured to cause the actuation shaft to translate relative to the handle housing and shift the implantable medical device from a first position and a second position in which the implantable medical device is radially expanded relative to the first position.

Abstract: A drive assembly for use with a delivery catheter for delivering an implantable medical device includes a drive motor configured to be operably coupled to an inner shaft of the delivery catheter such that operation of the drive motor causes the inner shaft to translate relative to the outer shaft and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a position signal from a position sensor indicating a position of the implantable medical device relative to the outer shaft as well as a motor signal indicating a rotational position of an output shaft of the drive motor. The controller is configured to output a control signal instructing operation of the drive motor based upon the indicated rotational position of the output shaft of the drive motor and the indicated position of the implantable medical device relative to the outer shaft.

Abstract: A delivery system for an implantable medical device includes an outer shaft defining an outer shaft lumen and an inner shaft translatable within the outer shaft lumen, the inner shaft defining a lumen extending through the inner shaft. An actuation mechanism extends through the lumen and includes a coupler, a force translation rod that extends proximally from the coupler and a plurality of push pull rods that extend distally from the coupler and that releasably couple to the implantable medical device. The force translation rod includes a transition in electromagnetic permeability. The delivery system includes an inductive coil disposed relative to the force translation rod and positioned to detect a change in inductance resulting from the transition in electromagnetic permeability passing through the inductive coil.

Abstract: A delivery system for an implantable medical device includes an outer shaft and an inner shaft translatable within the outer shaft. An internally exposed coil is disposed within the inner shaft and is electrically coupled to an externally exposed coil that can be used to inductively transmit a current flowing through the internally exposed coil. An actuation member extends within the inner shaft and includes a coupler, a force translation rod that extends proximally from the coupler and a plurality of push pull rods that extend distally from the coupler and that releasably couple to the implantable medical device. As the force translation rod moves relative to the internally exposed coil, an impedance varies in accordance with relative position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for approximating tissue segments, such as mitral valve leaflets, on a minimally invasive basis. The system includes first and second approximation devices each including a magnetic component and an attachment mechanism. Each device is connected to a target tissue segment by the corresponding attachment mechanism. Upon deployment at a target site, the tissue approximation devices are magnetically attracted to one another, approximating the tissue segments and maintaining the tissue segments in the approximated state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for approximating tissue segments, such as mitral valve leaflets, on a minimally invasive basis. The system includes first and second approximation devices each including a magnetic component and an attachment mechanism. Each device is connected to a target tissue segment by the corresponding attachment mechanism. Upon deployment at a target site, the tissue approximation devices are magnetically attracted to one another, approximating the tissue segments and maintaining the tissue segments in the approximated state.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices, instruments, systems, and methods to navigate medical instruments within the thoracic cavity. More specifically, the present invention provides a navigation system comprising medical instruments having electromagnetic tracking functionality and the integration of previously acquired imaging into a user interface of the navigation system.

Abstract: The present invention provides biological compositions and methods for making the same.

Abstract: A device and method for ablating tissue is disclosed comprising the steps of acquiring an anatomical image of a patient, correlating the image to the patient, guiding an ablating member within the patient while tracking the position of the ablating member in the patient, positioning the ablating member in a desired position to ablate tissue, emitting ablating energy from the ablating member to form an ablated tissue area and removing the ablating member from the patient.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure is provided. The medical procedure includes stimulation of a patient's heart while stimulating a nerve of the patient in order to modulate the patient's inflammatory process. More particularly, the medical procedure includes pacing the ventricles of the patient's heart while stimulating the vagal nerve of the patient. Systems and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. A nerve is stimulated in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a first condition, such as a stopped or slowed condition. The medical procedure is performed on the heart or another organ. The stimulation of the nerve is stopped in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a second condition, such as a beating condition. The heart itself may also be stimulated to a beating condition, such as by pacing. The stimulation of the nerve may be continued in order to allow the medical procedure to be continued. A sensor to sense a characteristic of a fluid or tissue, such as an impending contraction, may be also used during the medical procedure. Systems and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.