Abstract: An endoscope and a vision system including the endoscope and an electrical-light connector are provided. A distal tip of the endoscope includes a lens and image device. The distal tip is illuminated by light conductors extending within the endoscope. A serial connector is formed along the proximal region of the endoscope having a window segment and a plurality of ring conductors separated by insulators. When the serial connector is received by the electrical-light connector, light and power and electronic signals are communicated therebetween. The electrical-light connector may be removably attached from the endoscope to permit the exchange of different medical devices that are navigated to a treatment site over the endoscope. The window segment may comprise a proximal refractor that receives light radially and communicates light longitudinally to the light conductors. A distal refractor may receive the light from the light conductors and direct it radially to the distal tip.

Abstract: A delivery system is provided for a self-expanding medical device. The delivery system has a handle assembly with a housing. The housing has a slot with a deployment knob extending therethrough. The self-expanding medical device is deployed by restraining the housing of the handle assembly and pulling on the deployment knob. This causes an outer sheath to withdraw proximally from an inner catheter to release the self-expanding medical device from a space between the outer sheath and inner catheter.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for treating a vascular condition by restoring patency to a vessel while reducing the likelihood that emboli become dislodged into the bloodstream. In a first embodiment, the apparatus comprises a graft having proximal and distal regions, a first support member attached to the distal region of the graft, and a second support member attached to the proximal region of the graft. The first and second support members may comprise first and second stents, respectively. The first stent is deployed distal to a vascular condition, and the second stent is deployed proximal to a vascular condition, such that the graft spans the length of the vascular condition to entrap emboli during treatment of the vascular condition. In an alternative embodiment, the graft is adapted to be everted to form a pocket adapted to entrap emboli dislodged during treatment of the vascular condition.

Abstract: A nebulizing catheter for bronchial therapy includes a catheter having a sheath defining an interior space and an open tip. A nebulizer is positioned in the interior space and located adjacent the open tip. The nebulizer includes a piezoelectric device. A liquid mixture is provided and placed in flow communication with the piezoelectric device for nebulizing a portion of that liquid mixture into small droplets for use in the bronchial therapy.

Abstract: A medical instrument, such as a surgical device for manipulating and placing a tissue suture and methods of using the same is disclosed. The device comprises a handle, a hollow shaft removably coupled to the handle assembly and a stylet extending within the hollow shaft and longitudinally slideable therein. Preferably, the stylet is not rotationally moveable relative to the shaft. The stylet may be moved between a first position wherein a grasping member formed on the stylet is retracted into a distal end portion of the shaft and a second position wherein the grasping member extends distally beyond the distal end portion of the shaft. Distal movement of an actuation member on the handle correspondingly moves the stylet to the extended position and movement of the actuation member to a proximal position on the handle correspondingly moves the stylet to the retracted position. Lateral movement of the actuation member on the handle does not impart rotational movement of the stylet relative to the shaft.

Abstract: An elongate catheter is provided. The catheter includes an elongate shaft with a lumen and a distal end portion repositionable between a relatively straight configuration and an arcuate configuration. The distal end portion includes a plurality of rigid segments that are disposed in series and in a consistent orientation therealong and within the sheath, the plurality of rigid segments each include a top edge and a bottom edge and an inner cavity disposed therethrough. A wire is disposed through the sheath and fixed with respect to a distal tip of the catheter, the first wire extending outboard of each of the plurality of rigid segments.

Abstract: Medical device loading apparatuses, systems, methods and kits are described. A loading apparatus comprises a main body having a proximal end defining a proximal opening, a distal end defining a distal opening, and a passageway extending between the proximal and distal openings. The passageway defines a proximal chamber having a first inner diameter, a distal chamber having a second inner diameter, and a transition chamber disposed between the proximal and distal chambers. The transition chamber has an inner diameter that transitions from the larger second inner diameter to the smaller first inner diameter. The main body has a separable connection that divides the main body between proximal and distal portions when disrupted.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to device and system for facilitating vascular access into a vessel of a patient and to a method of using such a device or system. In one embodiment, the vessel is a vein and the device is used to facilitate obtaining a blood sample.

Abstract: An injection device for injecting a medicant into a plurality of tissue sites in a patient for a selected treatment is constructed and arranged such that the number of tissue sites is the total number for the selected treatment thereby requiring a single positioning step. The injection device includes a body having a syringe and a control linkage, the syringe including a plurality of barrels, and a cooperating plunger array including a plurality of plungers. Each barrel receives a corresponding plunger. The injection device further includes a plurality of injection needles connected to the syringe wherein one injection needle is connected to each barrel, a multi-lumen tip, a shaft connected to the multi-lumen tip and extending between said multi-lumen tip and said body. The control linkage is connected to each needle so as to move each needle between a deployed injection position and a retracted position.

Abstract: Loading systems for compressing and loading an implantable medical device into a device chamber of a medical device delivery system are described. The loading systems include an elongate holding chamber within which the intraluminal medical device is disposed. A plunger has one or more attached pushers adapted to axially advance the intraluminal medical device through an intermediate portion of the holding chamber that has a tapered surface, which compresses the intraluminal medical device over a dilator of a medical device delivery system that has been introduced through the distal end of the elongate holding chamber. The elongate holding chamber can be placed within an outer storage container with an appropriate seal to for storage of the intraluminal medical device within the loading system. Methods of preparing an intraluminal medical device for implantation in a patient and kits useful in such methods are also described.

Abstract: A catheter having a selectively variable degree of flexibility includes an elongate tubular outer member and an elongate tubular inner member disposed within the outer member. The catheter further includes a cavity disposed in between the outer and inner members. A tubular braid of filaments may be disposed within the cavity. The outer and inner members are movable relative to each other along intermediate portions thereof when in a first configuration, and are not movable relative to each other when in a second configuration. When the inner and outer members are in the first configuration, the tubular braid of filaments is movably disposed relative to at least one of the outer member and the inner member. When the inner and outer members are in the second configuration, the inner and outer members clamp the tubular braid of filaments in a fixed position relative to the inner and outer members.

Abstract: A device is provided for closing a wound, such as a percutaneous access site. The device is inserted into the wound, and a helically shaped pusher is actuated to penetrate a wall of the wound. The pusher extends a suture through the tissue wall. After the suture is extending through the tissue wall, the pusher is retracted out of the tissue, while the suture remains extending through the tissue. The suture may then be used to close the wound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-lumen mixing device that includes a first and second lumen constructed and arranged to separately pass a first and second reagent to a mixing chamber in the device, where the mixing chamber includes a mixing feature that mixes the first and second reagents. The disclosed multi-lumen mixing device may also include a port in fluid communication with the reaction mixing to permit the product of the combined reagents to be injected into a patent.

Abstract: A device for obtaining selective rigidity with respect to a patient is provided. The device includes a scaffold that is arranged to be flexible when in a first relaxed configuration, wherein the scaffold is configured to become substantially more rigid when a suction force is applied thereto. The scaffold comprises first and second opposing outer flexible layers that are sealed together to form a plurality of elongate pockets therein, and an expanded structure disposed within the plurality of elongate pockets and in communication with a vacuum port that receives the suction force.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-lumen mixing device that includes a first and second lumen constructed and arranged to separately pass a first and second reagent to a mixing chamber in the device, where the mixing chamber includes a mixing feature that mixes the first and second reagents. The disclosed multi-lumen mixing device may also include a port in fluid communication with the reaction mixing to permit the product of the combined reagents to be injected into a patent.

Abstract: Devices and methods for retracting tissue, such as bowels and organs, within the body of a patient are generally disclosed. In particular, the present disclosure describes surgical retractors having a series of intersecting strands defining openings there between, wherein the openings are enlargeable by slidable passage of the strands relative to one another. The present disclosure also teaches surgical retractors having a frame that defines a central opening and a supporting structure extending across the central opening and defining a plurality of openings, wherein the frame extends through the openings. In some embodiments, a surgical retractor comprises a monolithic polymeric structure extending across the central opening defined by a frame. Other embodiments and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Devices and methods for retracting tissue, such as bowels and organs, within the body of a patient are generally disclosed. In particular, the present disclosure describes surgical retractors having a series of intersecting strands defining openings there between, wherein the openings are enlargeable by slidable passage of the strands relative to one another. The present disclosure also teaches surgical retractors having a frame that defines a central opening and a supporting structure extending across the central opening and defining a plurality of openings, wherein the frame extends through the openings. In some embodiments, a surgical retractor comprises a monolithic polymeric structure extending across the central opening defined by a frame. Other embodiments and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical device for manipulation of tissue of a patient. The medical device comprises a shaft having a proximal section extending to a distal section that has a closed distal end portion. The shaft has a plurality of lumens formed therein including a first lumen and a second lumen. The first lumen is for distally advancing a first reactant through the proximal section. The second lumen is for distally advancing a second reactant through the proximal section. Positioned longitudinally within the shaft and distally from the first and second lumens is a mixing element. The mixing element is in fluid communication with the first and second lumens. The mixing element has a series of baffles for mixing the first and second reactants together producing a reaction product to heat the closed distal end portion of the shaft for manipulation of the tissue.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices, systems, and methods for heating tissue, including ablating a tumor, using the catalyzed heat of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide solutions. A hydrogen peroxide solution is contacted with a catalyst to decompose the hydrogen peroxide and heat the distal tip of a catheter to a temperature effective to ablate a target tissue.

Abstract: A suture anchor assembly includes a length of suture having an anchor attached to an end thereof. A releasable suture clamp is disposed in a clamped configuration about the suture. The releasable suture clamp includes a plurality of independent stackable components rotatable about a common axis, which is transverse to opposing faces of the stackable components. Each of the stackable components has a first opening passing through the opposing faces, spaced from the common axis, and sized for receiving the suture therethrough. The releasable suture clamp has an unclamped configuration in which the first openings are aligned relative to an alignment axis and the clamped configuration in which the first openings are misaligned relative to the alignment axis, wherein the alignment axis is parallel to the common axis.