Abstract: Surgical apparatus' for navigating and guiding surgical tools and instruments to a target within a patient's body are described. One such apparatus includes an elastomeric sheath having a first lumen and a second lumen. The first lumen is configured to receive an endoscope and the second lumen is configured to receive a surgical tool. The elastomeric sheath further includes a navigation sensor disposed on a distal portion of the elastomeric sheath. The navigation sensor is configured to be detectable in an electromagnetic field and aid in guiding the elastomeric sheath and endoscope, or more particularly a bronchoscope, through the network of a patient's airways. Other embodiments of the apparatus may include balloon anchor disposed on the sheath or an additional collapsible lumen disposed on the sheath and configured to provide an additional passageway for a surgical tool or device.

Abstract: Barbed surgical sutures are prepared with a bioactive agent thereon. In embodiments, the bioactive agent may be an antimicrobial or clotting agent deposited within the angle formed by the barb and the suture body. Placement of the bioactive agent in the angle between the barb and suture body enhances the delivery of the bioactive agent to wound tissue at the point of contact.

Abstract: A method for electromagnetic navigation registration is provided. The method includes storing, in a memory, a mapping that associates electromagnetic field-based signal values with corresponding locations within a three-dimensional model of a luminal network. An ultrasound signal is received from an ultrasound probe. Based on the ultrasound signal, an ultrasound-based location of a target in a patient relative to the three-dimensional model is determined. At least a portion of the mapping is updated based on the ultrasound-based location of the target.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a bronchoscope, an extended working channel defining an elongated passageway and adapted to extend through the bronchoscope, and a valve in fluid communication with the passageway of the extended working channel. The surgical system further includes an elongated surgical instrument configured and dimensioned to be inserted through the extended working channel. During operation, a fluid is able to flow from the valve and through the extended working channel such that the fluid travels within an annular area surrounding the elongated surgical instrument positioned within the extended working channel.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a printed sensor, a surface, at least one non-conductive material, and at least one pair of contacts. The sensor has at least one coil formed on a conductive material. The surface is suitable for receiving the printed sensor and can be placed in an EM field. The at least one non-conductive material covers the at least one coil of the sensor. The medical instrument contains multiple conductive and nonconductive layers. The at least one pair of contacts are electrically connected to the at least one coil and connectable to the conductive layer, the conductive layer coupled to a measurement device, which senses an induced electrical signal based on a magnetic flux change of the EM field. The location of the medical instrument in a coordinate system of the EM filed is identified based on the induced electrical signal in the sensor.

Abstract: A system including a database storing data relating to one or more of patient data, an image dataset, target data, pathway data, cytopathological data, genetic information data, treatment data, and outcome observational data from a plurality of prior patients. The system further includes a network connecting the database to an Electromagnetic Navigation (EMN) system and/or to a computing device, a display in communication with the computing device, and a user interface presenting on the display data related to the a target of a present patient. The data may be related to the target of a present patient including one or more of imaging data of the target, cytopathology of the target, genetic information of the target, and treatment options. The treatment options are based on the correlation of similarities in the data from the plurality of prior patients and the data related to target of the present patient.

Abstract: A user interface including a present patient data field, a care team field, a disease identification field, and a plurality of fields presenting data including one or more of imaging data, cytopathological data, genetic information and treatment options for an identified target of the present patient based on a correlation of similarities in data from a plurality of prior patients and the data for the identified target of the present patient. The user interface may further include a diagnosis field and/or a field presenting literature or other information relevant to the diagnosis. Additionally, the user interface may further include a field presenting function data of the present patient. The function data may provide details regarding the health of the present patient or details on the health of the organ in which the target is located.

Abstract: A method of assessing a target including collecting patient data, identifying a target in an image dataset, preparing a pathway plan to arrive at the target, inserting a medical instrument and following the pathway plan to arrive at the target from an opening, extracting a first biopsy sample from the target, performing a cytopathological examination on the biopsy sample, collecting genetic information from the biopsy sample, and presenting one or more treatment options based on a correlation of the patient data, the cytological examination, and the genetic information of the first biopsy sample, and their comparison to the patient data, cytological examination and genetic information of previously acquired biopsy samples. The method may further include acquiring a second biopsy sample.

Abstract: A method including storing prior patients' data including for each prior patient one or more of age, sex, and ethnicity data, storing a location of each biopsy acquired from the prior patients and the size of a target, with reference to an image data set of the prior patient, storing cytopathological data of each of the biopsies from the prior patients, storing genetic information of each the biopsies from the prior patients, and storing data related to the treatment pursued for the target and the observed outcome of the treatment. The method further includes receiving data relating to a new patient and a new biopsy acquired from the new patient, comparing the data relating to the new patient to corresponding data stored in a database from the prior patients, identifying one or more commonalities therebetween, and presenting one or more treatment options based on the comparison.

Abstract: Barbed surgical sutures are prepared with a bioactive agent thereon. In embodiments, the bioactive agent may be an antimicrobial or clotting agent deposited within the angle formed by the barb and the suture body. Placement of the bioactive agent in the angle between the barb and suture body enhances the delivery of the bioactive agent to wound tissue at the point of contact.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus includes a housing member and an inner member. The housing member includes an expandable material that is adapted to transition between a compressed condition and an expanded condition. In the expanded condition, an outer surface of the housing member is adapted for a substantial sealing relationship with tissue upon insertion of the housing member within the tissue for accessing an underlying tissue site. The housing member has leading and trailing ends that define a longitudinal axis. The inner member is operably associated with the housing member and includes one or more longitudinal portals extending therethrough adapted for substantially sealed reception of a surgical object. The inner member may be less compliant than the housing member. The inner member may rotate about the longitudinal axis of the housing member.

Abstract: Barbed surgical sutures are prepared with a bioactive agent thereon. In embodiments, the bioactive agent may be an antimicrobial or clotting agent deposited within the angle formed by the barb and the suture body. Placement of the bioactive agent in the angle between the barb and suture body enhances the delivery of the bioactive agent to wound tissue at the point of contact.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a surgical procedure, the system including a catheter guidance assembly including an extended working channel navigable to a target, a surgical device positionable through the extended working channel to access the target, at least one sensor disposed on either the extended working channel or the surgical device. The at least one sensor is configured to sense a characteristic of tissue proximate either or both of the extended working channel or the surgical device. The system further includes a computing device operably coupled to the sensor. The computing device is configured to receive the characteristic from the sensor and determine whether the tissue characteristic is indicative of the target or tissue other than the target.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus includes a housing member and an inner member. The housing member includes an expandable material that is adapted to transition between a compressed condition and an expanded condition. In the expanded condition, an outer surface of the housing member is adapted for a substantial sealing relationship with tissue upon insertion of the housing member within the tissue for accessing an underlying tissue site. The housing member has leading and trailing ends that define a longitudinal axis. The inner member is operably associated with the housing member and includes one or more longitudinal portals extending therethrough adapted for substantially sealed reception of a surgical object. The inner member may be less compliant than the housing member. The inner member may rotate about the longitudinal axis of the housing member.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to medical devices comprising at least a first film layer and at least a second gel layer and to methods for preparing such devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a medical device package including a container for receiving a medical device having an area configured for storing at least one agent and a port for permitting the passage of a contact material between the outside the container and the area configured for storing the agent.

Abstract: A system for light based interrogation of a lung includes a memory, an electromagnetic (EM) board, an extended working channel (EWC), an EM sensor, a light source, a light receptor and a processor. The memory stores a 3D model and a pathway plan of a luminal network and the EM board generates an EM field. The EWC navigates a luminal network of a patient toward a target in accordance with the pathway plan and the EM sensor extends distally from a distal end of the EWC and is configured to sense the EM field. The light source is located at or around the EWC and is configured to emit light, and the light receptor is located at or around the EWC and is configured to sense reflected light from airway of the luminal network. The processor converts the reflected light into light based data and identifies a type of tissue.

Abstract: A system for light based interrogation of a lung includes a memory, an electromagnetic (EM) board, an extended working channel (EWC), an EM sensor, a light source, a light receptor and a processor. The memory stores a 3D model and a pathway plan of a luminal network and the EM board generates an EM field. The EWC navigates a luminal network of a patient toward a target in accordance with the pathway plan and the EM sensor extends distally from a distal end of the EWC and is configured to sense the EM field. The light source is located at or around the EWC and emits light, and the light receptor is located at or around the EWC and is configured to sense reflected light from airway of the luminal network. The processor converts the reflected light into light based data and identifies a type or density of tissue.

Abstract: Novel biodegradable compositions are disclosed. The biodegradable compositions include at least one hydroxyl-terminated component and at least one bioactive peptide in a linear chain. The compositions may be utilized as medical devices including drug delivery devices, tissue adhesives and/or sealants.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus includes a housing member and an inner member. The housing member includes an expandable material that is adapted to transition between a compressed condition and an expanded condition. In the expanded condition, an outer surface of the housing member is adapted for a substantial sealing relationship with tissue upon insertion of the housing member within the tissue for accessing an underlying tissue site. The housing member has leading and trailing ends that define a longitudinal axis. The inner member is operably associated with the housing member and includes one or more longitudinal portals extending therethrough adapted for substantially sealed reception of a surgical object. The inner member may be less compliant than the housing member. The inner member may rotate about the longitudinal axis of the housing member.