Abstract: A closure device for an arteriotomy includes an elongate tube having a distal opening, a staple disposed within the tube, and a frangible cap mounted across the distal opening to guard the staple tips against contact with the tissue track. The frangible cap is pierced, fractured or torn when the staple is advanced through the distal opening. A portion of the torn frangible cap may be implanted with the staple as a pledget. The staple may be carried within the elongate tube by a stapler comprising an elongate hollow shaft and an elongate driver slidably disposed therein. A pair of opposing actuation tips is disposed at a distal end of the hollow shaft to define an open-sided staple chamber there between. An anvil is fixedly disposed within the staple chamber, which holds at least a proximal portion of the staple.

Abstract: A closure device for an arteriotomy includes an elongate tube having a distal opening. The elongate tube has least two opposing longitudinal slots and a pair of opposing corners defined where each slot meets the distal opening. A staple is disposed within the tube, the staple having at least two opposing legs aligned with the at least two slots. Each slot is pinched together adjacent the distal opening such that the opposing corners of each slot converge to cover the tip of the respective staple leg to guard the staple tips against contact with the tissue track. The corners of each slot are separable to permit the respective staple leg to pass there between.

Abstract: A closure device for an arteriotomy includes an elongate tube having a distal opening. The elongate tube has least two opposing longitudinal slots and a pair of opposing corners defined where each slot meets the distal opening. A staple is disposed within the tube, the staple having at least two opposing legs aligned with the at least two slots. Each slot is pinched together adjacent the distal opening such that the opposing corners of each slot converge to cover the tip of the respective staple leg to guard the staple tips against contact with the tissue track. The corners of each slot are separable to permit the respective staple leg to pass there between.

Abstract: A method for closing an arteriotomy includes providing a guiding system and a closure system. The guiding system is mounted over a dilator, and advanced along a guidewire through the arteriotomy and into the blood vessel lumen. The guiding system includes two stabilization wire guides. A retention foot is disposed at a distal portion of each stabilization wire guide, the foot being deployable into contact against an inner surface of the vessel wall. The guidewire and dilator are withdrawn from the patient, leaving the stabilization wire guides in place. The closure system carries a stapler and is advanced along the stabilization wire guides to an extraluminal position. The stapler is then activated to close the arteriotomy. The retention feet are undeployed and the guiding and closure systems are withdrawn from the body, leaving a staple to hold the arteriotomy closed.

Abstract: A closure device for an arteriotomy includes an elongate tube having a distal opening, a staple disposed within the tube, and a frangible cap mounted across the distal opening to guard the staple tips against contact with the tissue track. The frangible cap is pierced, fractured or torn when the staple is advanced through the distal opening. A portion of the torn frangible cap may be implanted with the staple as a pledget. The staple may be carried within the elongate tube by a stapler comprising an elongate hollow shaft and an elongate driver slidably disposed therein. A pair of opposing actuation tips is disposed at a distal end of the hollow shaft to define an open-sided staple chamber there between. An anvil is fixedly disposed within the staple chamber, which holds at least a proximal portion of the staple.

Abstract: A closure device for an arteriotomy includes an elongate hollow shaft and an elongate driver slidably disposed therein. The elongate hollow shaft includes a pair of a pair of opposing actuation tips disposed at a distal end thereof defining a staple chamber there between. An anvil extends into the staple chamber from one of the actuation tips. The closure device includes a release mechanism for spreading apart the pair of opposing actuation tips to provide a gap associated with the anvil, the gap dimensioned such that the staple may pass there through. A method of using the closure device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A catheter based delivery system may be used for both therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The catheter based delivery system includes a catheter having a distal end. The distal end of the catheter includes several electrodes that can emit a radio frequency waveform, and may receive a signal representative of an impedance of material in the exposed to the radio frequency waveform. The radio frequency waveform may also be applied to ablate specifically targeted material exposed to the radio frequency waveform. The several electrodes may be configured as an antenna.

Abstract: A heart valve implant may include a shaft extending generally along a longitudinal axis of the heart valve implant. A spacer may be coupled to the shaft between a first and a second end region of the shaft. The spacer may be configured to interact with at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through the heart valve in a closed position and at least one anchor may be configured to be coupled to the first end region of the shaft. At least one safety stop may extend generally radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the heart valve implant beyond at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the spacer. The safety stop may include a cross-section which is greater than a cross-section of the heart valve in at least one dimension. The safety stop may also be configured to at least partially restrict a movement of the heart valve implant with respect to the heart valve in at least one direction.

Abstract: A heart valve implant according to one embodiment may include a shaft and an anchor disposed on one end of the shaft, the anchor configured to engage tissue. The heart valve implant may further include an expandable member disposed over at least part of the shaft, the expandable member comprising a resiliently deformable internal layer and a resiliently deformable external layer disposed over the internal layer, the expandable member defining a chamber and being configured to receive an inflation medium in the chamber to expand the expandable member, the expandable member further configured to deform upon contact with at least a portion of at least one leaflet of a heart valve to at least partially conform to the shape of the leaflet.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include providing a heart valve implant including an anchor capable of engaging coronary tissue, a shaft coupled to said anchor, and a valve body coupled to said shaft. The method may further include at least partially collapsing the heart valve implant and percutaneously inserting the heart valve implant into a heart. The percutaneously inserted implant may be secured within the heart and may then be expanded. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: An implantable inline vascular access portal having multiple fluid systems. Each fluid system of the access portal is isolated from the others. Each fluid system includes a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with a lumen of a multi-lumen stem. Fluid communication between one reservoir and the corresponding lumen of the stem is provided by an open channel defined in a body of the access portal. A septum is sealingly positioned over the fluid reservoirs and the open channel to seal the fluid reservoirs and the open channel in an isolated condition.

Abstract: An access portal is provided including a housing, a body defining a fluid reservoir, and a septum enclosing the fluid reservoir. A stem in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir extends from the fluid reservoir. The access portal also includes a reservoir insert disposed within the fluid reservoir, in which the reservoir insert decreases the fluid fill volume of the reservoir.

Abstract: An access portal is provided including a housing, a body defining a fluid reservoir, and a septum enclosing the fluid reservoir. A stem may be provided in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir through an outlet passage extending form the fluid reservoir. The access portal may also include at least one volume reduction member disposed within the fluid reservoir. The volume reduction member within the fluid reservoir may reduce the fluid fill volume of the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: A configurable implantable access port is provided having as individual interchangeable components a chamber body defining a fluid chamber, a body component, and a septum. The individual components may be assembled by mechanical feature, adhesive, or welding to provide a complete access port. Preferably at least the body component is provided having more than one size or geometric configuration. The access port may be tailored before implantation to a specific application by combining the chamber body and septum with a body component suitable to the specific application.

Abstract: A conduit of relatively tough biocompatible material encloses a longitudinally extending fluid flow lumen and has a distal end configured as a catheter coupling hub. The conduit is encircled at the distal end of the catheter coupling hub and a portion of the conduit distal of and adjacent to the catheter coupling hub by a stabilization sleeve made of a contrastingly resilient, soft material suitable for skin contact applications. A pair of stabilization wings extends laterally on opposite sides from the stabilization sleeve at an attachment location separated from the portion of the stabilization sleeve in which the catheter coupling hub is received. As a result, a strain relief region is created. The stabilization sleeve is permanently attached to the conduit at the coupling hub only.

Abstract: An elongated access port has a needle-impenetrable housing enclosing a fluid reservoir. The housing includes a base having a floor with an upstanding encircling sidewall and a cap having a top wall with a depending encircling skirt. The skirt of the cap receives the sidewall of the base. An access aperture extends through the top wall of the cap to communicate with the fluid reservoir. The access aperture is encircled by a continuous rim having an elongated shape in the plane of the access aperture. The rim of the access aperture may be elliptical, oval, polygonal, or parabolic-ended. An elastomeric, needle-penetrable, generally planar septum is disposed in the access aperture with the periphery of the septum in sealing engagement with the rim of the access aperture. Prior to installation, the septum has a periphery with a cross section in the plane of the septum that is geometrically proportional to and larger than the shape of the access aperture.

Abstract: A vascular access port enclosing a pair of distinct fluid reservoirs includes a two-piece housing that captures an integrally-formed compound septum to seal both of the fluid reservoirs for selective access with a hypodermic needle. The housing includes a base that defines the fluid reservoirs and a cap in which the base is received with the compound septum therebetween. The compound septum includes two distinct target domes that are exposed to the exterior of the housing through respective access apertures in the cap, when the compound septum is captured in the housing. A planar septum web interconnects and encircles the target domes. The side of the septum web opposite from the target domes is formed into a recessed isolation groove that traverses the septum web between the target domes. Sealing ridges depend from this side of the septum web on either side of the isolation groove. The outlet stem of the access port is integrally formed with the base of the housing.

Abstract: A dual reservoir access port includes a metal casing having a top surface with recessed, open proximal and distal fluid reservoirs. Projecting from the casing on the side of the distal fluid reservoir opposite from the proximal fluid reservoir is a dual prong metal outlet stem. The distal fluid reservoir is carried within an open-topped basket that is disposed in a cup formed in the top surface of the casing. A first fluid flow pathway extends from the proximal fluid reservoir, between the basket and the wall of the distal cup, to the outlet stem. A second fluid flow pathway extends directly from the distal fluid reservoir to the outlet stem. A needle-penetrable compound septum is disposed against the casing simultaneously closing the top of the proximal fluid reservoir and the top of the distal fluid reservoir. A plastic jacket clamps the septum against the casing and compresses the periphery of the septum to effect a fluid seal by the septum of each of the fluid reservoirs.