Abstract: Novel enhanced spice systems evenly coat food substrates when combined with heat, feature a plurality of peppers as complements to the base profile, and are scalable as liquid and dry spice packaged goods in unit dose and volume.

Abstract: A delivery system comprises a catheter configured to be delivered through a blood flow pathway of a heart and an implant configured to maintain an opening in a tissue wall to allow blood flow through the opening and into the blood flow pathway and be delivered via the catheter. The implant is at least partially composed of a flexible material to allow the implant to bend with the catheter.

Abstract: A shunt comprises a central flow portion configured to fit at least partially within an opening in a tissue wall. The tissue wall is situated between a first anatomical chamber and a second anatomical chamber and the opening represents a blood flow path between the first anatomical chamber and the second anatomical chamber. The central flow portion is further configured to maintain the blood flow path from the first anatomical chamber to the second anatomical chamber. The shunt further comprises a barrier configured to alter growth of tissue around the shunt.

Abstract: A shunt comprises a central flow portion configured to fit at least partially within an opening in a tissue wall. The tissue wall is situated between a first anatomical chamber and a second anatomical chamber and the opening represents a blood flow path between the first anatomical chamber to the second anatomical chamber. The central flow portion is further configured to maintain the blood flow path from the first anatomical chamber to the second anatomical chamber, prevent in-growth of tissue within the opening, and expand in response to expansion of the tissue wall.

Abstract: A medical implant delivery system can comprise a puncture needle, a medical implant delivery catheter and the puncture needle being configured to be slidably advanced through a puncture needle lumen of the medical implant delivery catheter, a medical implant device positioned on the medical implant delivery catheter, and an outer delivery catheter comprising a medical implant delivery lumen, the medical implant delivery catheter being configured to slidably extend through the medical implant delivery lumen. A medical implant delivery system can comprise a puncture needle, a medical implant delivery catheter and the puncture needle being configured to slidably extend through the puncture needle lumen of the medical implant delivery catheter, a medical implant device positioned on the medical implant delivery catheter, an elongate housing adjacent to the medical implant delivery catheter, and an outer sheath around a portion of the medical implant delivery catheter and the elongate housing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a balloon shaped to have one or more enlarged regions to selectively increase expansion forces on an implant. For example, the balloon may have a central portion that is enlarged to exert more force on the center of a stent-mounted prosthetic heart valve. This overcomes the stent-mounted prosthetic heart valve's tendency to expand with flared ends. This forms a more cylindrical or barrel shaped stent frame during expansion of the balloon—reducing or eliminating the instance wherein the cylindrical stent frame has flared ends. Alternatively, the balloon may have conical flares placed to cause or enhance flared ends of the cylindrical implant to enhance its anchoring capabilities.

Abstract: A puncture needle can comprise a puncture tip configured to pierce tissue, and a distal portion comprising an anchor portion and a curved puncture portion. The curved puncture portion can comprise a first end associated with the puncture tip and a second end coupled to the anchor portion, where the anchor portion comprises a portion distal of the curved puncture portion. A puncture needle system can comprise the puncture needle and a delivery catheter comprising a lumen, the puncture needle extending through the lumen. The delivery catheter can have a side outlet opening on a distal portion of the delivery catheter configured to allow extension therethrough of at least a portion of the curved puncture portion, where the anchor portion extends through a portion of the lumen distal of the side outlet opening.

Abstract: A catheter device includes a shaft having a steerable distal portion and a plurality of layers including a braided layer. A first pull-wire lumen is disposed at least partially within the braided layer, and a second pull-wire lumen is disposed at least partially within the braided layer. The first pull-wire lumen and the second pull-wire lumen are circumferentially spaced apart from each other in the steerable distal portion of the shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a balloon shaped to have one or more enlarged recons to selectively increase expansion forces on an implant. For example, the balloon may have a central portion that is enlarged to exert more force on the center of a stent-mounted prosthetic heart valve. This overcomes the stent-mounted prosthetic heart valve's tendency to expand with flared ends. This forms a more cylindrical or barrel shaped stent frame during expansion of the balloon—reducing or eliminating the instance wherein the cylindrical stent frame has flared ends. Alternatively, the balloon may have conical flares placed to cause or enhance flared ends of the cylindrical implant to enhance its anchoring capabilities.

Abstract: A lacrimal drug delivery device includes a reservoir configured to hold a drug. The reservoir is moveable between a relaxed state and an expanded state. A connector is fluidly coupled to the reservoir and a lumen is formed in the connector wherein the drug is configured to flow from the reservoir to an delivery site through the lumen. A hydrogel is within the lumen and configured to absorb the drug from the reservoir and deliver the drug from the lumen at the delivery site. The hydrogel includes a first section which absorbs the drug at a first rate of absorption. A delivery guide is detachably coupled to the reservoir to deliver the reservoir into a lacrimal sac of a patient.

Abstract: A delivery sheath can comprise an elongate tubular member and an anchor on a distal portion of the elongate tubular member, the anchor being configured to engage with the coronary sinus ostium, or both the coronary sinus ostium and a portion of the coronary sinus adjacent to the ostium, so as to provide stable transcatheter access into the coronary sinus. The anchor can be configured to permit blood flow through the ostium while in engagement with the ostium.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for creating a shunt between two vessels or lumens within a patient. While these devices and methods are generally described with regard to treatment of hypertension (e.g., pulmonary arterial hypertension) and/or right heart failure/disfunction, they can be used with a variety of different vessels and lumens for other purposes. The devices include puncturing guidewire embodiments that can more accurately pierce two vessels, as well as snare catheter designs that can prevent unwanted damage from a puncturing guidewire.

Abstract: A lacrimal drug delivery device includes a reservoir configured to hold a drug. The reservoir is moveable between a relaxed state and an expanded state. A connector is fluidly coupled to the reservoir and a lumen is formed in the connector wherein the drug is configured to flow from the reservoir to an delivery site through the lumen. A hydrogel is within the lumen and configured to absorb the drug from the reservoir and deliver the drug from the lumen at the delivery site. The hydrogel includes a first section which absorbs the drug at a first rate of absorption. A delivery guide is detachably coupled to the reservoir to deliver the reservoir into a lacrimal sac of a patient.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for implanting a prosthetic implant in a native lumen of the body includes a handle portion, and a first shaft extending from and movable relative to the handle portion. The first shaft has a proximal end portion coupled to the handle portion and a distal end portion. The delivery apparatus further includes a second shaft extending from the handle portion and coaxially disposed within the first shaft. The second shaft has a proximal end portion coupled to the handle portion and a distal end portion configured to mount a prosthetic implant in a radially compressed state. The handle portion of the delivery apparatus also includes a steering assembly configured to move the first shaft longitudinally relative to the second shaft while concurrently flexing the second shaft.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided of an assembly having a prosthetic valve, the prosthetic valve having a radially expandable and compressible annular frame, and a crimping accessory device, and methods for using the assembly in compressing the prosthetic valve. The frame includes an outer surface and an inner surface. A leaflet assembly is supported inside the annular frame. The leaflet assembly includes a plurality of leaflets, each having an inner surface and an outer surface. The crimping accessory device has a plurality of axially-extending fingers. At least a first finger of the plurality of fingers is disposed between the outer surface of a first leaflet of the plurality of leaflets, and at least a second finger of the plurality of fingers is disposed radially-inwardly of the inner surface of the first leaflet.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided of an assembly having a prosthetic valve, the prosthetic valve having a radially expandable and compressible annular frame, and a crimping accessory device, and methods for using the assembly in compressing the prosthetic valve. The frame includes an outer surface and an inner surface. A leaflet assembly is supported inside the annular frame. The leaflet assembly includes a plurality of leaflets, each having an inner surface and an outer surface. The crimping accessory device has a plurality of axially-extending fingers. At least a first finger of the plurality of fingers is disposed between the outer surface of a first leaflet of the plurality of leaflets, and at least a second finger of the plurality of fingers is disposed radially-inwardly of the inner surface of the first leaflet.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for implanting a prosthetic implant in a native lumen of the body includes a handle portion, and a first shaft extending from and movable relative to the handle portion. The first shaft has a proximal end portion coupled to the handle portion and a distal end portion. The delivery apparatus further includes a second shaft extending from the handle portion and coaxially disposed within the first shaft. The second shaft has a proximal end portion coupled to the handle portion and a distal end portion configured to mount a prosthetic implant in a radially compressed state. The handle portion of the delivery apparatus also includes a steering assembly configured to move the first shaft longitudinally relative to the second shaft while concurrently flexing the second shaft.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for implanting a prosthetic implant in a native lumen of the body includes a handle portion, and a first shaft extending from and movable relative to the handle portion. The first shaft has a proximal end portion coupled to the handle portion and a distal end portion. The delivery apparatus further includes a second shaft extending from the handle portion and coaxially disposed within the first shaft. The second shaft has a proximal end portion coupled to the handle portion and a distal end portion configured to mount a prosthetic implant in a radially compressed state. The handle portion of the delivery apparatus also includes a steering assembly configured to move the first shaft longitudinally relative to the second shaft while concurrently flexing the second shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a balloon shaped to have one or more enlarged recons to selectively increase expansion forces on an implant. For example, the balloon may have a central portion that is enlarged to exert more force on the center of a stent-mounted prosthetic heart valve. This overcomes the stent-mounted prosthetic heart valve's tendency to expand with flared ends. This forms a more cylindrical or barrel shaped stent frame during expansion of the balloon—reducing or eliminating the instance wherein the cylindrical stent frame has flared ends. Alternatively, the balloon may have conical flares placed to cause or enhance flared ends of the cylindrical implant to enhance its anchoring capabilities.

Abstract: A lacrimal drug delivery device includes a reservoir configured to hold a drug. The reservoir is moveable between a relaxed state and an expanded state. A connector is fluidly coupled to the reservoir and a lumen is formed in the connector wherein the drug is configured to flow from the reservoir to an delivery site through the lumen. A hydrogel is within the lumen and configured to absorb the drug from the reservoir and deliver the drug from the lumen at the delivery site. The hydrogel includes a first section which absorbs the drug at a first rate of absorption. A delivery guide is detachably coupled to the reservoir to deliver the reservoir into a lacrimal sac of a patient.